I'm thinking that i want to come back into the Skoda fold when i sell my GPS, i need something bigger so im thinking about the Elegance Estate, there are some good prices going for low mileage ones (and out of warranty ), and i loved my old Fabia, so one with a bigger engine and boot would suit me fine. Esp with all the gadgets that the Elegance has, as well as all the individual modding i can do compared to a focus/megane etc. I'm wondering if i could do the following mods and asking for your experiences of cost etc.

1. Can i change the standard 15" alloys for Vrs Alloys without affecting the clutch, speedo etc. Does the lower profile sort that?

2. Is the engine just a detuned Vrs Engine or completely different? Therefore can i get/do the green panel filter, PD160 intake, Cage mod etc.

3. Ive read that i can expect 130-140bhp from remap with this engine, will the above help these figures with this engine? And can the standard clutch and gearbox handle it?

4. I know i cant put 312mm brakes on because of the hubs but which uprated discs and pads would people recommend at OEM size?

5. We all know that the Fab sits on stilts (esp with non vrs) Could i use sportlines etc on the estate? or would i have to get different due to the extra weight? If not eibach sportlines which setup would you recommend (prices) and would i need coilovers too?

6. Would ARB's, uprated Cupra Bushes etc improve handling, would they even fit?

7. How much do Vrs front and rear bumpers usually go for, not including spraying etc

8. How easy is it to remove bumpstrips, side-rubbing strips etc? Do they just sit on the panels or do they sit within an indent within the panels if you get what i mean.

9. How easy is it to fit an LCR splitter on the regular (facelift) bumper compared to a Vrs bumper?

What other mods would you guys recommend without going into silly money (although above wont be cheap)? I know all this will affect sell-on value etc, but if i got this it would probably be run for years until i could afford to insure a full Octy CR TDI VRS estate anyway. Sorry for waffling on so much, but i know you guys love to help and natter :thumbup:

Cheers, Tom

Edited 22 September, 200817 yr by snownrock

I was going to get some silver front and back vRS bumpers a while back off some guy on eBay, the back one was marked and he wanted £200 roughly for the both of them (Including fog lights etc.) so Don't know if that's the going price but I thought it was a good deal?

So my advice would be to check eBay, though I know it's quite rare to get them

Hope that helped

1. Can i change the standard 15" alloys for Vrs Alloys without affecting the clutch, speedo etc. Does the lower profile sort that?

Yes, a 1" increase in rim diameter is offset by a 5% decrease in profile (e.g. 205 50 R15 = 205 45 R16).

2. Is the engine just a detuned Vrs Engine or completely different? Therefore can i get/do the green panel filter, PD160 intake, Cage mod etc.

There are quite considerable differences (not least in the injectors), however all of the above should work.

3. Ive read that i can expect 130-140bhp from remap with this engine, will the above help these figures with this engine? And can the standard clutch and gearbox handle it?

Don't see why not. AwesomeSarah has a remapped PD100 IIRC - why not drop her a PM (just don't agree to buying anything without thinking about it first! :P

4. I know i cant put 312mm brakes on because of the hubs but which uprated discs and pads would people recommend at OEM size?

Upgraded pads at OEM disc diameter made a massive difference for me - enough that I don't feel the need to go 312mm. I don't think the Mintex Extremes I have are made anymore, but there might be somewhere that still has stocks. Otherwise, there are dozen of threads suggesting good upgrades.

5. We all know that the Fab sits on stilts (esp with non vrs) Could i use sportlines etc on the estate? or would i have to get different due to the extra weight? If not eibach sportlines which setup would you recommend (prices) and would i need coilovers too?

Manufacturers should give application guides on their websites, so it's probably best to go straight to the horses' mouths on this one...

6. Would ARB's, uprated Cupra Bushes etc improve handling, would they even fit?

The bushes won't improve the handling much - they just won't fall apart anything like as quickly! AFAIK, the Combi has the same rear axle, so a RARB would fit - I'm sure someone with more knowledge could confirm...

7. How much do Vrs front and rear bumpers usually go for, not including spraying etc

Don't know about the price, but be aware the vRS rear bumper has a cut-out for the exhaust, but your exhaust won't extend into that cut-out so you'll have an odd-looking gap unless you get a trim piece fitted. In fact, come to think of it, the Combi has different rear lights to the hatch, so I'm not even sure the rear bumper would fit. Front on will, though - at least one member has / had a Combi with it...

8. How easy is it to remove bumpstrips, side-rubbing strips etc? Do they just sit on the panels or do they sit within an indent within the panels if you get what i mean.

Hairdryer and patience for the side strips - no indent. The ones on the bumpers (assuming you're keeping the rear at least - see above) sit in recesses, so will need painting if you want them colour keyed.

9. How easy is it to fit an LCR splitter on the regular (facelift) bumper compared to a Vrs bumper?

The two are totally different shapes. Not impossible, I imagine, however the non-vRS front bumper is a lot more curved on the underside (looking from the side), so may not look as smart...

What other mods would you guys recommend without going into silly money (although above wont be cheap)? I know all this will affect sell-on value etc, but if i got this it would probably be run for years until i could afford to insure a full Octy CR TDI VRS estate anyway. Sorry for waffling on so much, but i know you guys love to help and natter :thumbup:

Cheers, Tom

You've pretty much covered the usual. As I've said already, drop AwesomeSarah a PM to see what she's done with hers...

Cheers for that, i'm going to start pricing up the mods i want to do, figure this way i can have something a little more individual and unique than a focus estate, the Fab is nearly as big anyway for boot space.

The LCR front splitter is perfectly do-able, I have it on my Elegance hatch An hour of measuring and marking-up, angle grinding and self-tapping screws.

Far less scary than I've made it sound

Haha, you fill me with confidence

Anytime

Don't worry about it, there's a very good guide floating about on here somewhere. True, it is referring to the VRS but if you print it off and have it with you as you do it, it makes perfect sense.

Essentially, the only difference is the amount trimmed off the ends and the two central supports to keep the splitter level.

Done right (assuming I've done it right :eek:), it should look something like this: