Hi - Couple of things for those people who might want to change to coilovers, that I've noticed for general driving.

1) Don't hit holes in the road while going around bends at speed.... BANG! is the shock which comes right through the car...

2) Don't try to straddle those "2 lumps side by side" speed bumps... Will just rip off the engine tray and maybe worse. bye bye sump.

3) Take "normal" speed bumps a lot slower. If you don't, front end bounces over like normal, but the rear will crash down probably knackering your tailpipe... :thumbdwn:

4) Try and concentrate on avoiding general potholes while going in a straight line. If you can't because there's too many of them, hang on!

5) When a stone gets caught between the tyre and arch its more reluctant to be "pinged out" like normal, probably due to tighter gap between rubber and liner? I got one caught in there and it rattled in there really loud for SO long I thought something had broken in the engine and I pulled over for a worried inspection.

6) No more other things - just enjoy the total LACK of body roll through corners, and the nice look of being around 70mm (if you do desire) lower than normal. Of course you can have +30mm higher if you really want to.

I had a set of KONI coilovers fitted to my Mk4 Golf GTi which dropped the ride height by about 45mm. You are quite right about avoiding potholes and speed bumps, but one of the biggest problems was dead livestock in the road. Straddling a defunct rabbit or hare was impossible, I could feel them being disemboweled as they rattling their way along the bottom of the car! My biggest shock was when I came across a dead fox, that smashed the engine undertray. So be careful. Also, you'll be quite surprised over the next few weeks where you can't go, or where you would rather not go again. It's almost like riding a motorcycle, you spend more time observing the road surface and its imperfections, before long you will know every single pothole between your home and workplace.

I think your car looks fantastic, real mean and lean. You provided a very good write up also

Can I ask a really stupid question here???

Ok, never mind, I will anyway.......

Now that Jason's coilover kit makes driving more of a navigation by gunfire trip, what is the point?

Surely the whole point about having a fast car is the ability to drive the thing without constantly looking out for every pebble in the road?

It must be a nightmare :confused:

I know that F1 drivers say that after a Grand Prix they have developed their own version of a "1000 yard stare" because they are constantly looking at the track surface ........ and they also say that they couldn't drive like that for any length of time because of how mentally tired it makes them.

IMVHO I believe it's a mod too far: mods that increase driving pleasure, even if they can't be seen are good

mods that can be seen and detract from the driving experience of such a great car are a pain in the backside and are probably quite dangerous as the distraction factor may be too great (sorry officer, I was watching out for a pothole when I t-boned you) :thumbdwn:

I know from experience.... used to (probably still do) fit mods that distract and detract from driving thrills and have usually cost me loads in the process (oh but they looked good... at least when I was sitting still)

and again, in my very humble opinion, it still looks too much like that 206 from the Indian elephant advert sorry

Can I ask a really stupid question here???

Ok' date=' never mind, I will anyway.......

Now that Jason's coilover kit makes driving more of a navigation by gunfire trip, what is the point?

[/quote']

Have to say I agree.

Des

Maybe he has it set too low? :confused:

Maybe he has it set too low? :confused:

not low enough.

To try and clarify, I don't do anything like the 1000 yard stare. I believe that would detract from general driving observational ability, and make driving unsafe. :thumbdwn: Over general road undulations / cracks / roughage (like we're all used to ) I haven't had to change my driving style at all. Its just a little less "lush" at soaking up the bumps (hence I can't take speed bumps at 20mph now)

Now where can I get myself an elephant?

A car can never be too low

Its just a little less "lush" at soaking up the bumps (hence I can't take speed bumps at 20mph now)

My bog standard Elegance looks like it's on stilts compared to yours. But it can hit bumps at speed with no problems. It's those chubby 45% tyres and high suspension that lets me get away with it. Why they make speed bumps that allow me to drive at speed and you not, I just cannot fathom

My bog standard Elegance looks like it's on stilts compared to yours. But it can hit bumps at speed with no problems. It's those chubby 45% tyres and high suspension that lets me get away with it. Why they make speed bumps that allow me to drive at speed and you not, I just cannot fathom

I think people are taking what devonutopia says a little too seriously, what I believe he is referring to is a harsher ride and the fact that it's better to stay away from pot holes, but isn't it always? I don't ever remember him saying it was neck crippling, just firm, and on a decent road or even 90% of back roads or a track he would simply anhilate your car - horses for courses my friend

I don't ever remember him saying it was neck crippling, just firm, and on a decent road or even 90% of back roads or a track he would simply anhilate your car - horses for courses my friend

Don't get me wrong. I think his car looks very good - straightforward and functional looking without any fuss. That's the style I like. It just seems from his comments that he has to be more cautious now. At one end of the spectrum is the off-roader that can straddle boulders and at the other end is the road racer that's fast and low. A practical road-going car needs to be in-between. The good thing about Jason's setup is that he can adjust it to suit - and I guess he may well decide to raise it a little now.

