Tell me about Seat Ibiza's

brendy · 25 Mar 2008 at 17:03

Bland blah blah?? What?
I see not many Seat owners here have posted,
I have the Leon Cupra so feel qualified to comment on the engine,
The 20vt engine while not as raspy as most japanese torqueless wonders, it can be improved upon by fitting a free flowing cat back system and a decent induction kit.
For 200-500 quid depending on tuner, you can have it remapped to 200+bhp, again from actual experience, not "ive heard" or "I overheard in a pub" these little cars walk away from most other hot hatches.
Normally 30mpg is average though can dip severely if you cane it everywhere though these days with cameras everywhere thats just not possible.
Like all marques the ibiza does have the odd niggle like the water pump failing, these are 25 quid to replace with a newer design metal impellored version rather than the std plastic one. Get over to www.seatcupra.net/forums and register, there are thousands of owners who have shared their info on who they prefer for tuners, garages,parts etc.
Buy one thats already had its timing belt done (circa 55-60k) and you will probably find the waterpump has been done at the same time. Go for it, for the money you wont get a faster hatch with the same potential.

MarkDavis · 25 Mar 2008 at 18:21

R124/LA420 said:
Every time I go to Spain, I hire a 1.9 TD variant of the Ibiza and enjoy it very much.

The engine has plenty of grunt, is very economical and the car can be thrown about with ease.

"Tractor engine" could not be further from the truth!

Previously I'd have never considered one, now, I'd quite happily have one if space was not an issue for me.

I'd hazard a guess that the OP wants one of these over a Clio 182 or Cooper S due to the price difference?

That's interesting because my experiences of the Ibiza and Fabia were also in Spain! Both times I was hoping that they'd give us a 207 but each time we ended up with VAG diesel. It's definitely an economical engine. I reckon we got about 45-48mpg in a week's worth of mixed motoring. Grunty? Reasonably. Well, compared to the petrol engines you find in most small cars.

But how you can say that isn't a tractor engine is beyond me. That VAG diesel engine is absolutely horrendous and without a doubt is the most unrefined, noisy diesel engine that I have ever had the misfortune to experience of any car of the last decade.

We must have covered over 1000 miles in the space of the week with driving covering everything from city driving to motorways to steep, winding mountain roads. There was one occasion where we doing a 2.5 hour drive to the Picos mountains, about a hour of which spent going up the steep winding roads leading up to the mountains and having to overtake slower cars /trucks going up the pass. Glorious sunny day, beautiful weather, fresh air, except that it was really spoilt by the horrendous hammering noise coming into the cabin from the agricultural engine in the front of the car. And to add insult to injury, you also get the smelly diesel fumes wafting in as well. The lack of refinement from the engine, with its constant hammery drone really spoilt what what otherwise have been a great drive. I used to have 306 turbo diesel and I don't remember that being anywhere near as hammery as that VAG 1.9 diesel (which, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't a CR/piezo injected engine).

There's no way that VAG diesel engine should be in a small car like the Ibiza or Fabia. Not only is the car floppy and disconnected in terms of handling, but adding a heavy diesel engine to the front of the car unbalances the car even more. The car simply doesn't feel hunkered down onto the road. Instead, every time you do any sort of swerving manouevre (eg. overtaking a slower car, tucking in, then braking and then turning into a winding corner), the car just feels like it wobbles. It feels so unbalanced, as if the suspension, tyres, damping, spring rates are all wrong. Floppy and disconnected would be the way I'd describe it. It's as if the car flops and wobbles along the road the faster your go, instead of holding onto or following the contours and bends in a reoad. My 323i would have been beautiful to have done that drive in (and even a 306 would have been good) but the Fabia/Ibiza felt soooo wrong for those conditions and that type of driving. By the end of week we couldn't wait to hand the car back. So I have to admit, that completely disagree with you when you say its a car which can be thrown about with ease. The only 'throwing about' its going to do, is throw you off the mountain with its floppy suspension and pop your ear drums with its hammery engine noise.

Bradley8988 · 25 Mar 2008 at 18:32

My mates just brought a 52 cupra turbo. it wasnt that fast before it was chipped and evan after its ok but not as quick as i was expecting. another mate of mine used to have a leon cupra ( not a R) and from what i remeber it would leave the ibiza for dust.

Scania · 25 Mar 2008 at 18:57

MarkDavis said:
That's interesting because my experiences of the Ibiza and Fabia were also in Spain! Both times I was hoping that they'd give us a 207 but each time we ended up with VAG diesel. It's definitely an economical engine. I reckon we got about 45-48mpg in a week's worth of mixed motoring. Grunty? Reasonably. Well, compared to the petrol engines you find in most small cars.

