Calling all modifiers

[vishy]

hi guys, i recently became the proud owner of a Mk2 1.4 RT. i'm thinking of doing some small mods to the car and was wondering if anyone is willing to share their wisdom of small (pref. cheapish lol) changes that will make a bigger difference to the look and feel, like lights or internal bits or something. The only big thing i'm considering is alloys and lowering. I'd like 17s but have heard they can slow the car down, was wondering why? is it weight or is it a size issue? also if i change springs, do i need to change shocks? thinking of 30/35mm drop.

 

[Rip3z]

You don't NEED to change shocks with anything less than 40mm drop, but the ride won't be as comfortable.

 

[vishy]

Cheers Rip3z. But will the car handle less better through corners if i dont change them?

 

[Rip3z]

Well I'm not 100% on this, but I don't think shocks affect handling.

Someone will be along shortly to either confirm this - or laugh at me .

 

[Lunner]

Ypu don't NEED shocks to lower it, but it makes it better, thinkk of it this way, the more the spoend the better it will be springs > springs and shocks > coilovers. Don't forget you can always buy shocks seperate at a later date if you can't stand springs.

Go for 15's not 17's they make the car slower and will rub etc.

Keep the std lights, but upgrade the headlight bulbs to the halfords rally ones

Don't f**k about with a 35mm drop, go for 55mm.

Popular mod is valver front end, wings, bumper and bonnet

Don't stick stickers all over it

Get a de-cat (speak to me shortley), cat back exhaust system, and an indyctin kit, preferably relocated down behind the front bumper somewhere, failing that insulate the std air box and stick a performance filter in, and rip the hot air feed from teh manifold off, and run a decent cold air feed to the airboc from the front fog light hole in the bumper(removing the fog light)

If you really want it to go fast strip it too

 

[Lunner]

Ok, laugh at me, just realised it was a mk2, most of what i said still applies though

 

[Rip3z]

Question was tho, does upgrading the shocks improve handling?

 

[Lunner]

Read what i put, i answered that question.

If you do buy uprated shicks pay a little extra for ones wiht adjustable dampening, as the last thing you want are them being rock hard on a bumpy slipery wet road, but then get on track, and you want them rock hard (unless its wet)

 

[vishy]

cheers guys. would love it to be faster, used to have an old school rover 200 (116bhp honda engine) was a v.quick 1st car so will prob go for 15s then, but why do 17s slow it?????

are induction kits self fitting? im not that good under bonnet, always scared im going to forget to put something back or break it :S lol will look at de-cat aswell but does that mean changing it back for MOT time?

will defintely consider shocks then, cos i want it to handle better if its going to be faster, i miss the speed!

 

[Lunner]

Seeing as its a mk2 you'll be hard pushed to geta decent cheap de-cat, if one atall.

17's are slower due to having to turn a larger radius, so take more effort to turn one rotation ( i think, brain isn't functioning tonight), cars also handle worst with them on

 

[Lunner]

Most induction kits are a case of unbolting the old one and bolting the new one on, just take your time, and check everything and you'll be fine

 

[vishy]

ahh i see...........but even if it is a larger turning circle, doesn't it still cover the same amount of ground? or am i being a bit thick on my week off :s another plus to 15s is that they are cheaper and so are tyres will start looking for induction kits now. cheers!

 

[Plattsy]

ok then if it was my car i would:
Get some 15s with good sticky rubber, can lower it loads but with crap tyres it wont make any difference to handling! trust me i know this!

Get a decent suspension set up, shocks and springs, lower it about 60mm, or save for coilovers..

Get a front splitter and colour code it to the rest of the car along with sidestrips, handles and bumpstrips,

Cup spolier and colour coded.

Decat pipe and a cat back exhaust system

Either get a panel filter or a relocated Induction kit!

Thats what id do anyway. if you wana keep the car and go faster strip out the rear seats, door cards etc, set of bucket seats and get coilover suspension and better tyres!

 

[vishy]

sounds good. think will go with 15s and most likely toyo proxes and think a 60mm drop will look good too. is it easy enough or expensive to colour code? cos sure that would make a real difference.

do want to go faster too, but dont want to strip tho, like a normalish layout inside, so induction kit and exhaust are high on list.

one quick thought: has anyone changed from 8v to 16v for under £500???? crazy or possible?

 

[Bryan]

we said decent rubber, the toyo t1-s are acsolutely dire tyres, look at gsd3's, pilots and possibly even some re720's

 

[CDMullins]

Dont bother with 15's look shite! Gotta be 17's Think any black rims would look great against the green,

http://www.gotwheelsandtires.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=31&osCsid=065ab34dcf76ccab052c51827f325c00

Also the angel eyes look look good

http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=1559

Remove bumpstrips and badges, colour code, nice exhaust, induction kit and hey presto!


NO STICKERS PLZ!

 

[vishy]

Bryan, toyo's that bad? even t1-r? have read some really good reviews, but will def look at the goodyears and brigdestones as they are not much more.

CDMullins, those black wheels look awesome! esp the Konig Imagine B! i would love 17s but i dont want to slow the car down, its already slow nuf! thats only reason im going to go for 15s. with you on the stickers tho!!!

