Hi all,

I've been scouting around for some Fabia experts and here seems like the best place I've had my 1.9tdi 100bhp since nov last year and recently i've been thinking about selling it and getting something a little sportier etc.

Anyway, long story short i did a little research and found out my engine is basically a toned down version of the VRS, so with a little tweeking/mapping i can get a bit more umph from it without the worry of it breaking due to being overpowered etc etc. Also i understand i can improve the handling a massive amount with just a few changes. Here goes with my questions (there's a couple!)

Power: There seems to be a number of things you can buy that goes inline with the ecu (as i understand it) which gives a flat bhp increase. Most seem to be about 30bhp. Is one of these gizmos something i should be aiming to get, or am i looking for a complete remap?

Handling: The first fabia i drove was my girlfriends old car. She got herself a little 1.2 petrol a few years back, the 3 cylinder one. Other than the awesome power it had oozing from everywhere(!) It was an understeering nightmare. Mine is a lot better, which i imagine is due to the much heavier lump under the bonnet. Mine also rolls a little through the corners which is to be expected as its not the vrs version. I'm planning a switch of wheels, 16" probably (i have the standard 14" steels on atm), the Cupra console bushes as i hear these make a big difference and i'm probably going to lower the car by about 30mm.

So, i really would appreciate if you could let me know what sort of things should/can i be doing to my engine to get a bit more poke from it and is there anything other than what i mentioned above that i could do to improve the handling?

Thanks in advance! <3

I've just spend aaages searching these forums to answer myself but not really getting anywhere - i have learned that a cupra intake is also a worthwhile investment

Edited 21 May, 201016 yr by Simonbt

Dont make the mistake i did got the remap before clutch ive had it rempaed for 3 weeks clutch is slipping bad, now have to find 900 quid to get the sachs clutch fitted (and brought\0

Dont make the mistake i did got the remap before clutch ive had it rempaed for 3 weeks clutch is slipping bad, now have to find 900 quid to get the sachs clutch fitted (and brought\0

how much did it improve yours? Is it worth getting it remapped (ignoring the clutch issues)?

Dont make the mistake i did got the remap before clutch ive had it rempaed for 3 weeks clutch is slipping bad, now have to find 900 quid to get the sachs clutch fitted (and brought\0

I've had mine mapped since 90k now on 100k still on original clutch. Its how you look after it.

I'd get a stage 1 remap from P-Torque, Shark, Jabba, Awesome (site sponsors) and then maybe lowering springs and a whiteline rear anti roll bar. That should see about 30 bhp extra and chunks more torque, and a car which handles nicely without ruining the comfort.

Yes definatly it was amazing and with the new clutch going on even better i would guess, the tourque didnt just come in one lump but would push through to 4000 rpm then change gear. the best bit though is when your in 3rd doin 30ish and you put your foot down holy **** you go some, is it worth it? YES cant go wrong, i know a lot of people dont like the idea of it but, i doubt there are many people who have had a remap, and say i prefer how it used to be.

VRS goldie john i know what you mean, ive only had the car from 50000 miles its on 53000 now so the clutch could of bin used hard before i got it, and on its way out, the remap just finished it off but ill never know that for sure, i think if i had the car from new then it wouldnt of bin an issue.

VRS goldie john i know what you mean, ive only had the car from 50000 miles its on 53000 now so the clutch could of bin used hard before i got it, and on its way out, the remap just finished it off but ill never know that for sure, i think if i had the car from new then it wouldnt of bin an issue.

Its all about luck of the draw isnt it. Sorry to hear about that though. You getting the flywheel done as well?

A lad on here, Leo.... he had 143bhp from his pd100 from a stage 1 map, and if you wana talk to anyone about big mods, then Devonutopia is your man.

Aah rear antiroll bar, that's another thing to add to my list! Any ideas what sort of price I'll be looking at for a stage1 remap?

No kinda skint at the mo so im struggling to afford the perfomance clutch! People are asking why not put standerd, but i just cant help but think its better to go for the sachs i do have a bit of a heavy foot!!

simonbt, i got mine for 235 but i hear of people paying up to 500 dont ask if theres a difference i dont know but a stage 1 remap i think can only go so high so dont think more money more power it dose'nt work like that (well as far as i know!)

as VRS goldie said devonutopia is your man for specific questions, but am willing to answer but just dont expect me to really know what im goin on about!!!

Aah rear antiroll bar, that's another thing to add to my list! Any ideas what sort of price I'll be looking at for a stage1 remap?

