Some details on the work Ive just had done and some initial thoughts to help people decide what they may wish to do to their own VRS. Any questions please just ask.

SUSPENSION

Eibach Anti Roll Bars - front and rear.

Koni FSD Dampers

Eibach lowering springs

I opted to have the Eibach springs fitted by the dealer when the car was new. In terms of what it did for the looks of the car - I loved it BUT the ride could get pretty bouncy; feeling very underdamped at times. This didnt imspire confidence when attacking a series of bends on anything less than perfectly smooth tarmac.

A few months later I got to have a drive in a VRS hatchback already fitted with my springs and Koni FSD dampers. The difference was instantly noticeable (even at low speeds), providing a far more composed ride as well as enhancing the already good cornering improvements of the springs and sharpening the turn in further. This upgrade was one of the best value for money ones I have done on the car - the FSD's are rare in the way they improve both the ride quality and the handling feel/ability of the car - no compromise of one over the other.

The ARB's keep the standard cars neutral balance (unlike some other cars Ive had uprated in this area before) but enhance it massively. The car stays flat through faster corners now and there are no side effects to this modification that Ive found so far. I dont understand why most people stop at springs and dampers when trying to improve the handling of their cars. Ive done Eibach ARB's on other cars and they have provided the same enhancements. Great value modification for the handling junkies out there imo.

ENGINE MODS

REVO STAGE 2+ remap

Evoms cold air intake

Piper Turbo back Exhaust

Autotech Fuel Pump

Torque Arm Insert

Forge Recirc

Neuspeed Turbo & Intercooler pipes

APR FMIC

Iridium plugs

I had the car put on REVO stage 1 software when it had 4,000 miles on the clock. This provided a great improvement over standard. Power went from 206bhp to 228bhp and 210lb/ft to 275lb/ft torque iirc. The torque improvements really made the car so much more driveable - almost like giving it the low down torque of the TDI VRS but keeping the 7,000rpm revability of the TFSI.

At 8,000 miles, the car now has all the above engine mods and produces 278.5bhp and 330lb/ft. The difference compared to the stage 1 remap is like night and day. It has lag free pull from low down, ample mid range grunt and revs out very nicely indeed. It now gives me 200lb/ft torque at 2000rpm which builds quickly to 330lb/ft at 3400rpm and holds very well considering the size of the standard turbo. Its peak power now appears at just under 5,900rpm and is still producing 260bhp at 7,000rpm.

Pretty amazingly, economy seems as good as it was before the remap and all the hardware mods. I'll clarify this further once Ive got more mileage under its belt but so far I have been very impressed.

Noise levels are a little higher than standard overall, exhaust wise, but it makes more noise the more you push the load pedal, pootling around town doesnt draw attention! On a run at motorway speed it is only a tad louder than normal. When you do feel like being a boy racer the Evoms ensures you can hear exactly what the turbo is doing - backing off the throttle or making it spin hard.

Overall, the way the engine produces and maintains its power throughout the rev range feels exceptionally strong. I cant fault the mapping in any way.

Traction is pretty good considering I have under 3mm on the Pilot Sport 2's now. The car doesnt actually torquesteer which to me shows it has a well setup chassis/suspension but it does loose traction if you plant the throttle too hard. In the dry its impressive, in the wet (like this mornings drive) hard throttle in the wet in third gear got the traction light flashing and big wheel spin. Im replacing the PS2's with new ones this week and getting the revised suspension geometry settings done also.

BRAKES

345mm OE S3/R32 front brake setup.

Im still running these in so will provide a fuller review once I get a chance to give them a proper trying out.

They must appear BIG though as I have now had three other people pointing or obviously looking at them from cars next to me at the traffic lights

VF SHORT SHIFTER

Fantastic! I often felt that the standard setup could slow you down when trying to make quick progress - especially when moving between second and third gears. Set on the more conservative of its two settings, the VF short shifter has made gearchanges so much quicker and positive in feel. It feels absolutely great now and I now find myself changing gear just for the sake of it!!!

JKM

Well this is the part where I get to thank Jim, Kate, Keith etc for all their hard work. Put simply, JKM have proved the best company ive dealt with in more than 12 years of 'playing' with cars so far!

The way that Kate handles the office - answering emails and telephone call query/questions pretty much immediately is a big credit to the company. Always quick with answers and offering reliable, regular updates on the progress of work also. She is always cheery and has a smile for all the customers; she seems to genuinely enjoy her job. Lovely to see nowadays.

I have to thank Jim, Keith and the other workshop guys of course - they have taken the car from a run of the mill warmed over estate to a true street sleeper capable of surprising a few more obvious, factory quick cars, not just in a straight line either! Unlike other companies Ive dealt with in the past; the communications between these guys and the girls on the front desk/office also seem to be spot on.

Thanks JKM for doing me proud and looking after the car so well. I am over the moon with it so far!

Finally thanks to Helene (HelsVRS) and Ron (rs939) for taking me back and forth, dropping the car off and picking it up.

Edited 24 August, 200817 yr by FocusZtec

Nice revue.

FocusZtec,what would you advise me to do?Iam the owner of a 265 ΗP RS[TFSI] and after 45,000 kilometers in need of dampers.I don't want to change the springs as I would have a clearance problem.I can't decide between the FSD's, the Bilstein sport or sprint set.Your advice,or anyone else's for that matter ,would be greatly appreciated.

... I feel the need for _F_L_A_T_ cornering

Well Im a big fan of the FSD's as you can probably see but Im limited to the experience of just these on the Octavia Mk 2 chassis.

Ive had bilstein coilovers and aftermarket dampers before on cars and these FSD's are just head and shoulders above the others for a no compromise, comfortable & sporty solution.

Lee

Edited 26 August, 200817 yr by FocusZtec

Out of interest does anyone now the cheapest place to get Eibach ARB and Koni FSDs?

(yes I know there is a search button and a magic soothsayer called Google, but you can't beat a current recommendation from another human being or Briskoda member)

I can get them fitted by a tame VW techie, so just the procurement info please.

Great review

Out of interest does anyone now the cheapest place to get Eibach ARB and Koni FSDs?

(yes I know there is a search button and a magic soothsayer called Google, but you can't beat a current recommendation from another human being or Briskoda member)

I can get them fitted by a tame VW techie, so just the procurement info please.

Are you saying Brisky members are NOT humans :confused::rofl:

Are you saying Brisky members are NOT humans :confused::rofl:

Well it is debatable in some cases

Well it is debatable in some cases

:eek::eek: