Been having a few different thoughts about my Felicia. Assuming that I can find a set at a reasonable price - looking like I might - then a simple swap from the factory-fit steels to Skoda's original alloys looks probably.

That said, if I'm going to start spending money on her to look sharp perhaps I might as well go the whole hog. Perhaps a set of 15-inch aftermarkets and dropping her 40mm with the readily-available aftermarket springs is an option. Or even dropping her 40mm on the original Skoda alloys, just to look a bit more businesslike.

I love the comfortable ride I've got and the fact that she can trot over broken roads round our way far more comfortably than my wife's Pug 206. Perhaps losing that to a slightly meaner look would be silly - although a bit more assertiveness when nipping round roundabouts etc. wouldn't go a miss as she can wash out a bit.

What are the issues on dropping down a bit and fitting bigger wheels, any clues gratefully accepted!

so long as the wheels are roughly the same rolling diameter as the originals you should be ok, also don't go for silly wide wheels, i'm not really a big fan of having stupidly expensive flashy wheels, i've got a set of 15" g60 steels to go on mine..

re; springs, if you fit shorter springs then they will be much harder than the originals so you will loose some of the comfort, also the other thing worth doing is fitting an anti-roll bar from a 1.6 or diesel if yours does not already have one fiitted

so long as the wheels are roughly the same rolling diameter as the originals you should be ok, also don't go for silly wide wheels, i'm not really a big fan of having stupidly expensive flashy wheels, i've got a set of 15" g60 steels to go on mine..

re; springs, if you fit shorter springs then they will be much harder than the originals so you will loose some of the comfort, also the other thing worth doing is fitting an anti-roll bar from a 1.6 or diesel if yours does not already have one fiitted

I like the anti-roll bar idea Tom. On stock alloys that should sharped her up on the road without sacrificing the usability - and be a darn sight cheaper than new springs!

This is ideally how I'd like it to look:

Here's what I've got:

This is rather a nice one, I like the Kit Car style:

And here's one that looks like the wheels don't really match the rest of the car - the look I'm trying to avoid!

i quite like the wheels on the bottom one

I think they're the Ripspeed 15" that fit the Felicia - or very similar Czech ones. Perhaps I'm just used to seeing the stock alloys and rally wheels!

One thing's for sure - Skoda used to put a bag of cement in the boot for its promo shots!

Edited 22 January, 201115 yr by Pacific_Blue

think i might get a set of ronal turbo's for my pickup.. they will look pukka on there i reckon... but that would make me a wheel tart

One thing's for sure - Skoda used to put a bag of cement in the boot for its promo shots!

Standard handling upgrade for the Estelle, that was

If you want to maintain ride comfort then keeping a reasonable tyre profile is more important than you might think - even 15" wheels may be a step too far if you really need to soak up the bumps. As for handling, as Tom said make sure you've got all the stock bits first - front ARB, rear ARB (hatchbacks should have one already but estates don't), strut brace (fitted to all 1.6/1.9s and some 1.3s - seemingly at random). Being at least 10 years old, if it's still on the original dampers (especially at the front) then replacing those should improve things as well. If you do go for lower springs, make sure they're progressively wound ones.

I've got a randomly-applied strut brace nestling under the bonnet!

I think the anti roll bars are a must. Shouldn't be tooo hard to find. I'll also look into replacing dampers - did I read somewhere that they're unique to Felicia?

I photoshopped the pic of my car to put the L&K wheels on... and added some Skoda stripes. I think I can live with the existing ride height if it comes out like this...

everybody really knows that you are going to spend loads of money on wheels and a big exhaust and everything just don't let the mrs fiind out

what it really needs is to roll into my garage one day, and roll out the next day with more power :wonder:

I have a set of the L&K alloys (on my L&K strangely enough) they do look nice even when old and scabby like mine lol

if you buy used ones check they are straight as mine do seem to bend easily

pretty sure they are BBS ones i'll check next time I get one off

go for the front ARB it transforms the car I am using a felly van one on mine as its bigger again at 22mm

mine even handles ok with diesel front springs on for added ground clearance

ive got some of the roll bars about if you need some

^^ afaik jimbo, i think none of the felly's had a 22mm arb, it was only the vw version of the caddy pickup that had it... i've got a 22mm version on my pickup and i don't like it, i prefered the handling of the 20mm one. get too much understeer in the wet with the 22

edit: but then again my tyres are completely shot, i'll reserve judgement till then :wonder:

Edited 22 January, 201115 yr by TeflonTom

I have a set of the L&K alloys (on my L&K strangely enough) they do look nice even when old and scabby like mine lol

if you buy used ones check they are straight as mine do seem to bend easily

pretty sure they are BBS ones i'll check next time I get one off

go for the front ARB it transforms the car I am using a felly van one on mine as its bigger again at 22mm

mine even handles ok with diesel front springs on for added ground clearance

Hi 16v - I'm still waiting for the photos of each wheel - of course that will let me know if they're salvageable rather than straight. I'm feeling a bit of a minefield coming on! I think they were done by BBS.

