Pragmatic, low-cost, obvious upgrades to a standard ABY Coupe

[Marc]

I'm trying to rekindle my love affair with my totally standard S2.

The niggling problems are mounting up and having tried the smallest of jobs myself, I know that I don't have the nous or the patience to do anything beyond changing a tyre so 90% of the labour will be done by Russell Automotive in Kingsbury who are down the road from me (and won the Audi Driver Awards Independent Service Provider Gold Award 2008, so I figure they're ok). Saying to a garage "what else do you think I should get done whilst you're at it" is probably not a good idea

Anyway, there must be a bunch of obvious, low cost things to make the standard car better. Frankly, I get overwhelm whenever I dip into the forum - I've read shed-loads of stuff (yup, I know how to search) but most of it is completely over my head.

I don't plan to ever take the car on a track; I just want it to be a better road car - as responsive and tight as it can be without completely sacrificing comfort and wearing the rest of the car out.

I can see that people upgrade the brake calipers but if getting better discs and pads makes a reasonable difference, I'd rather do that (FOR NOW!). Likewise, I'd only treat myself to a homefries chip or similar once the rest of the car was shipshape.

So, is there a bunch of obvious upgrades to make that will give the best return on a shoe-string?

Cheers.



BTW, when MRC Tuning saw my car they said I needed the following replaced:

1 x S2 Rear ARB (895 511 409)
2 x Rear drop links (895 505 389)
2 x Rear mountings (893 511 327 B)
1 x Ball joint (8A0 407 365)
2 x S2 Front drop link (8A0 407 465)
1 x Cam cover gaskets (034 198 025 F)
Milltek cat back exhaust (or standard cat back exhaust)
Whiteline rear ARB
1 x NS rear wishbone (893 505 147 B)

[johne]

My t'pennth for what is's worth - in order of priority

Fit quality tyres on the standard rims but 225/50 section
Replace wishbone bushes with poly ones
Replace top mounts - I'd choose 034 street density as an excellent replacement for the original ones without costing a fortune and still giving a comfortable ride
New shocks if the original ones have high miles on them.
ARB, diff & subframe bushes if they are worn
Drop links if they are worn
Homefries

Standard brakes have stopping power but no endurance so will fade if you push them. If your driving style doesn't push them, then you can leave them standard with the best pads you can get - I'd choose EBC yellowstuff but no doubt others would differ

John

[Le S2 Audi]

My t'pennth for what is's worth - in order of priority

Fit quality tyres on the standard rims but 225/50 section
Replace wishbone bushes with poly ones
Replace top mounts - I'd choose 034 street density as an excellent replacement for the original ones without costing a fortune and still giving a comfortable ride
New shocks if the original ones have high miles on them.
ARB, diff & subframe bushes if they are worn
Drop links if they are worn
Homefries

Standard brakes have stopping power but no endurance so will fade if you push them. If your driving style doesn't push them, then you can leave them standard with the best pads you can get - I'd choose EBC yellowstuff but no doubt others would differ

John

I can't disagree with John but for my 2 pennyworth....

I would hold off the tyres and "maybe" the new disk's & pads... just in case you fall back in love with her and then find that the old brakes do not perform to a level you are happy with....

Then save the money up and do the brake upgrade, get some new bigger alloys and then new treads...

Not low cost I know... but if it needs new treads its not that much dearer for a bigger size!!!