Help! Not sure which one to buy

[Kharr1]

Hi, I'm a newbie and looking to buy the seat.

The garage has two offers on between the tocca se 1.4 or the ibiza fr 1.2tsi

When I've weighed in the difference in tax and mpg they both work out the same monthly cost so I just have to choose between them.

The issue I have is my drive to work is solely on country roads and I'm also surrounded by speed bumps, so I worry the fr will be too firm and I'll be fed up of banging over the potholes in the lanes.

I do 7k miles a year.

Which do you think I should go for? The fr looks nicer but I really worry over the firm ride.


K

 

[NetworkMan]

Hi Karen,

Don't really on the quoted mpg figures. You'll almost certainly get better mpg with the 1.2 TSI but the difference may not be as big as the quoted figures. I get 45 mpg overall from my 1.2 TSI and I guess I might get 40 from a 1.4.

I tried both a 1.2 TSI and a 1.4 and found the 1.2 much nicer to drive but when I got mine you could get the 1.2 TSI with the standard suspension. Even that is apparently firmer than a Fiesta and a Polo and mine corners really nicely, so I wouldn't buy one with harder suspension but that is just me.

If I were you I'd try a standard trim 1.4 and an FR 1.2 TSI and see which you prefer.

 

[ALK88]

Hi Karen

I second NetworkMan's point regarding fuel economy, I had a 1.4 mk4 ibiza (85bhp engine) which I believe is in the Toca and managed between 36-38mpg doing 60mile round trips to and from work.

I now have a 1.2 TSI FR and can generally get 43-45mpg doing the same journey, I hoped I'd get more as the manufacturer figure is 55.4mpg combined but I'm happy with 45mpg as it does get a booting now and again!

Again, the Tsi FR is a lot tauter compared to my old mk4 (I know it's the previous model) but that felt like a boat in comparison. Ive only really noticed mild harshness in the ride when I clipped a pothole going round a bend which unsettled the car a bit but generally it's okay.

Ideally try and test them back to back to see the difference. Hope this helps

 

[Big-Pete]

get the FR

or if you can swing it get a cupra, you do 7k a year!!! i did that in 4/5months of owning mine.

 

[DEAN0]

Again, the Tsi FR is a lot tauter compared to my old mk4 (I know it's the previous model) but that felt like a boat in comparison. Ive only really noticed mild harshness in the ride when I clipped a pothole going round a bend which unsettled the car a bit but generally it's okay.

I felt the opposite - my MK5 FR feels much softer than the MK4 I had before it.

Wheel size can make a big difference.
I test drove an FR on 16" wheels and it felt much softer than the same car on 17" wheels.

 

[Biker]

I have a 1.2 Tsi FR and would agree with what is said above about mpg. I to tend to average 45+ mpg. As for the ride, I certainly don't find it hard or harsh in any way so wouldn't get too concerned about that.

Best advice really is to test drive them both and see which you prefer.

 

[ALK88]

I felt the opposite - my MK5 FR feels much softer than the MK4 I had before it.

Wheel size can make a big difference.
I test drove an FR on 16" wheels and it felt much softer than the same car on 17" wheels.

Yeh my Mk4 had 16" wheels and my Mk5 has 17s

 

[J400uk]

1.2 TSI if buying new and you've got the budget for it, much nicer engine. Remember both the Toca and FR have 16in alloys so won't be much between them at all for ride quality.

 

[Jarre]

I had the 1.2tsi in a leon and it was a very good engine, I'd go for that over a 1.4 n/a any day!

 

[jezyg]

I average 45mpg in my 1.4 - 38-40 around town and 48-50 mpg on my 20 mile commute. Take a long test drive in both and see what You prefer and fits your budget best. 1.4 Toca is adequate in performance terms, decent low down torque for decent if not very fast progress. 1.2TSi is a peach very sprightly and fun, just the FR is a more expensive car, ride is not much firmer than the Toca, as the Ibiza as said gives a firmer ride than a Polo or Fabia.

 

[seatcupra.net]

1.2 TSI fr on 17" wheels too harsh,but better on 16".

 

[Kharr1]

Thanks all.
I test drove both back to back but apart from the fr having firm seats and being noisier I can't say I noticed much difference. It was on a duel carriageway though and I only did about 60 miles an hr encase I crashed them!

My commute to work is 15miles round trip and then I'm just using the car for school drop offs etc. currently though on the scenic I get 26mpg so anything is an improvement on that.

They're offering a fr for 11k and tocca se for 9k both pre registered 2014 with zero miles on the clock.

 

[Jarre]

You didn't notice the difference in power? Test driving is the time to floor them both! Remember, power could end up actually helping you get out of a bad situation personally I'd expect the FR to hold it's value better, remember to never pay the asking price of a vehicle

 

[J400uk]

I too am surprised you couldn't notice a difference. I've found even the Audi A1 1.2 TFSI 86 to feel significantly nicer to drive compared to the 1.4 Ibiza. Turbo'd cars do require a slightly different driving style though.