Called about a VRS today - the dealer said it had been lowered and had an after market exhaust - should the alarm bells be ringing ?

Would you avoid it ?

cheers

I think if you cut the alarm wires that should stop it.

It wouldn't be my first choice of car to buy, that's for sure. Unless you wanted to mod the car anyway, those mods would push up your insurance. If you were after a standard car, don't buy it.

hmm think you may be right - i wondered if that would effect insurance....

ah well the search continues...

Wouldn't bother me at all, i'd see if as a bonus.

But then i'd more than likely be doing it anyway.

Got no chance of selling mine then :'(

hmm think you may be right - i wondered if that would effect insurance....

ah well the search continues...

The suspension will probably not increase premium, but the exhaust might depending on type and what increased gain in bhp...

Personally the exhaust wouldn't put me off if it was something like a Milltek - subtle in terms of both look & sound.

The 'lowering' element would though..obviously affects ride/handling & from previous personal experience probably not been 4wheel laser aligned afterwards

Trouble is cars with Lowered suspension and exhuast may well have other not so obvious things, like a remap for example which will push up your insurance even more.

Called about a VRS today - the dealer said it had been lowered and had an after market exhaust - should the alarm bells be ringing ?

Would you avoid it ?

cheers

Buy it and i'll swap my standard system with you :yes:

Edited 27 November, 201015 yr by martziniuk

Performance exhaust and lowered suspension to me means one of two things -

1) Enthusiastic but responsible driver - rare

2) Boy racer with a need for speed - more common

Despite the Octavia vRS not being the obvious choice for your typical chav I'd stay well clear.

Even if you plan to do the same to it yourself, I'd prefer to buy standard and know it's been done properly.

It's the same with cars with tow bars advertised as "for bike rack only" or "only used for towing a couple of times"

Walk away, plenty of choice out there

Would be happier to buy it if I knew the owner i.e. a private sale as you could judge the type of owner they are. From a dealer you lose this knowledge hence would probably avoid.

yep will avoid - chances are its also been remapped....

not that this is a bad thing per se but I'd prefer to know who by and how much etc

I never thought it would be this difficult to find a VRS...

Would be happier to buy it if I knew the owner i.e. a private sale as you could judge the type of owner they are. From a dealer you lose this knowledge hence would probably avoid.

i agree, i would want to look into what parts, price, quality, etc

yep will avoid - chances are its also been remapped....

not that this is a bad thing per se but I'd prefer to know who by and how much etc

I never thought it would be this difficult to find a VRS...

The dealer could put map back to standard quite easily. I wouldn't be put off as long as it sounded ok and if you intend to put mods on this could be a good place to start. If you didn't want to mod it you could sell/swap the bits and make a bit of cash.

Engines these days can take quite a bit of hammer.

The other question is:

What is the price difference between this and a standard model, and can I make the same changes for about the same, and know exactly what has been done and what parts used?

Called about a VRS today - the dealer said it had been lowered and had an after market exhaust - should the alarm bells be ringing ?

Would you avoid it ?

cheers

I would target it. My experience, and it is reasonable experience, is that the folks who have made modifications to their car, are ones that have looked after their car. I have changed the suspension, exhaust, remapped it, and a bunch of other stuff. It is meticulously washed every week, at the very least, and I am also in possession of the software that logs engine performance and problems to the point of verging on OCD. Give me one of those over an ex-company car that has been flogged to death any day!!

Personally I would'nt bother with it.

There are stacks out there.

Many enthusiasts do drop their motors and put racing cans on the back.

Many good and decent people frequent this forum who pamper and cherish their motor like I do.

They add mod's which is completely acceptable.

What I would do is find out a bit about the previous owner.

Age/Sex/Location. Maybe pop round and see if he or she is a respectable person and not a burberry cap wearing smack rat.

burberry cap wearing smack rat.

:rofl:

Performance exhaust and lowered suspension to me means one of two things -

1) Enthusiastic but responsible driver - rare

2) Boy racer with a need for speed - more common

Despite the Octavia vRS not being the obvious choice for your typical chav I'd stay well clear.

Even if you plan to do the same to it yourself, I'd prefer to buy standard and know it's been done properly.

It's the same with cars with tow bars advertised as "for bike rack only" or "only used for towing a couple of times"

Walk away, plenty of choice out there

Thats me thank you very much, apart from the exhaust - for now!

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by Pagey1255

I would have no hesitation buying a nicely modified car directly from someone on here or another forum, I'd maybe be slightly less inclined to buy such a car from a dealer. I'd be influenced by the brands of suspension and exhaust fitted. I would also assume it had been remapped, even if the dealer said it hadn't - it's quite possible it was and the previous owner returned it to stock before trading it in.

I'd stay well clear from that car mate. Like already said, a car with lowered suspension and big exhaust could mean trouble. I don't mind these 2 mods myself but the problem you have is not knowing if it's being profesionaly fitted. On top of all this, if the previous owner was a 'Boy Racer' and the car has being thrashed around it could lead to big engine problems in the future. It's a shame that the chav chariot are after VRS's these days I wish they'd stick to their plastic Jap crap mobiles! I'd buy a standard one and if you wanted to do any of these mods you can, knowing it's being done properly. Good luck!

If I didn't know the car and/or the person selling it then the words 'Sh*tty' and 'Stick' would come to mind.

Any second hand car carries a certain element of risk but a modded car suggests it may have lead a hard life.

Find a nice tidy non modded example.

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by dstev2000

Hi i dont fully agree with the comments made in regards to chavs and stuff, so this is my opinion....

I purchased my octavia sport, which was fitted with coilovers and it sits lower then the standard models. My car was purchased from a mature owner, i also have a child and a mrs and i drive normal, there is a big gain imo with the uprated suspension you get alot of handling benefits not just if your driving with a heavy foot but also normal driving, i wouldn't like anything different, my insurance went up £26 pounds im 23 with 2years NCB.

In all honesty the only problem is if you have a car full or a heavy load you find the higher speed bumps can be troublesom. It's all with personal taste. The Engines in our cars are brilliant and would drive to the moon and back no problem. look out for the obvious faults test drive it and test drive a normal one see which suits you best.

I think its fair to say a standard model with full service history is still not a bad idea but every car has some fault here or there, i wouldn't class my self as a boy racer or chav, but i do like my own little mods, nothing over the top i like to keep it oem, i even just purchased some VRS interior which i love.

About the jap crap comment, i also own a Honda Civic VTi with a Turbo Conversion this is my summer car/toy and its a brilliant car engine built to last.. This is not an argument starter as we are all here as enthusiasts and what not but I dont think its right everybody been stereotyped in what they drive or do to there wheels, sorry about the random spelling mistakes here or there im typing this on my phone and takes to long to amend

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by sean Gt

Buying anything second hand has it's issues!

I know loads of folk with un-modified cars that are mercilessly thrashed within an inch of their life then traded in with "full dealer history, one owner from new etc"!

One of my colleagues has just px'd his A3 sports hatch & I pity anyone who buys it! Looks lovely and has all the dealer stamps, but... I know what has happened to it, the dealer never asked and therefore will never have to say!

Equally I know load of folks with modified cars that are meticulously cared for (many on this forum) and driven safely but enthusiastically. Sean Gt's being an example in kind

Also some folk genuinely do fit a tow bar only for cycle carriers! I'd rather it be that than a car that has had a badly fitted strap on rack perched on the rear bumper/screen/tailgate, chaffing away the paint!