MK1 Skoda Fabia VRS diesel Track Car ????????
Discussion
I have a Fabia Vrs Diesel I use for commuting to work, it remapped to 170bhp/295lb ft and goes pretty well. It's otherwise standard but good fun for a diesel, I am thinking of taking it on the Track, is there anything anyone can suggest to make it a sorted track weapon but still useable for the daily 50 mile commute?????
If you mean track weapon in the sense of over take everything etc etc don't bother.
Dare I say I have just as much fun in standard road cars on track than focused track cars. To make it safe and sound I'd suggest changing fluid to maybe 5.1 braided lines and upgraded pads. Twin that with some decent tyres and 30mins with an instructor and you'll have a awesome time. Don't worry about it being diesel either, I've seen diesels on track days and the owners never look bored.
Dare I say I have just as much fun in standard road cars on track than focused track cars. To make it safe and sound I'd suggest changing fluid to maybe 5.1 braided lines and upgraded pads. Twin that with some decent tyres and 30mins with an instructor and you'll have a awesome time. Don't worry about it being diesel either, I've seen diesels on track days and the owners never look bored.
Yeah sounds good, do you remember the TG when they raced the Vrs against the mini cooper? You'll have a good laugh in anything...I'm 'tweaking' my daily 320d touring with red stuff pads, ebc turbo groove discs, eibach anti roll bars, filter and full decat ecotune exhaust and remap. Not planning on doing loads of trackdays in it, but more to see what is possible with basic mods...oh and a budget trip to the ring before taking the 180 
Depends on what you like in a track car.
I would prefer to have some rpm headroom.
I prefer multivalve heads for hanging on to a gear just that bit longer before the corner, if the gearing is not quite right for the track.
I like going through the gears and savoring the time between.
I'd definitely find a diesel lacking for entertainment.
At the end of the day though, I can't tolerate the scent of burnt diesel...makes me nauseous, so that strikes me out period.
m
I would prefer to have some rpm headroom.
I prefer multivalve heads for hanging on to a gear just that bit longer before the corner, if the gearing is not quite right for the track.
I like going through the gears and savoring the time between.
I'd definitely find a diesel lacking for entertainment.
At the end of the day though, I can't tolerate the scent of burnt diesel...makes me nauseous, so that strikes me out period.
m
PHer 'XA0S' has a 'Reader's Rides' thread on his VRS track car which has ran into dosens of pages.
It has culminated in him deciding to ditch diesel power and put a petrol lump in it, but only after spending about £26k trying to make it work with the diesel engine
Each to his own and all that but a diesel Fabia isn't a great starting point for a track car. Sure you can track it, but everything you do to make it more tolerable on track will make it less tolerable on the road.
My advice; do a trackday in it standard, and if you enjoy the trackday consider getting something a bit more focussed.
ETA: here is the 'XA0S' thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It has culminated in him deciding to ditch diesel power and put a petrol lump in it, but only after spending about £26k trying to make it work with the diesel engine
Each to his own and all that but a diesel Fabia isn't a great starting point for a track car. Sure you can track it, but everything you do to make it more tolerable on track will make it less tolerable on the road.
My advice; do a trackday in it standard, and if you enjoy the trackday consider getting something a bit more focussed.
ETA: here is the 'XA0S' thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Classic Grad 98 on Wednesday 21st December 09:59
Classic Grad 98 said:
My advice; do a trackday in it standard, and if you enjoy the trackday consider getting something a bit more focussed.
This is what I'm planning on doing.Couple of track-days in the New Year in the Alfa, if it breaks/is s
t, it cost me £500 so will hit eBay. If it's fun, then will get tweeked
Haha started reading the Vrs tuning post, but got bored after 2 pages, seemed like he had huge amounts of spare cash - if he got to 26k then think most people on here would buy a caterham, exige s, atom etc etc and used the Skoda as a commuter.
If you want fun on a budget in your daily driver crack on, my other half has a 140bhp MK6 diesel golf, and I had a laugh in it round Curborough - setting a faster time than several 'performance cars'. Come on one of my sprint practice days if you want to get a feel for it on track without worrying about excessive wear and tear. It's also a good chance to passenger other cars, which will give you an idea of how good they are in terms of 'smiles per pound'.
Ultimately though if you get the bug and have the cash, buy a rwd track weapon
If you want fun on a budget in your daily driver crack on, my other half has a 140bhp MK6 diesel golf, and I had a laugh in it round Curborough - setting a faster time than several 'performance cars'. Come on one of my sprint practice days if you want to get a feel for it on track without worrying about excessive wear and tear. It's also a good chance to passenger other cars, which will give you an idea of how good they are in terms of 'smiles per pound'.
Ultimately though if you get the bug and have the cash, buy a rwd track weapon
It'll be fine to enjoy a trackday with your car. Make sure you have plenty of meat left on the pads, and have the fluid renewed (ideally for something like AP's fluid) before the day.
Take it easy, and enjoy.
