This is a bit of a complicated story... We have a Fabia VRS, and a BMW 330d. I do relatively short journeys, and my wife does longer journeys. So, for economy, I should be driving the BMW and my wife the VRS.

However, the VRS is too slow for her and she "can't overtake" in it. So, I drive the VRS, she drives the BMW. The BMW is getting on a bit, and to be honest I don't like driving it much as the steering is vague. The plan is to get rid of the BMW and get another Porsche, so I really needed to solve the problem of the "slow" VRS.

My son is in the industry, so I asked him to do some research, but he did one better, he bought me a remap at Forge in Gloucester for xmas. So, I got a "free" remap.

I travelled to Gloucester on Monday, and I must say I'm very impressed by Forge. The people are very friendly and obviously enjoy their work. The facilities are excellent and they are obviously very busy. They made me comfortable and supplied me with coffee and magazines to read.

The car hasn't been RR tested so I don't know and don't really care what bhp it is producing, but it runs really smoothly, and pulls very strongly to any sane speed, and thankfully the torque steer I was worrying about really isn't an issue if a small degree of common sense is applied. It will now overtake just about anything, and the fuel economy on the daily work run is exactly the same as before.

I was also going to get a Forge strut brace, but they found that although it fits the 2005 VRS, my 2006 has more gadgetry in the way, so they felt it would be a "bodge" and were unhappy, so I'm seeing how things go without, and so far, it seems pretty ok. Ferodo pads going on next week, and hopefully we'll see some dry roads soon.

Bottom line: If you want a remap, I couldn't recommend Forge highly enough.

Edited 25 January, 201214 yr by jem

Strange the wife can't overtake in the vrs as I'm sure it is quicker from 40-70 than a 330d. Sure it's not the skoda badge that puts her off? Glad you're getting on with the vrs though!

I never had any problems with overtaking in my Fabia VRS, more like most of the cars i've come across couldn't get past me. VRS is great for mid-range. Surely must be something wrong with the car?

I've just had mine custom remaped which has made overtaking even more of a breeze on any kind of road...

Edited 25 January, 201214 yr by vertrider06

Strange the wife can't overtake in the vrs as I'm sure it is quicker from 40-70 than a 330d. Sure it's not the skoda badge that puts her off? Glad you're getting on with the vrs though!

+1

My pd100 was easy to over take things in, since my shark map it's been made even easier :p

Whats she trying to overtake?!?

Lol

Strange the wife can't overtake in the vrs as I'm sure it is quicker from 40-70 than a 330d. Sure it's not the skoda badge that puts her off? Glad you're getting on with the vrs though!

Can't believe a standard VRS would be quicker 30-70 (or 40-70) than a 330d in any guise. Even the original had 184bhp and 287lbs/ft.

Was she trying to overtake someone on a push bike at 15mph in 6th?

Can't believe a standard VRS would be quicker 30-70 (or 40-70) than a 330d in any guise. Even the original had 184bhp and 287lbs/ft.

The BMW is a tank in comparison to the Fabia

BMW produces 300lbft @1750rpm and 200hp @4000rpm, assuming it's the 2002 version. Torque is flat from 2K - 3K rpm before it starts tailing off.

I'd say a standard Fabia VRS is going to lose out in the majority of situations. Add a little heat soak into the intercooler and it'll lose by more.

J.

Strange the wife can't overtake in the vrs as I'm sure it is quicker from 40-70 than a 330d. Sure it's not the skoda badge that puts her off? Glad you're getting on with the vrs though!

err, no, the 330d can out accelerate an M3 in the midrange and ours is an auto... its a hugely quick car, 205bhp and enough torque to uproot trees... but its just so dull.

Whats she trying to overtake?!?

Lol

All sorts of slow moving traffic on mainly narrow country roads, needs a lot of instant poke, kickdown and huge torque is very useful. I think she'll find the flatter torque curve of the remapped car rather more to her taste.

err, no, the 330d can out accelerate an M3 in the midrange and ours is an auto... its a hugely quick car, 205bhp and enough torque to uproot trees... but its just so dull.

What kind of m3 is that? Lol

What kind of m3 is that? Lol

A blue one, and a silver one. We often show them up on the motorway. However, there are many different M3s about, so my statement may not hold absolutely true in all situations. However the 330d is extremely quick, but has horrid steering, wobbly handling and is just about useless in snow and ice. Which is why I drive the VRS.