Besides from remap and big things would little things like air filter, plugs and anything else like this make any real difference to the cars performance?

Some bodywork?

Want!

michelin pilot sport tyres.

Yes, ^ these a geometry check and some advanced lessons.

Edit – these, as in the tyres not the seat covers 🙂 .

Decent lights.

breast enlargements

Performance tyres is probably the sensible answer.

Depending on mileage, refreshing or upgrading suspension bushes and other suspension components will sharpen up the handling.

Upgraded disks and pads could also be an option, you don’t need to go crazy, just go for the same size direct replacements, but performance ones rather than oem.

Improve what aspect ?

Plugs wont make it any better at carrying a bike if its an mr2

And a bike rack wont make it run right if the plugs and leads are fugged

Tell us what the car is, milage,service history etc.

A blonde with huge knockers in the passenger seat.

(EDIT: They both need to be in the passenger seat, not just the knockers)

What is it? And where/ how do you drive. Usually changing it is the best thing! however if you have a half decent bit of kit in its class, then it’s tyres (changed to Mich pilots,as said above, on my current and a big improvement), suspension (change this on half our cars, significant difference), brakes (just pads on one of ours made a big difference) , maybe a re-map (this very effective on turbo diesels).

Buy a Maserati.

would little things like air filter, plugs and anything else like this make any real difference to the cars performance?

No, not unless they are buggered in the first place.

Insider tip – adjusting the injector boost dump bias valve 3 degrees clockwise is a tip the manufacturer has been hiding from us

First things first, power doesn’t come cheap. Secondly there is no replacement for displacement. Thirdly better spending money improving the driver than the driven, if on a tight budget as skills are transferable to any vehicle. Gaining a driving licence only means you were better than the lowest standard required.

Car has (mostly) full service history. 80k 10 years old. Its a Vauxhal Vectra 2.0 turbo. Has good tyres on it at the mo (but winter ones). The car is in good condition. Just had new brakes hoses, track rods and anti roll bar links. Just wondering really. Little service due soon so was wondering if they make a difference then maybe I could do them.

Fire.

All of the above (except for the tyres 🙄 )
but, pound for pound, a coat of this would work best:

Ah! Vectra best way to improve it is to sell it. 😀

Lower and stiffer springs will make it handle better. Preferably with some new shockers.

Was waiting for the sell it thing. I actually really like it as a car. Can get loads of crap in it.

Almost as if they had crap in mind when they designed it 🙂

Secondly there is no replacement for displacement.

People keep saying this, but surely that’s exactly what a turbocharger is?

I’m not saying another word. *turns back and sulks*

There is no way of improving a Vectra 2 l turbo, oh hang on there is swap it for a Saab 😆

I actually really like it as a car. Can get loads of crap in it.

things that may improve my car.

Take all the crap out of it.

If it’s a turbo, then it needs to breathe easy. Plugs and stuff are not going to make even the slightest noticeable difference.

1. Induction kit. No idea what’s about for Vectras but something that looks like this should do the job:

2. Higher flow intercooler
3. Larger bore (i.e. free flowing) exhaust
4. Decat (not road legal) or performance cat (possibly road legal)
5. Boost pressure regulator, about £15 on eBay for a cheap grainger valve type. It’s a delicate thing, boost. You’ll need a decent boost gauge for fine tuning if you don’t want to pop your engine.
6. Possibly a fuel-cut defeat chip thing, depending on how your ECU reacts to higher boost.

Probably a good idea to look at improved cooling/ignition/suspension/brakes/tyres at the same time.

I wholeheartedly agree with many of the above posters though: is it worth it on a Vectra?

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQN-0zvZNbY[/video]

Fifth Gear did some really basic stuff to a Corrado, plugs, air filter, oil etc and fuel stuff and measured the power after each bit. Did make a difference.

Chip it? As in one of those wood-chipping machines… 😉

Don’t want to do anything nuts, just wondered if anything within the realms of normal service stuff. Will need an exhaust soon.

Change it if you’re serious, otherwise you’re just polishing a turd.

Having had a 3.0, 4 cylinder, displacement has a lot going for it. Run a few turbo cars too, they’re good with some big gains possible, but not the same.

Decided against Stage 1 for the Octavia (150 to 220’ish). Crap VAG brakes would need attention, it handles like a bouncy castle at pace due to lifted 4×4 suspension and it’s approaching 200k. Starting a process of polybushing is removing a lot of slop.

bear-uk – Member

Lower and stiffer springs will make it handle better. Preferably with some new shockers.

Lowering springs on the original, 10 year old, shocks would certainly be an experience!

Don’t want to do anything nuts, just wondered if anything within the realms of normal service stuff. Will need an exhaust soon.

I’ve always found performance exhausts to be cheaper than manufacturer replacements, and it will certainly help. After that, performance air filter rather than full replacement induction kit. Between the two you might just eek out an extra 5-10bhp. £15 grainger valve for boost control and a £35 boost gauge would then potentially add another 10-20bhp, but without supporting upgrades you run the very real risk of either running too lean = engine knock = kaboom, or just too much boost for your head gasket = kaboom.

I’ve always found performance exhausts to be cheaper than manufacturer replacements, and it will certainly help.

Yup. e.g. £750 for a Renault (pre-rusted from the factory one) of £350 for a stainless steel from a variety of places to suit tastes.

I’d look at getting it remapped to least 500bhp