Two very valid and like minded points. I've just been looking at bmw's, in this case it would be an e46 330cd, thats the one i'd want. 

 

Great power and looks, but, its standard! And you're right. I can't leave them alone, I like to make my car individual. So with my e46 it would be, decat, remap, filter, then brakes, suspension, not to mention they need 18's to fill the arches, tyres! maintenance!! My wallet is shivering thinking about it lol.

 

 

This quoted 3k to get to stage two is rather dramatic?

 

Isn't there a chap on here selling hybrids for £350 + postage?

 

could buy a seat sport for 200? custom piping 150?

 

then a clutch, I dont know about prices or makes or models but surely a good one can be had for 400-500? 

 

then a remap, £200?

 

 

Am i talking logically?

 

I'm a recent Fabia owner just over a month now and have been looking at options for mine as I do an 80 mile a day commute but in full time employment. I've had a look into modding it etc and so far am not planning to do anything till the turbo pops, so have a fairly good idea of the options etc. 

 

In response to the prices, would you be planning to do all of the work yourself? A new hybrid turbo costs about £1k + fitting, if you buy a Darkside Developments FMIC its £250 with £250 for pipework + fitting, a clutch can be had for £300 from CG Motorsport but then you also need a DMF or SMF, if you go SMF it would be another £300 + fitting. So I'd say £3k ain't a million miles away.

 

With your mods and situation I'd stay as is, if the turbo goes pop just buy a new PD150, bolt it on and get another map to get 190bhpish which is what I'm planning on.

 

To put it this way I sold my CTR Premier Edition on 55k miles full Honda service history, completely standard for £4500 because it had a scuff on the rear bumper. I could get 45MPG out of it driving at 70MPH without going too hard on the go pedal, servicing is at longer intervals, it has a chain driven engine and no turbos or other complicated *******s attached to it that that can go pop and would beat a hybrid Fabia round the twisties. It's louder, is more thrilling and the K20 is an animal but I didn't want to put 20k+ miles on it a year. Personally if you have some self control get something like that, or buy another car as I wouldn't spend £3k on a Fabia to get it to that power unless you're planning to keep it longer term.

 

Not saying Fabia's are crap, I don't mind mine it's just a different car and suits my current needs as it gets 55MPG on cruise control at 70MPH, but if I wasn't doing the mileage I'd have kept my CTR.

Just a point on the turbo replacement from experience. I personally would replace the turbo BEFORE it goes pop! Otherwise you're taking a huge risk that further damage won't occur as a result of the blow. Mine went pop pretty spectacularly, and Ant at AP gave me a piece of the shaft that was really close to being swallowed by the engine! Hence in addition to the extra labour required to clean out all the intake system and intercooler, I was close to having to fork out for a new engine!

 

If you're commuting, keep the Fabia. It has a plethora of torque that makes it effortless under those conditions. CTR's, whilst they are wonderful in the VTEC zone, will never give you the same MPG as the little Fabia, plus require you to constantly drop a couple of cogs to get a shift on. If you're talking about a pure drivers car though, then I'm afraid the Civic will take it hands down every day! Depends what you want...

 

As for reliability, you shouldn't really have any engine issues with the Fabia once you've replaced those 2 major components.

Edited 13 October, 201312 yr by alex_e3

Plus you could always 'invest' in a LSD, decent coilovers, tyres and a rear anti-roll bar to give the Fabia a bit more edge ;-) !

Edited 13 October, 201312 yr by alex_e3

Just a point on the turbo replacement from experience. I personally would replace the turbo BEFORE it goes pop! Otherwise you're taking a huge risk that further damage won't occur as a result of the blow. Mine went pop pretty spectacularly, and Ant at AP gave me a piece of the shaft that was really close to being swallowed by the engine! Hence in addition to the extra labour required to clean out all the intake system and intercooler, I was close to having to fork out for a new engine!

 

If you're commuting, keep the Fabia. It has a plethora of torque that makes it effortless under those conditions. CTR's, whilst they are wonderful in the VTEC zone, will never give you the same MPG as the little Fabia, plus require you to constantly drop a couple of cogs to get a shift on. If you're talking about a pure drivers car though, then I'm afraid the Civic will take it hands down every day! Depends what you want...

 

As for reliability, you shouldn't really have any engine issues with the Fabia once you've replaced those 2 major components.

 

 

Good point on the turbo and I'm not going to wait till it actually goes pop, although at the minute I have no reason to think it will do anytime soon.

 

Those major engine components cost £££'s though.

This replace turbo before it pops is a load of nonsense!

The failure rate is miniscule compared to the turbo's out there that are working perfectly

Am i talking logically?

