Hi there,

 

Currently drive a 1.2 16v Clio and have recently got a new job where I'm clearing 450 miles a week. I've been seriously looking at the Fabia VRS 1.9 130bhp. 22 miles one way, 17 motorway the rest 'normal' roads. Few questions:

 

1. How re-mappable are these? I've heard 175bhp without any mods, is this feasible?

2. What will I see MPG wise?

3. Common faults

4. Things to look for before buying/looking at the car

5. Cambelt, service intervals etc.

 

Thanks guys! 

They map really really well and with a few supporting mods can see into the 200bhp+

In terms of mpg the pd lump is excellent. Town driving can see 60mpg and on long runs I've just got 83mpg average, the trip computer isn't exact by any means but it's a good indicator.

The pd130 is very torquey low down too so you don't have to rev it loads to get places, just enjoy the lower down power. Boost pipes wear and the dmf is a nightmare. I've converted to a smf so I won't have anymore problems in that area.

Don't expect mega mpg off the start though, quite a bit of maintenance work is required to get it good if it's been neglected a bit or just the usual servicing has been carried out.

I swapped from a 1.2 Corsa, won't ever look back. Love mine with a passion, love Briskoda too, even if it costs me a total fortune, seeing peoples mods and thinking, I need that too.

I do thousands of miles a month in mine and I get a average of around 54mpg (see my signature below) very enjoyable car to own and mine is on standard map. Will be looking to map mine soon though. Only had a map sensor fail on mine but have replaced brakes all round, done coilovers with top strut mounts and general maintenance like timing belt. Deffo a car worth having imo

A remap will see you up to 170bhp and 280lb/ft torque. Although you may require a new clutch, if you're planning on driving on the original you may need to drive around it e.g. dropping to 5th if you're planning on booting at at 70.

 

MPG in the month and a bit I've owned the car is 48.49 over 2k miles. That's generally driving at 70MPH on cruise control up and down the M4, although I also do short journeys around Swindon. Don't listen to people who say the car will do 60MPG because the trip computer says so, because it lies!!!!

 

Turbo if it's the original could be an issue, but it seems to be pot luck but will be expensive if it goes. Other main issue I've seen is the DMF, although you can buy a clutch, DMF and slave cylinder for £350 + fitting.

 

Typical things really, crawl all over the car, check the front wishbone rear bushes (console) and listen for knocking when driving slow. Listen for excessive rattling from the gearbox (DMF), when you put your foot down look out for any smoke from the exhaust, black is fine, grey/blue isn't. Just turn everything on and off really, oh and check the rear arches, when I was looking I noticed quite a few had rust on the bit in front of the rear wheels (not sure what to call it).

 

Cambelt is recommended every 4 years / 60k miles, oil change every 12 months / 10k miles, not sure how often the major service should be undertaken.  

They map really really well and with a few supporting mods can see into the 200bhp+

In terms of mpg the pd lump is excellent. Town driving can see 60mpg and on long runs I've just got 83mpg average, the trip computer isn't exact by any means but it's a good indicator.

The pd130 is very torquey low down too so you don't have to rev it loads to get places, just enjoy the lower down power. Boost pipes wear and the dmf is a nightmare. I've converted to a smf so I won't have anymore problems in that area.

Don't expect mega mpg off the start though, quite a bit of maintenance work is required to get it good if it's been neglected a bit or just the usual servicing has been carried out.

by supporting mods you mean ? A larger turbo obviously is needed to get over 180bhp. 60mpg town driving seems a little bit unrealistic as well lol. Most people average 40-45 around town and 55-60 on long runs. They are good cars if they have been looked after with the correct oil, service times etc.

by supporting mods you mean ? A larger turbo obviously is needed to get over 180bhp. 60mpg town driving seems a little bit unrealistic as well lol. Most people average 40-45 around town and 55-60 on long runs. They are good cars if they have been looked after with the correct oil, service times etc.

/\ /\ This

Supporting mods = about £3k

by supporting mods you mean ? A larger turbo obviously is needed to get over 180bhp. 60mpg town driving seems a little bit unrealistic as well lol. Most people average 40-45 around town and 55-60 on long runs. They are good cars if they have been looked after with the correct oil, service times etc.

Totally depends on how you drive it. 55-60 on a long run is awful! I'd expect that from a tdci but not a pd definitely.

And yeah a bigger turbo, I've seen people reaching over 200 with a standard pd150 turbo and fmic with remap to suit, can be done for under a grand surely? Or is this all pub figure talk?

Edited 20 October, 201312 yr by Dann2707

Totally depends on how you drive it. 55-60 on a long run is awful! I'd expect that from a tdci but not a pd definitely.

And yeah a bigger turbo, I've seen people reaching over 200 with a standard pd150 turbo and fmic with remap to suit, can be done for under a grand surely? Or is this all pub figure talk?

 

Right are you quoting trip computer figures or working it out everytime you fill up? If I do 80 miles each way to Bridgend from Swindon with cruise on at 70MPH, the best I've got is 55MPG. 

 

Could be done for a grand I suppose if you got a 2nd hand turbo, FMIC and pipework etc and just bolted it on yourself, however with new parts you'd be looking at least £2k I'd say.

I use the calculated method from filling up but use the trip computer as a reference.

55mpg at 70mph with cc on is about right? Cruise control doesn't save fuel it's purely for convenience?

Totally depends on how you drive it. 55-60 on a long run is awful! I'd expect that from a tdci but not a pd definitely.

And yeah a bigger turbo, I've seen people reaching over 200 with a standard pd150 turbo and fmic with remap to suit, can be done for under a grand surely? Or is this all pub figure talk?

I wouldn't exactly say it's awful mate when the MPG stated on Parker's is 53. Mine will return 64 mpg sat at 65mph on a 100 mile trip down the A1 every time I do it and that's off the trip computer so I'd have a guess at around 58mpg. Which I'm more than happy with.

Mine has a PD150 turbo on but still on the 130 remap as I haven't had it tweaked yet but a 150 map will see 195ish bhp on an accurate set of rollers, not over 200.

I calculate my mpg every fill up and over the 30k+ I've done its always around 54mpg and that's sitting between 70 and 80 on a run

Sorry yeah I should have said, this is really really trying not just driving normally but as said in my first post this is what can be achieved.