Hey all.

Iv noticed theres an option when you buy new for sports suspension. Anyone driven a car with and without it? Is it much better?

Iv got a 6 month old fabia se. Anyone have any idea how much a dealer would charge to add it on? I see its only an extra £100 when you buy it from the factory.

Just a thought .

Cheers guys

My car has sports suspension fitted ( last fabia did not). It sits 15mm lower, is slightly firmer and i have to say there was a noticeable difference in handling. I would guess it will be at least double the factory price to have done at a dealer.

I wouldn't bother - it's noticeably crashier and doesn't actually fix that much body roll. I kinda wish my VRS had normal suspension on many roads! If you really want to lower and upgrade, save up for the best coilovers you can afford, now they will actually make a big difference.

Ooh right cheers. Dont think ill bother then. 15mm isnt alot really is it. I use to drive a 2005 polo and the fabia has alot less roll than that does.

Id of paid the £100 brand new, but it doesnt seem like its worth paying double that by the sounds of it. Ill keep it as it is.

Thanks again . Im just going through the stage of adding little subtle touches to make it my own you see .

Let us know what changes you make.

Nothing too exciting atm mate.

Hids high and low (awesome as soon as the high warms up) + led sidelights to match

Led interior lights

Awaiting on delivery for led numberplate lights, glove box and boot

Other than that, i really want a private plate haha

I put Eibach springs (30mm lower) on my Monte after only a couple of weeks from new, along with the big H&R rear anti roll bar...They are an amazing combination!! Springs alone made a very noticeable difference, however I would strongly suggest getting the RARB too!

Well worth the money!!

Steve

Test drove an SE with normal springs and a Monte Carlo with the Sports suspension on last weekend. The SE was a much nicer ride - especially in the back of the car. The Monte was okay sitting up front, but the ride in the back was quite harsh IMO - though it had much less body roll.

That has lots to do with 205/40 r17 tyres as much as slightly shorter springs,  they are not so crashy feeling when rides on 16" rims and tyres.

Even 215/40 17's or some slightly bigger than the Dunlop/Continentals 205/40 17's, like Pirelli Zero Nero feel better.

 

george

I'm sure the tyres don't help, but it felt under-damped to me. My daily car has 255/35 R20 tyres on and rides nicely, so it is possible to get it right with thin rubber.

Edited 6 November, 201312 yr by amstrange1

I agree. It is possible to get it right. Dad had a 10 plate golf sportline. The tyres on that were pretty low profile, with sport suspension to, yer the ride was brilliant.

However vw know more about it than i do so i wont mess with it haha.

35 is the aspect ration of 255 mm width of the tyre, 35% of 255mm

making the sidewall rather taller than when they are 40 % of 205mm.

255/35  R20 have more sidewall than 225/35 R 18

 

The Fabia is what it is, and sports suspension is just a Term not really a function, cheap springs, cheap dampers.

Cheap cars built and sold cheaply and if they can save a few Euro compared to a VW then they do.

You need to ask what the likes of £100 option are getting you, do the parts actually even cost 15 Euro more than the standard parts.

 

So 40 profile tyres and 'Sport' suspension can feel crashy, that is just how it is, you drive a car and if its not for you, then best not to buy one.

 

george

Out of interest George, as I know you have a fair tyre collection, which tyres have you found to give the least crashy ride on 17's?

 

I'll shortly be putting mine onto 16's with 195/50 tyres and am curious to how the car will feel with these compared to the 17's but just equally appreciate that tyre brand and that manufacturer's interpretation of 205/40/17 for example will also have a bearing.

 

Has anyone tried a Monte or vRS with non XL tyres?

215/40 R 17, if actually bigger than the 205/40 R17.  

 But my 215/40 R 17 measure the same as Pirelli 205/40 R 17

 

205/45 R 17 can fit.

 

The sidewall has lots to do with it, not just the Profile of the sidewall.

XL, Stronger Sidewalls can feel like a harder ride.

 

Personally i would not use 205/40 17 or 215/40 17 without a XL or strong Sidewall.

 

I think 205/16's feel pretty good on a vRS, especially for the colder months on the road.

 

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

 

eg

Same size on the sidewall, but Pirelli physically bigger than the Dunlop and better cushioning. (taller sidewall, different construction.)

My fear had been that the already thin tyre wall would bottom out more easily in potholes if not XL, is that what you mean?

 

So were the Pirelli P Zero Nero's fairly comfortable?

 

I use www.willtheyfit.com to check i'm within 2.5% speedo error

Yes thats what i mean.

 

Yes the Pirelli feels better than the Dunlops, according to SWIO, but not to my liking.

 

My 215/40 17 which i have on now, not bigger than the 205/40 17 Pirelli, but feels better, more comfortable and offers better dry handling IMO.

I just do not rate P ZN's.

 

EDIT, Pirelli Zero Nero 205/40 R 17's new unworn  have the Speedo pretty near dead on with a vRS.

The Mileometer, and the Distance Covered indicator, on a vRS can give odd readings, contradict each other.

nothing is that accurate, people run different tyre pressures, tyre total diameter, and then tyres get worn over thousands of miles. There is no real 2.5% issue.

Manufactures mostly put out cars with speedos that are showing higher speeds than you are actually doing.

They use the same speedo mechanisim on cars like the Fabia and have a wide range of tyre sizes fitted or as an option to fit.

Manufactures mostly put out cars with speedos that are showing higher speeds than you are actually doing.

They use the same speedo mechanisim on cars like the Fabia and have a wide range of tyre sizes fitted or as an option to fit.

 

Yep, ECE legislation requires no speedo to under-read, and over-reading is permitted by up to 10% + 2.5mph. Having said that, every OEM that I've worked with or for has different ABS/ESP (or equivalent system) calibrations/configs to accommodate any significantly different tyre/wheel combinations.

 

These days with complex ESP systems it's quite easy to end up with trigger-happy traction control or stability control systems if the rolling radius of your rubber is too different to original, hence why the OEMs get a bit fussy. Obviously in practice you can get away with deviating a lot more than the OEM would like.

I've been given p zeros to replace my pulling-to-the-left dunlops.

They feel a bit vague to me but they're definitely more comfortable and significantly quieter in my opinion.

I had 16s on the vrs over winter and the ride is much improved, but can't comment beyond that as they are strictly winter tyres.