But how you can say that isn't a tractor engine is beyond me. That VAG diesel engine is absolutely horrendous and without a doubt is the most unrefined, noisy diesel engine that I have ever had the misfortune to experience of any car of the last decade.

We must have covered over 1000 miles in the space of the week with driving covering everything from city driving to motorways to steep, winding mountain roads. There was one occasion where we doing a 2.5 hour drive to the Picos mountains, about a hour of which spent going up the steep winding roads leading up to the mountains and having to overtake slower cars /trucks going up the pass. Glorious sunny day, beautiful weather, fresh air, except that it was really spoilt by the horrendous hammering noise coming into the cabin from the engine. And to add insult to injury, you also get the smelly diesel fumes wafting in as well. The lack of refinement from the engine, with its constant hammery drone really spoilt what what otherwise have been a great drive. I used to have 306 turbo diesel and no way was that engine as hammery as that VAG 1.9 diesel.

There's no way that VAG diesel engine should be in a small car like the Ibiza or Fabia. Not only is the car floppy and disconnected in terms of handling, but adding a heavy diesel engine to the front of the car makes the handling even worse. The car simply doesn't feel hunkered down onto the road. Instead, every time you do any sort of swerving manouevre (eg. overtaking a slower car, tucking in, then braking and then turning into a winding corner), the car just feels like it wobbles. It feels so unbalanced, as if the suspension, tyres, damping, spring rates are all wrong. Floppy and disconnected would be the way I'd describe it. My 323i would have been beautiful to have done that drive in (and even a 306 would have been good) but the Fabia/Ibiza felt soooo wrong for those conditions and that type of driving. By the end of week we couldn't wait to hand the car back. So I have to admit, that completely disagree with you when you say its a car which can be thrown about with ease. The only 'throwing about' its going to do, is throw you off the mountain with its floppy suspension.

Hmm, sounds like we've had different experiences of the same car! :confused:

I've probably driven a few thousand miles in Ibizas now, all in Spain and all Diesel, and as I say , I really like them!

Again, handling, pretty good imo! more than once did I find myself going way too fast for a crazy Spanish slip road and the car kept its composure better than I did!

On all 4 examples that I've tried, I've found the build quality to be very good also and back in 2006, I was comparing the Seat's build etc to my car at home which at the time was a 7 Series BMW!

As for the Tractor engine, I suppose that I have a wider range of experience of Tractor like diesels (not to mention Truck like!) and, now that I own a Mondeo TD I can honestly say the Seat is refined by comparison!

2006

2007

MarkDavis · 25 Mar 2008 at 19:02

If its any consolation, I preferred the better looking Ibiza to the considerably uglier Fabia

Incidentally, didn't you own a 728i? If so, how can you not find that VAG diesel hideously unrefined!?

ajgoodfellow · 25 Mar 2008 at 19:53

Hi

I had a basic Seat Ibiza as a courtesy car about 18 months ago and it was dreadful

The steering was featherlight, unresponsive and had no feeling at all. It rolled around the corners, had no go, it was cramped and the interior was nasty and cheap

It really wasn't a good car at all. Yes the Cupra would fix the performance issue but just don't get one. There are far far better cars around

Phate · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:01

R124/LA420 said:
Every time I go to Spain, I hire a 1.9 TD variant of the Ibiza and enjoy it very much.

The engine has plenty of grunt, is very economical and the car can be thrown about with ease.

"Tractor engine" could not be further from the truth!

Previously I'd have never considered one, now, I'd quite happily have one if space was not an issue for me.

Thanks for the input

My sister has the diesel, and it's great fun!

I'd hazard a guess that the OP wants one of these over a Clio 182 or Cooper S due to the price difference?

I wouldn't drive a Cooper if my life depended on it, the only Mini I'd drive is the original ones. The new ones...are just utter fail imo.

Hadn't considered a Clio 182, not really my cup of tea though, I'll give one a test drive anyway...

Phate · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:06

brendy said:
snip

Thanks for the link dude!

I'll get myself registered 'n' schtoof tonight and have a scoob an' see what it's all about!

EDIT: Sorry about the Essex lingo lads

- got a friend here hehe.

[TW]Fox · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:07

Phate said:
I wouldn't drive a Cooper if my life depended on it, the only Mini I'd drive is the original ones. The new ones...are just utter fail imo.

Have you driven one? They are suprisingly good.

Hadn't considered a Clio 182, not really my cup of tea though, I'll give one a test drive anyway...