 

No, you're picking numbers out of the air  It's not worth trying to skimp on parts like clutches and turbos, have a search plenty of horror stories knocking about. 

 

 

Hybrid turbo £1000

Turbo gaskets, Oil & Oil pipe £50

Seat sport intercooler £250

Intercooler pipe work £275

Helix clutch £975

Remap £300

 

Total £2850

 

Obviously you could save a few quid doing what Dan done and get a used turbo rebuilt, you could try and save a bit making you're own pipework up for the intercooler but it'll not be that far away from £3k. As I said all the good bang for buck stuff has been done with a remap. Personally I'd go with a decent clutch (sachs or helix) to cope with the power. I'm not saying it's not worth it, because it is, I love my Fabia to bits and love driving it. I just think if you're in a position where you are thinking about other cars, considering something else seriously would be wise. A 330d E46 would be my pick doing the miles you are doing. Get a sport and they look great standard, just a remap (240bhp iirc) and you'll be quicker than a hybrid Fabia, more comfortable and go round bends. Easily get a clean one with low miles for less than £5-6000. 

 

Of course if you like the Fabia then go for it, just dont go into it thinking its cheap to do or it'll add any value when you do decide to flog it. 

I disagree, after coming extremely close to having to buy a new engine and get it fitted....

 

How many 'turbo gone' threads have popped up on here over the last 6 months!?!! The fact is that a mapped car that is used to its potential will inevitably have more wear on the turbo. Don't get me wrong, I know that some last a long time. The KKK is not known for its reliability after what I've read on this forum though...   Given the choice again I would replace sooner rather than later.

 

 

True though Gambo, they are expensive parts!

Few things to consider

1 did you buy the fabia standard and how long before you got bored of 130bhp & remapped it ?

2 how long has it been remapped before the 170bhp wasnt deemed enough ?

3 how long before 220bhp isnt enough and you are chasing more

 

if your planning on keeping the fabia for a good few years then its a good option but if your gonna be wanting a different car in 12,months then i wouldn't bother.

 

if i hadn't just bought a new house id be looking to upgrade to the seat leon fr 170

I disagree, after coming extremely close to having to buy a new engine and get it fitted....

How many 'turbo gone' threads have popped up on here over the last 6 months!?!! The fact is that a mapped car that is used to its potential will inevitably have more wear on the turbo. Don't get me wrong, I know that some last a long time. The KKK is not known for its reliability after what I've read on this forum though... Given the choice again I would replace sooner rather than later.

True though Gambo, they are expensive parts!

Rubbish!

If you read horror stories on all forums you wouldn't buy any car!

You have to take things online with a pinch of salt!

Of course there is going to be the odd thread saying 'oh no turbo gone'

Nobody with a perfectly working turbo starts a thread saying 'wow turbo is good'

I've had a mapped 130 kkk busting its gut at 176bhp and i hammered it day and night upto 75k when i sold it and it was perfect

Well you have your opinion, I have mine - I'm not on here to argue with anyone!

Lol maybe I was being rather optimistic with my prices, do you think Darkside will offer me student discount??

 

I think for the moment, on balance, it is best if I get a better clutch first, maybe not a super helix organic quantum one though.

 

And perhaps try and invest in a pd150 turbo.  Then, at my leisure, I could put on an intercooler and get it mapped?

 

Tbh the car runs great, and I think the reason for all this is because I sold my motorbike to save money (student) and it has left me with a few pennies and a lust for more grunt. Bad times.

What are you aiming for in the long-term power and torque wise? Some people on here still run a DMF with uprated clutch at full stage 2 hybrid PD150 spec (around 220bhp / 330ft/lbs), but most people just fit the SMF and Helix, which is what I will 100% be doing. You realise that an uprated clutch will still cost £££ though?

 

I don't think no matter what car you get (with some obviously expensive suggestions!), you'll never get something that even remotely compares with a bike! Hence why I didn't go out and buy a big petrol munching car - I'd rather compromise and stick with the little diesel. If you want speed then you can just hop on the bike! Not that I would in this crap weather though - fair weather rider most of the time ;-) !!

Well my bike was for greenlaning, so muddier the better!

 

I don't have any aims, therefore I can never fail to achieve them. 

 

Seriously though I quite like the idea of the classic 10bhp per 100cc. that used to be a big deal in the nineties! so an aim might be a comfortable 190bhp. But if the final figure is reliant pretty much on turbo size, and the price difference in turbos isnt dramatic I see no reason not to aim for the big boy 220 class.  If that makes sense?

I'm a recent Fabia owner just over a month now and have been looking at options for mine as I do an 80 mile a day commute but in full time employment. I've had a look into modding it etc and so far am not planning to do anything till the turbo pops, so have a fairly good idea of the options etc.

