Best bang for your buck mods

[Martin]

I've been through this with my Skoda Octavia VRS 2.0 TSI Turbo DSG (Like GTI)
(Check my post in the Skoda Octavia section)

Stage1 is fun/cool but when you get used it you realise that it's pretty weak at the top end
I was short changing to get around this and driving on torque

The downpipe and StageII tune cleaned it up nicely
Wider powerband, 1500rpm to 7000rpm (very strong from 2800rpm)
(I did also install the Carbino CAI but I think it's effect is small - very noisy also - very $)
I do agree it's hard to use this power level from stationary and in the wet
But it's still fast and fun - no question about that

My advice would be to go straight to StageII with the downpipe
it will put a smile on your face and surprise others around you

On factory ECU I get ~560km out of a tank (driving to work)
On Stage1 tune I was getting ~520km out of a tank
On Stage2 I am getting ~490km out of a tank (I'm using the power more often)

[remy]

Agree with what some have already said - best bang for buck mod is tyres.

[bennjamin]

Agree with what some have already said - best bang for buck mod is tyres.

Don't agree - especially the suggestion of semi slicks tyres. Plain silly to suggest for street use.
The best bang for buck ( noticeable ) mod is a larger rear swaybar. $200-300 or so installed. Nothing else gives the same change for the money spent !

[brad]

my list in order of preference:
1) ECU tune - name your brand
2) Stickier tyres. Maybe not semi-slicks but something stickier than stock
3) Experiment with tyre pressures

[Tim]

If you have 3k to spare stage 2 is what you want.
$1095 for a GIAC tune from Exoticars
$699 for an SPM 3" DP
Intake of whatever brand you prefer
Add some installation costs and you are still well under $3000 and will have more power than you can put to the ground.

[VWindahouse]

As Tim said go straight to stage 2 as I promise you will end up there eventually if you start at phase 1. So save yourself the money and as he also said there are lots of more powerful tunes available out there than the mainstream will suggest to you. Do your homework and don't be afraid to mix and match products brands to get maximum results ie. FMIC, CAI, DP, DV which can all be tuned by the "right" tuner.

Good luck

[Sardaukar]

Add some installation costs and you are still well under $3000 and will have more power than you can put to the ground.

I like I like

[Sardaukar]

Don't agree - especially the suggestion of semi slicks tyres. Plain silly to suggest for street use.
The best bang for buck ( noticeable ) mod is a larger rear swaybar. $200-300 or so installed. Nothing else gives the same change for the money spent !

tell me why?

[Andypants]

You can go straight to stage 2 very cheaply.

Viezu are doing a package at the moment for forum members: $1799 for Viezu Tune, VARdeisgn DP and Carbon CAI.

This will leave you with change for such things as a rear Swaybar and some Lowered Springs. Job done go have a Beer

[Martin]

Street slicks are only useful for driving to the track and back without changing wheels/tires at the track
They wear out at an astonishing rate, you would need a fat wallet to use them all the time

Using them in the wet could bring you unstuck

[bennjamin]

tell me why?

You refer to my comment on semis? Martin suggests it above. Street legal semi slicks ( or high performance street tyres with large chunks of tread pattern with racing in mind) shouldn't be on any road based car IMO. It's a waste of money , they need more heat in them to work and do not work well on any surface except perfectly smooth flat road. Having them makes you look like a racer but they can also give the false sense of performance , safety and grip . Throw your car at any type of wet / loose gravel / dirt / oil / grease / leaves etc mid corner with semis on and I'd bet you will be wishing you had decent normal road tyres as you under steer into a cliff side.

All IMO lol

But this is about the "best bang for buck". Rear swaybar upgrade (on a fwd) is still easily the best bang for buck mod you can do

[Sardaukar]

I was more referring to the sway bar to be honest, I know all there is about tyres and how they work. (trust me a learnt the hard way)

[bennjamin]

I was more referring to the sway bar to be honest, I know all there is about tyres and how they work. (trust me a learnt the hard way)

Ahh k - here is a couple of links to inform you

AutoSpeed - Rear Sway Bars: Improving FWD Handling

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiteline.com.au%2Fdocs%2Farticles%2FAS_susp_01_0202.pdf&ei=myQaUYXYKIWfkQXLkoDwBA&usg=AFQjCNFcYwgFz_IG98asKQkZRnOJBjTbZA&bvm=bv.42261806,d.dGI&cad=rja

[Peter Jones]

You refer to my comment on semis? Martin suggests it above. Street legal semi slicks ( or high performance street tyres with large chunks of tread pattern with racing in mind) shouldn't be on any road based car IMO. It's a waste of money , they need more heat in them to work and do not work well on any surface except perfectly smooth flat road. Having them makes you look like a racer but they can also give the false sense of performance , safety and grip . Throw your car at any type of wet / loose gravel / dirt / oil / grease / leaves etc mid corner with semis on and I'd bet you will be wishing you had decent normal road tyres as you under steer into a cliff side.

All IMO lol

But this is about the "best bang for buck". Rear swaybar upgrade (on a fwd) is still easily the best bang for buck mod you can do

That's not true of Semi Slicks at all. You're entitled to your opinion but that doesn't correspond with my experience.

[parso_rex]

Go the tune first then add a dump-pipe to that, the intake if a decent one will only benefit you as much as keeping the intake temps down which helps to keep power at a maximum. There is not much difference between the peak power figures tunes on the cars with a K03 but you may find some have much broader delivery than others
Add the rest of the exhaust if you are unhappy with the sound or spend the balance on suspension or just give it too me