What mods are recommended on the handling side of things for the 4x4?

Ive got a set of 17" Spiders coming Tuesday to replace the standard 16's and I've been reading up on Tyres(so many different opinions but Proxies and KU31 seem popular but still not sure about what size to go for) Also getting the VRS caliper carriers for the 312mm brake change (the brakes are shocking compared to SWMBO's 03 Passat estate-312mm but different hubs otherwise they would have been swapped by now:D)

So the question really is do I need to be looking at things like polybushes, strut braces an so on? or is the 4x4 set up better? (independent on the back end IIRC)

if you listen to some the 4x4 handles like pap but mine is fine

then again i have coil overs, poly bushes, upper and lower front braces and its soon to be fitted with adjustable rear tie bars and uprated ARB's front and rear

don't forget the 4x4 has a rear ARB as standard where the vRS doesn't :P

I just did the brakes on mine, I've had it 6 years and still can't decide to lower it. Suppose it depends where and how you drive it. I've got a fair amount of speed bumps and potholes to cope with.

I just did the brakes on mine, I've had it 6 years and still can't decide to lower it. Suppose it depends where and how you drive it. I've got a fair amount of speed bumps and potholes to cope with.

same for me and the front splitter is already grounding on some of the roads.

Bengie, how much of a difference do the front braces make? also is worth waiting till the bushes are wasted before upgrading or is it best to get them done once you've remapped?

improved turn in etc a bit i think but not earth shattering differences. do it if you get the bits quite cheap like i did, i paid well under £100 for both

As Bengie said.

If I compare my 4x4 to the vRS I had previously, I'm much more impressed with the 4x4. ARB's, bushes, tiebars, springs and shocks (not fitted my KW's yet :( ) etc, decent tyres and you (IMO) have a quite impressively well handling car which can be very composed in the corners .

The Haldex upgrade is supposed to be very good too but I've no personal experience of that yet though some others on here have.

On the subject of "decent tyres" what are you guys using and what sort of lifespan do they have? as a systems engineer I spend a lot of time on the road going to sites across South Wales and the Westcountry in the best that the British weather can throw at me so good all round performance more important that outright dry grip, also nice if they last a bit!:(

225/45 Mich Pilot Sport 2's are my prefered choice for grip and longevity, though I think eveyone has their own choice dependant on budget.

I've just put some Bridgestones on mine but I've only done about 100miles so no idea yet. Was also shocked to notice when the last two sets were done too - means they last about 10k!!! They were both Goodyears.

got Goodyears on at the moment on 16's seem to wear quickly..

On the subject of "decent tyres" what are you guys using and what sort of lifespan do they have? as a systems engineer I spend a lot of time on the road going to sites across South Wales and the Westcountry in the best that the British weather can throw at me so good all round performance more important that outright dry grip, also nice if they last a bit!:(

Vredestein Sportrac 2.

I have had these on my Audi 100 quattro for about 17000 miles now, and still got lots of tread left (probably 4mm). Good grip wet or dry, and a Auto Express text winner too. Not too expensive either (Venture Tyres in Bristol by the RSPCA Dogs Home).

I don't drive slowly round corners either, but the quattro means I don't shred the fronts by wheelspinning.

Also got Vredesteins (ComTrac) on the VW Caravelle and HiTrac on the Audi 80.

Steve

I gathered the lack of wheel spin on the 4x4 should make the tyre life a bit better. SWMBO's Passat 130 tdi likes to spin the tyres in the dry, but in the wet you can be rolling at 20 in third, plant the right foot and the TCS goes for ages before correcting it (crap dunlops on the front probably dont help though)

have owned both cars too, and a well set up 4x4 handles so much better than a standard vrs. Saying that i would like to see how well a vrs can handle with kw3s, anyone have them?

Just fitted vredestein sessantas all round, a big improvement and i would say they are better than toyo t1rs(they are meant to wear much better too)