Hi All

With the recent sale of my Caterham (she will be missed), I have decided to soften the blow by making some improvements to my Mk1 VRS estate (05).

First thing I would like to do is fit 17" wheels from the hatchback, does anyone know why the estate comes with 16's and if there are any problems upgrading to the 17" spider's?

I would also like to get an ECU upgrade, any recomendations in the south east are very much welcom.

A little later I would like to tinker with the handelling (without making the car too low, I scrape the bumber as it is) as the front always seems a bit under damped.

Many Thanks

As I understand it, the estate was on 16s because it wasn't quite a stiff as the hatchback, which has some braces across the back corner of the boot.

Having said that, I'm sure you wouldn't be the first to go to 17s if you go ahead.

Edit - Managed to find a pic of the braces in the hatch boot....

Thanks for the pic... I noticed the brace's when I test drove a couple of hatchbacks before I purchaced my estate. Do you think the braces could be fitted to the estate, I can see where they mount at the bottom, where do they go at the top?

Cheers

Lots of people have gone 17" with the estate vRS, shouldnt be a problem. The reason the braces were not put into the estate was because they reduce the loading capacity considerably when the rear seats are folded flat.

Also be interesting to know if you can fit these braces to a non-vrs hatchback?

I have 17's on my estate, they've been on for the last 35K with no problems.

I haven't fitted the braces either as i think they would get in the way when fully loading.

Are the braces picking up on the arches at or near the spring top mounts?

Thanks for the replies guys.. I better get searching the classifieds and ebay for some 17" Wheels.

I'm considering going 17" or 18" on my estate. If funds allow

I haven't fitted the braces either as i think they would get in the way when fully loading.

Trust me they do :thumbdwn:

Part of the reason i went for the Octy was the big boot but last month we had to load a bookcase into my gf's Polo because it simply wouldn't fit in the Octy because of them

The reason the braces were not put into the estate was because they reduce the loading capacity considerably when the rear seats are folded flat.

Would the same braces actually fit the estate?