VTR - tips on making it quicker
Discussion
A local chav run garage to me claims to have the fastest 8v 1.6 106 in the country. They have spent a lot of money on it (mostly gained from selling second hand parts as new at prices well above main dealer) and from what I hear it is no faster than a mildly modified 16v unit so it is probably not worth your money trying.
Brakes wise Forodo DS2500 pads (£100 ish) are awesome on plain vented discs (ebc are pretty good). You do not need drilled or grooved as the pads will not overheat with such a light car.
Suspension makes a huge A-B difference but I have heard stories of Saxos having hedge seeking rear bumpers (I have no idea if this is true so no abuse please!!!!) so consider this when setting it up.
Insurance wise Direct Line would not change my policy from fiesta to elise a few years ago so they refunded me pro rata with no penalties. Could be worth a try if you want an early upgrade.
Why go for a VTS? IMO a GTi-6 is a much better bet and are very cheap.
Finally, I totally agree that new hot hatches are no way near as fast as their power outputs would suggest. Fairly convinced that a GTi-6 is as quick as the latest offerings from ford, honda, seat etc. (prepares for serious backlash!!!!)
Brakes wise Forodo DS2500 pads (£100 ish) are awesome on plain vented discs (ebc are pretty good). You do not need drilled or grooved as the pads will not overheat with such a light car.
Suspension makes a huge A-B difference but I have heard stories of Saxos having hedge seeking rear bumpers (I have no idea if this is true so no abuse please!!!!) so consider this when setting it up.
Insurance wise Direct Line would not change my policy from fiesta to elise a few years ago so they refunded me pro rata with no penalties. Could be worth a try if you want an early upgrade.
Why go for a VTS? IMO a GTi-6 is a much better bet and are very cheap.
Finally, I totally agree that new hot hatches are no way near as fast as their power outputs would suggest. Fairly convinced that a GTi-6 is as quick as the latest offerings from ford, honda, seat etc. (prepares for serious backlash!!!!)
They lessen the passive rear steering.The lift-off oversteer is present in pretty much all of the older PSA hot hatch offerings, but one of the reasons they do it is that some have a brake load compensator on the rear axle, which is tricked into thinking the rear end is carrying more weight than it really is if the car is lowered. The valve works on the axle height, rather than the load on it so by lowering the rear you push the car towards a crap brake distribution all round.
So someone not particularly skilled brakes mid-bend.....back end skids out.
If it were my money I'd get a Xsara VTS. I've got a 1.8 VTR and it's a bit pants to be honest, but the VTS has completely reworked suspension and sits lower as standard, a quicker ratio steering rack and can be had for silly money. It also uses the same engine as the Pug 306 GTi-6.....one of the best units Peugeot and Citroen have ever made IMO. Basically a GTi-6 without the extra gear (apparently a quicker gearbox?) for about half the price if you've a keen eye. Insurance is cheap as the companies don't know what it is, and it's a 140mph car that will happily cruise at slower speeds and maintain 30mpg +. All you exchange for this is a lack of image or badge prestige and hot hatch looks...of which it has none. But if you want a good drive, they're not important.
Why I've got a VTR, I will never know!
So someone not particularly skilled brakes mid-bend.....back end skids out.
If it were my money I'd get a Xsara VTS. I've got a 1.8 VTR and it's a bit pants to be honest, but the VTS has completely reworked suspension and sits lower as standard, a quicker ratio steering rack and can be had for silly money. It also uses the same engine as the Pug 306 GTi-6.....one of the best units Peugeot and Citroen have ever made IMO. Basically a GTi-6 without the extra gear (apparently a quicker gearbox?) for about half the price if you've a keen eye. Insurance is cheap as the companies don't know what it is, and it's a 140mph car that will happily cruise at slower speeds and maintain 30mpg +. All you exchange for this is a lack of image or badge prestige and hot hatch looks...of which it has none. But if you want a good drive, they're not important.
Why I've got a VTR, I will never know!
I can backup that the rears are very light to say the least. I had Falkens on the front and budget of budgets on the rear and lift off oversteer was Great fun!
It was also very easy to control at lower speeds, However, as I found out, anything above 60ish and the car becomes very twitchy. I came off a slip road at about 70mph, and turned an ever so slight right hander and the back just snapped away from me into a 180spin, I ended up scrubbing most of the speed off before hitting the curb at about 20, causing minor bottom arm damage.
Even on the motorway it doesnt give you great confidence, I dont know the inns and outs of why its so snappy, I always assumed it was the very short wheelbase combined with very little weight over the rear axle?
Whatever the reason, I think many more will continue to end up in a ditch/hedge.
I can offer one piece of advice, fit budgets to the front aswell as the rear, now the fronts just slide out rather than kick the rear out. A lot more predictable, but not as much fun!
It was also very easy to control at lower speeds, However, as I found out, anything above 60ish and the car becomes very twitchy. I came off a slip road at about 70mph, and turned an ever so slight right hander and the back just snapped away from me into a 180spin, I ended up scrubbing most of the speed off before hitting the curb at about 20, causing minor bottom arm damage.
Even on the motorway it doesnt give you great confidence, I dont know the inns and outs of why its so snappy, I always assumed it was the very short wheelbase combined with very little weight over the rear axle?
Whatever the reason, I think many more will continue to end up in a ditch/hedge.
I can offer one piece of advice, fit budgets to the front aswell as the rear, now the fronts just slide out rather than kick the rear out. A lot more predictable, but not as much fun!
Edited by sean19 on Monday 24th December 01:36
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff