OK I'm sure these topics have been covered before but there are a couple of things I'm still not sure on despite searching so appologies if you feel that you are replying with the same answers time and time again :p

Right, 2010 will be the year for handling mods on my vRS and I've pretty much settled on the Koni FSD route combined with some -25mm springs.

Now I know alot of people recommend the H&R Springs and also alot of people say that Eibach don't make springs suitable for the Octavia BUT after browsing the Jabba site (where I would most likely get it done) I spotted these which say they are vRS fitment only so they must be ok... right?

When I get the springs and dampers done are there any other bits I should be budgeting to replace at the same time?

I'm also tempted by a RARB but unsure whether to get this done at the same time, before or after the shocks and springs? Also I hear good things about the Whiteline 22mm bar and I also hear good things about the Neuspeed 28mm bar but when I look up the specs the amount of flex is massively different. If I were to go for something like this will I turn my car into a snap oversteer PITA or will it end up, as I hope, nicely balanced bearing in mind the FSDs and stiffer springs?

Any advice would be great and sorry for the rapid fire questions!

I doubt I can help answer your questions, and I will be interested to read the answers that others give, but ...

What is wrong with the car the way it is now? Is there something that it specifically does or doesn't do? Does it compromise the way you drive, or the way you want to drive? Might it be better to spend money on learning to drive differently first, and maybe fix the car when you have a better understanding of what you are looking for?

What compromises are you willing to accept from a modified suspension?

It struck me that if might be more helpful if you identified what you want to fix ;-)

FWIW I think our Octavia bounces a bit more than I'd like, but I'm absolutely not willing to lose any of the ground clearance that it has, nor do I particularly want a firmer suspension as that would intrude on ride comfort. It goes fast enough for me, and yesterday a friend was making good use of 5th gear on icy back-roads near Pewsey, so I think it is probably fast enough in the right hands!

Edited 21 December, 200916 yr by AnotherGareth

Hello mate, It has been an on going problem with Eibach springs being advertised for a vrs, i would'nt recommend them (unless they now make them for the vrs) they will be the wrong poundage.

Try having a look on Eibach website to see if they are listed. Regards to rarb i would go for the Whiteline 22mm adjustable bar, just my opinion but 28mm is to big if you go damper and spring route too, i have a whiteline 22mm with koni fsd's and h&r springs it is a nice set up for crap brtish roads. I would get the rarb first you may be very surprised how much difference this makes on its own.

I doubt I can help answer your questions, and I will be interested to read the answers that others give, but ...

What is wrong with the car the way it is now? Is there something that it specifically does or doesn't do? Does it compromise the way you drive, or the way you want to drive? Might it be better to spend money on learning to drive differently first, and maybe fix the car when you have a better understanding of what you are looking for?

What compromises are you willing to accept from a modified suspension?

It struck me that if might be more helpful if you identified what you want to fix ;-)

FWIW I think our Octavia bounces a bit more than I'd like, but I'm absolutely not willing to lose any of the ground clearance that it has, nor do I particularly want a firmer suspension as that would intrude on ride comfort. It goes fast enough for me, and yesterday a friend was making good use of 5th gear on icy back-roads near Pewsey, so I think it is probably fast enough in the right hands!

I see what you are saying with regards to getting the most out of the car and I wouldn't say that I do get the most out of the current package. That said I think the suspension is a little sloppy (74k on the clock won't help with that either) and the car generally feels under damped. I'd like it to ride a little firmer with more damping and less body roll in the corners hence why I thought the stiffer springs and better dampers + RARB was a good option.

In all honesty it isn't about going around corners quicker it is about making the car more enjoyable to drive

Hello mate, It has been an on going problem with Eibach springs being advertised for a vrs, i would'nt recommend them (unless they now make them for the vrs) they will be the wrong poundage.

Try having a look on Eibach website to see if they are listed. Regards to rarb i would go for the Whiteline 22mm adjustable bar, just my opinion but 28mm is to big if you go damper and spring route too, i have a whiteline 22mm with koni fsd's and h&r springs it is a nice set up for crap brtish roads. I would get the rarb first you may be very surprised how much difference this makes on its own.

