Hi all...

Thought I'd set up a proper post to track the progress of my RS as I make it 'my own'.

First of all... I happened to be at the dealer when the truck delivered my car to them. The link just below shows a couple of quick iPhone shots I took when it was fresh off the truck, and also one from collection day, in the garage after it's first 'shower' on the way home.

Luckily the following day the weather was much better, so the RS and I bonded properly when I gave it a wash, and took some better shots with the SLR.

More to follow...

Today I decided to de-badge the rear hatch by removing the Fabia and RS badges. If you're interested in doing this, and have just bought or about to purchase a new car, I would suggest doing it soon after collection. I've had my car only a week, and the removal was very easy. All I required was a little heat from my girls hairdryer, some fingernails, and a small bit of bug & tar remover. Because the car was new nearly all the adhesive came off with the badges, leaving just a small outline of gunk to remove. I just simply cleaned the area around the badges beforehand with a damp cloth, and afterwards wiped it off with the same cloth to remove any excess tar remover. The whole process took about 10 leisurely minutes. Results can be seen at the link below.

Stay tuned for stage two of my personalization within the next week or two.

Cheers!

Any reason for the de-badge? The look or going stealth?

I like having the clean look, and thought it would be fun to keep people guessing.

Have already caught a few people checking it out when it's been parked, or when they've heard the induction noise beside them in traffic. Now with just the Skoda and front vRS badges they're more likely to get interested in the brand perhaps. 'What the hell was that little Skoda?'

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yeah, I get you. I've lost count of the number of people who see me ahead of them at the lights and swap lanes to get behind, say, a Camry or an old Commodore 6-cylinder. I then have to "kill" the poor, innocent Camry to punish the lane-hopper's mistake.

Edited 25 February, 201313 yr by OzFabia

OK all...

Just got home from picking my car up after having the tint and some vinyl wrap done. Afternoon sun making it difficult to get good photos, so excuse the lens flares and crappy contrast etc. I'll try to get some better ones over the next week or so.

Tint is Cabon XP in the darkest legally allowed here. Wrap is 3M Metallic Gloss Black applied to c-pillar, bonnet and grill surround.

What do you guys think? See link below...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93387706@N08/sets/72157632930015890/

Like it

Please fix the pictures. I can't see any of them.

Lovely!

It looks like you'r allowed to tint front side windows in Oz, not allowed in UK :(.

I ordered mine already "wrapped" all in black

Please fix the pictures. I can't see any of them.

Hey.. not sure why it's not working.... try clicking here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/93387706@N08/

Been quiet here for a while... but the ball is rolling on the next phase or two.

My stage 1 tune should be happening on Friday then soon to be re-flashed to stage 2 when the following bits are fitted - http://www.flickr.com/photos/93387706@N08/sets/72157633317847702/

And here's a couple of shots I took while the car was wet the other day. Better lighting than the last lot... http://www.flickr.com/photos/93387706@N08/sets/72157633313581137/

Will share my impressions as it progresses.

Cheers.

I can't see your new picures either. There is just black squares where the pictures should be. Am I the only one?

But your link works, so that's fine .

Edited 24 April, 201313 yr by Kent (DK)

They are slide shows in flashplayer.

What bits are they - the cat on that turbo back exhaust looks really tiny compared to the massive can of the stock one...

I was alwyas a bit unconvinced that going from such a massive cross section of an EOM cat to not much bigger than the pipe itself corss section of the "sports cat" is possible really while steel achieving emissions and retaining flow characteristics.

The springs are VWRacing?

They are slide shows in flashplayer.

-snip-

That's the reason then. I am using an Ipad Mini .

Edited 24 April, 201313 yr by Kent (DK)

They are slide shows in flashplayer.

What bits are they - the cat on that turbo back exhaust looks really tiny compared to the massive can of the stock one...

I was alwyas a bit unconvinced that going from such a massive cross section of an EOM cat to not much bigger than the pipe itself corss section of the "sports cat" is possible really while steel achieving emissions and retaining flow characteristics.

The springs are VWRacing?

Hey... the exhaust is the actual prototype one used to make this production kit... http://goapr.com.au/products/HP_new_polo_gti_exhaust.html It was on the Project Polo car that APR developed here in Australia. The tailpipe has already been adjusted to fit the Fabia. It's a 200 cell cat which meets Euro emission standards. They spent a lot time developing and testing this system, so it should be pretty sweet. The same guys developed the Intercooler too.

Yeah.... the springs are VWRacing. Not much of a drop (about 20mm), but they're made to improve the handling and ride without the need to change dampers or anything.

Edited 24 April, 201313 yr by belegur

I am sure they are and I am also sure manufacturers do the same but they have another consideration, to make it as cheap as possible where APR and the like are not limited by that so much. This way they can make it perform on par within smaller cross section of the unit by using more expensive materials.

I've ssen some 200cell sport cats from china for £50 on fleebay LOL.

Stage 1 applied today

Initial impressions are good... Very noticeable difference just with the 40km's I did after work today.

Will post again when I have a chance to compare stock vs stage 1 properly for smoothness, performance, fuel economy etc.

Next step is about three weeks away

YOu certainly not faffing about with your mods! Is that APR's stage1?