Well, after having the car back for a week or so now and having driven it around i thought it time I posted a review.

After what seems like forever waiting (supply problem with 1 single part!) my 2002 Octy vRS is back from Impossible Performance in Kent. It has been in the shop having a custom GT28-71R big turbo conversion. The main 'new-bits-list' is:

Turbo, manifold, 3" downpipe, new injectors, Jabba/Pro-Alloy font-mount, 3" one piece intake with big maf housing, some internals (JE pistons, rods) and of course a custom remap.

Some of the more observant of you will notice the addition of some other bits that went on as well such as a Neuspeed rear ARB and a subtle new rear spoiler to keep the back down at silly (really silly!) speeds. The spoiler is APR Performance adjustable GTC200 wing, made of carbon fibre (mmmm) - you can lift it with one single finger it is so light! While the car was there I also had the bushes replaces with Powerflex ones and the engine mount replaced a Powerflex one too.

So what is the map like? Well Mike can map pretty much anything you want - I wanted a progressive increase in boost rather than everything all at once (bye bye traction!). If you plant your foot, the turbo will start to build from about 3.5-4k and when you hit 4k, oh my God - all Hell breaks loose and car takes off like someone has fired it from a cannon! It is very VERY exciting! The noise is also intoxicating, there is some real induction roar as the turbo spins up to 2bar, droppping back to around 1.5 around the redline. As you probably know, my exhaust is not exactly subtle and the addition of the 3" downpipe has made it sound even better! As you come off the gas the exhaust pops, spits and bangs like a rally car - it makes the driving experience even better!

One of the main problems I am having is that it really is so exciting to drive that I keep forgetting to breathe!

As the turbo starts to come in at around 3.5k, the pootling around driving experience has been completely changed as well. The car drives absolutely brilliantly - but there is no turbo so its like driving a normally aspirated car. This means the driving is safe and predictable and best of all I easily can see >50mpg on motorways and 30-40 in normal urban driving - almost diesel territory - so now I have the best of both worlds!

Obviously the experience is not for everyone - I know some will prefer to have the turbo available all the time but for those of you who maybe use your cars for commuting (where economy is important) but feel when you come to take on another car you would do with a little extra 'something', I would urge you to come and see me at the next meet/trackday and have a ride!! ...and no Jon, you can't borrow it to take to the ring

I've still got a few things to do:

Im still on my standard box with Sachs clutch/flywheel which although the car does drive fine with them currently (1st gear standing starts aside!) realistically it isn't up to the job of being 'tracked' hard which is what i want to do with it so i'm looking for a 6 speed 'box with LSD to solve that problem.

Also the disco group N brake kit which i currently have is getting a bit worn so that will probably get replaced with a 4 or 6 pot kit in the near future also.

I haven't had it dyno'd yet so I have no idea what the outputs are - I will do it when I get a chance and post the results!

So in summary:

I'm very happy

Car drives good as gold in traffic/round town/motorways

Car drives like a bat out of Hell when the loud pedal is depressed

What would I change if I did it again? So far nothing!

Well... can't sit here typing all morning - I need to go to work before the traffic starts! Strange how my 1.5 miles journey to work is taking 3/4 of an hour these days.....

And when can I come around again?

:shocked: Yummy.

Looks nice! just don't like the spoiler but if its needed to stop the car from sprouting wings and flying then fine!

good job done!

Looking very nice

Pick up from 4k is awesome....it's at 6k before you know it.

Sound is intoxicating but very loud....could be heard from my house and we were on the M3. Pops and bangs are a riot...everytime foot off accelerator.

Nice neat job in the exgine bay as well.... to Mike.

Just a few bits to be fettled and then it's sorted.

p.s Dave...you forgot about the seats...need some proper bucket now.

:wow: Any chance of some facts and figures or are they a guarded secret!

BHP in gear times,top end potential.Just curious

Will you be bringing out to play at Bruntingthorpe?

Fantastic job mate. loving that car!

.... And you'll still lose to Graeme round the track :P

Looks smart Dave, not too keen on the tea tray spoiler though.

That looks fantastic and the spec is very cheaky indeed.

sounds very cool Dave... shame you have no idea on the outputs but as always its the backside that lets you know whether something is working well or not and by the sounds of it things most deffinately are.

cant wait to see it in the flesh

A couple more tarty pics:

Yes I am taking it to Brunters - although i might not take it on track if a certain company t'up North doesn't get on with putting a new gearbox in!

I forgot to mention about traction - first can just keep traction but it's a bit pointless, 2nd can get the power down in the dry and all the others can of course with ease. 2nd gear is a particular favourite of mine

No idea what the actual top end is but it quite easily goes off the clock :eek:

edit: I have tons of great pics in hi-res if anybody wants any - they make really cool wallpaper!

That spoiler looks a bit to small. :sofahide:

It looks awesome Dave, I can't wait to see and hear the thing!!

If its going on track at Brunters, I sense an orderly queue forming for rides, with ME at the front!

If its going on track at Brunters, I sense an orderly queue forming for rides, with ME at the front!

Will the fat bloke be driving it.

Dave

Sounds like bigger brakes are a definite must, especially the hammering they will take over the course of a few laps of Brunters as you speed past most things on the straights, on your way to the corners.

Remembering back to the Beast before the work, on a scale of 1 to 10 how much faster is this turbo/remap? (1 being equivalent to an off the shelf remap compared to the standard vRS, and 10 being like stepping from a 2CV into a jet fighter plane!) I will want to see more at Brunters!

this is exaclty what i'm wanting for my 4x4, only i think i'd want a different map with the turbo coming in sooner as traction would be less of an issue

That looks the business , I wish I was over jumping the queue at the meet .

Any vid/audio clips to wet our appetite .

Guess what I managed to have a ride in this evening?

This is the look on my face

And it's not disappeared after 2 hours!

***k me this things quick! :eek:

The surge from the turbo as it comes on boost is immense and it just keeps pulling and pulling!

It pops and bangs like a proper rally slag!

I have a dark and shaky vid of it driving off taken on my digicam but can't upload it. With Dave's permission i'm happy to mail to someone to do the houours...

I'll host it: q @awooga.nl

I'll host it: q @awooga.nl

awooga warning!!

I am not sleeping tonight until this video is uploaded!

Sounds like a monster

Doubt it would see a standard Furb vRS off though

I am not sleeping tonight until this video is uploaded!

Sounds like a monster

Doubt it would see a standard Furb vRS off though

Don't dis the Furb...they can see off Scoobys you know and Lambo's.