View Full Version : Does the 1.6 have much more power than a 1.4?
SecretWeapon
29-06-2009, 12:08
I'm new here, I signed up to ask some questions about the Ibiza SC Sport. I'm looking at purchasing one on finance and had a test drive in a 1.4 the other day. I thought it was very nice, but didn't have much more go in it than my current car (which is a 10 year old 1.2l Corsa!). Having looked at some reviews online, most seem to suggest that the 1.4 is the pick of the engines, with the 1.6 being noisier and not offering a very notable difference.
Seeing as the tax, insurance and petrol costs of the 1.6 will be higher, I wanted to know if there really is a difference? I was after a car whith enough oomph to confidently overtake - unlike my current car. Something noticibly more rapid than what I currently have.
Any thoughts would be appreciated :)
20bhp & 21Nm - you'll notice that
The 1.4 16v in the outgoing model was a donkey, I don't imagine it's much better now.
I'd be looking for one of the diesels, they will be quicker, more economical & should be better on tax.
garethrobson
29-06-2009, 12:18
in my opinion there is no noticable difference at all. But im sure ther will be a few 1.6 owners who say the oposite. Its all really down to opinion. I currently drive a 0.9l Fiat cinquecento and i hav my 1.4 ibiza currently in order. I noticed a huge difference between my fiat and the 1.4 (obviously) but the 1.6 seemed literally identical.
But like i say this is only my opinion and im sure ther will be a lot of other people who disagree
SecretWeapon
29-06-2009, 12:29
20bhp & 21Nm - you'll notice that
The 1.4 16v in the outgoing model was a donkey, I don't imagine it's much better now.
I'd be looking for one of the diesels, they will be quicker, more economical & should be better on tax.
Someone has told me to consider a diesel. However, another parson has said it'll be noisy, dirty and not very refined. I perhaps need to see if I can have a test drive in one myself. Also, it looks like the 1.9TDI has gone and there's only the 1.6 one now. Does this still perform the same as the 1.9, and if so, how!?
in my opinion there is no noticable difference at all. But im sure ther will be a few 1.6 owners who say the oposite. Its all really down to opinion. I currently drive a 0.9l Fiat cinquecento and i hav my 1.4 ibiza currently in order. I noticed a huge difference between my fiat and the 1.4 (obviously) but the 1.6 seemed literally identical.
But like i say this is only my opinion and im sure ther will be a lot of other people who disagree
This is what I was worried about. Did you just drive around town though?
Someone has told me to consider a diesel. However, another parson has said it'll be noisy, dirty and not very refined. I perhaps need to see if I can have a test drive in one myself. Also, it looks like the 1.9TDI has gone and there's only the 1.6 one now. Does this still perform the same as the 1.9, and if so, how!?
Modern diesels are a lot better than old ones. I think you'll be surprised.
1.9 TDi with 105 bhp is there.. I'm sure the 1.6 will be sweet too.
garethrobson
29-06-2009, 12:39
I drove around town then went onto the motorway and floored it. To me seemed like no difference in acceleration, torque or anything to be honest.
As for the 1.6 deisel, im no expert, but i think it has been tuned to a high level to allow it to be almost the same specification as the 1.9, but obviously with less tax and mpg. I beleive this is why the 1.9 was withdrawn, because not many people would pay the extra tax and fuel bills for no increase in performance.
The same sort of thing as the cupra. It has a mere 1.4 engine but has a pretty impressive bhp as it has been highly tuned.
Like i say i am definately no expert but this is what i am led to beleive.
SecretWeapon
29-06-2009, 12:56
Modern diesels are a lot better than old ones. I think you'll be surprised.
1.9 TDi with 105 bhp is there.. I'm sure the 1.6 will be sweet too.
I guess I'd have to go and see what the noise is like for myself. I've just been reading (carpages.co.uk/seat/seat-ibiza-30-04-09.asp) about the new 1.6 engine - which makes it sound pretty good. Unless it's one of Seats own press releases.
Is it the same engine as in (autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/235775/vw_polo_16_tdi.html)? If so, I like the sound of "In fact, if it wasn’t for the 1.6’s slightly gruff engine note, you’d be hard pressed to tell it was a diesel at all".
Also, could someone tell me whether 17" alloys make a difference to the way the car drives over 16" ones?
