The 20v turbo is a pretty well known platform so I can't really see it going majorly wrong. Parts did seem cheaper on it than on my mk2 octavia vrs whenever I looked too. If that one turns out to be a bit crap have a look on Briskoda at the cars for sale there because some of them that pop up are in extremely good condition. It's also a good place to source used bits to modify
Also goes quite well and relatively easy to work on yourself.From what I've seen the interior is nothing to shout about and I'm coming from E46 but it's in good condition so I'm happy. Occured to me I spend too much time looking at cars rather than actually working on and getting to know them, thought while I'm trapped at home now seemed to be the right time and it seemed like the car for the job. This one I think has a CD player luckily! haha.I had one a few years ago, was a pretty decent car imo. Albeit a little bit dated inside, still had a tape deck.
That's the plan! Try to do as much as I can really myself. Set myself in good stead for future cars really.
Main thing for me being they seemed a good starting platform due to the amount of parts avaliable, usually get cam belt done immedately unless its been recently sorted to be fair but 100% all questions for the previous owner. The vrs im looking at is at about 80k, 55 plate so one of the last of the line. Wants 2.5k but gonna aim for 2 or below. He's been dropping the price all month.
Looks a beauty! Something fantastic about the front end of these that I can never quite describe to family and friends. There's a Revo dealer in Carlise near me so I may have to pay a visit.I loved my one when I had it. Change of circumstances plus a fair few things needing doing on it in one go meant I couldn't really justify keeping it so I pretty much gave it away at auction
Rear ARB was the only handling mod I did and it was money well spent! Other than that I did a few cosmetic bits inside and out (nothing major) added a Piper stainless exhaust, Pipercross filter and had a Revo Stage 1 map done.
Here she is on the Ring for sentiments sake
Absolutely excellent, I'll try take a look now.I put together a buyer's guide for the Mk1, which was published in the March 2020 issue of Modern Classics. See if you can grab a copy of it somewhere, if you're interested, as it has lots of pointers in it (and some tuning advice).
See I've looked into MX5's but I guess the issue lies in, for a period, this will also have to be my daily driver (Then again, daily driving being a thing of the past right now). I know there's all sorts of ways to extract more power etc out of the MX5 and it has crossed my mind I must admit but with also being a young driver, the insurance cost will massively outweight any performance I can add with modifications.
Funnily enough my next car after my mk1 vRS was a mk1 MX5. In terms of pure driving enjoyment the MX5 wins hands down. I then ended up running the MX5 as a daily covering just under 70 miles a day and it really sucked the fun out of it, that was where the versatility of the vRS really hit home.
Funnily enough my next car after my mk1 vRS was a mk1 MX5. In terms of pure driving enjoyment the MX5 wins hands down. I then ended up running the MX5 as a daily covering just under 70 miles a day and it really sucked the fun out of it, that was where the versatility of the vRS really hit home.
I've already mentioned the rear ARB and I can't stress enough just how much that bit of steel bar changed the handling. That vague understeer wasn't removed completely but it did significantly shift the balance of the car towards being more neutral, and I wasn't even using the firmest setting.
Power wise it is difficult to compare the two as I'd had the remap on for quite some time prior to getting the MX5 but in pure power to weight terms they are both around the 130 BHP/TON mark when stock. Obviously that is delivered in a very different way but driven as the torque curve dictates they aren't a million miles apart, one just requires its neck wringing a bit more
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Vintage, actually. Same for the tape player.
A "daily driver" is such a vague term. I used my MX5 for a couple years as a "daily driver" and it was ace - really miss that car. Ironically the commute is probably better in the MX5, as you don't need more than 2 seats. It was the weekends that got annoying, as I couldn't get a mountain bike in the car, so eventually swapped it for a M135i. If you don't need rear seats then honestly the MX5 is a better car than a VRS - especially if you're young and pre kid(s)...
Check modified car insurance - chances a MX5 might not be much different to a VRS, especially when mods come into play...
The VRS isn't the sports car you're making it out as. it's a great car, as a compromise... it's a jack of all, master of none. it's moderately quick while also having a decent amount of space for practicality - if you don't need the space, then honestly look elsewhere if "fun for £2-3k" is the primary goal. Pretty much any modern hot-hatch will be quicker and more fun if you need 4 seats, a MX5/MR2 would be quicker and more fun if you don't need rear seats (or want to carry much luggage) - the VRS's party piece is the vast boot/space, while being moderately quick.They're both good contenders really but I'm coming from a convertible 3 series, just be nice to be rid of soft top hassle really. Also the ability to fit more things and people in my car. I'd actually love an estate but seem harder to come by. Just something beautiful about knowing you could burn off someone in a new low end beamer they're paying out their arse for on tick, but also fit a grandfather clock in the boot if need be