 

[Ali]

I'd leave it how it is...

 

[CDMullins]

17's dont slow down that much!!! Its only a 1.4 any ways! U av to go 17!

 

[Jonaldinho]

Ive got a 1.2 Grande RN which looks similar to yours but in blue. I just got a nice wee set of 15" TSW Razor's, 30mm Eibach springs, 4" Cat-Back Zaust cut into the bumper, Dynamique Spoiler and I have some MK2 Phase 2 rear light to fit when I find some bulb holders. Just to give you a few ideas mate.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/Jonaldinho/lowerpic1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/Jonaldinho/100_0137.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/Jonaldinho/100_0136.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/Jonaldinho/100_0134.jpg

 

[Rip3z]

!7's sit it too high, looks like the car's on stilts imo.

 

[Plattsy]

ok then now decide what u want to do:

Go faster, quicker and handle better
OR
go slower(not much), handle like a broken spade but look nice

If you prefer the 1st one you need 15s the second is for 17s, 15s can look nice though once its lowered, i have 16s on my valver though but they are an awkward wheel size and expensive tyres!

 

[u33db]

Get a set of 15" dynamique wheels and lower it...that way it won't look odd or obviously modified...just nice. Will save arsing about putting everything back to std when selling it too...

 

[vishy]

thanks jonaldinho! those pics are really useful. i like the rear bumper with exhaust, i was afraid 4" would look too big for car, how did you cut into the bumper?

 

[vishy]

Plattsy, put like that, 15s are better option, esp as they are cheaper and so are replacing tyres, but i want better handling and suppose they'd be a bit lighter than 17s too, amd would look ok with a 60mm drop.

but then on 15s, will tyre size make much difference?

195/50 - 2.64% bigger circumference than standard

195/45 - 0.84% SMALLER than standard, does smaller = faster?

is it worth paying 50% extra for 195/45???? seems a lot of money

 

[CDMullins]

17"s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont even think about anything any smaller!

 

[Plattsy]

lol my 15s on my valver had 185/55 tyres on them and changed for 16s with 195/45 tyres and made no difference at all apart from the new wheels where lightweight O.Z's, better is to go for lower profile tyres on mk1s because they tend to catch (mine didnt though) but on mk2s the arches are larger and would be better on the 50 profile, plus tyres are cheaper and do a wider range in 50 format.

Dont bother with 17s, mullins is only saying that because hes got a kit, like i said if you want it for show then get 17s, like uve said ur not bothered about that so ur guna get 15s. so mullins get ur ass out n get sum 18s u girl lol

 

[patty]

t1rs are gash in the wet, trust me i know,,,

 

[theduck]

the 1.4 8v is never gonna go that much quicker in a straight line, but get some nice lightweight 15's and a decent seuspension setup and it'll handle far better.

 

[CDMullins]

Its a 1.4 its not designed to go quick!!!

And he will really not miss the diff!

Mmmmm 18's!

 

[theduck]

handling wise he will, i've driven a 1.4 8v with 17s on and lowered 60mm, it was shite, my standard setup suspension on 14s out handled easily, difference was almost like that between standard and a 182

 

[Rip3z]

I really can't see the fascination of 17's on a small hatchback, it looks so much nicer slammed on 15's.

 

[Jonaldinho]

thanks jonaldinho! those pics are really useful. i like the rear bumper with exhaust, i was afraid 4" would look too big for car, how did you cut into the bumper?

My exhaust was custom built by Motorsportworld in Strathaven and I asked them to cut it into the bumper. Is a delicate hacksaw job I believe lol. Your local custom exhaust builders should be able to cut your zaust in nicely be it a custom system you are getting built at the premises or one you have already bought.

 

[vishy]

cheers Jonaldinho, will look into that then.

thanks for your comments guys. tbh i would love to have 17s, have seem some sexy cross-spokes that i think would look great on the car, but i wouldn't get them if i had to sacrafice anything for them. i enjoy driving soo much that 15s is the better option for me, my car needs to handle well, esp. to take advantage of some of my local roads :race: so 15s on 50 profile, dropped byt 60mm looks like the way to go.

but am i right in thinking its better to drop the front a bit more for better handling?

 

[Rip3z]

Front 15mm lower than the back iirc.

 

[Martin_172]

MK2 Phase 2 Dynamique 15" alloys, lower it 60mm on shocks and springs, custom zorst and an induction kit and it should look nice. ohh and Phase 2 rear lights and 172 front lights would look nice

 

[Rip3z]

MK2 Phase 2 Dynamique 15" alloys, lower it 60mm on shocks and springs, custom zorst and an induction kit and it should look nice. ohh and Phase 2 rear lights and 172 front lights would look nice

Go for some aftermarket alloys imo - otherwise you'll end up with the same exact car as other people on here lol.

 

[vishy]

yea im thinking aftermarkets too, want to be a lil different but without looking wacky, need some fogs too. im thinking twin dtm style tailpipes coming up from centre, altho not sure how this would work with space under back, hmmmm..................

 

[vishy]

*dtm style

 

[Turkish]

If you are a cruiser go for 17s if you intend to drive it hard stick to 15s or 16s