The car pages link is a SEAT PR
But you're right - the engine is the same as the autoexpress link.
17's will be OK - slightly harder ride as the tyre profile will be lower
SecretWeapon
29-06-2009, 14:24
Thanks for all of your help so far m0rk.
My local Seat dealer just rang me up to ask how my test drive went. I told them I may consider a diesel so they've offered me a drive in the 1.9TDI they have. They'd sold out of the new 1.6TDI's they'd ordered in for the showroom, high demand apparently, so no chance of trying out one of those. I'll pop down some time this week and see what I think.
So do you think this new 1.6TDI would provide what I'm after? A car whith enough oomph to confidently overtake, something noticibly more rapid than what I currently have (10 year old 1.2 corsa).
The modern VAG diesel engines are great, quiet and the "eco" models really are very good on fuel. also seem to be low insurace group with cheap tax too! Well worth a test drive..........
1.6 TDi would do the job and tax is only £35 for the year. Should get 57+ mpg with normal driving maybe bit better on a motorway (legal speed) cruise.
SecretWeapon
30-06-2009, 15:14
If you look at this video (youtube.com/watch?v=9l_4u_vF_M8), you can hear the idle engine noise right at the end (3mins and 55secs in). To me that does sound a bit like an ice-cream van... Would the new 1.6 be any more refined?
I have road tested the 1.4 petrol & the 1.6 petrol,not much difference only noticed the 1.6 was nosier,so ordered the 1.4 sport.best thing to do is go to the dealer and road-test them all.
bowie
stukillen
01-07-2009, 11:04
i tested both the 1.4 and 1.6 and i beleve that there was a big difference between the two engines, espeshaly at the lower revs when taking off and also over taking. yes there is a bit more engine noise but it isnt intrusive. the 17s on the car give a bit more road noise and rides a bit different, but in my opionion they look gr8. that is y i just ordered a 1.6 on the 17s yesterday after a long serch for the right car.
stu
LUCIALIA
01-07-2009, 16:49
Which version of the 1.6 did you test drive?
stukillen
01-07-2009, 16:51
petrol as i dont do enough miles to warent a diesel.
LUCIALIA
01-07-2009, 16:54
Sorry i meant which spec, anyway how was it for you?
stukillen
01-07-2009, 18:26
it was a sport both times as i like a harder ride, both with and without the 17s. that extra 20bhp makes all the difference in my opinion, althought the car feels asthough it could cope with more.
SecretWeapon
01-07-2009, 18:33
I've just got back from trying out the 1.6 Petrol and 1.9 TDI. I thought the 1.6 was pretty much the same as the 1.4 from what I could tell, I had a straight to accelerate down too. The 1.9 TDI felt much more lively, so with the new 1.6 version offering the same power and hopefully less noise that will be a tempting option for me I think.
Only problem is that even if I ordered now I may not get it until October... :cry:
andy15star
02-07-2009, 05:44
In short, yes. The 1.6 is noticably more powerful. I have the 1.6 sport and recently had the 1.4 as a courtesy car, and i could tell the difference.
Regards,
Andy
SecretWeapon
02-07-2009, 12:10
Quick question...
Would the 1.6 TDI running at 105bhp still be able to be tuned to deliver more bhp or would it be less "tunable" due to it already having a lot of horse power for it's size?
thePHILosipher
05-07-2009, 23:55
Quick question...
Would the 1.6 TDI running at 105bhp still be able to be tuned to deliver more bhp or would it be less "tunable" due to it already having a lot of horse power for it's size?
the 1.6TDi will still be able to be tuned to give more BHP and torque. If you look at the outging ibza, the old 1.4TDi which started off life with 75bhp was able to be re-mapped to 110bhp.
The 1.6 petrol is a better bet if your want the over taking oomph. (This is a mini rant) The thing that i really dont understand is that since SEAT have used the same engines (except the 1.6) as the MK4 why they didnt put the 100bhp 1.4 in the new car?? the 1.6 can easily produce better figure than the paltry 105bhp it produces now.
If what ive heard is correct, the VAG group have just developed a 1.2 TSi engine which will be superb as its reported to produce around 115-120 bhp and will be much better for over taking and be alot more refined. I would imagine when this engine finally launches it will become the top seller.