I recently had a go in the new Seat Leon tdi 105ps and was amazed with the handling. It as like a gocart with little to none understear. The ride was firmer and even when i pushed the car quite hard i never had the ESC light flashing.

Although my fabia i have the sport suspension that also lowers the car by 10mm. But my car understears quite alot. I also have quite alot of body roll and when i try to push things i immediately get the flashing ESC light.. Why is it that the fabia understears so much and has so much body roll even with the sports suspension?
Could it be because i have stock 15" Rims and the Leon had 16" or 17" with possibly lower profile?

Im aware that the Seat should be the sportier kid in the VAG family. But i think its quite strange that a car with the "sports suspension" have alot more body roll and is less capable of cornering than a regular Leon TDI.

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Have you thought of fitting an rear anti roll bar (and maybe front too) this should help a lot with the body roll.

I just got my monte today & previously owned a greenline,both estates.

The greenline has lower suspension,about 10mm lower than he rest of the range & you can see it & it certainly handled ok for a normal car.

My monte now feels like it handles slightly better s i can only assume that the bigger Wider wheels are respnsible.

Either way though i wouldnt class any of the skoda standard suspensions as a true sports suspension & in my experience with other cars some decent aftermarket springs & shocks will have it handling better than the leon.

But yet again that isnt a true comparison as the leon was presumedly o. Standard suspension too. i wonder if the leon had the same aftermarket suspension fitted which one would feel better, if any.

RARB there is an H&R group buy on at the moment I believe

RARB there is an H&R group buy on at the moment I believe

There sure is, and they are being snapped up like hot cakes. Hoping to see mine this week along with some new springs

As mentioned, a rear ARB will make a big difference.

Damian @ DPM Performance

To resolve the understeer issue http://www.donpalmer.co.uk/car-control.html

Cracking day

To resolve the understeer issue http://www.donpalmer.co.uk/car-control.html

Cracking day

Sure its much upto the driver. But that doesnt change the fact that the fabia is more prone to understeer than the leon..

Yeah but i dont think i will buy more stuff for this car.. Ive already lost 5000gbp over 8months on it.. :S

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Sure its much upto the driver. But that doesnt change the fact that the fabia is more prone to understeer than the leon..

Yeah but i dont think i will buy more stuff for this car.. Ive already lost 5000gbp over 8months on it.. :S

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I fancy the gains in control you might get with a new set of springs would merit the £100 outlay. But completely understand the hurt on depreciation, a few months ago I "investigated" changing cars and nearly left the dealer in tears at my settlement vs part ex numbers.

I fancy the gains in control you might get with a new set of springs would merit the £100 outlay. But completely understand the hurt on depreciation, a few months ago I "investigated" changing cars and nearly left the dealer in tears at my settlement vs part ex numbers.

Apologies, I meant RARB and 150 squids. Mind was elsewhere

Apologies, I meant RARB and 150 squids. Mind was elsewhere

so if you could choose one thing fron wheels, springs and rarb then the rarb would be the biggest improvement?

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What tyres were on the heavier Leon & what are on your car. Was it possible 215's and low profile on the Seat.

?? What Brand and size of tyres do you have on?

 

You can do all you like or want on the car to improve it,

but if you need to change the tyres, then maybe look at different wheels and tyres, thats a start.

 

Consider the term 'Sport' from Skoda like a 'Sports Jacket', 'Sports Shoes',  etc,

might look smart to some but a bit naff really.

 

george

What tyres were on the heavier Leon & what are on your car. Was it possible 215's and low profile on the Seat.

?? What Brand and size of tyres do you have on?

You can do all you like or want on the car to improve it,

but if you need to change the tyres, then maybe look at different wheels and tyres, thats a start.

Consider the term 'Sport' from Skoda like a 'Sports Jacket', 'Sports Shoes', etc,

might look smart to some but a bit naff really.

george

Yes i think the Leon must have had something like 215 and 16-17inch wheels.

