FIVE WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

BREATHE EASY 1

The sky’s the limit when it comes to engine modifications, so speak to other owners for recommendations. A good starting point is better breathing, both in and out, and you can improve both without breaking the bank. BMC’s Carbon Dynamic Airbox improves cold air inlet and filtration for around £200 while a freer-flowing exhaust like those from Jetex cost

in the region of £420.

KEEPING COOL 2

Cooling improvements are always a good idea and an upgraded aluminium alloy radiator from the likes of Mishimoto is around £220 depending on the supplier. Ageing coolant hoses risk a breakdown so invest in a set of Samco replacements; a full set of these quality, British-made items cost £258 from VW Heritage.

SUSPENSION MODS 3

There’s a wealth of possibilities here and plenty of owners recommend a coilover kit from suspension specialist, KW. Prices range from around £700-1300, depending on the level of adjustability required. And if you prefer to just sharpen the standard set-up then replacing the bushes with Powerflex’s long-lasting, polyurethane items is affordable at £240 or so for a front/rear kit.

BRAKE UPGRADE 4

Again, there are plenty of options here, although major modifications can get expensive and probably aren’t necessary unless you’ve increased engine power. For brisk road use, mildly uprated discs and pads such as EBC Greenstuff items will cost £250-300 and it makes sense to replace the brake hoses at the same time with braided stainless-steel Goodridge items, coming in at £115 for a set.

STRONGER MOUNT 5

Additional weight and power mean that the VR6 engine mounts take plenty of punishment and can prove a weak spot. The answer is to fit the upgraded front mount from Vibra-technics which substantially reduces the movement of the engine under acceleration. It costs less than £170 and is easy to fit on a DIY basis.