Need help with the rear of my car!

[geraintthomas]

Hey,

I've had my Saxo for about a week now, and it's in fantastic condition - mechanically and visually. The only thing i'm a bit annoyed about is the back end. The wheels are not positioned that wide (looks daft) and it's too high!

The front is alright as I'm fitting fogs and a very subtle splitter to balance it out, and to make it look a lot more 'full'. I'm not really that interested in lowering the car at all so I'm trying to avoid that (I'm not one for body mods), unless it's the only thing that can fix this. Have a look at this picture:

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8030/58686658.jpg

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7256/75379914.jpg

My girlfriends wheel base and height on her KA is wider and looks better than my Saxo! The wheel base I'm guessing can be sorted out with a few spacers (correct me if I'm wrong?) so that the wheels are less towards the center.. but what the hell can I do about that back end? Any ideas?

Is there anything I can do to give it the impression that it's not on bloody stilts? Mud flaps? A very subtle splitter (like the front of the VTS) to fill up the rear a bit more? Also recommendations on what spacers to use?

Thanks!

[elkoi]

I know you dont want to lower it, but that'll be your best option. Im not a fan of mud flaps or rear splitters, but that may be your only option. I cant really think of anything else to be honest.

[Jack]

Try wider alloys.

[Rudpud]

Wider wheels? 1.1 steels are skinny as fuck.

[geraintthomas]

Suppose so. I'm trying to save my money as much as I can to be perfectly honest (to travel across America), so I need to go for the cheapest option. You might be right with the lowering idea :( I COULD try the lowering technique by lowering the tortion bar.

Either that, or wider wheels (probably cheap steelies with trims for the time being) with spacers could help it. Can you get wider 3-stud steelies? :/

[Rudpud]

Suppose so. I'm trying to save my money as much as I can to be perfectly honest (to travel across America), so I need to go for the cheapest option. You might be right with the lowering idea :( I COULD try the lowering technique by lowering the tortion bar.

Either that, or wider wheels (probably cheap steelies with trims for the time being) with spacers could help it. Can you get wider 3-stud steelies? :/

But some alloys. My 3 studs were 195 wide.

[geraintthomas]

The 'thanks' button is being a bit gay, I'd thank the lot of you otherwise :( appreciate the help!

[geraintthomas]

But some alloys. My 3 studs were 195 wide.

Budget for the time being buddy :/

[williamanderson31]

Either that, or wider wheels (probably cheap steelies with trims for the time being) with spacers could help it. Can you get wider 3-stud steelies? :/

I highly doubt you can, unless you get them specially made

Get some alloys - you can get a set for around £100 on ebay :)

[Rudpud]

Budget for the time being buddy :/

Get 3 stud alloys for pretty cheap tbh. Buying wheel trims will do fuck all.

[bethell]

Yeah I had the same problem put wider alloys on looks wider and lower :) much better stance on the road :)

[geraintthomas]

I'll probably use spacers for now then, try and widen them a little to make the stance less daft. I'll get a set of alloys sometime in the near future.

What size spacers would you recommend? 10mm?

[gcole46810]

My brother's 3 studs looked wider than my S wheels, fairly sure they were.. his handling was pretty good for a 1.1 actually :)

[geraintthomas]

Sadly, mine's a 1.0 :( but speed's not all important to me with this car at the moment. Saving up for a Mk5 Golf, but that's probably not until the end of the year, or the beginning of next year.

If the wheels are set into the body work as far as you can see in the pictures, would 10mm or 15mm wheels make it look better?

[vaughan06]

No point in spacers, tyres will still look scrawny as fuck, i got 185 width tyres on mine, and look pretty meaty and theres much better grip compared to the other ones i had on before.

[dunno]

I know you dont want to but I'd lower it, makes the car look sooooooooo much better & get some alloys with a bit of width and your away :y:

[stevo67]

Your other option is to fit a different rear beam ie a disc beam off a vts,they are longer.I am pretty sure though you`d have to fit the vt kit to cover the extra length of the beam(I may be wrong)

Steve.