Im not sure what tires i havet but i will have a look tomorrow.

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Had a look at the tires today.

My car have dunlop sport sp 01. No idea if they are good or bad?

But if i would like to improve handling of the car what end should i start in?

Getting a rarb, 40mm lowering springs, coilovers, new wheels or just new tires?

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Pushing this one up a bit..

 

So should i aim for 40mm lowering springs or rarb or just new tires to improve the handling?

Surely all of the modifications makes the hanlding better, but what would make the biggest change?

Your current tyres might not give the best of handling.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Dunlop/SP-Sport-01.htm

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/124751-dunlop-sport-sp01-why-such-bad-reviews

 

What actual size tyres are on now summer time,

and do you change tyres/wheels for winter and summer?

 

If you are not going to be buying tyres soon anyway, then maybe go for the change of springs.

 

Everything might make a bit of a difference, its up to how much you want to spend.

 

george

What actual size tyres are on now summer time,

and do you change tyres/wheels for winter and summer?

 

If you are not going to be buying tyres soon anyway, then maybe go for the change of springs.

 

Everything might make a bit of a difference, its up to how much you want to spend.

 

george

The tyres are 185/XX-15", cant remember the XX but i think 55-65ish.

Yes i do have winter tires that i will switch to quite soon.

 

The tyres have only done about 8000-9000km so i hope i dont have to change them soon

 

Yeah i know it all depends on how much i would like to spend. But right now im looking into which of all the options that would make the biggest change in the car. Since a rear anti roll bar is about the same price as springs, but alot easier to install. Wheels+tyres are quite alot more expensive, but then i can buy them during winter so that i have them when spring arrives again.

Pretty narrow tyres, maybe so so on Wet, cold and snow,

but not exactly Sporty driving type tyres or size for summer or dry roads, just more like tyres to give economic driving.

 

? Do you know anyone taking off a set of summer tyres/wheels with 205 tyres, ?

so that you could borrow them , fit to the car and see the difference before changing the suspension.

 

I doubt changing your suspension while you still have 185 & high profile tyres is going to give the improved handling you are after.

 

george

Had a look at the tires today.My car have dunlop sport sp 01. No idea if they are good or bad?But if i would like to improve handling of the car what end should i start in?Getting a rarb, 40mm lowering springs, coilovers, new wheels or just new tires?Skickat från min GT-I9100 med Tapatalk 4

All of the above options will potentially give gains in handling, they also have a range of costs

Springs £100-200

RARB £150-200

Coilovers anything from very cheap tat to £2,0000ish

Wheels - £300 and upwards for a set of alloys without tyres

Tyres - £60 a corner and upwards

For me given the cost to benefit ratio I would be hard pushed not to recommend new springs and a RARB. Then if you are still wanting more perhaps look at increasing your tyre width. In reality it is tricky because stiffening the chassis set up with springs and a bar will pass the problem of grip onto the tyres, yet changing tyres alone will add grip but not the handling you want, body roll will remain.

Given that only very good quality coilovers will preserve ride comfort I would leave this route until last, or maybe dismiss it in favour of updated shocks.

Are these gains to be used simply in day to day driving or on track?

Edit: some of this repeats what George has said, I was typing this too slowly

All of the above options will potentially give gains in handling, they also have a range of costs

Springs £100-200

RARB £150-200

Coilovers anything from very cheap tat to £2,0000ish

Wheels - £300 and upwards for a set of alloys without tyres

Tyres - £60 a corner and upwards

For me given the cost to benefit ratio I would be hard pushed not to recommend new springs and a RARB. Then if you are still wanting more perhaps look at increasing your tyre width. In reality it is tricky because stiffening the chassis set up with springs and a bar will pass the problem of grip onto the tyres, yet changing tyres alone will add grip but not the handling you want, body roll will remain.

Given that only very good quality coilovers will preserve ride comfort I would leave this route until last, or maybe dismiss it in favour of updated shocks.

Are these gains to be used simply in day to day driving or on track?

