now what do we learn from this?

 

We have learned that LSDs and more power are bad. People should be better off with 105 ps and exhilarating understeer!  

 

I may actually switch to my 12 y.o. Citroen Saxo 1.1 65 ps... That was a "real" car... 

Edited 19 March, 201412 yr by newbie69

Bite fished for, bite received!!  I was only joking...

 

Sparkly - I know what XDS is - an electronic alternative to a  slippy diff.  TC is a different (but similar) bag of tricks reining in power or applyin brakes to keep the grip.  It's a fairly light, front drive,powerful car though, so there must be a point where you just run out of ability to turn (what some, not I, might regard as) a pigs ear in to a silk purse.  I would have thought that sticking 185 bhp through the front wheels, while trying to turn around corners, was asking for trouble, but then things have moved on.  Now, Astr VXR has 276bhp, the new Leon Cupra the same.  So VAG can make something REALLY powerful front drive only and according to the CAR review I read yesterday, the Leon is amazing and better, cheaper and faster than a GTI.  hopefully this will rub off and down onto the smaller Ibiza and then Fabia Mk3.

 

As for VRS vs Monte, of course there is rivalry!  We look like you, but you can't see it most of the time, because we're behind you, eating dust (and rubber smoke). ;-)

 

If the OP is feeling like braking mid-bend is causing the car to spear straight on, rather than get set up for the next bend, maybe it's not working right.  Equally, maybe that's just physics telling him to slow down.  Maybe the Mk2 can't take that bend quicker than a Mk1, despite the extra power.

 

newbie69 - I know, a few hundred quid to "fix" the Fabia VRS should be good value, especially if it makes it a great car, rather than just a good one.  I could spend a few hundred on a bit more power, just to keep up...but then I'd probably find all the wobbly suspension and dubious handling!

Re Magazine reviewers.

Just go try one yourself, because really a Cupra R or a Golf GTI does not safely go around the corners any better or faster than many smaller/lighter Hot or Warm hatches at the same corners on the same roads,

 

That is because they are 'heavy lumps' with front steering and drive,

(Pullers not pushers or part time AWD Puller and Pushers)

fancy EDL (XDS+) is only really fancy in adjustable in the car,

and all it does is detect a spinning wheel, and does not send power to it.

and Traction and grip is all that matters and where the same or a similar contact area on the road, 

the heavy one might be more likely to lose grip, and in the real world, they do.

Because that is how science works, weight/forces, Grip/traction/adhesion & loss of adhesion.

(lighter is often better, easier to control normaly,

except maybe when needing the assistance of gravity, heavier for going down hill faster,

or when its cars, going off the road with a greater force taking you, Maybe backwards faster into a ditch or wall)

.........................

 

Just had a Pothole Blow out on a vRS,

i had a pair of nice new strong sidewall 215/40 R 17 tyres on the front and my favourite Ditch finder Dunlop Sportmaxx on the rear,

 

It handled just as i liked & wanted it to.

Had to put on a set of Pirelli Zero Nero until i can get a new set of tyres because i spotted a nail in the rear while changing the front wheels/tyres.

 

I thought those Pirelli were bad last time i used them, & todays a warm dry day like before,

the car handled great, and 30 minutes later Pirellis on, like a bambi on ice.

 

Tyres make so much difference on a vRS.

Mate, I really feel for you that your car isn't living up to expectation as I followed your posts leading up to purchasing this and your excitement at getting your hands on the car.

 

I genuinely feel that something must be amiss on your car because the behaviour you explained doesn't fit at all how my vRS drove (when 100% stock) and I did give it some stick as you have yours.

 

Sadly I can't say if it is something in the brakes, tyres or electronics but will ask about and see if any VAG enthusiast friends can suggest anything that might be worth you looking into.

 

Edit: one thought that is crossing my mind is that maybe into your corner you already have XDS activating and pulling you around the bend, applying the brakes mid corner will apply brakes both side perhaps thus inducing the understeer wash out, because in effect it cancels out the benefits of the XDS.  This theory would be based on you taking a corner at some hefty speeds though.