From about £210 to £300 from a stage 1 which will see about 130-140bhp. Look out for group buys too. Whiteline anti roll bar from Awesome GTI is about £140 and is deffo worth it.

Was looking at getting one myself......then clutch died!!

To be honest I'm not really aiming for a big mod, just something to bring it slightly better. The stage one you mentioned seems ideal. The car has about 115k on the clock, buts it's been well looked after, each service done at a skoda dealership, pretty

much all the mileage was done by my girlfriends mother so I know it's not been thrashed about. Also I've already had my modding phase, 29 now so not really looking to get the mist I can, just wanna make it the handling tighter and give it enough umph to be faster than anything a 17yr old Saxo driver might have one annoyed me earlier this week and the only reason I beat him was cause I was braver/better round the roundabouts

So:

Stage one remap

rear arb

front cupra console bushes

30mm lowering

then just play a little with alloys and possibly a neat bodykit. Best break the piggy bank

then remap and a couple of bits to the handling sounds good for you the airintake is a good idea for the remap plus mine smoked a whole lot less after i did it (with a pipercross filter)

I went for a remap by R-tech in Nuneaton, Paid something like £250, which included many rolling roads and actual live mapping.

Great service, and good increase in power and overall drive-ability.

The car had about 74,000 miles on it (i bought it 2nd hand with 72,000) when I took it for a remap, and it's now gone past 86,000 miles.

The clutch still seems good and strong,

The car feels much more eager than before, I got an increase of power to 130bhp and 230lbs torque. The biggest difference with the power curve is now the power comes in harder and smoother, but importantly it stays strong for much wider rev range.

So the car's much more muscular feeling to drive now.

MPG went up from around 50mpg on the motorway to 60mpg too.

Remaps definatly worth doing by these guys, they take their time and care, and make sure you're happy before letting you go.

In terms of handling improvements, I've not done anything to my car. It's just used as a daily work car, the long soggy suspension and body roll are a great companion on these stupidly 3rd world pot holed roads we have.

That's a very good point about the handling. I live in Sheffield and DAMN the roads are really bad round here. But I'm not going to be dropping it to the ground, so hopefully it will be okay

one other question, anyone know what the difference between the 1.9tdi shocks and dampers and the VRS ones? Is it worth me getting some VRS ones or just going for aftermarket ones?

Edited 21 May, 201016 yr by Simonbt

My guess would be aftermarket mate that way youll garranty a quality part koni str.t's have been suggested to me might be worth a look?

My guess would be aftermarket mate that way youll garranty a quality part koni str.t's have been suggested to me might be worth a look?

cheers. Thanks a lot for all your help guys, much appreciated

No probs.

If you're only in Sheffield, why not pop down the road and see us? We're in Mansfield

Koni FSDs and Eibach springs are the way to go, unless you want to lower them yourself by Coil-overs. However, if you don't want to spend much, I'm sure changing the springs will do.

As mentioned above there are several maps that give a smooth power delivery which is good for clutches etc. I believe Shark's one is as well as Chipped UK. From what I have read Revo maps can be aggressive which is good for kick in the back performance, but depending on how you drive, bad for the clutch.

If you're only in Sheffield, why not pop down the road and see us? We're in Mansfield

If you're happy with me popping down for a chat, get some prices and see whats involved then i think i might just do that This is something i'm planning on doing over the next few months, so wont be an immediate thing.

*edit*

Just had a look at the website, so go the prices.

My Fabia as 120k on the clock, and although it has been services at the skoda dealership every year (it wasn't mine at that point, but i have some scary expensive receipts to show whats been done) i'm slightly worried that i may be killing it by remapping. The car drives perfectly at the moment, got to swich out the front arb bushing as its knocking but other than that its perfect. A remap isn't going to push this over the edge is it?

Edited 22 May, 201016 yr by Simonbt

A remap will put strain on the gearbox, turbo, engine etc don't think the anti roll bar will be under much more stress! Only in the corners if you go faster as a result of the remap but you'll need suspension upgrades to do that!

A remap will put strain on the gearbox, turbo, engine etc don't think the anti roll bar will be under much more stress! Only in the corners if you go faster as a result of the remap but you'll need suspension upgrades to do that!

haha i gathered that, the arb is just annoying as its been knocking for ages and i couldn't tell what it was at first. It was one of those annoying knocks that my missus thought was in my mind as she couldn't hear it! What i meant is thats the only thing thats wrong with the car at the mo