Did you use the peel-off stuff, Barrie?

I like them, look against the grey car

Did you use the peel-off stuff, Barrie?

I like them, look against the grey car

Peel off? The wheels are powder coated and laquered, no plasti-dip this time Brim!!

Looking awesome mate, nice to see you have a sense of humour with it too

 

OOkay, really, a great colour, good job I didn't go for that one, may we shouldn't park next to each other, or we might clash

 

Green and orange are a good combo - no clash at all. After all these have sold well for decades...

 

Green and orange are a good combo - no clash at all. After all these have sold well for decades...

 

You've seen the green of my car, yes?? :p

You've seen the green of my car, yes?? :p

Yes, and I stand by my choice

 

Probably shouldn't admit to this, but I had a dream (as a kid, I hasten to add) in which my hair had somehow been dyed green with orange sides. I got used to the comments from the other kids at school, and by the time I woke up I was really proud of the combo. I was very disappointed to find out it had just been a dream when I looked in a mirror after getting up!!!

For some time, I've half been on the lookout for some more supportive seats for the vRoomster. As luck would have it during my last week in Kent before starting a new job 125 miles closer to home, some fronts from a 2004 Ibiza FR popped up for sale

Met the seller and had a good look. A small burn/tear in a corner of the headrest, but otherwise, they were not far off awesome for seats that are pushing 12 yrs old. They are also not too dissimilar in colour scheme to the OEM cloth.

For the £50 asking price, I took a punt on them bolting straight in as the Roomster is essentially a 6Y fabia upto the B Pillar

Passenger side out:

A quick switch over of the seatbelt connections to retain the 'fasten seatbelt sensors' from the OEM seats

OEM connector stalk:

Ibiza FR connector stalk:

Sensor:

Slots into the sensor connector block on the underside of the seat

By this stage I'd gotten bored of taking pictures and was running out of time, so to cut a long post short. They fit!!

Much more supportive than the OEM seats.

I've had to sacrifice the passenger side storage tray I'd fitted as the plastic moulding differs on the seats. I suspect with enough time and patience, the mouldings could be swapped, but for now they're staying put.

I have gained height adjustment on the passenger seat now though

I go away for a month Barrie, and you get all this done. Lookin' good. Spoiler may not be that big, but justs add's to the look. Orange wheels, FANTASTIC. Barrie's back.

I go away for a month Barrie, and you get all this done. Lookin' good. Spoiler may not be that big, but justs add's to the look. Orange wheels, FANTASTIC. Barrie's back.

Thanks Clive.

Into UNIT18 again tomorrow for an MOT, a stainless top boost pipe, a suspected knackered wheel bearing, and fix a rattling exhaust heat shield

Oh, and she's ticked over 120k miles this week

Looks like nice oem looking seats with the added support.

Looks like nice oem looking seats with the added support.

Indeed, as above, very similar to OEM

Looks ace Barrie, brave choice on the orange wheels but why the hell not!!

 

Matt

Looks ace Barrie, brave choice on the orange wheels but why the hell not!!

Matt

Thanks chap.

The orange wheels are only 'for best'

Afternoon,

 

Very interesting thread! My Roomster is coming to the age where I'm just deciding to keep it or chop it in (plus possible giant boot of the SuperB requirements to be considered) but on the keep it (until it dies) path, some tinkering is very appealing - especially as it seems to be worth so little used!

 

You may have mentioned it already (but there's 11 pages to this thread!) - are you using the factory 5 speed gearbox with that ~215BHP upgrade and how do you find it?

 

Seat swap is also interesting as I've started to find I'm pretty uncomfortable driving for long periods when previously the car was very comfortable to drive. I guess part of that could be wear and tear on the seats, as well as me! I wonder if the electric seats from an Octavia/Superb fit...?

 

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve,

For starters, thank you!!

In answer to your questions:-

Yes, factory 5 speed gearbox. Single mass flywheel as standard so no nasty DMF concerns. Having owned the 6Y Fabia vRS before, and the wife's 6spd Touran, I do find myself looking for 6th sometimes.

It does get a bit stiff and notchy when giving it some beans for extended periods on track. Perhaps an oil issue?

Seats wise, have a look at a CG Lock. Paid dividends with my back pain on my former 150 mile twice weekly commute.

Sadly the resale is close to 'Fork Hall' especially with mine now nudging 128k.

For your tinkering, I'd highly recommend Alistair and his team at UNIT18 in MK.

Well, your Roomster just shows what can be done with a bit of imagination I think. I've never considered taking mine on a track! I wouldn't be able to lower it much though - too many speed bumps and rutted tracks.

I've sort of made the Roomster plans irrelevant now by agreeing a mkII SuperB purchase today - at least it saves me trying to figure out if those electric seats can fit...

I've had a search for CG Lock; I've found a seat belt retention system to add to a standard seatbelt that seems aimed at track use and a couple of UK places advertising something but they website they link to seems to have gone. Give me a pointer?

Cheers,

Steve

Regarding CG Lock. According to their site, Kamracing have some, but they say, not being made anymore. 

Hi Steve,

Demon Tweeks look to be the best bet for the CG Lock.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/harness-pads-accessories/cg-lock-seatbelt-stabiliser

Regarding CG Lock. According to their site, Kamracing have some, but they say, not being made anymore.

Thanks for the heads up Clive. Just ordered myself a spare!!

Nice seeing some inspirational Roomsters - we just bought our today...

So, the end of an era. Parked up SORN'd on the MIL drive, destination unknown. 

 

130k+ miles and many many smiles it's been a fun 7.5yrs of ownership and further testament to the bullet proof reliability of the PD 1.9tdi.

 

The reality is that it'll likely be bought by a good mate of mine as a fun runabout with half the mileage of his current one.

 

Keep 'em peeled in the For Sale section for some wheely good wheels

"You cannot be serious" a sad day for the Midlands Barrie. 

 

A sad day - the end of an era! 

Times change. People change......

 

Keep 'em peeled for a monochromatic Superb on air