Edit: some of this repeats what George has said, I was typing this too slowly

 

 

Pretty narrow tyres, maybe so so on Wet, cold and snow,

but not exactly Sporty driving type tyres or size for summer or dry roads, just more like tyres to give economic driving.

 

? Do you know anyone taking off a set of summer tyres/wheels with 205 tyres, ?

so that you could borrow them , fit to the car and see the difference before changing the suspension.

 

I doubt changing your suspension while you still have 185 & high profile tyres is going to give the improved handling you are after.

 

george

Thanks for your replies.

 

No im afraid i dont know anyone that i can borrow a set of bigger/wider wheels from and try it on my car. 

The car is used in regular days driving and i might try a track day or two in the future. Ive never driven on tracks before actually..

 

Mainly i would like to reduce the body roll and then traction. Then i guess i should be looking at springs or rear anti roll bar. Then the question is which i should go for as option 1. Sparky and George, would you advice me to buy springs or just a anti roll bar to start with?

 

Worth noting is also that my car i just a 1.2 TSI with the TMC unit fitted. But i added the sport suspension when i bought the car.

What does sport suspension mean in this case? Lowering Springs, springs and dampers?

I'm afraid given what you have said it is hard to make a simple one shot recommendation, if you are intending to push the car, curing body roll and making the car handle more flat will only be likely to induce the skinny tyres to lose grip earlier as the car's boy roll will currently be making weight transfer to the wheels more progressive in cornering, a flat hard sprung car will throw the weight to the wheel quicker which will mean traction loss, this has the potential to make you have to actually drive slower to keep road grip.

I had typed my endorsement for springs and bar before I saw you were running 185's.

What does sport suspension mean in this case? Lowering Springs, springs and dampers?

I'm afraid given what you have said it is hard to make a simple one shot recommendation, if you are intending to push the car, curing body roll and making the car handle more flat will only be likely to induce the skinny tyres to lose grip earlier as the car's boy roll will currently be making weight transfer to the wheels more progressive in cornering, a flat hard sprung car will throw the weight to the wheel quicker which will mean traction loss, this has the potential to make you have to actually drive slower to keep road grip.

I had typed my endorsement for springs and bar before I saw you were running 185's.

It is 10mm lower than stock suspension and has dampers with "sport characteristics". From my understanding it has the same suspension as the vRS.

 

Hum okey.. But lets say i can get a hold of decent 205 wide wheels used. Would rear anti roll bar or springs be the first step to curing the body roll?

Btw does the Fabia have 5x100 and what ET? ET35?

If you have tyre grip then yes springs and a bar are great upgrades, with Springs alone my car handles dramatically better. Take a read of the thread on this

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/288424-can-you-guess-what-it-is-yet/

My 205/40/17's I believe are ET41

What are your plans for the car, I see that you have your TMC box up for sale.

If you have tyre grip then yes springs and a bar are great upgrades, with Springs alone my car handles dramatically better. Take a read of the thread on this

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/288424-can-you-guess-what-it-is-yet/

My 205/40/17's I believe are ET41

What are your plans for the car, I see that you have your TMC box up for sale.

okey but woulf you start with the roll bar or the springs?

Ive already had a look in that thread:)

Thanks for the et. I will have a look for used ones.

Regarding my plans. First i thought i would swap it for something else. But since the value of the car has dropped almost 40% i think i will make some minor mods to make it more fun.

Since no one was interested in the tmc unit i will install it today again:)

Im a bit worried about the front spoiler clearance during winters if i install lowering springs. I already had some smaller issues last winter and if i dropped it 30mm im not sure what would happend..

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Given you have had issues in the snow I don't know why you are considering springs, this would only make things worse. with that in mind it's a RARB, plenty of benefit to be had and most seem to agree that there is no discernible drawbacks. Edit: In the wet, and therefore I imagine this would apply to extreme cold with ice and snow, the bar will make the car more likely to oversteer.

It must be tough to own a sporty car full stop with your winters : (