+1 mine too, I'm literally taking any excuse to drive the back roads to and from work, car hasn't seen the motorway in over a week

Such a good low cost mod, the car is transformed from how it drove stock.

indeed, and the more I drive it sparkly the better I find the mod! on here for years people have said its the best mod for handling in th echeapest way, and it IS true.... I am really happy how my car is now, considering how I hated it when I got it! (mostly because of the dunlops compaired to my old car) it was understeery , low grip hell, and now it just grips, tight turn in, flat handling, really enjoyable "point and squirt" ... it really has transformed the car...

 

as you put the miles on, it just gets better and better, as you push it, and it still gives!

Couldn't agree more, had a similar experience with tyres, they really can make or break the car.

The only negative is I have fully got the bug now and after having seen the benefits of some cheap handling mods I'm now eyeing up the next step. I would love to see what options there are to sharpen up the steering for example and am tempted by some superpro polybushes for the control arms, I would feel so happy if I could quicken up the steering rack.

But totally echo what you say some small changes have increased my enjoyment of the car 100%, relearning the way the car handles is really entertaining.

Ps.....still waiting for the Sharkrider's Mk2 Fabia vRS Build Thread : )

Get some good brakes on is what i say!!!

I have an offer of my mate's refurbed mk4 Golf R32 fronts in about a month's time, have said will take them. Have signed up to next year's spring track day so want to represent the mk2 Fabia's well : )

Might ask Santa for a remap too

YOUr doing it the correct way bud.  Handling/brakes and hardware then finish off with the remap.

Thanks Sy, if funds allow I'm hoping in the short term to widen the track with some spacers, add the superpro bushes for control arms only, some Bilstein B8's, my Pal's R32 brakes when he switches to Porsche callipers.

Long term plan is power,

I have seen how important an intercooler and intake are to doing stage 2 right, so I got an ITG when one came up second hand but it still makes proper power gains pricey with £1k for hardware (downpipe and cooler) and then the map.

Hell if I manage that lot "I" should start a build thread lol.

Im not a fan of spacers.  For me they seem like a weak point with potential to go wrong.  I preferred the option of using alloys with a better ofset to achieve the same.

 

My advice with power is dont bother going anywhere near as far as I went.  My stage 3 was shockingly fast, enough to keep up with Mountune Focus RS's and Porsche Carrera's (I have footage to prove both before any doubters come on) but it comes at an expense thats not worth the risk of running problems, damage and general worry about impending failures IMO.

 

Stage 2 software with just a remap feels quicker than my stock ST which is obviously not what would be referred to as slow.  Add the Intercooler and intake and the ST wouldn't have a chance.  Id say the Moune 275 package would be similar to a stage 2 1.4TSI with IC/Intake/DP.  I know 4 people now who have gone stage 3 and in hindsight said they wished they had stayed at stage 2.

 

 

 

In hindsight APR stage 2 was far enough.  230hp/270lbft in a 1200kg is not to be sniffed at.  Thats Focus RS power to weight ratio!!

I take the point on spacers, but for now i.e no track action planned for five six months I think these will be fine for fast road only, most of the horror stories I know come from silly things like people not using the right wheel bolts. Plus I really like the OEM+ look, with that said, if I had have had the cash at the time I would have gone for your Team Dynamics when you had them up.

My end goal is a full stage 2 setup as you said with IC, ITG Intake, not sure on the best options for exhaust yet, trying to get confirmation I can plumb a Miltek or Jetex downpipe straight into the stock cat back setup. Hoping so.

Between now and Christmas/New Year I want to try and get my handling set up nailed.

My VWR kit was essentially a rebadged Miltek mated to the stock catback with a reducer.  It sounded really meaty!!  Most people thought it was a full exhaust system when on tickover, but still managed to get about 85 decibels which is comically low.

Yup, that's my perfect set up, I want performance in the most stock non-shouty package possible. Nothing to hide as I'm fully legit with all mods declared, just a personal taste thing. Would you mind letting me know how you sourced that, I cant remember from your thread, was it just a call to APR?

Speak to APR who hare their HQ qith VWRacing.  What i would say is also speak with Miltek as they might be cheaper.

 

When they tell you (and they will) that the downpipe wont fit with the standard Catback just ignore them.  They are just trying to make more money out of you.

I had a Whiteline rear bar on my 2L Focus, and didn't notice that big a difference, tbh. Does it improve a Fabia that much? I can get the equivalent Whiteline for about $200 Oz at present, so if I can be convinced it'll make a noticeable difference, I'd be willing to go for it. For the record, I'd probably not bother with springs, as I don't have that big a problem with the height on looks (nor wanting to start scraping on speed humps etc).

I've got the H&R bar on mine Oz which is stiffer and non-adjustable compared to the adjustable whiteline. It dials out a lot of body roll and gives big improvement in cornering.

I drive over some bad roads and the odd speed bump coming into work and the car is nowhere near grounding out, that's at 40mm lower and the Eibach springs are offered with only 25mm drop. For me these also added bags of handling improvement.

I would suggest a focus straight out of the box might also be a better handling prospect than a Fabia

I had a Whiteline rear bar on my 2L Focus, and didn't notice that big a difference, tbh. Does it improve a Fabia that much? I can get the equivalent Whiteline for about $200 Oz at present, so if I can be convinced it'll make a noticeable difference, I'd be willing to go for it. For the record, I'd probably not bother with springs, as I don't have that big a problem with the height on looks (nor wanting to start scraping on speed humps etc).

 

The Whiteline ARBs are a fair amount smaller than th H&R bars.  

 

In the Mk1 Fabia section many people originally had the Whiteline bars and loved them, until they tried the thicker bars on the market and realised their Whitwline setup wasnt substantial, so the vast majority seem to have upgraded to a stiffer setup.  This is why I held out until H&R released theirs.

 

I would suggest a focus straight out of the box might also be a better handling prospect than a Fabia

 

It most certainly is, although it still needs an ARB upgrade

Had my RARB (purchased through the group buy) fitted today, not really had chance to test it fully but the car seems to corner a lot flatter and with more turn in.

 

Thanks to Sparkly for setting up the group buy.

the more you drive it, the more you notice the difference.....

Enjoy Bob, very glad you didn't let them weld it on

Enjoy Bob, very glad you didn't let them weld it on

really?! this was an option?!

Haha, just an amusing PM apparently the garage Bob went to was quite hardcore motorsport and suggested this was the best way forward.

Yeah they said this would be the best option as then the RARB wouldn't move at all and would give the best results.

They tune track cars, so know what they're doing, but this was a little extreme for a 6 month old Fabia.

Great garage though if anyone is looking for mods around Warrington.

How are you finding the bar Bob?

Really good, big improvement.

Next step springs, tempted to sneak in on the H&R ones and get those guys to fit them.

It still leans a bit more than I'd like under hard cornering even though it's holding the line much better.

The springs alone made a massive difference, in combo with the bar, awesome.

I don't think you'll be dissapointed.