Keep your car if I were you. You know the history and what's been done etc, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

I would recommended seat surgeons in York, they did a fantastic job on my Fabia seats. Like mentioned above they don't hold you well as cloth though. Look immense mind! I think the owners name is Paul if I remember right. York is a very nice city as well!

Try something different

Leather bolsters with an alcantara centre will hold you better than full leather

You won't see 230bhp with just the GTB1756 turbo and mapping, you'll need other supporting modifications to reach that figure. Front mount inter cooler and exhaust down pipe/de-cat as a minimum.

To push beyond 230bhp requires a bit more work and ideally changing up to the GTB2056 or 2260 turbos as they have more headroom. Injectors are also starting to reach their limit at around 230bhp.

Sorry I was being overly simplistic.

You'll need quite a few supporting mods.

And you will see 230hp easily. I know of the one that did 240, and another that did a rather smokey 250. Mine did 226 before I upped the boost...

I was always under the impression that to push past 230bhp you'll need larger injectors as the standard ones start to max out?
The GTB1756 is also close to it's limit in terms of boost pressure, while you could push beyond the limit by a few PSI I'm of the frame of mind where I'd rather have the higher capacity injectors and turbo so they aren't under as much stress running the power from a reliability stand point. 

I dont rate the SE leather. Seat Surgen are much better.

For 230bhp

Turbo - gtb1756vk mated to cast manifold. See XMan for prices.

Intake - bigger intake pipe like a pd160.

Intercooler - FMIC.

Exhaust - I would use the standard just adapted to fit the GTB.

Transmission - DMF with decent clutch.

4bar MAP sensor

Fancy more? GTB2260vk with 2.5inch exhaust.

Then speak to some old git to work his magic fitting it and some scouser for mapping

Agreed. Seat Surgeon Leather is best, but then I'm biased...

 

 

 

Couldn't agree more.

Stick with what you have and spruce it up a bit with the money you would spend to get an SE.

n DAAAMN them seats look good. Lol

Keep your eye on the bay for a set of (overpriced) SE leather seats, then get your motor resprayed race blue.

Hmm, those seats would suit mine with a black alcantara centre....

 

More thoughts going round now!!!!

A good example of a standard SE will always have a higher resale that a standard counterpart. With your planned mods you will put your car in the niche market. I would stick with what you have and go from there. I sold my standard black vRS to buy my current SE. Both cars were subject to a Shark remap which keeps me happy. 

256mm rear brakes worth it or not? Was at Awesome GTI yesterday when they told me I've got a seized caliper.

I'd imagine it would give a bit more of a balanced feel under hard braking but in 90% of situations you probably won't notice a difference. Seized callipers can be cleaned up and fixed if it's not too bad but most garages would rather whip it out and put a new one in as it's less hassle/time. I've had a few on my previous cars and never had to buy a new one, just removed the piston and cleaned everything up along with a new seals. Sometimes the guide rods can seize too which is an easier fix. 

Yes worth it if you've got a failed one. I would advise you to get new though. I had nothing but trouble with a used set I got, ended up getting new ones in the end. There are some keenly priced ones on Ebay in the right colour. I'll post the link later...

Cheers Joe, that would be very useful.

If you're upgrading to bigger brakes just get everything new. Maybe carriers second hand if you're on a budget. But the price people ask for second hand calipers are pretty bad I think when you can get new/reconditioned ones for the same price

Cheers Joe, that would be very useful.

 

I got these rear brakes. The chap also supplied new unpainted carriers for an extra £40, I painted these up myself. 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-VRS-RS-TURBO-1-8-PAIR-OF-REAR-BRAKE-CALIPERS-GENUINE-BRANDNEW-1088-/281140544879?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AOctavia%7CCars+Type%3ARS+1.8+T&hash=item417548456f

 

I went went outside of Ebay with him as it was cheaper. His mobile was 07896202559

 

Joe