Newbie with a TDI question

[Lotusmark2]

Hi all just wandered in.
I am looking at a new company car and need to stick with a deisel (company policy), has anyone else driven the new Cupra TDI yet or can give me any advice.
I want a fast, well balanced car, as it will be see track days quite a lot but I can't modify the car at all so it needs to be good out of the box.
opinions, advice please
Cheers
Mark

[Ant FR Turbo]

have'nt driven it, but it should be quite good out of the box,

remember it is 16k though, so you may want to take into account for company tax as the FR is only 13500, and if you stick a tuning box on it like van aakens your fleet department will never know as you can take it off quite easily.

You'll be lucky to find someone who has one yet though, and i am pretty sure they are special order only on seat dealers will not have many hanging around unless they are a cacelled order, Check out the FR though as it will be a monster with the 130 engine in it, i have the petrol turbo and that is a handfull, and based on my previous golf 130 tdi which i chipped the fr diesel should be great fun.

[Lotusmark2]

Cheers Ant
I have 20K to spend so I dont mind the extra on the Cupra, what do the quick Ibiza handle like (going to do some sprint/Hill climb stuff in the car.)

[Tom B]

I would say the handling won't be much to write home about, but then again I don't know the exact spec of the Cupra yet.

[Lotusmark2]

Thanks for your input Toxxin
What makes you say the handling will not be up to much??

[Tom B]

The standard suspension on my Sport was complete trash. The shocks were gone after 8k, which isn't really good news on something that should be on the car for most of it's life. Also it couldn't handle the power the car had, so it was all over the place. I really hope they do sort this out for the Cupra, but on previous SEATs (the MK3 20vT for instance), the suspension was the weak point.

Only time will tell, when it's been officially released and there are cars to test drive, we can find out what it's really like. I won't be holding my breath though...

[Ant FR Turbo]

well the car was officiall released on 2nd june, and autoexpress did a review on it, the susspension is 15 % firmer than the FR which is already 30% firmer than the Sport. The cupra will handle 10 times better than a sport, it has a race set up, but may be too racy for normal road driving.

If you have 20k then look at the Golf mk5 2.0 Tdi, handles like a dream and it is a golf at end of the day!

[Lotusmark2]

Cheers Ant, Yeah I was thinking of the golf but I could get an Ibiza with Sat nav and all the toys for the same money as a bog basic golf.
I have called my local Seat dealer and he say they will have a demo cupra within 2 weeks so fingers crossed.
Decided it will not be a Leon as they are just too damb heavy to go on a track.

[dave_g]

If you want a car of of the box that will be good on a track i think you should be looking at a Civic Type-R. I know this is a Seat forum and some may disagree but from what i've heard i don't think it could be bettered for a track/road car under £20k. For that you could get leather, sat nav and air con. The disadvanages is that its not great if your doing high motorway mileages and company car tax may be more.

Just another thought.

[Craig Senior]

Didn't know they did a diesel Type- R

[Lotusmark2]

thanks for the idea but no go I'm afraid
1. as has been said, no Diesel Type R
2. I'm 6ft 8" tall so dont fit in the Honda (any of them :( )

[dave_g]

sorry, didn't notice the diesel bit

i'd go with the leon or ibiza then

[Lotusmark2]

its odd but I have more room in the Ibiza than in the Leon?????

[mark sheerin]

Decided it will not be a Leon as they are just too damb heavy to go on a track.

Have you considered the Fabia..vrs

only 12k....recently did very well in an evo magazine track test of 25 top cars

spend £1500 on wheels ans suspension and you will have a very good car...chip it and it will scare a few petrol cars into submission.

I wouldn't hill climb a leon but I don't think it would be out of place on a track...the Cupra R was only one second slower than a Focus RS round Angelsey.

A chipped Leon TDi would be pretty quick round a track.
16k would get one easily enough too.

[christdi]

Auto Express had a run in an Ibiza Cupra TDI in this weeks edition. They gave it a very good write up. They said it is more refined than previous SEAT pd motors, mentioned the 'sheer exellence of the chassis' saying that the suspension set up is sporty and roll free, but the ride never gets crashy and the damping is superbly judged. They also said that even under hard cornering the Cupras body is held perfectly in check.
It was tested on Spanish roads but it sounds promising, I have pretty much made up my mind that I am going to order one in the next few months.

[Lotusmark2]

just saw that review on their web site, sounds very good!! :thumbup:

[Chri5B]

Certainly sounds promising.