Thinking most Vrs owners go with performance upgrades.

I was wondering how practical it would be to go 4x4.

Parts availability seems reasonable. So parts could be taken from a W.O. 4x4 estate car.

Figured would need gearbox through to rear axle.

What issues would there be regarding ECU etc and considering current car has ESP would that be difficult to overcome?

am I mad?

Yes you are lol

Money no object then anything can be done.

Easy to do it the other way around, 4x4 to VRS.

Upgrading a vRS to 4x4 would be a huge amount of work.

I'd buy a 4x4 to start with and change the engine. As the CR140 is effectively the same as the CR170 it should be straightforward enough and I can't believe you couldn't do something similar with the petrols.

After that, drop the suspension and you're pretty much there I'd have said.

Upgrading a vRS to 4x4 would be a huge amount of work.

I'd buy a 4x4 to start with and change the engine. As the CR140 is effectively the same as the CR170 it should be straightforward enough and I can't believe you couldn't do something similar with the petrols.

After that, drop the suspension and you're pretty much there I'd have said.

The PD/CR140 is in the Mk2 Octavia, the Mk1 Octavia has the 1.8T (150bhp)

am I mad?

Yes

The 4x4 is actually quite different to the vRS

You would have to cut the whole floor out of the vRS and put a 4x4 floor into it

Just get a 4x4 to start with - often cheaper than a vRS anyway

A much more rigid chassis too

I doubt you could really do it (easily/cheaply) using the older syncro (pre-haldex) setup either.

Dump the vRS and get a 4x4

Easy to do it the other way around, 4x4 to VRS.

If I understand correctly, if you take the 150bhp 1.8T in the 4x4 and have it remapped, you'll have the same engine as the 1.8T in the vRS. The 150bhp limitation is only imposed in software. The mk1 4x4 was only ever made with the 1.8T petrol so diesel is out unless you're talking about a mk2.

If you're worried about styling, the 4x4 sits slightly higher (although I've never really noticed it) and has a slightly less aggressive-looking grill, but both of these are easily changed. I think that's about it.

and it is effectively the same engine just a different map. So as fatty said "Easy to do it the other way around, 4x4 to VRS". List of parts includes Front Bumper, rear spoiler, lower suspension(as stated the 4x4 does sit a lot higher than the VRs), 17" spiders, full interior.

edit: +remap

edit: edit: +LPG then its like having a PD200 :D

edit:edit: edit: the independent rear setup on the 4x4 is better than the beam axle of the VRs as well

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by karlbar2k

What about using mk4 Golf 4motion parts? Would you have the same problems?

What about using mk4 Golf 4motion parts? Would you have the same problems?

Worse

Same system, shorter prop shaft

what about the estate vrs? that has haldex doesnt it?

what about the estate vrs? that has haldex doesnt it?

Nope 2wd