In response to the prices, would you be planning to do all of the work yourself? A new hybrid turbo costs about £1k + fitting, if you buy a Darkside Developments FMIC its £250 with £250 for pipework + fitting, a clutch can be had for £300 from CG Motorsport but then you also need a DMF or SMF, if you go SMF it would be another £300 + fitting. So I'd say £3k ain't a million miles away.

With your mods and situation I'd stay as is, if the turbo goes pop just buy a new PD150, bolt it on and get another map to get 190bhpish which is what I'm planning on.

To put it this way I sold my CTR Premier Edition on 55k miles full Honda service history, completely standard for £4500 because it had a scuff on the rear bumper. I could get 45MPG out of it driving at 70MPH without going too hard on the go pedal, servicing is at longer intervals, it has a chain driven engine and no turbos or other complicated *******s attached to it that that can go pop and would beat a hybrid Fabia round the twisties. It's louder, is more thrilling and the K20 is an animal but I didn't want to put 20k+ miles on it a year. Personally if you have some self control get something like that, or buy another car as I wouldn't spend £3k on a Fabia to get it to that power unless you're planning to keep it longer term.

Not saying Fabia's are crap, I don't mind mine it's just a different car and suits my current needs as it gets 55MPG on cruise control at 70MPH, but if I wasn't doing the mileage I'd have kept my CTR.

dont forget darkside's prices don't include VAT, works out close to the £800 marker for the intercooler and pipework I think.

Basically anything above a remap will require a uprated clutch, you can limit the torque on the map and either stick with the DMF, just fit the clutch (sachs is £700ish) or go for a SMF and all out power which would be a full kit (about £975). As far as turbos go, for the small amount over others a PD150 hybrid is the best bet imo, comfortable at circa 220bhp, straight fit on the PD130 engine. Again with the intercooler, anything over a map will need one really. 

 

Although thinking about it, another route could be a stock PD150 turbo on your current setup, leave the clutch and intercooler as is and map it to around 190bhp but you'll need a decent smooth torque limited map. This would probably be alright for a daily car not taking too much abuse but if you wanna trash it then uprating the rest of the parts would be sensible before they all **** themselves. 

Cheers Matt.  Thanks for putting it all in perspective. 

 

my clutch seems to hold well at the moment, hasnt slipped once on me.

 

Its a nice option really, pd150 and another, live map, could see nice noticeable gains for fair money?

 

20bhp for under £1000 sounds fair, stage 1.5? 

My pd150 managed 198bhp on the same rolling road my pd130 made 176bhp

So for very little you could get another 20bhp.... Which does make a nice difference! Especially when the 150 turbo keeps pulling to the redline when the 130 tails off

Where are you from? I'll happily take you out in mine to see what you think!

There's a massive difference compared to just a mapped car and mine isn't even at its full potential yet as I'm yet to upgrade the clutch!

I did mine bit by bit, Id had my cooler around 6 months before going for the turbo.

20bhp for under £1000 sounds fair, stage 1.5? 

 

Yeah, putting it like that it's a nice step up for the money. When I had a mild map on my current setup it was RR'd at around 200bhp and that was certainly a decent gain over a standard mapped setup. 

Get a diff installed at the same time as getting clutch and flywheel done and really enjoy the stage one power you have

I think i'll take my time and see what comes up for first. No real rush, last winter was hard enough with standard torque, let alone 350 lbft!

 

I did consider buying that chaps jabbasport hybrid in dover, just to harvest the parts from!

 

And im in Folkestone Kent. by the sunny sea..

 

It doesn't help that on my commute I drive past a slammed ibiza with a lovely front mount rolling on D90's. 

Get a diff installed at the same time as getting clutch and flywheel done and really enjoy the stage one power you have

 

How much would a diff cost? I was kind of at the conclusion that the Fabia is a bit rubbish around corners. Even with my mods she seem to roll around. My 306 gti6 handled better even in standard form. 

 

My fabia is more of an overtaking weapon, or more of an overtaker troll

 

'Going past me mr audi? I THINK NOT!!'

£1000 fitted

£1000 fitted

Spot on and another 1k for clutch and flywheel. Then yeee haaa !

Im running stock Sach dmf and clutch with pd150 turbo seat sport ths fmic/darkside pipework and custom remap and thats 188bhp and 320lbft of torque

Clutch and dmf was fitted in February this year and turbo was a brand new unit from garrett about 18 month since that was fitted.

No issues with the clutch slipping etc and I do hammer it.

Although I must admit since mapped its strange to get used to the turbo pulling more and not running out of puff like it previously did!

Im keeping the car till the engine dies ive spent alot on it and as others have said only do it if your set on having the car a good few years imo otherwise your chucking the money away really!