Looks like ARBs are the way forward to tame the handling without losing ride doesn't it?

Thanks again

ive got some of the roll bars about if you need some

Erm... yes please! PM on its way.

^^ hold your horses, you need to check your front subframe has the slots to accept the inner roll bar mounting brackets first.. plus you will need to change your track control arms for the ones with the hole for the roll bar link

Given that the Pacific was a late '99/early '00 model I'd expect it to have the mounting holes already, but it's worth checking as Tom says.

Fun facts: the L&K 14" wheels are indeed by BBS, much like the mk2 Golf GTi ones they resemble. And apparently the Fun had a 22mm ARB as well as the Caddy.

edit: While we're at it, does anyone know the name/make of my absolute favourite 'Bohemia' wheels? I'd kill for a 14" set of these beauties, if they exist:

re-edit: It seems there's some pretty similar-looking 14"s made by Speedline for the Renault 21 TXi and Clio RSi. Time to start searching...

Edited 23 January, 201115 yr by RobinSLXi

Only £155 at the moment Robin and not long to go...

Bohemia

Just been out and got under the old girl.

Rear ARB is fitted but nothing on the front.

Right front shocker is still weeping a bit, although to be honest it's the left that feels spongier.

A front ARB to be sourced, then, plus new front shocks. I don't think I'll bother with the 40mm lower springs... too much else to spend money on!

Just been down to Brighton to pick up one set of original 7-spoke alloys plus a front anti-roll bar, thanks to a tip-off from Robin.

The breakers had just finished work on a '96 with 70k on the clock and a fresh MOT because they hadn't managed to sell her. I shall raise a glass to that poor old car tonight! :'(

The wheels have a few nicks and scrapes but nothing awful, plus all centre caps are there and in good nick and the tyres are almost new.

Result!

Artist's impression of Stage 1 of the refettling:

Question is now whether to drop 40mm or not when we put the new front shocks on. If yes then she'll get some Ellri arches. If not then it's on to the throttle body, damp problems and rust repairs!

^^ afaik jimbo, i think none of the felly's had a 22mm arb, it was only the vw version of the caddy pickup that had it... i've got a 22mm version on my pickup and i don't like it, i prefered the handling of the 20mm one. get too much understeer in the wet with the 22

edit: but then again my tyres are completely shot, i'll reserve judgement till then :wonder:

yea they do mate mine came off a 1.6 felly cube van, I believe they are fitted to the cube's due to the extra height ?

understeer is for wimps lol

i seem to remember when i bought my arb i had to go to a vw comercial van dealer because the skoda dealer could not order it.. very odd indeed :wonder:

i seem to remember when i bought my arb i had to go to a vw comercial van dealer because the skoda dealer could not order it.. very odd indeed :wonder:

Certainly the same 22mm part is listed for the Fun as for the Caddy. I think there's just some parts that have fallen off the Skoda system - my dealer had to get some inlet manifold bolts through TPS as the main system claimed a brand lockout when he tried to order them for me. Doubly odd since they're also the local VW commercial service centre and it's not like the Caddy didn't have the same engine...

New wheels - check!

New shocks - check!

New o/s driveshaft - check!

New anti-roll bar - check!

I'll see if that lot makes a difference, then get onto the rot and then finally the throttle body and valve clearances. It's a hobby in itself, innit?!?

L&K wheels are the best, i can't stand fitting aftermarket wheels that don't match the age and style of the car, like peeps that fit the brand new £2000 2010yr M3 19" wheels onto their 1994yr 318i's just looks stupid.

I have a real beaten up set of bbs 14" off an E30 3 series bmw(cost me £60 in all and tyres where in great nick too), they suit the car and the 185/55/14's provide much more grip than the 165 original size, i know you can fit 195/50/?? and 205/45/?? on the felicia but felicia's are not fast enough to justify ridiculous levels of grip.

and the additional weight and loss of fuel consumption will reduce your fun too!

these are the same wheels i have on my Felly

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/E30-BMW-14-BBS-Alloy-Wheel-Centre-Cap-and-Tyre-/220738434900?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item3365093754

found a few on ebay but not many sets of 4! the set below has a buy it now of £20 so if you live near this person then it's a possiblitiy....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-14-Cross-Spoke-Alloy-Wheels-/170602624202?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item27b8b574ca

Personally i wouldn't refurb them, just clean em up and then you can let the wife drive the car too without fretting about her kurbing the wheels

Edit: read the ad in the second link properly now and it's £20 per wheel not for the set

Edited 21 February, 201115 yr by Sonner