[LEWIS1234]

get some wider alloys mate

[Venns]

Wider wheels and slam it at like 30mm would do the trick, wont be ridiclosuly low and will look subtle. Standard ride looks gash!

[geraintthomas]

Looks like I may have to go ahead and lower the damn thing then :(

I'll do it sometime in the future, due to saving for other things. I've heared you can get spacers that convert 3 stud wheels to 4 stud? If that's the case I may as well lower it and buy VTR alloys.. that'll do the trick :)

[LSOfreak]

definately lower it. flat arched saxos look terrible un-lowered. Not sure where you could get adaptors from 3 stud to 4 stud but it is more common to change the rear beam and front struts

[geraintthomas]

definately lower it. flat arched saxos look terrible un-lowered. Not sure where you could get adaptors from 3 stud to 4 stud but it is more common to change the rear beam and front struts

The car was originally intended to be a 'run about', but I've grown a soft spot to it and want to make it look and feel as nice as possible. I see what you mean by changing the beam and struts, but that's probably too much for a car that I'll probably sell in about a year.

Check these out:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Hubcentric-wheel-spacer-hub-adapters-3-4-stud-/330346835382?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cea34adb6

I saw those on eBay the other day. If I get 4 adapters, VTr Wheels and lower the car slightly, that could make it look far better :) especially if I get the small VTR front splitter (which I can't find ANYWHERE!).

[saxova]

£140 for adaptors! pretty expensive!, could buy a GTI rear beam + full strut set-up for that! Which would mean stiffer springs , wider track, and bigger brakes!

But It's your car, and you've said its just a run around.. so leave it as it is and put up with skinny wheels :)

[rey]

The car was originally intended to be a 'run about', but I've grown a soft spot to it and want to make it look and feel as nice as possible. I see what you mean by changing the beam and struts, but that's probably too much for a car that I'll probably sell in about a year.

Check these out:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Hubcentric-wheel-spacer-hub-adapters-3-4-stud-/330346835382?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cea34adb6

I saw those on eBay the other day. If I get 4 adapters, VTr Wheels and lower the car slightly, that could make it look far better :) especially if I get the small VTR front splitter (which I can't find ANYWHERE!).

You'll never find that anywhere other than on a VT* bumper, as they're attached, they don't seperate from it at unless they're cut off.

[geraintthomas]

Ohh I wasn't aware of that! May well get a Laguna splitter in that case (without the vents). Should look pretty similar.


£140 for adaptors! pretty expensive!, could buy a GTI rear beam + full strut set-up for that! Which would mean stiffer springs , wider track, and bigger brakes!

But It's your car, and you've said its just a run around.. so leave it as it is and put up with skinny wheels :)

Crikey, didn't realise it only included two adapters! Might have to look elsewhere in that case. Would love to have adapters though, would solve so many problems. Can have wider VTR alloys, the adapters will widen the track as well as changing the stud layout, but I'd have to lower it if I do get the VTR alloys - I've seen a few images of people throwing those wheels on a standard height 1.0 / 1.1 car, and it looks.. weird.

[LSOfreak]

but then with wider wheels and them spacers, you are restrcited to how low as you could rub on the back due to the flat arch. what if you just waited it out and bought a furio or something in a years time?

[geraintthomas]

but then with wider wheels and them spacers, you are restrcited to how low as you could rub on the back due to the flat arch. what if you just waited it out and bought a furio or something in a years time?

Fair point, but trouble is that in less than a years time I'm buying a Mk5 Golf GT TDI. I had an absolute bargain with this car (61k, MOT next year, mechanically and visually fantastic, less than £500), so I just need to do a few things to keep this car tidy and looking great.

I doubt I'd lower it stupid amounts, possibly around the same height as a standard VTR. Just something that gets rid of that ridiculously high back end, so I don't think space would be an issue really.