I knew before I bought the car I would be upgrading suspension and brakes etc but didn't expect to have to do it straight away, the disappointment comes when I compare that my mk1 had a jabba sport remap roaded @ 189bhp on a standard chassis for some time before I did any other upgrade and i had no major issues with that, only hoped it would be sweeter if I did mod it and I ended up sticking an Eibach pro kit on it, a set of Goodyear F1's and drilled disc's with brembo pads and drove it hard as you like. It did fast and slow compromise for road use very well.

 

To explain the issue in more detail is difficult to my point get across so as you can all understand me. the same issue has happened when the road is slightly curving, I'm already off throttle and start to apply the brakes and then the car pulls its self into a straight line and I have to put more steering lock in to fight it back to be on line to where I want, again my mk1 didn't do this and I'm not going faster in the mk2, actually slower because I don't trust it.

 

Also I drove a 63 plate Suzuki swift sport today, cracking little car in standard guise, took that around the same two corners mentioned above and no issues, it was wanting for more, the chassis felt boss of the 136bhp on tap, would handle more no problem, steering weighted nicely and good feel in the brakes and very well priced!!!!

Have you driven many Automatics, because with a DSG which you can decelerate with, dropping gears it is rather different from a Manual, but the DSG is an S-A (semi automatic).

 

I dont think i have ever braked in a corner or curve, any braking or knocking off speed is done before on the straight, & then power on in corners,

maybe just me, but i hardly ever drive using the brakes, but still nip on.

Have you driven many Automatics, because with a DSG which you can decelerate with, dropping gears it is rather different from a Manual, but the DSG is an S-A (semi automatic).

 

I dont think i have ever braked in a corner or curve, any braking or knocking off speed is done before on the straight, & then power on in corners,

maybe just me, but i hardly ever drive using the brakes, but still nip on.

Not driven many auto boxes, never liked them as a rule, I drive the vrs in manual (stick over to the left) and use paddles to down shift so to get engine brake, in a manual box car I heel and toe to change down. I did grow up driving 100cc direct drive karts at national level if that helps put things into perspective, but don't miss understand me, I'm not looking for clio cup chassis performance just expected the mk2 would be an equal starting platform to my old mk1 then couple mods and voila I would have the good all rounder like my mk1 was.

 

Sharkrider has mentioned in a couple of posts he trail brakes and dose track days so I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned anything like this, thing is sorting the mechanical side of things is easy but if the electronics can't be backed off then whats the point of fitting springs, dampers, rarb and brakes.....

The one thing you can not do with the DSG is be on the throttle while touching the brake pedal,

the the power gets cut.

 

Might you be doing 2 foot driving at some point?

The one thing you can not do with the DSG is be on the throttle while touching the brake pedal,

the the power gets cut.

 

Might you be doing 2 foot driving at some point?

No I don't use both feet, my left foot stays firmly planted on the rest.

George - bad luck. Pesky potholes are becoming an increasing menace.  Which tyre blew - the dunlop or the other tyre?

 

I drove the Golf to Bristol and back yesterday and was "pushing on" on the way home.  It feels heavy and cumbersome (which I suppose it is) for the engine and brakes, but I did think about this thread.

 

I wasn't going to try poking the brakes mid-bend, because in my mind, that's what unbalances the car and puts the weight on the nose.  If already loaded up, at relative speed, then I didn't really want the tail to step out (or even the electronics to cut in).

 

Maybe wrightcnc, the electronics are having a wobble (is it too fast?) and trying to straighten you up to get you safe.  Maybe it's misreading, but as you say you've done the same bend in other cars at higher speeds, maybe there is a fault in one of the sensors and it's over correcting?

My higher load & wider but cheap Goodride SV308, near side one, and they were just refitted for this weekends snow,

but taken out for a blast on a hot day, (on a private road!!)

These tyres usually provide good grip and handling for not much money,

but just got ripped on a 2 meter of long line of broken asphalt on a repaired section that caught the outside rim protection of the tyre and did its worst.

