Hi ive recently bought a mk1 vrs on an 05 plate.She has 120000 miles and full service history and is very clean.Now i must say that im not really impressed with its performance,the turbo has few seconds lag and you have to rev the nuts off it to get it to go.My previous car was an mg-zr td and in comparison that went like s@@t off shovel compared to the vrs...anyone know if anything might be wrong with it or am i expecting to much from it? cheers

it could be just the change from diesel to petrol ! the MG Rover seemed faster!.. I had 95k on the clock before I swapped my Mk1 vRS . no problems with it, performance or otherwise.

Doesn't sound quite right to me. The vRS probably lacks the initial low revs torque of a diesel but it should pick up really nicely from about 2-2.5k revs and then hold power until about 5.5k. The mid range punch is probably the best thing about the vRS engine (IMHO) so I'm surprised you are having to rev it so hard.

I've come from a 2.8L golf vr6 so sometimes I miss the insanity that kicked in from 5.5k revs upward on that engine but otherwise I think the vRS actually outperforms the golf.

Any lights on the dash? Had it on VAG-COM at all?

iep

Doesn't sound quite right to me. The vRS probably lacks the initial low revs torque of a diesel but it should pick up really nicely from about 2-2.5k revs and then hold power until about 5.5k. The mid range punch is probably the best thing about the vRS engine (IMHO) so I'm surprised you are having to rev it so hard.

I've come from a 2.8L golf vr6 so sometimes I miss the insanity that kicked in from 5.5k revs upward on that engine but otherwise I think the vRS actually outperforms the golf.

Any lights on the dash? Had it on VAG-COM at all?

iep

no lights on the dash...i havnt had it on a VAG-COM....think i might buy a lead off ebay and see if it throws anything up

I remember being distinctly underwhelmed by the vRS when I test drove one for the first time. Like you I came from something which felt faster - a Nissan 200sx s14a. However, the vRS is deceptive in it's delivery and is quite linear in it's delivery compared to some other cars. Give it time and you'll get used to how it works and where is best in the rev range to use the power.

p.s. A remap will solve all your problems.

Well you can do some "non-official" performance measurements, like the time it takes to accelerate from 80-120 km/h in 3rd and 4th gears. If 3rd is around 4-5s and 4th around 6-7s, I think all is well for a standard 180bhp engine (remember, when you hit 80 it's second 0 ).

And, as the others said, remap it and it really should fly

Hi ive recently bought a mk1 vrs on an 05 plate.She has 120000 miles and full service history and is very clean.Now i must say that im not really impressed with its performance,the turbo has few seconds lag and you have to rev the nuts off it to get it to go.My previous car was an mg-zr td and in comparison that went like s@@t off shovel compared to the vrs...anyone know if anything might be wrong with it or am i expecting to much from it? cheers

Have you tried switching the ignition off once the engine has got up to temperature then restarting ????

These 1.8t engines can go into limp mode due to fault code 17705 and not put on a engine warning light.... I know because mine somtimes does it

You only get low boost levels until you key off and restart, then full boost is resumed ....or at least it is until the next cold start

Hi ive recently bought a mk1 vrs on an 05 plate.She has 120000 miles and full service history and is very clean.Now i must say that im not really impressed with its performance,the turbo has few seconds lag and you have to rev the nuts off it to get it to go.My previous car was an mg-zr td and in comparison that went like s@@t off shovel compared to the vrs...anyone know if anything might be wrong with it or am i expecting to much from it? cheers

I had a MG ZS 180 and the VRS is quicker than that. Maybe not off the mark as the V6 engine had quite a bit of torqe, but when turbo kicks definately quicker.

Get someone local to you to run a diagnostic on the car and check for any faults that may cause limp mode or reduced power.

ive put my code reader on it tonight and it doesnt throw up any codes

ive put my code reader on it tonight and it doesnt throw up any codes

Might be worth getting the throttle body realigned, if its out it may not throw up a fault code but it can still effect performance.

If thats OK, maybe consider a remap.... I've never driven a MG-ZRtd but I'd be suprised if a remaped vRS was not quicker

Edit: What fuel are you running it on ??? the ECU will trim the power back if its run on 95 ron fuel.

Try running it on "V" power for a couple of tank full's see if that helps restore full power

Edited 15 October, 200916 yr by vrs180

JMF, I like the unnoficial test idea. Gives us all some useful benchmarks by which to judge all is well.

Can I just check whether you are doing a flying start (ie select the gear in question, start accelerating from about 60kmph and start the clock as you pass through 80kmph)?

Or, take the car up to a steady 80kmph, hold it there, and then only put your foot down as you start the clock?

All I have to do now is find a stretch of road flat enough to get a real reading (not so easy round edinburgh).

Cheers,

iep

Must be something wrong if a TD ZR is quicker! The VVC ZR might stand up better but still shouldn't really match a vRS.

