Hey,

I'm looking to give the car a little more soul. I don't really know what would be best value for money so I'm looking to see what you guys think.

Pretty happy how the car handles, but it just needs some.... theatre to the driving experience, its a very "tame" fast estate!

Well, thats good that you want to pep things up a little; things to consider. The EA888 engine is extremely tunable, however, what the Octavia lacks (unless you have a HALDEX system) is the ability to get that power out onto the road. I had a TSI230 (was closer to 240) - VRS and it was useless at getting the power down - just span tyres! SO - look at getting better suspension and sticker rubber is a first port of call. The standard brakes are good, but worth checking them over. Then find a reputiable VAG tuner and get a stage 1 package put on the car. For most - that will take it up to about 280-300bhp - which is usually enough. If you want or need more, then its usually a bigger turbo, intercooler and stage 2. Spec the car like the standard package for MK7 Golf R and you won't go wrong.

Thanks!

I'm overall pretty happy with the car and its DSG and as its the 245 has the LSD so I've yet to find the limit of the car which is great! I was hoping to find some more emotion from the car. I've decided to go for the Pikey R600 mod for now and bought a Ramair panel filter/elbow/hose to try and unlock a little more noise from the engine. Then I think I'll be looking to exhaust.

If it's a 2020 vRS then your only exhaust options will be a full system, which isn't cheap for a GFP car.

First thing, get your DSG and VAQ serviced.

Aside from sorting the intake (R600 in mine), for sound -

• Turbo muffler delete/diverter valve

• Downpipe/res delete/muffler delete (just do the whole exhaust, GPF systems don't respond well to being cut up and welded)

In general -

• ECU/TCU tune (please get a custom job, or at least a tuneable flash map with dyno runs and a road test)

• Mounts/bushes/dogbone insert/etc

• ARB's

• Uprated coils/plugs

• Pedal box (pedal commander, burger, etc)

• Stickier tyres (PS5 are all you really need)

• Catch can

• Lowering springs

• Grabbier pads/discs/braided lines

If you want to take it further -

• Intercooler/larger turbo combo (with the aux/DSG coolers too)

• Coilovers

• Top mounts (depending on if coilovers have camber plates)

• Camber arms/toe arms/etc (Hardrace)

• Wheels (8.5J allowing for some 245 rubber)

• Rigid subframe kit

• Fancy BBK (Revo Alcon, Racingline, AP, Brembo, YSR, APR, VBT)

• 5F Cupra 300 ST/B9 S4

Aside from a standing start, my vRS has no real issues putting down the power from 2nd gear and up - the diff helps hugely. You should be able to hit 330bhp without doing anything major like turbo/intercooler/etc. You may be happy with how the car handles now, however once you've added another 100bhp, you may think otherwise. FYI the standard brakes work really well up to about 400bhp. I run full OE, with DS2500 on the fronts. You do not need anything other that plain discs - they are pointless!

Next on my list is/was the exhaust and a Wagner intercooler (310/350bhp switchable, rarely used the higher power).

If you're into some more vRS power, care to join us?