I had been having a terrible day. Bad day at work, then got cut up multiple times by the same **** in a Jag (are all jag drivers cocks?). Had the smile returned to my face by losing a tailgater in a clout of soot down the lanes, and him rapidly vanishing in the mirror. Set me thinking: How cool would a vRS be with standard bumpers, steel wheels with cheap trims, and a 180BHP chipping ? Not wanting to do it myself as I like the looks, but has anyone done it?

Cant see many people wanting to do it, but i know of a few people who do similar finds to other cars.

Ive heard of clios and polos being made to look standard and having silly power

Looks fairly stealthy at the moment, IMO - compared to some 'sporty' models out there. I agree, would be funny it looking like the 1.2 but packing some serious grunt

Steve

A mate of mine is big in to fords (he is a bit disalussioned) and at one of the shows he went to there was a mint mk3 escort 1.3 pop. He said this thing was mint it had all the period bits like the 3d metal numberplates some cars had, little aa badge on the grill, nice shiny new exhaust, possibly a bit bigger than standard, then he noticed the steel wheels looked a bit big, looking through the lightly tined windows revealed a mint recaro interior and under the bonnet was a YB with a large turbo. Apparently it was one of the fastest things on the track that day.

then he noticed the steel wheels looked a bit big,

That would probably be the only giveaway.

Not wanting to do it myself as I like the looks, but has anyone done it?

I think the closest thing we have to a tuned vRS with standard bumpers is Jason's, but the big wheels, big brakes and slammed suspension might be clues all is not as it seems

Chris

Looks fairly stealthy at the moment, IMO - compared to some 'sporty' models out there. I agree, would be funny it looking like the 1.2 but packing some serious grunt

Steve

I agree. One of the things I really like about it is the subtle looks. Like you say though, if it looked like a 1.2 shopping car but had 180bhp & $lots ft/lb, you could surprise even more people.

That would probably be the only giveaway.

You could put steelies from the Bora on it - those are 16" with massive hubcaps! Then you could still fit 312s behind them

Steve

You could put steelies from the Bora on it - those are 16" with massive hubcaps! Then you could still fit 312s behind them

Steve

Presumably that's what the standard 16" steel spare wheel is?

312?

Yes, the spare's a full style steelie.

312mm brake upgrade. I feel you'd need them if you're going for anything more than std power :eek:

Steve

Yes, the spare's a full style steelie.

312mm brake upgrade. I feel you'd need them if you're going for anything more than std power :eek:

Steve

I have to say the standard ones are good. The vRS is a better driver's car than my old A3 TDi 110. The vRS brakes seem powerful, progressive (that was where the A3 wasn't so good), and capable. Then again, I haven't got silly with it yet...

Along with others here, I found the std 288mm setup lacking in feel, and consequentially didn't inspire much confidence. The same setup on the Ibiza seems to cope better though. They're still getting upgraded next month though

If you are thinking of getting a remap, they'd be a very sensible upgrade, along with possibly a set of Eibach Pro-Kit springs to counter the nose dipping under breaking.

Steve

John had a PD100 in red which was circa 180bhp, very stealthy.

Along with others here, I found the std 288mm setup lacking in feel, and consequentially didn't inspire much confidence. The same setup on the Ibiza seems to cope better though. They're still getting upgraded next month though

If you are thinking of getting a remap, they'd be a very sensible upgrade, along with possibly a set of Eibach Pro-Kit springs to counter the nose dipping under breaking.

Steve

Remap? Maybe later. when it's out of warranty. I have to say that the A3 wasn't slow, but the vRS I'm still getting used to nearly rearending people due to the acceleration :eek:. I've not noticed excessive dipping- in fact, the car is 100% standard, and feels fast, poised, and tight. An utter bargain for practicality, price, economy and peformance. Only problems so far: door rattle and one dashboard vent broken.

45mpg driven fast, and a big grin.

I think mine suprised a few people with the dragon box on it when it looked like this:

I've not noticed excessive dipping- in fact, the car is 100% standard, and feels fast, poised, and tight.

Then you're not driving it properly :P The car has terrible damping imvho and having such pronounced weight shifting under acceleration/braking is not great for a car which is trying to be sporty! :(

Chris

45mpg driven fast, and a big grin.

Get your average in the low to mid 30s, then come back and tell us what you think of the brakes and nose bobbing :P

Seriously, if you're happy with the way the car's setup then great, that's the most important thing....

Steve

I used to run my current car with 14" steels on and nothing else really done, when it was remapped to 154bhp. That was great fun. Can't do anything with this car now as its got the big brakes, so I now have to back up it's more fiercesome appearance.

My Dad's Touran is quite fun... bog standard looking VW Touran powered by a 2.0TDI DSG with a K&N plus a remap (c. 190bhp).

Quite funny to see the looks on peoples faces when they are left for dead by a van-like MPV with a big dog stareing at them out of the rear window

What you need is an Octavia SDI

Have to agree about them dipping under braking as i have on many occasion had them behind me on the m/way and anything more than light braking and you can see the front end dip something chronic, esp when the lights are on.

What you need is an Octavia SDI

I suppose that is the opposite of the reaction with the VRS. They think it will be slow, and then are suprised how slow it actually is!

I suppose that is the opposite of the reaction with the VRS. They think it will be slow, and then are suprised how sow it actually is!

You'd be surprised how slow Jon's SDI is

Chris

I run mine on black steelies most of the time. Works a treat

Went for a blast in a mates Corsa last night. It's a black Corsa C on a Y plate, looks standard, apart from nice alloys and a stainless backbox. Inside is all standard too.

It pushes 300 bhp from its calibra turbo engine Its ****ing insane, with a T34 Turbo. Love it. Looks like any other Corsa.

I run mine on black steelies most of the time. Works a treat

Went for a blast in a mates Corsa last night. It's a black Corsa C on a Y plate, looks standard, apart from nice alloys and a stainless backbox. Inside is all standard too.

It pushes 300 bhp from its calibra turbo engine Its ****ing insane, with a T34 Turbo. Love it. Looks like any other Corsa.

I don't believe anything you say anymore:P