So had the B14's, H&R ARB's and DCC delete done today at Bognor Motors, 'see the suspension page, B14 has commenced thread' for a before and after pic and went as low as it could, I'm running the standard 18" alloys that came with the bus. I was considering swapping them out for 18" banded steels but I may not bother as I think the current wheels looks great now its lowered.
On the way back I did 160 miles on various roads, motorway, dual carriageway, A and B roads. I didn't realise how much of a difference swapping the bits out could make, apart from it looking the dogs, the handling is cracking.
At 6ft 2", I can now slide into the seat rather than step up and then get into the seat. I think the difference in the view outside from the drivers seat is noticeable but you can still see over hedges.
Apologies if this sounds obvious but the main smile factor for me is the handling, it seems to me that this is what VW should have fitted to the bus or indeed any van, the handling is so positive on the steering wheel, it actually feels totally different and feedback to the steering wheel into your hands is excellent, no leaning on bends or round roundabouts, its more planted and when the engineer who fitted the bus out took me round their "test circuit" the difference is even more noticeable. Going round the roundabout and accelerating felt like it was glued to the road, big smiles even he was smiling!
On the motorway and dual carriageway, it is smooth and even when hitting the potholes, it just felt right and not juddering the bus all over the place. Then heading onto the A and B roads especially the A44 from Oxford to Evesham and being lucky enough not to get many vehicles in front of me, it was as if the gods were watching lol. The wheels just gripped the road, the various potholes/damaged roadway weren't a problem, the suspension coped with it lovely and seemed to absorb them without any effort or excessive noise through the chassis into the cab.
I felt confident enough after a few miles to throw it into the corners more than usual and not even a flinch of the proverbial seat area muscle was felt. I have to admit, I do know the road well (A44) having driven it daily to work and back for a few years but I have never enjoyed driving a car/bus so much, it almost felt as good as it does when out on the motorbike. I suppose the fact that it was the dogs danglies was the builders at Southampton Homebase taking pics and commenting how nice it looked or they were checking it out for parts lol.
I guess the million dollar question is, do i think it was worth the money, having never spent so much for an after market accessory (although my Termi exhaust for my Panigale was close to it)................YES............. definitely, even after 160 miles it was well worth it and looking forward to many miles more.
I can't recommend Bognor Motors enough, I did ring round a few places and they wouldn't touch it because of the DCC but BM have found a solution, no errors on the dash either and a very nice bunch of people.
If you are in two minds.....then go for it but if , you won't be disappointed but if your missus isn't happy that you spent the money, don't blame me!