Hi ive recently bought a mk1 vrs on an 05 plate.She has 120000 miles and full service history and is very clean.Now i must say that im not really impressed with its performance,the turbo has few seconds lag and you have to rev the nuts off it to get it to go.My previous car was an mg-zr td and in comparison that went like s@@t off shovel compared to the vrs...anyone know if anything might be wrong with it or am i expecting to much from it? cheers

A standard vRS is ALOT quicker than a standard ZR TD.

vRS hatch= 180bhp, 235Nm, 7.6sec, 146mph, 1375kg, 131bhp/tonne

ZR TD (100)= 99bhp, 240Nm, 9.7sec, 114mph, 1130kg, 88bhp/tonne

ZR TD (115)= 111bhp, 260Nm, 9.1sec, 116mph, 1130kg, 98bhp/tonne

There is either something wrong with your vRS, or you're mistaking the turbo diesel punch for performance!

In 3rd gear get it to 2000rpm, and hold it there. Then put your foot down, and hold it to 5.5krpm. That should feel pretty impressive, and it'll take you to 85mph. 4th gear will take you to around 110mph, and 5th 140mph. So it's safe to say the vRS performs!

Have you got a boost gauge to see what it's running? Should be getting 10psi peak (standard).

A standard vRS is ALOT quicker than a standard ZR TD.

vRS hatch= 180bhp, 235Nm, 7.6sec, 146mph, 1375kg, 131bhp/tonne

ZR TD (100)= 99bhp, 240Nm, 9.7sec, 114mph, 1130kg, 88bhp/tonne

ZR TD (115)= 111bhp, 260Nm, 9.1sec, 116mph, 1130kg, 98bhp/tonne

There is either something wrong with your vRS, or you're mistaking the turbo diesel punch for performance!

In 3rd gear get it to 2000rpm, and hold it there. Then put your foot down, and hold it to 5.5krpm. That should feel pretty impressive, and it'll take you to 85mph. 4th gear will take you to around 110mph, and 5th 140mph. So it's safe to say the vRS performs!

Have you got a boost gauge to see what it's running? Should be getting 10psi peak (standard).

im going to put a boost gauge on it in a few days and i will report back

I have a sure fire way to put it into perspective. Drive a loan car like I did today - new shape Fiesta - and then when you get back into the vRS....Whoaa! It'll feel like a rocket ship in comparison.

I think it's just going from a turbodiesel to a turbo petrol. With a turbodiesel you feel the punch of all that torque in the low revs but then you are having to change gear before you know it. The torque delivery in the vRS is so smooth you hardly notice it, and the car cossets you into thinking you're not going as fast as you are

In 3rd gear get it to 2000rpm, and hold it there. Then put your foot down, and hold it to 5.5krpm. That should feel pretty impressive, and it'll take you to 85mph. 4th gear will take you to around 110mph, and 5th 140mph. So it's safe to say the vRS performs!

QUOTE]

Agree but you sure about that speed in third? - I'm pretty sure mine pulls to nearer the ton in third (although maybe that's cos I hold the revs a bit more, like 6.5k)

Definately sounds like somethings wrong with the OP's vRS though - mine goes pretty damn quick and I know it's "only" producing 181.9BHP :( (Still pulls with 140 on the clocks on private runways.....)

Agree but you sure about that speed in third? - I'm pretty sure mine pulls to nearer the ton in third (although maybe that's cos I hold the revs a bit more, like 6.5k)

It should redline at about 100 in third, that's what speed the Liquid Gauge manual recommends you take it up to when doing a dyno reading (private road of course )

IIRC it redlines at 120mph in 4th too

I remember being slightly underwhelmed when i 1st got my mk1 vRS but as has been stated the power delivery is very linear.

I soon found out for a fact tho that it was a match for a similar aged 325i coupe in a straight line;)

This told me it was delivering the performance it should.

Now with revo stage 1 i have to recommend it to you.

Jim:D

It should redline at about 100 in third, that's what speed the Liquid Gauge manual recommends you take it up to when doing a dyno reading (private road of course )

IIRC it redlines at 120mph in 4th too

I'm pretty sure that on 'a private road' mine shows an indicated speed of around 110mph in 3rd gear - but I have just got in from the pub and may be a tad confussed.:confused:

Agree but you sure about that speed in third? - I'm pretty sure mine pulls to nearer the ton in third (although maybe that's cos I hold the revs a bit more, like 6.5k)

Definately sounds like somethings wrong with the OP's vRS though - mine goes pretty damn quick and I know it's "only" producing 181.9BHP :( (Still pulls with 140 on the clocks on private runways.....)

Yeah all those speeds I quoted are at 5500rpm maximum, as I tend not to go much further than this. I actually calculated them based on 205/50R17 tyres through the standard vRS gearbox. Obviously your speed depends on your revs, so:

5500rpm in 3rd = 86mph

6500rpm in 3rd = 102mph

5500rpm in 5th = 134mph

6000rpm in 5th = 146mph (Skoda's quoted top speed)

6500rpm in 5th = 158mph

7000rpm in 5th = 171mph (Holy crappington that's fast!)

Edited 16 October, 200916 yr by Bodge
The quote went all weird on me!

IIRC it redlines at 120mph in 4th too

6067rpm in 4th = 120mph

I think that's what's technically known and 'hooning it'!! 4th gear is immense for joining motorways! It just catapults you up to speed in no time, and then fires you past the speed limit without you realising! Naughty....