Yeah hence my confusion with Jabba saying very specifically that these particular springs (the ones in my link above) are Octavia vRS only... yet I havent seen them advertised anywhere else :S

I believe that KONI make very fine units. I have used them for years on all sorts of vehicle types. I know that they do not make their own springs but often do supply them with kits along with the dampers Are these not available for your car?

I have never owned a vehicle and been totally happy with the handling, I suppose that might always be the case. Vehicles no matter what they are are specified for MR Average who does not really exists. the components are sourced out and are a compromise. Mostly KONI supply Dampers that are adjust able so that they can either be tailored for effect or for ware. It is also possible to have adjustable spring seats so that spring rates can be adjusted also. That is a lot of fiddling and it takes time to get a rate that one is happy with bearing in mind that different rates might suit different conditions and so on. I have never tried the KONI FSD, an advanced design, I do not think that it is adjustable but is self setting to the driving conditions and is meant to be master of all trades if that is possible. Good luck with your quest..

The best way to have a good handling car!

Is to get one with fully independant rear axles and rear whjeel drive lol, sorry had to get that in!

The best way to have a good handling car!

Is to get one with fully independant rear axles and rear whjeel drive lol, sorry had to get that in!

I'll bear that in mind but seeing that as it stands I plan to change my car in early 2013 a stop gap solution is still on the cards

I've been having a little think and rather than dropping the car off somewhere for springs & dampers/coilovers and RARB at the same time I'm going to get the RARB and front dogbone mount done then see if I still feel the need to go any further with it.

On the topic of ARBs though... has anyone tried a thick rear bar (lets say 28mm for arguments sake) and a thinner front one to balance it out? If so what were the results like? My current plan is a 22mm Whiteline rear but I was just interested really...

I m not sure of the way to go with an Octy!

If it was a BMW or a Merc i could help you out lol

I mean what ever you do has an equal and opposite effect

For example if you put more neg camber on the front the chances are that you will make the back over steer, so the answer would be to increse the rear camber

In you stiffen the rear it will have the same effect, stiffen the front and it will want to understeer.

I had a Group N E30 M3 that i used to mess around with the spring shocks rates and the anti roll bar settings, there are basic rules but as an octy naturally wants to understeer and the back because of the rear beam wants to lift off over steer im not too sure what you can do.

If you lowered it you would give it more neg camber but in turn you would solve some of the understeer problems with the standard car but......... youd increase the ammount that the back wants to steep out

Hope this makes sense?

Normaly youd increase the spring and damper rates ad as much neg camber as you can without runiing the tyres and stiffen up the anti roll bars

But as the simple design of the VW top mount i dont know what type of top mount you could get!

A set of coilovers like KW will make a world of difference and then say an Eibach anti roll bar kit and from there i would go with neg camber top mounts but like i said i dont know how you do that to a VAG car and then after that if you can get offset suspension bushes for the front arms to increase the caster to make the sterring turn in better, youd be sorted, depends on hopw far you want to go really! good luck

Im happy enough with the whiteline at setting 2, rather than understeering the car (if provoked) just neutrally drifts a little.

Im happy enough with the whiteline at setting 2, rather than understeering the car (if provoked) just neutrally drifts a little.

Sounds good to me

I'm not likely to fiddle with the settings so I'm half considering the non adjustable Whiteline bar which is a middle setting apparently.

Maybe just a case of buying some new dampers from Skoda? After seeing the difference front and rear anti roll bars made to colind's old wrc I'd say look into that if you want reduced bodyroll.

If you just want to go faster look into driver training. That way to can pass it on to any car you drive

If you just want to go faster look into driver training. That way to can pass it on to any car you drive

Nope not looking to go any quicker, really it is about enjoying the car more

Can recommend the whiteline antiroll bar. Made a huge difference. Just have mine in the middle setting.

As for driver training, recommend that too, the advanced course teaches you more than you imagine and it does improve driving and fuel economy, enjoyment etc.