Hello

 

I've recently acquired a 2008 VRS petrol hatchback. Great car. I'm looking to modernise it a little and give it a bit more oomph.

 

I've found these forums an incredible resource while researching my purchase so thank you everyone (some posts going back a decade). I'm not a mechanic though so please go easy on me.

 

Four main bits I'm looking at initially:

 

Best USB socket solution - what's the cheapest but safest way to get a couple of these sockets in to the cabin?

Best satnav/ multi media / parking camera solution - I've seen all sorts of awesome looking touch screen kits on eBay but also a number of reviews citing burnout of a cheap product after 3 months. Who are the suppliers the community trusts?

Tuning - Anyone you could recommend doing stage 2 tunes south of Sheffield, north of France, east of Wales and west of Westminster? - seems a shame to have such a capable platform left at stock. Who do you trust to do the work?

 

Brakes - what are the favourite options for improvement in this area that won't break the bank / require significant other modifications?

 

Thank you in advance. 

 

3 hours ago, Dr_Horse said:

Best USB socket solution - what's the cheapest but safest way to get a couple of these sockets in to the cabin?

 

 Simplest USB charging solution is to get a multiway USB adaptor for your lighter socket. It is probably not what you want, though.

 

Second simplest is a multiway lighter socket adapter, and have several USB adaptors.

 

Probably neither of those is really what you want (although, maybe if you have devices that you want to use right now...). I think estates have an additional lighter socket in the boot, and maybe those have parts that you could use, probably in a different place to the estate.

3 hours ago, Dr_Horse said:

Best satnav/ multi media / parking camera solution - I've seen all sorts of awesome looking touch screen kits on eBay but also a number of reviews citing burnout of a cheap product after 3 months. Who are the suppliers the community trusts?

 

 

My impression is:

There are a lot of suppliers and brand names placed on what are essentially the same units (plus or minus some start up screens and logos). That isn't to say that they are all the same; newer ones tend to have more up-to-date processors and more ram.

 

If I was upgrading, it would be to a unit that included DAB, and for some units that is a separate box that you have to buy, so, in that case, you have to factor that cost in too. Oddly, the web sites seem very happy to tell you the cost of the basic unit, but the cost of the add-on box is often hidden. 

 

My impression is that none of the Chinese units is as reliable as you'd like. So, the first thing you have to do is be lucky...

Second, if you can't be lucky, deal with a decent supplier, one who will give you support in installation, and one who will deal with you decently if something does go wrong. Dealers who have poor user reviews should be avoided, even if the product seems attractively cheap.

 

3 hours ago, Dr_Horse said:

Brakes - what are the favourite options for improvement in this area that won't break the bank / require significant other modifications?

 

 

You don't say what you want to improve about your brakes. You might want a sharper response, you might want the exact opposite. Pad dust might be your main concern.

 

On the other hand, you might just want the extra feeling of confidence that you can abuse them a bit without fade ever becoming a danger.

 

I haven't done anything on the Octavia brakes, but:

 

I've had bad experience with EBC yellows in the past (stopped the car, but the rears became sticky, and were quite expensive to repair (and buy), so, my personal view is to avoid them. You are better off, in my view, with Brembo, Mintex, Pagid, and their 'mild upgrade' type of pads are probably a better place to be. If you go beyond a mild upgrade to 'track' pads, be sure that they are marked/approved to 'Regulation 90', otherwise you'll fail an MoT.

Axle, really appreciate the response, thank you. I've done a bit more research since posting but your comments are still really helpful.

 

Good shout on the brakes; I could be more specific. Although it seems to stop ok I'd like a bit more of that reassuring nip when you really need to stamp on the anchors not out of choice. It's noticeably missing compared to newer cars. Thanks for the advice.

 

The satnav/ multi media question is the one I'm still struggling with. Lot's of products on eBay, as you say of varying vintage and specs, but no real product reviews. Do you know the top spec manufacturer / device that was available as an original option from the factory?

Might be worth checking the brakes have been serviced (fresh fluid, caliper seals/slides in good condition, decent pads/discs) before looking to upgrade them.