[LSOfreak]

probably best idea then. either way, id do anything to not have it at standard height

[bru1s3r]

Slam it as low as you can, get them adapters and put some lenso rs5's or dotz mugello alloys in 15" on with stretched rubber, de wiper, take badges off fill holes repaint, new backbox, tint rear lights, white number plate lights, custom number plate (illegal but who cares £30 fine i think) get some negative camber, get some hellaflush and other stickers on the back

sorted lol but if your getting a golf in less than a year, dont do anything, save your money

[geraintthomas]

Slam it as low as you can, get them adapters and put some lenso rs5's or dotz mugello alloys in 15" on with stretched rubber, de wiper, take badges off fill holes repaint, new backbox, tint rear lights, white number plate lights, custom number plate (illegal but who cares £30 fine i think) get some negative camber, get some hellaflush and other stickers on the back

sorted lol but if your getting a golf in less than a year, dont do anything, save your money

Rofl, plus you've missed the point where I said I'm not all into modding much, and I'm on a budget XD

I don't want it looking ridiculously aftermarket see. I'm into making a car look ridiculously clean, attractive and great for its age. Something I'll be happy with!

I'll probably lower it ever so slightly to get rid of that back end, put some 3 to 4 stud adapters (which will also widen the track slightly), then get some VTR alloys. Job done methinks!

Do you think de-wipering it is worth it? And another question, is the VTR back bumper different from the standard flatarch bumper? Cheers guys!

[rey]

Slam it as low as you can, get them adapters and put some lenso rs5's or dotz mugello alloys in 15" on with stretched rubber, de wiper, take badges off fill holes repaint, new backbox, tint rear lights, white number plate lights, custom number plate (illegal but who cares £30 fine i think) get some negative camber, get some hellaflush and other stickers on the back

sorted lol but if your getting a golf in less than a year, dont do anything, save your money

Exactly how are you going to get neg camber on a torsion beam?

[geraintthomas]

So what are peoples experiences in improving the visuals of a Flat-arch Mk1? :) Thinking of adding saxo fog lights at the front of the car, even if they don't work, the fact that there are lamps there makes the front quite attractive.

[LSOfreak]

flat arch saxos look pretty bad in my opinion. Massive improvement when people put on the wider vt front and rear bumpers. They are a straight fit (nearly). come with fog lights too ;)
the rear bumper looks loads better too.

removing the wiper is well worth doing imo, you will realise how much you dont even need it anyway. can always keep the motor etc incase you want to put it back on.

mk1's are the best shape you can get in my opinion. Look great with a meshed grill and smoked lights
mine:asw
http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/slickusrickus/Photo0604-1.jpg

[geraintthomas]

I do like those lights actually! I may well sell the car I've got now for aruond £900, and buy a West Coast. I'll be such a happy bunny if I do!

[rey]

Flatarch's can be awesome.

Link 1 (http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206746)

Link 2 (http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291348)

Link 3 (http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5336)

[Venns]

Purchase a 4 stud beam thats already been lowered

[slammed_saxo_vts]

tbh the flat arch body kit look wank, the front bumper it too thin making the car look high off the ground.

get a vt body kit and lower it about 30mm. ( not too harsh for yourself )
and get some 3 stud alloys with a large et offset if you can.

[geraintthomas]

tbh the flat arch body kit look wank, the front bumper it too thin making the car look high off the ground.

get a vt body kit and lower it about 30mm. ( not too harsh for yourself )
and get some 3 stud alloys with a large et offset if you can.

I suppose for a flatarch that makes perfect sense, was thinking of doing the same.

BUT, I've finally come to the decision of selling my 1.0 Saxo for £900 and picking up a blue 1.6 VTR. So yeah, all problems sorted XD

*ahem*While we're on the topic, if anyone wants to buy a 1.0 immaculate green saxo east coast with 54,000 on the clock for £900, you know who to ask!