Don't get me wrong. I think his car looks very good - straightforward and functional looking without any fuss. That's the style I like. It just seems from his comments that he has to be more cautious now. At one end of the spectrum is the off-roader that can straddle boulders and at the other end is the road racer that's fast and low. A practical road-going car needs to be in-between. The good thing about Jason's setup is that he can adjust it to suit - and I guess he may well decide to raise it a little now.

Might very well do - queue jumped down the outside lane of a roundabout this evening and whilst doing my "right hand turn" bit to keep in my lane I got a nice buzzing noise from my left wheel arch... I was going a little quicker than I would normally though, but it told me I have to ease off. I don't think the compression of each corner during cornering can be controlled, whilst maintaining the same height generally.... So, for general driving, the fronts may have to come up a couple of turns. :(

Thought one of the advantages of coilovers was lowering but maintaining a good ride?

Jason are there pics of your car anywhere with the coilovers fitted?

Thought one of the advantages of coilovers was lowering but maintaining a good ride?

Jason are there pics of your car anywhere with the coilovers fitted?

That usually isnt the case on small cars.. due to centres of gravity... track lengths etc :(

Ah i see. Just remembered a well known briskodian talking about how good the ride was with coilovers fitted to an Octy. Suppose the longer wheelbase counts for a lot.

Well, depends on your definition of "good" - for the majority I suspect this means being nice and limo like in a straight line, but these are not "rock hard" in a straight line but are harsher than standard / eibachs. Still, I've already learned to live with it, and in no way do I feel "discomfort" whilst driving. If I did on a regular basis, they'd be coming off again!

A piccie? ahem [goes off to browse] 'ere we go.

That is erm.. low

Looks great Jason, i like it a lot

Do you like the "recently opened up and repaired 17" monitor on the front seat look" too?

I swear that, that long standing "RS" petrol cap sticker is coming off a.s.a.p. If only someone did a genuine chrome style entire cap replacement... :(

Do you like the "recently opened up and repaired 17" monitor on the front seat look" too?

I swear that' date=' that long standing "RS" petrol cap sticker is coming off a.s.a.p. If only someone did a genuine chrome style entire cap replacement... :([/quote']

Maybe a dimma cover would look better?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43119&item=7966707347&rd=1

Maybe a dimma cover would look better?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43119&item=7966707347&rd=1

or not?

IMHO i'd take the stock flap everyday over any stickon jargon.

Maybe if a proper billet cap was released i'd think about it, but i cant see it coming soon

Well' date=' depends on your definition of "good" - for the majority I suspect this means being nice and limo like in a straight line, but these are not "rock hard" in a straight line but are harsher than standard / eibachs.

[/quote']

I have to say I'm more than happy with the suspension set-up on the standard vRS.

It's pliant enough to maintain traction on rough surfaces, but it doesn't seem to be to the detriment of high speed, smooth corners.

Even the Ibiza TDi Sport seemed too firm to me. It just fell apart when you drove down a B road: the body just pitched and dived, instead of the suspension absorbing the irregularities.

Rock-hard, massively low suspension is, I believe, best left to racing circuits. I've lowered cars in the past and then immediately raised them again, because it was just too compromising on the fun roads.

Have you done anything to alter the camber? When you lower the suspension a lot, the camber will normally be incorrect, which leads to rapid wear of the inside edges of the tyres, and tramlining.

I need to get a four wheel alignment check done a.s.a.p. Been looking for local places near me, as I don't really want to drive all the way to Gloucester to use Powerstation again. I'm sure I need to raise the fronts a couple of turns now though... :( Apparently the fronts are dead easy to adjust, compared to the rears, so could drop it "to the floor" for shows, then raise up again to drive home again.

I need to get a four wheel alignment check done a.s.a.p. Been looking for local places near me, as I don't really want to drive all the way to Gloucester to use Powerstation again

Is the alignment of the rear wheels adjustable? I thought it was only the fronts on the Fabia? :confused:

Chris

I need to get a four wheel alignment check done a.s.a.p. Been looking for local places near me, as I don't really want to drive all the way to Gloucester to use Powerstation again. I'm sure I need to raise the fronts a couple of turns now though... :( Apparently the fronts are dead easy to adjust, compared to the rears, so could drop it "to the floor" for shows, then raise up again to drive home again.

Is there any adjustment in your set up for the camber? It's normally fixed for MacPherson struts, and can only be adjusted with modified wishbones or spacers.

Nice! Not sure about the filler cap though??

Not sure about the filler cap though??

Thats OK, me too. Think it might be time to rip the thing off soon.