(Rear Dunlop just a nail,glad i noticed it, it was not leaking (yet) but i am not plugging it.)

Bad luck George - I was dodging some horrendous potholes yesterday through Savernake Forest - clearly flood damage.  The irritating bit is that they closed that road for three days before Christmas, enacting a 50 mile detour (which I had to guide my wife through on the phone) to resurface from one roundabout, all the way to Marlborough (about 8 miles of road).  Actually, they seem to have resurfaced two 200m sections and nothing else, including these holdes that have become more like sink holes now.

 

I've looked at my fronts (3mm, apparently both ripped on inside sidewall and one to the core) and it wasn't that bad, so the replacements can come after we move house.  I know some folk in Bristol, so I may even be able to get a deal...

Sorry for all the Off Topic,

but here is some more,

 

'wrightcnn2009',

 have you seen this article before, quite good IMO.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/65599/suzuki-swift-sport-vs-skoda-fabia

Sorry for all the Off Topic,

but here is some more,

 

'wrightcnn2009',

 have you seen this article before, quite good IMO.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/65599/suzuki-swift-sport-vs-skoda-fabia

No, not seen that write up, interesting though.  

 

I have wondered if it is lifting wheels, the road is a bit bumpy and the abs/esc is just having a bit of a fit not knowing which ways up, need to find a fellow vrs mk2 owner local and steal there keys for a mad five to see if theres is the same.

George - bad luck. Pesky potholes are becoming an increasing menace.  Which tyre blew - the dunlop or the other tyre?

 

I drove the Golf to Bristol and back yesterday and was "pushing on" on the way home.  It feels heavy and cumbersome (which I suppose it is) for the engine and brakes, but I did think about this thread.

 

I wasn't going to try poking the brakes mid-bend, because in my mind, that's what unbalances the car and puts the weight on the nose.  If already loaded up, at relative speed, then I didn't really want the tail to step out (or even the electronics to cut in).

 

Maybe wrightcnc, the electronics are having a wobble (is it too fast?) and trying to straighten you up to get you safe.  Maybe it's misreading, but as you say you've done the same bend in other cars at higher speeds, maybe there is a fault in one of the sensors and it's over correcting?

I'm not hitting the brakes hard mid bend, Its a progressive and smoothly applied pedal or you would be facing the wrong way and off the road before knew it, I think you are right about the electronics having a wobble, it's quite possible the electronics think I'm heading for an accident so intervenes and straightens it all out, the road is quite bumpy but the other place this same feeling of push on/straightening up happens the road is smooth, it's a 2014 car, is it possible that more electronics have been fitted to this years model that we don't know about???  :wonder:

Maybe time to start to wonder if there is a fault.

 

Have you driven a Demonstrator, or could you go try one.

Or a member here try your car maybe?

 

............................

Just clicked on your link.

Nice Alloy Porn.

 

Now the Karting means something.  Also nice.

My youth was spent at Boyndie.

Maybe time to start to wonder if there is a fault.

 

Have you driven a Demonstrator, or could you go try one.

Or a member here try your car maybe?

 

............................

Just clicked on your link.

Nice Alloy Porn.

 

Now the Karting means something.  Also nice.

My youth was spent at Boyndie.

Ally porn.... LOL! thanks

 

I drove a two demonstrators last year, first one was a CAVE engine in march time and the second was a CTHE in October time when I ordered, at the time I didn't know there was two engine specs, just thought skoda had freshened a few aesthetics and the obvious badge change, at the time I thought I was imagining the later car felt stronger in the engine department because they were six months apart and I had maybe 20 minutes in each car so not much time to get a good feel, but I do remember both were on conti's, the chassis, brakes and steering felt better than my own car but I don't remember thinking 'my god that thing is on stilts' so maybe the demonstrators were on Eibach's? No telling now. If someone wants to drive mine that has good knowledge of how they should feel then there welcome on one proviso, be sure to write it off if you do lose it, I don't want it repaired