 

Kenwood made a couple of VW/Skoda specific headunits:

- https://www.kenwood.eu/car/navigation_multimedia/navigation/DNX521DAB

- https://kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/oem/vw/DNX525DAB/

 

Otherwise, the headunit out of a 2015+ Yeti is a good OEM option https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/409691-amundsen-mib-std2-infotainment-system-with-android-in-superb-ii/

 

Mostly depends on your budget

 

For reassuring nip when braking....................................................

 

I had replaced the discs & pads on my Octavia 2 with ones from Autodoc, the pad box labelling looked very Germanic but they were made in PRC, it was only when I drove my neighbours one that I realised how much more reassuring his brakes were with the initial bite, I had to adjust my braking reflexes.

 

I changed mine to Ferodo Eco Friction and they were much better.

 

Fast forward to my Yeti, I replaced the discs all round as they were rusted but re-used the pads as they were virtually new and I hoped they might have been main dealer supplied and would bite as well as those on my neighbours car when bedded in to the new discs, they never did, the brakes are OK, the ABS will work etc but take a lot of initial pressure and dont feel progressive.

 

I brought the Octavia back to France after leaving it in the UK during the confinement and immediately noticed how much better the brakes are on the initial bite.

 

I have ordered Ferodo Eco Friction pads again and hope they will work their magic again, they cost very little more than pattern part pads & I will always use them now, on the fronts at the very least.

A sort of related question - can anyone suggest a good way to wire in a sat nav sitting on the dash?    If only to tell me a good route to try to feed a wire down to the USB (cigarette lighter socket).  Or is it easy to use a spare switch on the console?    Warning I a no electrician though.  Thx,  Bob

10 hours ago, J.R. said:

For reassuring nip when braking....................................................

I have ordered Ferodo Eco Friction pads again and hope they will work their magic again, they cost very little more than pattern part pads & I will always use them now, on the fronts at the very least.

 

I hadn't heard of that particular Ferodo pad until you mentioned them, and they sound good....actually assuming that fade is no worse than standard they sound close to perfect (only thing I can think of is that, while standard is ok for me in normal use, I cannot left foot brake on them..just don't have the sensitivity..probably no learning to left foot brake for me, then!)

 

I've had previous good experience with Mintex 1144 pads on an old Golf, but when a standard merchant sells a Mintex pad, you often don't know which Mintex pad they are selling. Was intending to try Brembo, but you may well have talked me in to these Ferodos. 

 

There is a review here.

 

If you don't mind, where do you get them from?

Whoever is the cheapest on Ebay at the time, this time it was this company but a listing in French on Ebay.fr for a little bit more but including delivery so a good deal for me.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferodo-FDB1398-Brake-Pad-Set-Front-Axle-Premier-Car-Replaces-1J0-698-151F/362225855655?hash=item545657eca7:g:QOoAAOSwokJabb8y

 

There was a cheaper offer on E-bay but they had not filled out the part specifying the details ie Make - Ferodo, reference FDB1398 so whilst it was the title they may have supplied something else, I did not like the way they wrote their conditions either, sounded like cynical sharks.

 

These have cost me twice the price of pattern pads, last time not a lot more but given I want to throw away the existing ones that have little wear I would not pay to replace them with the same.

Edited 3 August, 20205 yr by J.R.

don't by the Chinese crap ...+1 for the kenwood series as suggested by langers they're good and tick all the boxes you want / camera / sat nav etc. however I would say look at the later models like dnx525dab over the 521 the only reason I say this is the older models can have some delay which can be frustrating like 30s for start up and 15s for rear camera picture.

 

for braking the stock brakes with decent quality pads and discs are more than capable of stopping these cards quickly I have pagid discs and pads and they're pretty good, most other cars I drive I always think the brakes are utter **** ( unless it's something good of course) you can always put 345mm discs and callipers from anR32 or Audi s3,  the boxster S calliper upgrade (nqsbbk) is popular.  Keeps the 312mm disc but adds 4 piston brembo calliper -

as stated above you should be checking to ensure everything is functioning correctly first ..fluids changed etc.

 

if you want to go stage 2 you'll be wanting to go turbo back exhaust and hi flow intake.. I would also be considering intercooler, throttle pipe and engine mounts

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. Some useful guidance there. After this week probably need to sort the aircon first as it's a bit weak.

 

Thanks again!