We all know that there are many things vying for cash in our lives - but owning a car is one of the more demanding.

I have a 55 Fabia vRS and have owned it for 6 months now. In that time I have fitted a PD160 inlet, Cupra and Powerflex bushes and spent time making it really look crisp (also paying to keep it garaged too to protect it over the winter). I am happy with the car and owning it is a real joy.

It is at this point I have a decision to make. Please try to be honest with me.

Is it worth starting to modify it or not? If you could go back to the beginning and start over, would you prefer to have the cash for other things or have done the car with the shocks, springs and other bits?

To tinker is tempting, but also expensive. I am not interested in doing it for looks or to impress others, but if doing it truly makes a considerable difference that makes each journey more pleasurable then it may be worth it.

So, is modifying a good move or not? Are there some you wish you had done sooner or perhaps not at all?

TH

For the extra bit, do the remap and ARB and then draw a line under it. IMHO that's the limit for these cars. I don't mean there isn't more power to be had, or improvements to the handling and braking, but this is the point I would (and have) stop spending and just enjoy the car whilst diverting money elsewhere. My own personal preference is mortgage reduction to allow the purchase of an Ariel Atom or Caterham R500 in a couple of years

Out of all the bits I've bought for mine, I would say the Jabbasport RARB was the best value for money by a long stretch. I've also got big brakes, Eibachs and a PD160 intake.

There's one up for grabs in the for sale section now for sensible money.

There comes a point where you can modify it to destroy the car, I think as long as you choose the mods wisely, ie splitter, pd160, remap and keep the car the way Skoda intended then you are onto a winner, I'm not a fan of bodykits.

Just my 2p's worth

Been there done that! Had a mint G40 modified it too far. made it unreliable (kept stripping the toothed belts) so put it back to almost std and used it more. (then got the VRS bug and sold it!)

Thanks for the input. The honesty is refreshing.

So, if I order a Jabba ARB and perhaps save for a remap that would be about enough? The uprated bushes made a real difference - the car steered where I wanted it to after that.

TH

Tailhappy - If it was me I would get the whiteline ARB it is much cheaper and does the same as the Jabba one, just depends how your going to drive the car if the arb is worth it

With the exception of my remap and seats all my other mods have been done on parts that have failed (suspension/bushes) or wear and tear parts ( brakes 312mm/tyres/wipers/filters etc)

I am the same. I replaced most parts that had either failed or worn out for better ones. My exhaust I replaced because I wanted too.

If I had my time over again with my VRS. I would do it a bit differently. I would have bought the modified parts sooner! Since getting my remap, PD160, K&N Panel Filter, Milltek turbo back plus Sport Cat, Koni FSD's and Eibach springs plus Jabba RARB. The car drives perfect. I will not want to do anything else to it as I like it the way it is. It is quick for passing, yet very quiet and a dream to drive on long journeys. I just wish Skoda would have released the car like this from factory!

Well my turbo blew so I had to do the big conversion. Made sense to me

the whiteline ARB does the same as the Jabba one,

That's a matter of opinion

I wouldn't bother with the remap, leave your clutch and turbo stress free. With the ARB you'll be carrying more speed through the corners.

As for the Whiteline / Jabba argument - I would support the British company that went out

on a limb and spent their cash to develop us a great product.

Thanks for the input. The honesty is refreshing.

So, if I order a Jabba ARB and perhaps save for a remap that would be about enough? The uprated bushes made a real difference - the car steered where I wanted it to after that.

TH

Edited 17 December, 200817 yr by vrsfab

i modded as much as i could, and it got silly, very reliable still but expensive to try to squeeze more power,

see here -

http://briskoda.net/briskoda-members-cars/hyundai-coupe-gone-but-not-forgotten/122612/

the time to stop is when you want to, not for others to decide, its got to be your choice i became a bit obsesed with keeping it clean and making sure everything worked and was in top notch condition, in the end i got tired of it and it made way for the vRS

I'm in the same ballgame as you Tailhappy.

I'm nearly 21, living with a Mrs who loves shopping more than me. So I would agree with Whiteline rear ARB, and a remap. Roughly £400-500 thats deffinatly money well spent.

Good luck anyway mate.

Jabba have a very good deal on remaps at the moment. You could probably get a spectacularly decent deal on a remap and RARB package at the moment.

Never questioned the standard spec until a year or so of ownership when I was confronted with an old couple stepping onto a crossing before the lights had turned to red. Stopped just in time but was seriously concerned about the vRS's braking efficiency. Soon after, changed to 312mm brakes; after running-in period did an emergency stop for comparison and was astonished by the improvement.

So, to get to the point, my recommendation for your first mod would undoubtedly be 312mm brakes.

Thank you for the comments - most appreciated.

TH

I would (did) go for ride first (FSDs), then handling (Jabba ARB, 312 brakes), then remap (REVO). That's just the big expensive mods of course, I'm a sucker for cheap DIY pikey mods as well.

I lived with the standard car for the 3 years of the finance deal so it was a relief when I was finally able to do something about some of the niggles I had as well as giving its performance something of a new lease of life.

I'm starting on the road to "sensible" mods!

I've started by buying up a few parts first and i'll do everything in one go.

PD160 inlet & K&N

Seat Ibiza Sport strut brace

Springs & Shocks - (or maybe coilovers!)

Wheels & tyres (17")

rear ARB

exhaust

remap

Beyond that it will just be small cosmetic things!

Whether modding is worth it or not is a personal thing.

You can generally improve handling and breaks etc without your insurance premium going up too much. A remap or any form of power increasing modification will mean fewer insurers will touch you, and the cost of the insurance rising vs your personal (or family) enjoyment gets more tricky.

It is fair to say that if you go past what the stock turbo can handle, the pikey mod for the SMIC venting will not be sufficient, you will need a FMIC and a hybrid, and then the costs go up sharply.

Handling mods will get you more out of the car, and I would do those first, then a bit more power is fun too hehe

well i bought mine with a remap, pd160

first mod for me was 17's and 312 brakes...

then came the clutch flywheel and eibachs...

after that it just spiraled...

personally i should have kept it as i bought it and saved around £2,000 but thats hindsight

When I was looking to buy a new car I wanted something a bit different, so when I got this car I had every intention of modifying it. I've almost got it looking how I want it to now, and I know exactly what I want to do with it (I think ) before I stop changing stuff. Next year's going to be an expensive one I feel

Yes it was perfectly adequate when it was standard, but I like to personalise things, and I see my car as a hobby as well as just a mode of transport ... so if I was to go back to the beginning, similar things would happen

I never even thought about modifying - it's all this bloody forum's fault!

I never even thought about modifying - it's all this bloody forum's fault!

Join the club!!

Join the club!!

I bought my Fun new in May, 1999 (replacing a Favorit).

OK, so it's kind of a "factory custom" already, but I am heartened to read in this thread that performance and handling are more important than cosmetics.

Wolves in sheeps' clothing?

When I registered here a couple of years ago, I found too much about superficial cosmetics, which is why I didn't bother coming back until now.

The Fun has been laid up for a year and I have splashed some cash to get it back on the road.

Seriously interested in geting some more oomph out of it.

Insurance premiums and fuel consumption will be less of an issue when I move it to Russia.

Any advice on "winterising"?

I have a HD battery and will maybe need spiked tyres.