Opinions on this please, generally the boot is a decent size but these OEM strut braces kind of hamper you putting anything larger than the size of the boot in there with the rear seats down!

So, do these REALLY make enough of a difference to the handling to warrant keeping them, or can I remove them with no real detrement to the handling characteristics?

I don't drive like a hoon but I'd like a more practical load area for bigger stuff.

Cheers.

Well if a normally non sportive manufacturer like Skoda adds this to add stiffness to the body of a relative soft dampened car, I would definitely keep it in...

If we can feel the difference on normal driving is another question and perhaps even doubtful

Depends on much heavy chucking you do of your car around bends..

the vrs has these, along with heavier welding in places than standard to stiffen it up a bit more for cornering. You can remove them, just be aware the car's handling will suffer for it...

The vRS hatch has them, the combi doesn't.

They were clearly a half designed after thought anyhow as how they were made meant Skoda could bolt then fully in place despite putting holes through the plates and retaining nuts on the body work.

I'd remove them if you don't hoon around like you say. You probably be hard pushed to notice the difference after all these years if you're still running original suspension and bushes at the back end.

 

Opinions on this please, generally the boot is a decent size but these OEM strut braces kind of hamper you putting anything larger than the size of the boot in there with the rear seats down!

So, do these REALLY make enough of a difference to the handling to warrant keeping them, or can I remove them with no real detrement to the handling characteristics?

I don't drive like a hoon but I'd like a more practical load area for bigger stuff.

Cheers.

 

Well,

After taking the rear seats out, leaving the strut braces in, I managed to get a Mk1 Vrs bonnet in it and shut the tailgate (as im sure Devonutopia will testify). Just what do you plan to transport with it double wardrobes? lol

Edited 23 June, 201610 yr by Silver Bullet

Well,

After taking the rear seats out, leaving the strut braces in, I managed to get a Mk1 Vrs bonnet in it and shut the tailgate (as im sure Devonutopia will testify). Just what do you plan to transport with it double wardrobes? lol

Removing the rear seats isn't really 'practical' lol.

I need to transport my wife, a German Shepherd and myself plus all the gear for a long weekend with family 100 miles away, then all the above PLUS a cooker and a 25 litre compressor 100 miles back.

Going to be a tight squeeze methinks [emoji14]

The vRS hatch has them, the combi doesn't.

I modified my combi to fit them in. Made a big difference to handling.

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Well,

After taking the rear seats out, leaving the strut braces in, I managed to get a Mk1 Vrs bonnet in it and shut the tailgate (as im sure Devonutopia will testify). Just what do you plan to transport with it double wardrobes? lol

I put a 2seater leather sofa in my ordinary mk1 hatch by taking out rear seat bases and headrests and dropping the seatbacks.. wouldnt have fit with the braces in a vrs..

 

Removing the rear seats isn't really 'practical' lol.

I need to transport my wife, a German Shepherd and myself plus all the gear for a long weekend with family 100 miles away, then all the above PLUS a cooker and a 25 litre compressor 100 miles back.

Going to be a tight squeeze methinks [emoji14]

 

Ah well I see your problem, some people fit a towing hitch and buy or hire a small trailer. Anyway i'm sure you will find a solution that pleases swmbo (most important).

Peter

Edited 24 June, 201610 yr by Silver Bullet

  

Ah well I see your problem, some people fit a towing hitch and buy or hire a small trailer. Anyway i'm sure you will find a solution that pleases swmbo (most important).

Peter

We have a 9st German Shepard support dog for our son and have bought a trailer To go on holiday as there's just no room in the car lol.

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Removing the rear seats isn't really 'practical' lol.

I need to transport my wife, a German Shepherd and myself plus all the gear for a long weekend with family 100 miles away, then all the above PLUS a cooker and a 25 litre compressor 100 miles back.

Going to be a tight squeeze methinks [emoji14]

 

I would be looking at maybe a roof box and rack in that case. If it's going to be that much of a squeeze on the way up then it will be worse after with the cooker and the compressor. There are places that hire them out, or even have a nose around gumtree, free ads or even ask friends and neighbours if they have one you could borrow.

 

We have a 9st German Shepard support dog for our son and have bought a trailer To go on holiday as there's just no room in the car lol.

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German Shepard dogs (in my opinion) are a awesome breed, a friend had a short haired one called Misty, she was a big softy.

Ours is the same as daft as a brush. Lick you to death and certainly has a bark worse than his bite lol.

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Yes,

Off topic I see your location is Pontypridd, my mum was born there and Grandad (coalminer), was in the Pontypridd male voice choir.

Small world !!

Best Wishes

Peter

Edited 24 June, 201610 yr by Silver Bullet

Ours is the same as daft as a brush. Lick you to death and certainly has a bark worse than his bite lol.

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Ours too lol, so protective of family though and loyal through and through.

 

My boy...

 

This is our nutter. I have to agree very loyal and protective.

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Have had GSD's in our family as long as I can remember, always been daft idiots, as well as being very protective. My mum's current GSD is 12 in august and still acts like a puppy, although she is on lots of meds (the dog that is ☺ ). It's like having a weird coloured sheep charging at you as she is long haired.

Roof rack?