Well, I don't even have it yet but on the 18th I'm picking up my 06 Fabia vRS.

I have money left over in the budget so I can do a little tweaking. I like the standard look so I'm not thinking of wheels, lowering or really anything cosmetic.

I guess that leaves engine tuning and anti roll bars or strut braces and my budget is circa £750 which I guess is enough to do a couple of things.

1. The rear anti roll bar seems to come up a lot - an "essential" fit? Any negatives?

2. Engine tuning - while more power is nice, most of the time I'm not hammering around. The car needs to last so if chipping is quite likely to shorten the life of the turbo with potentially disastrous consequences (e.g. total engine failure) then it's not a risk I'm likely to take.

Is there a safer limit for chipping, a conservative type map for instance or would I be better off fitting a FMIC instead and some subtle tweaks to get a moderate amount more go?

I could handle replacing a turbo 2 years down the line if it wasn't likely to take out the engine when it went - I haven't had a turbo'd car for many years now so I have lost track of how things are. The last turbo I remember going on somebody's car dropped bits into the cylinders and worse, jammed a valve, broke the belt and turned the engine to scrap.

Currently running a mildly tweaked VR6 pushing out 209bhp/210lbft which would probably do another 200,000 miles without noticing.

3. Any other suggestions on something I might be missing out on?

Thanks!

Well, I don't even have it yet but on the 18th I'm picking up my 06 Fabia vRS.

I have money left over in the budget so I can do a little tweaking. I like the standard look so I'm not thinking of wheels, lowering or really anything cosmetic.

I guess that leaves engine tuning and anti roll bars or strut braces and my budget is circa £750 which I guess is enough to do a couple of things.

1. The rear anti roll bar seems to come up a lot - an "essential" fit? Any negatives?

2. Engine tuning - while more power is nice, most of the time I'm not hammering around. The car needs to last so if chipping is quite likely to shorten the life of the turbo with potentially disastrous consequences (e.g. total engine failure) then it's not a risk I'm likely to take.

Is there a safer limit for chipping, a conservative type map for instance or would I be better off fitting a FMIC instead and some subtle tweaks to get a moderate amount more go?

I could handle replacing a turbo 2 years down the line if it wasn't likely to take out the engine when it went - I haven't had a turbo'd car for many years now so I have lost track of how things are. The last turbo I remember going on somebody's car dropped bits into the cylinders and worse, jammed a valve, broke the belt and turned the engine to scrap.

Currently running a mildly tweaked VR6 pushing out 209bhp/210lbft which would probably do another 200,000 miles without noticing.

3. Any other suggestions on something I might be missing out on?

Thanks!

1. Yes, a RARB seems to be a must, although i'm yet to get round to purchasing one, though it's next after my custom FMIC install.

2. Remapping is fine, if you learn to drive the car properly. Clutch slip can become an issue, though only if you exceed 300ftlb, and if you regularly hammer it below 2kRPM. Putting your boot down after 2k RPM is better for the clutch and offers no slip. Turbo wise, Jonny5ive on here has had a remap on his for circa 100k miles iirc, and his turbo has only just gone pop. Heat up and cool down the car as appropriate and you shouldn't see any issues (unless the turbo hasn't been looked after, before you owned the car)

3. The fabia is very high, ride height wise, as standar, so perhaps you could look at that. eibach to a lovely set of springs for a subltle drop, but if you're looking for more, you'll be looking for coilovers or shocks and springs setup.

You could get the front seatsport strut brace, it's not too expensive and helps with turn in. I got mine off here for about £30 delivered I think, second hand.

Cupra splitter seems to be fairly standard on this forum too, makes the front end look that little better.

That's all I can think of for now

1. Yes, a RARB seems to be a must, although i'm yet to get round to purchasing one, though it's next after my custom FMIC install.

2. Remapping is fine, if you learn to drive the car properly. Clutch slip can become an issue, though only if you exceed 300ftlb, and if you regularly hammer it below 2kRPM. Putting your boot down after 2k RPM is better for the clutch and offers no slip. Turbo wise, Jonny5ive on here has had a remap on his for circa 100k miles iirc, and his turbo has only just gone pop. Heat up and cool down the car as appropriate and you shouldn't see any issues (unless the turbo hasn't been looked after, before you owned the car)

3. The fabia is very high, ride height wise, as standar, so perhaps you could look at that. eibach to a lovely set of springs for a subltle drop, but if you're looking for more, you'll be looking for coilovers or shocks and springs setup.

You could get the front seatsport strut brace, it's not too expensive and helps with turn in. I got mine off here for about £30 delivered I think, second hand.

Cupra splitter seems to be fairly standard on this forum too, makes the front end look that little better.

That's all I can think of for now

A good start there CJS-90, I am mechanically sympathetic when driving and did a little track training years ago along with an advanced driving course. I also did a stint as a courier covering 250,000m in just over 2 years. My other half says I drive like a grandad but I don't think she means in a lurching out at junctions and 20 times round a roundabout way. I do normally have the family in the car at the time.

I haven't spent enough time with one to think about the ride height much. The VR6 is lowered but a bit too much for my tastes (came like that but I've fitted less lowered springs), can't get a normal jack under it.

100k on a chipped turbo sounds pretty fair enough and I'd probably run on fully synthetic too if I was going down that road while allowing the unit some cooling down time so I'm not likely to cook the bearings. Will look up his car/exploits next!

Edited 10 September, 201015 yr by Buzzark

Rear arb is defiantly number 1 is list of things to do.

I have had one fitted for a year and only just got round to fitting the SEAT Ibiza momo front strut brace and that is good too.

The handling of the fabia vrs is its weak point due to its heavy engine and height.

Personally im leaving the height standard as i use it for work and have to cart things about in it.

As to power i would suggest an upgrade to 312mm brakes on the front and then get a remap.

A good start there CJS-90, I am mechanically sympathetic when driving and did a little track training years ago along with an advanced driving course. I also did a stint as a courier covering 250,000m in just over 2 years. My other half says I drive like a grandad but I don't think she means in a lurching out at junctions and 20 times round a roundabout way. I do normally have the family in the car at the time.

I haven't spent enough time with one to think about the ride height much. The VR6 is lowered but a bit too much for my tastes (came like that but I've fitted less lowered springs), can't get a normal jack under it.

100k on a chipped turbo sounds pretty fair enough and I'd probably run on fully synthetic too if I was going down that road while allowing the unit some cooling down time so I'm not likely to cook the bearings. Will look up his car/exploits next!

No problem . It's possible, if you're still worried about the life of the turbo to get a 'moderate' map IE map to around 160bhp and 280ftlb or something similar. Though coming down from a VR6 it's possible that you'll miss the grunt when it's needed! I kept up with a VR6 on the motorway with 2 passengers (he was on his own) from 70mph to well into 3figures on the motorway (177bhp 305ftlb for me) so if you went for an aggressive map, i'm sure when needed the smile would still be on your face