So my completely standard '04 vRS with 49k on it is just about three years old, and is about to be paid off. It appears it's held its value well and if my work situation were a bit more secure I'd be looking to trade in for a silver Octy vRS PD 170...but fortune vomits on my eiderdown once again. So I'm keeping the car and consoling myself with the thought of turning it into the car it always should have been.

So I need the advice of the heavily modded crew on here: Which mods in which order? I'm thinking bang for buck and which need doing the most. I'd like the car to be quick(er), but the roads I drive everyday are f****** appalling so ride quality is as important as handling. What I've got in mind (in no particular order) is:

Koni FSD's (on standard springs as I think I need the ground clearance) - are they definitely suitable for the VRS and are they more/less comfortable than std?

SEAT PD160 Intake and Green Filter

Rear ARB

Custom Remap

Intercooler Vent mod

SEAT front Strut Brace

Other suspension mods/upgrades - Front bushes?

Audi TT front brakes

If I was doing this on Gran Turismo I'd always sort the brakes and then suspension in order to win a few races before making it quicker... but this is real life!

I see you havent added a clutch upgrade to your list??

I lowered my car first, put on the PD160 air intake, had a powerflow cat back exhaust fitted, uprated the clutch and then got it remapped.

And I love the car now.

arb first i say!

Depends if you want the car to go faster or handle better. I prefer handling over straight line speed so I'd go for a Jabba ARB first. It made a huge difference to the way it goes around corners.

Jules

I see you havent added a clutch upgrade to your list??

Yup - I'm under the impression that an uprated clutch is more difficult to live with (harsher/smaller biting point). The amount of time I spend crawling in jams on the clutch that would be a problem. I'm not necessarily looking to make it a drag monster, and the OEM clutch has served well thus far...

Which makes the bigger difference - the rear ARB or the front strut brace?

1) ARB

2) 312mm brakes

3) Koni FSDs + eibach springs (high enough )

4) PD160 intake + green filter (could do earlier) + strut brace

5) FMIC system

6) uprated clutch

7) custom remap

Then say hello to 190bhp. Consider 5.5 - hybrid turbo, then hello 200+

Which makes the bigger difference - the rear ARB or the front strut brace?

front strut brace will make such a negligible difference as to not be worth bothering with

first mod = rear ARB

I'd say remap first, with sensible driving you shouldn't need braking and handling mods.

That's not to say they're not absolutely essential mods, the Jabbasport rear ARB is fantastic and I've got Devon's old set of 312mm brakes waiting to go on, I just think the remap will give the most enjoyment from the car so should be at the top.

Thanks for the advice so far - Devon's list is my GT list Working towards it being a monster!

Over the years I've learnt to cope with the standard brakes, but early on I scared myself silly in Milton Keynes (3rd roundabout and no brakes left!).

I like the idea of the remap first (or maybe after the intake) - but perhaps saving for the Brake upgrade at the same time so I don't kill myself on the drive home?

To be honest my biggest gripe with the car is and always has been the ride, my fillings being shaken loose over potholes and ruts. I would definitely go for the FSD's but for not finding many opinions on them. Another thought is sticking 15" alloys on with fatter tyres - or is that blasphemy?

i agree a remap should be on the list but i wouldent think first thing. i wouldent uprate the power before adding the abbility to handle it. i agree that rear arb first and your susspension. better handling will make you enjoy it more to begin with and can give you the impression that your going faster by being able to hold it in the corners at higher speed. then your got the air intake and that side adding the performance. when you get to that part adding speed you should then move to uprate your brakes. if you then want to remap pending on what one consider clutch but as you said take into account your sitting in traffic side of things

I like the idea of the remap first (or maybe after the intake) - but perhaps saving for the Brake upgrade at the same time so I don't kill myself on the drive home?

Exactly. It's easy to get carried away, even as standard but with a sensible hat on you'll be fine. The standard brakes are safe, the standard suspension is safe and a remap is fantastic when overtaking (another safety selling point! )

Another thought is sticking 15" alloys on with fatter tyres - or is that blasphemy?

Will standard brakes fit behind 15s? Will any 312s for that matter?

Will standard brakes fit behind 15s? Will any 312s for that matter?

312s only just fit behind 16"s

new style back lights are always a good mod to make the look newer too

Do the map last or the other engine mods won't be used to the full - if you get a remap then the 160 intake the map won't be set up to fully take advantage of the better breathing.

The first mod should be to the bloke behind the wheel

Chris

Handling?

Brakes?

Engine?

Naah...change the back light.LOL.

Handling?

Brakes?

Engine?

Naah...change the back light.LOL.

:rofl: haha, love it

yeah deffo do all the performance mods such as intake and exhaust etc, then they will map it to work around them and get the most power, unless you get a generic map....

deffo handling first, arb seems the way to go, im waiting for my warranty to run out then thats the first thing, along with eibach springs and maybe koni dampers

The first mod should be to the bloke behind the wheel

Chris

Hmm....replace lead right foot, install uprated self-control and rage-inhibitors, remap reaction times to 'cat-like'. How much will that lot set me back?

Hmm....replace lead right foot, install uprated self-control and rage-inhibitors, remap reaction times to 'cat-like'. How much will that lot set me back?

You'd be well on your way for

Or here. Cheapest mod I've ever done and transferrable to every car I drive

Chris

IAM or ROSPA is a good idea and cheap so join up plus some people offer cheaper insurance

Car mods. change your brake fluid and upgrade to 312mm with good pads. Then Jabba rear arb.

Wouldnt be overly bothered with a remap. But nice to have. If you go down this route go custom and dont go mad on the torque. Or just get a cheap resistor mod off ebay or cheaper yet make your own.

I had all my mods done when the car had done 7k and i'm now just shy of 30k and about to go for my 3yr 30k service.

I was tempted to go down the remap route but in the end I decided with an uprated clutch thrown in it was 1k too far after all the mods I had already (and the car seemed fast enough tbh).

The car is perfect for the roads I drive on, mostly A + B country roads but also a nice drive when i'm in London and for me the most benefit has been from the handling of the car and the 312 brakes.

The brakes are far superior over the standard system and even as recent as last night have helped me stop in good time to avoid black horses on a moutain road on a dark wet night and then a fox cub that jumped out of the verge, hopped about for a few seconds then jumped back into the verge . A stag crossed the road in front of my the other week and those things are huge! You don't want to hit one of those on a dark night, I dread to think now i've seen the height of those things. :eek: Needless to say i'm a big fan of the upgraded brakes.

I'd decide on the remap and clutch upgrade last as you may decide not to go that far once you have done the other mods. I know there are a lot of remap devotes here but it's not for everyone and personally 1k(ish) on 312 brakes, rear arb, suspension, air intake and strut brace (as a starting point) is a lot better value than a remap/clutch imho. Then if you are still having fun an exhaust system and perhaps the fmic.

I must add i'm far from an expert in these matters and just someone who got the modding bug (thanks guys ) and has driven 23k with those mods.