Hi, I have a 1995 1.9 TDi (PD100 eng. code ATD) estate/combi. I've sorted various issues from when I bought it, and like so now I'd like to improve a few things.

 

I currently have one of those overpriced resistor boxes that masquerade as something more than what they are - although when adjusted to its lowest resistance (170 ohm) does make it noticably more lively without obvious clouds of soot

 

Would a flash remap from such as Shark, Celtic etc give me much of an improvement in power over this (which could in all honestly be achieved with a few pence worth of resistor and tape), and therefore be worth shelling out for ? I'd like decent acceleration so as not to be embarrassed by builders vans and those hideous Nissan Quashquais :(  - the resistor box (now I've sorted out its potentiometer properly) helps a bit but I'd like more power (wouldn't we all ?) without having to replace turbo/injectors etc.

 

I believe the inlet/exhaust flow reasonably well as stock so no need for meddling there ? (although I do like the "owl" noise on mufflerectomied TDis so might look into this)

 

Also wheels, the 15" alloys with 195/50s do look a bit like buttons, I'd like 16" or preferably 17" - I'm guessing most VAG rims will fit without rubbing ? (I'm not planning to lower it, but ARB might well be a future fitment. Any suggestions for cheapish breakers' yard rummaging, that will give similar circumference with the standard tyres from another model (Octavia/Golf/ Audi etc) ?

 

Cheers in advance,

Pete

 

A proper remap will make a huge difference, chuck that resistor away and go for it, don't hesitate, the difference will be night and day.

 

Personally I run 15" Audi A3 wheels with 195/50 15, I like a little sidewall compliance since I drive hard on B roads, I've got 16" VRS wheels as well and hated them, 17's would be even worse. The tyres have more grip than you can currently use since the handling is so bad as standard.

 

You need to change the suspension if you want it to handle, you have no choice, start by changing the awful standard console bushes and fit a set of Eibach springs (-25mm all round), these two mods alone will transform the handling. Then consider a RARB and new shocks. After that you're well into the law of diminishing returns.

Cheers - the handling is , after my last car, a bit like a drunk giraffe on roller skates to be brutally honest. I like a bit of straight line power but don't usually push it on country roads (nobody round here seems able go right on a bend without cutting the corner on the wrong side of the road so it's better safe etc.)

 

I'm not wanting a track car, so the diminishing returns can diminish away. The wheels, it was more for the looks - to my eye they are poorly proportioned and look odd. My wife has a Cooper S with 18" wheels and tyres about as thick as a rubber band - looks great,  handles like a go-kart but yes, every bit of neglected cr@p road can be felt. I might consider 16" if some come along cheap (probably more choice in these too).

Look up/Google Blacksmoke for remaps on a budget - they list the ATD, depending how brave you are you can upload these yourself using an MPPS lead and they get good reviews on various VAG branding forums. Just be sure that you are not going to push into clutch problem territory. Also, assume its a 2005 model and not a 1995.

Lol yes, 2005 not 1995 ! - and it won't let me edit to cover up the alzheimers moment   - still, the music was better then lol

I've still got Chris C's Elegance Estate which has the ol' remap, bushes, and springs (but original wheels). Can't fault it! Handles great on duals and b roads, and has a nice bit of overtaking ooomph. 

 

Chris had all the work done so I never drove it standard though. I imagine its... less fun :P

Loving the car, shelle - that's a cool looking combi

 

This topic is right up my street. I'm looking to get my Fabby estate looking a bit better and improve greatly in the handling department. I'd like to upgrade the wheels to BBS 'Montreal2's (16 inch) and then lower the car. I was shocked at just how noisy the car is on the low profile tyres, and how much vibration is passed through the car when driving on unsettled surfaces. I'm sure adding 16 inch wheels over the 15 inch wheels that I currently have will make this worse, correct? Would it be worth adding spacers and keeping the original wheels? Are the spacers expensive? 

 

And as my car has only done 54k, could I get away with just buying the pro kit springs and use the old shocks? The car was fully loaded this afternoon for a trip down the tip and its bum was on the road! Worn rear shockers, maybe? Thanks.

 

Edit :I've added a picture of my 'black rollerstake' for reference! 

Edited 27 February, 20179 yr by GeneralDogsbody

1 hour ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

I'm sure adding 16 inch wheels over the 15 inch wheels that I currently have will make this worse, correct?

 

Yes.

I'll stick with what I have, Sep

 

I quite fancy refurbing the current alloys in gunmetal - would that suit the car? 

 

What's the best spacers (with the correct width for the car) to buy? (Or the cheapest that'll do the job!) Will I need new wheel bolts? (What do you do about locking wheel nuts?)

 

And which console bushes do you buy for the 1.9 estate? 

