What are the pros/cons of installing a rear bar on my MK1 Octy?

2.0 auto car with most of time two passengers on mixed roads/HW and city traffic

Who can provide on web one of this for me, makers and types please?

Thanks folks

SV

Pro: Better handling with less understeer

Con: You have to get the jack out to fit it

Seriously though there is nothing bad to fitting a rear anti roll bar.

Ive got a Whiteline bar on mine but i know alot of people on here have the Neuspeed ones

Pros: Total transformation. Massively reduced understeer, more responsive steering, flatter cornering, lift-off oversteer

Cons: Your car will try and kill you in the wet.

HTH

having to inform you insurance about the mod and them ripping you off

Pros: Total transformation. Massively reduced understeer, more responsive steering, flatter cornering, lift-off oversteer

Cons: Your car will try and kill you in the wet.

HTH

Does an upper front strut brace work well with the rear lower? Such as an Audi s3? I like the idea of lift off oversteer but i'm not taken by the "Your car will try and kiill you in the wet" bit. The wifes Focus has a MOMO front upper brace and a Focus sport rear upper brace accross the struts and nothing can make that car lose traction. Obviously independant rear suspension helps from the start but the Octy vRS really is a bad handling car.

Darren

Does an upper front strut brace work well with the rear lower? Such as an Audi s3? I like the idea of lift off oversteer but i'm not taken by the "Your car will try and kiill you in the wet" bit. The wifes Focus has a MOMO front upper brace and a Focus sport rear upper brace accross the struts and nothing can make that car lose traction. Obviously independant rear suspension helps from the start but the Octy vRS really is a bad handling car.

Darren

I don't know to be honest. I'm not a huge fan of strut braces for various reasons, so it's not something I've tried. Some say they improve turn-in but I'm not really convinced they would make a significant difference.

I agree the Octy's handling is not it's strong point... that said, the Focus is particularly good IMHO, so the poor old Octy looks particularly bad in comparison. The rear ARB really makes a huge difference... It really does bring the handling up to scratch IMO.

My comment about the wet was an exaggeration... you have to watch them in the wet... I suppose the lack of body-roll means that the forces go elsewhere so you find the back steps out easily. Providing you keep this in mind and drive accordingly, it's not dangerous. You can reduce the over-steer by setting the bar to a softer setting (providing it's an adjustable one). The softest setting on the Whiteline bar is still a huge improvement over standard, without too much over-steer. I have mine on the softest setting over the winter, and I will stiffen it up in the spring (if the car hasn't sold by then! )

Does an upper front strut brace work well with the rear lower? Such as an Audi s3? I like the idea of lift off oversteer but i'm not taken by the "Your car will try and kiill you in the wet" bit. The wifes Focus has a MOMO front upper brace and a Focus sport rear upper brace accross the struts and nothing can make that car lose traction. Obviously independant rear suspension helps from the start but the Octy vRS really is a bad handling car.

Darren

There must be something wrong with yours..its not that bad handling, i know it not the best,but it certainly isnt really bad.

Fitted a Whiteline adjustable on mine at the weekend, on the second to softest setting. I am totally amazed by the difference in handling, virtually no understeer, flat cornering, steering much more precise...in short, do it, should have been like this from the factory!

There must be something wrong with yours..its not that bad handling, i know it not the best,but it certainly isnt really bad.

Apart from a very slight leak on the rear N/S shock, the suspension is fine. Trying to have fun in the Octavia on twisty B roads tends to make me feel almost sea sick. It wallows about to much for my liking and on some cambers and dips really does become very involving. I can almost feel the back end wanting to come along the side of me already. This is probably mainly to do with the shocks and springs being too soft, something which i'm looking to do once the alloys are on. I suppose its mostly down to different driving styles as some say the brakes are bad and in all honesty i find the brakes absolutely fine. I'd imagine this time in 2 months i'll be saying that the Octavia is a fine handling car but thats in about 1k time.

Darren

The vRS seems to handle completely differently to all the other models! My Elegance, and the Ambiante I had on hire for several days, are both pretty neutral, with the Elegance actually tending to slight oversteer.