Long term, however, if you wanted to use your car more regularly on the track, or as a dedicated track toy, you'll have more cheap fun in a Clio 172 for example, however you'll never get 50mpg from one.
Take it easy, and enjoy.
Long term, however, if you wanted to use your car more regularly on the track, or as a dedicated track toy, you'll have more cheap fun in a Clio 172 for example, however you'll never get 50mpg from one.
mat205125 said:
It'll be fine to enjoy a trackday with your car. Make sure you have plenty of meat left on the pads, and have the fluid renewed (ideally for something like AP's fluid) before the day.
Take it easy, and enjoy.
Long term, however, if you wanted to use your car more regularly on the track, or as a dedicated track toy, you'll have more cheap fun in a Clio 172 for example, however you'll never get 50mpg from one.
Like wot he said, plus the usual stuff like decent tyres, fresh oil etc.Take it easy, and enjoy.
Long term, however, if you wanted to use your car more regularly on the track, or as a dedicated track toy, you'll have more cheap fun in a Clio 172 for example, however you'll never get 50mpg from one.
Great little road car, but only a complete idiot would ever try (and fail) to make one a 'track weapon'. The list of better starting points is huge.
Having done the obvious remap, from hereon in, for every tiny forward step you take as a track car, there'll be a big backward step in terms of it's everyday commuter function.
Edited by splitpin on Friday 23 December 11:01
mgmrw said:
you boys appear to have plenty of track experience.
As a track noob, with a tatty but mechanically sound 145 alfa...... What's the basics?
> coolant refresh
> oil cooler?
> better brake fluid
> check pads and discs are healthy
anything else?
Brakes and fluids is the essentials, for sure.As a track noob, with a tatty but mechanically sound 145 alfa...... What's the basics?
> coolant refresh
> oil cooler?
> better brake fluid
> check pads and discs are healthy
anything else?
Always allowing a slow-down lap is worthwhile too.
I personally don't do sessioned trackdays. Whilst I appreciate that there are benifits in terms of a fixed amount of track time, and sessions for different experience levels, I find that there is a psycholical need to stay out on track for the full session time, which may lead to excessive heat and work being put into fluids and components ... I much prefer an open pit lane day where you can go out as much or as little as you want to - Do a handful of laps, and as the car begins to feel like its getting overly warm, coast in over a lap, and grab a coffee.
mat205125 said:
Brakes and fluids is the essentials, for sure.
Always allowing a slow-down lap is worthwhile too.
I personally don't do sessioned trackdays. Whilst I appreciate that there are benifits in terms of a fixed amount of track time, and sessions for different experience levels, I find that there is a psycholical need to stay out on track for the full session time, which may lead to excessive heat and work being put into fluids and components ... I much prefer an open pit lane day where you can go out as much or as little as you want to - Do a handful of laps, and as the car begins to feel like its getting overly warm, coast in over a lap, and grab a coffee.
That was my plan. Car is worth £500 so I care not about it.Always allowing a slow-down lap is worthwhile too.
I personally don't do sessioned trackdays. Whilst I appreciate that there are benifits in terms of a fixed amount of track time, and sessions for different experience levels, I find that there is a psycholical need to stay out on track for the full session time, which may lead to excessive heat and work being put into fluids and components ... I much prefer an open pit lane day where you can go out as much or as little as you want to - Do a handful of laps, and as the car begins to feel like its getting overly warm, coast in over a lap, and grab a coffee.
And Blyton is only 10mins away, open pitlane days for £80 ish
Cadwell is only 30mins away too.
discs, pads, fluid were first job.
Was going to run dodgy box and clutch for first trackday, replace after
mgmrw said:
splitpin said:
Let us know what you book (so the rest of us can avoid it 
)
I'm a noob, not a suicidal maniac )
And as you frowned, no rofl for you this time
splitpin said:
Well Mr Noob, don't go taking a car on a trackday with a gearbox or clutch that you know to be dodgy and in need of imminent replacement; the rest of us can do without bits/oil laying on the track/flying backwards at us or downtime whilst you get towed back, perhaps more than once.
And as you frowned, no rofl for you this time
not gonna explode. Just crunches 1st to 2nd when down-shifting. Can't see that being an issue really on track.And as you frowned, no rofl for you this time
Clutch works fine, just has quite a lot of pedal travel.
Fair enough, but here's a tip >
Doing your first trackday up to your armpits in all sorts of mechanical issues is best avoided; I have seen it get to the point of folks saying 'Never Ever Again'; start as you mean to go on; do whatever you possibly can to be able to concentrate on the pleasure of trackdriving, not the pain of panic spannering and/or an early bath.
Have Fun!
Doing your first trackday up to your armpits in all sorts of mechanical issues is best avoided; I have seen it get to the point of folks saying 'Never Ever Again'; start as you mean to go on; do whatever you possibly can to be able to concentrate on the pleasure of trackdriving, not the pain of panic spannering and/or an early bath.
Have Fun!
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