 

Thanks  

Edited 27 February, 20179 yr by GeneralDogsbody

4 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

(What do you do about locking wheel nuts?) Thanks  

 

Personally I replaced them with standard bolts, then threw them straight in the bin. Bloody useless things.

I've fitted some 17" rims to mine - see the Alloy Wheel Archive thread - and I reckon they look OK. The car feels a bit more planted and the tyres have a softish compound giving good grip. Certainly can feel the road now, and looking at the wheels I took off I probably need to look at the tracking sooner rather than later.

Not sure if I'll stick with them (good tyres on the original rims might have been a better choice TBH), but I do like how they look.

1 hour ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

 

 

And as my car has only done 54k, could I get away with just buying the pro kit springs and use the old shocks? The car was fully loaded this afternoon for a trip down the tip and its bum was on the road! Worn rear shockers, maybe? Thanks.

 

 

More like knackered springs depending on just how much weight was in the back, shock absorbers do not control the ride height. The combi springs aren't much heavier than the H/B ones. I ran a SDI for 10 years on heavy duty springs, made major difference with any weight on board.

 

I agree 16's or 17's look nice but I value my internal organs and don't want them liquefying every time I drive on the back roads. You know your ride is too hard when you find yourself holding your breath and tensing for the impact every time an imperfection on the road looks unavoidable. Horrible.

3 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

 

Personally I replaced them with standard bolts, then threw them straight in the bin. Bloody useless things.

 

3 hours ago, peter3197 said:

More like knackered springs depending on just how much weight was in the back, shock absorbers do not control the ride height. The combi springs aren't much heavier than the H/B ones. I ran a SDI for 10 years on heavy duty springs, made major difference with any weight on board.

 

 

So I'll ditch the locking wheels nuts (which makes sense as the wheels are worth about 15p combined!) So......how much longer would I need with spacers? (And which spacers are worth buying?)  

And on the shock absorber front, I'm going to go for the B4s with the Pro Kit springs. Might as well do both, eh?  

17 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

 

 

So I'll ditch the locking wheels nuts (which makes sense as the wheels are worth about 15p combined!) So......how much longer would I need with spacers? (And which spacers are worth buying?)  

And on the shock absorber front, I'm going to go for the B4s with the Pro Kit springs. Might as well do both, eh?  

 

Too right, standard shocks are very poor. I'm personally not a fan of spacers but I guess 5mm would be ok and you could keep the standard bolts.

51 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

Too right, standard shocks are very poor.

 

As an engineer you should know that they are dampers not shocks

16 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

 

Too right, standard shocks are very poor. I'm personally not a fan of spacers but I guess 5mm would be ok and you could keep the standard bolts.

 

5mm? Would that make much of a difference? It's just my little fabby looks so narrow with the standard wheels, it's untrue! Do they have to be a certain type of spacer? And on the shocks side of things, I listed some B4s in another thread that are for the Fabby estate, but not for 'sports suspension' per se. Does anyone know of a decent priced kit of the other type of B4s for the diesel estate?   

 

EDIT: I think I might have just found the dampers needed for the sports springs (Might come in handy for the original poster):

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bilstein-4x-B4-Full-Kit-Absorbers-Dampers-High-OEM-Quality-22-196309-19-196312-/231491051781?fits=Model%3AFabia&hash=item35e5f12105:g:XPYAAOSwqfNXl8fg

 

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.aspx?34=0,100011,100121&240=0&32=15584&230=29&10=E69846B5706943FCA14F18D86DB02826018004&14=4&12=130

 

And here's a link for the springs (Thanks freakyeke!):

 

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.aspx?34=0,100011,100121&240=0&32=15584&230=29&10=E69846B5706943FCA14F18D86DB02826018004&14=4&12=130

 

Thumbs up for both? Are there any console bushes that are prefered for the Fabby estate? Many thanks

 

  

1 hour ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

 

5mm? Would that make much of a difference? It's just my little fabby looks so narrow with the standard wheels, it's untrue! Do they have to be a certain type of spacer?
  

 

You'll notice the change in your steering since you're moving the pivot point by fitting spacers, lowering the front makes the wheels sit further apart and increases negative camber anyway so get the suspension dealt with then see where things are.

You have latent RICER tendencies and must learn to curb them now that you're driving a Skoda estate 

Ricer? Hardly. I'm just a 38 year old ex-boy racer, having a midlife crisis! 

5 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

Ricer? Hardly. I'm just a 38 year old ex-boy racer, having a midlife crisis! 

 

Fitting spacers is a Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement (RICE) because they don't do anything for performance, only appearance. So there 

Well, if I fit spacers, I'll win many a traffic light grand prix, so there *Sticks tongue out*

Spacers change the path of the wheels so change the geometry. This will affect the handling, positive or negative.