It's a small hot hatch, just like the Ibiza - but it's actually very, very good. How can it not be your cup of tea?

thedazman67 · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:07

A mate of mine has the 1.4 version of the Ibiza nice little cars on the outside comfortable andrefined for a small hatch cant stand the interior myself each to there own i guess.

brendy · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:10

The 1.2 3 cyl is not a performance motor if thats what ajgoodfellow is talking about, it sounds like a mini porsche but thats where any aspirations of performance finish, the cupra ibiza is a very capable car, if it wasnt why have they sold so bloody many?

[TW]Fox · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:13

brendy said:
the cupra ibiza is a very capable car, if it wasnt why have they sold so bloody many?

I didnt think they sold that many? Besides, one of the best selling cars in the country is the 1.2 Corsa...nuff said about sales figures.

ajgoodfellow · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:15

Exactly

It's not a good car. The 1.2 I drove sounded awful too - like a bag of nails being banged against a metal drum. It was also very reluctant to rev and you had to thrash it to mantain 80 on the motorway

MarkDavis · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:23

Phate said:
Thanks for the input My sister has the diesel, and it's great fun!

I wouldn't drive a Cooper if my life depended on it, the only Mini I'd drive is the original ones. The new ones...are just utter fail imo.

Hadn't considered a Clio 182, not really my cup of tea though, I'll give one a test drive anyway...

Oh dear.....

brendy · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:27

ajgoodfellow said:
Exactly

It's not a good car. The 1.2 I drove sounded awful too - like a bag of nails being banged against a metal drum. It was also very reluctant to rev and you had to thrash it to mantain 80 on the motorway

The 1.2 is an awful performer, no argument there, what I dont understand is why anyone is comparing the top of the range against the bottom of the range, that is like comparing a 316 compact against an m3.
There is more changes than the cosmetics, the engine is shared with the TT, the suspension is uprated, the turbo is a little small compared to the likes of the evo 6-10 and impreza sized ihi's etc but come on, saying that it is no good is just plain wrong. I know for fact a couple of ibizas running IHI turbos and they are hilarious to watch when accelerating round the tracks, with coopers and 182s there is only so much you can do before you are talking silly amounts of money.
Given the choice of a free ibiza, mini or clio, It would have to be the ibiza first, mini second and clio third, the mini would out handle the ibiza and clio as its wheels are securely planted as far into each corner as possible, but it still isnt a fast car unless you are pushing it to "works" spec.

Phate · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:30

[TW]Fox;11367791 said:
Have you driven one? They are suprisingly good.

No, and I hear nothing but how good the handling is, and the performance as well, and great cars for what they are.

But I can't stand them, they just look...hideous and ridiculous and an insult to original Mini's imo.

It's a small hot hatch, just like the Ibiza - but it's actually very, very good. How can it not be your cup of tea?

I dunno...just nothing about it appeals to me. :confused:

ajgoodfellow · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:35

brendy said:
The 1.2 is an awful performer, no argument there, what I dont understand is why anyone is comparing the top of the range against the bottom of the range, that is like comparing a 316 compact against an m3.
There is more changes than the cosmetics, the engine is shared with the TT, the suspension is uprated, the turbo is a little small compared to the likes of the evo 6-10 and impreza sized ihi's etc but come on, saying that it is no good is just plain wrong. I know for fact a couple of ibizas running IHI turbos and they are hilarious to watch when accelerating round the tracks, with coopers and 182s there is only so much you can do before you are talking silly amounts of money.
Given the choice of a free ibiza, mini or clio, It would have to be the ibiza first, mini second and clio third, the mini would out handle the ibiza and clio as its wheels are securely planted as far into each corner as possible, but it still isnt a fast car unless you are pushing it to "works" spec.

I can see your point and the decent engine and suspension would help

Have they fixed the steering though?

Scrutinize · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:42

Phate said:
I dunno...just nothing about it appeals to me.

ROFL

The 172 / 182 are still the best of the hot hatches gone bye, pretty much perfect in every way and for once, they were a car that delivered everything a hot hatch was supposed to without disappointment.

The Ibiza Cupra are however a disappointment, not a patch on the Leon Cupra/R either.

Your money though.

[TW]Fox · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:43

Phate said:
I dunno...just nothing about it appeals to me.

So the size doesnt appeal to you? Although its the same size as the Ibiza.
The performance doesnt appeal to you? Although its quicker than the Ibiza
Perhaps the bodystyle? Although its the same as the Ibiza
Perhaps then you dont like the handling? Although it handles better than the Ibiza
Maybe the level of equipment? Although it has more than the Ibiza.

How can you both be considering an Ibiza AND saying NOTHING about a Clio appeals?

Justintime · 25 Mar 2008 at 20:44

I've driven the 1.4 and can say its noisy and slow but the 1.9 was'nt that bad, and coming from a guy who drove Transits for a long time the engine is certainly not tractor like. Only the interior and comfort were lacking imo.