Ibiza Cupra PD160

[Tom_O]

Hey there

Just sold my car, and Im looking to buy one of these.

Im just wondering, like with all cars, are there any problem areas with these?

Been drawn to them due to the sporty looks, small therefore quite nimble, the power and above all, the economy.

Looking to buy one to keep for a good few years, thanks!

 

[KAZSTE]

main problem i have had is clutch slip and tyre wear!
to check the clutch put in into 4th or 5th gear hold steady throttle at 2k revs then boot it (only the once though) see if the revs climb on the counter then remain stationary waiting for everything else to catch up. Bear in mind these cars do not like being driven hard until warm so get the seller to take you out first and see how he drives it when its cold. only other problems if you ask my wife is that the alloys are very easy to curb!

overall though crackin car very nice and quick i'm on my 2nd and placed order for the new ibiza cupra i like them so much. but might be worth looking at the old style leon cupra (fr) diesel as not much more money.

hope this helps and welcome to our little corner of the world

 

[S3ROB]

I bought one last Saturday, a 54 reg for £7000, not quite as quick as my old Audi S3 but 45-50 MPG make up for it.

Alot of road noise and the cup holder broke but other than that so far so good, very quick between 40-70MPH if you use the gears right, £326 fully comp insurance, £120 a year road tax.

The brakes are the best standard brakes i've ever had.

 

[JPS3290]

The standard P zero tyres make a lot of road noise and people usually change these to Toyo T1R's but I like them so just replaced the fronts like for like.

They can eat front tyres, i got 14k from the originals which I was disappointed with however some people get considerably less than this.

Suspension is really hard so expect the odd rattle. No clutch issues on mine and it's been remapped for the last 9k miles to 195/300. Had gearbox issues though where it kept jamming in gear after using reverse or sometimes when in stop/start traffic. It's been in the dealers for a week for a gearbox strip down and it just turned out to need the gear selectors readjusting and a difference grade of gearbox oil put in as recommended by Seat HQ.

 

[DIESELDAVE]

S3ROB thats a good price , was it a high mileage example ?

 

[Mr Cellotape]

The main problems are as listed above and also the general problems that can be read in the MK4 section, ie headlights misting, no boot light, no glove box light, etc.

S3ROB, where have you got that insurance quote from?

 

[S3ROB]

S3ROB thats a good price , was it a high mileage example ?

50k, 2 owners, full dealer history and had a cambelt in Jan 2008, extended Seat warranty with approx 11 months left

S3ROB, where have you got that insurance quote from?

Esure, i'm 28, 5 years NCB, car parked on driveway, no modifications

The standard P zero tyres make a lot of road noise and people usually change these to Toyo T1R's but I like them so just replaced the fronts like for like.

Got Toyo PR4's on the front, only been on a few days and still alot of road noise, think its something i'll just have to put up with or turn the stereo up, got the tyres for £55 each (205 40 17)

 

[Tom_O]

Ok cheers for that

Going to see one in Bury St Edmunds (Cecil and Larter), for £9.5k

 

[S3ROB]

What year/mileage/colour is the one your looking at mate?

Not sure what cars your used to driving but you won't be dissapointed, they go very well for a car that does over 50MPG, due to suspension and low profile tyres they are very bumpy and you get alot of road noise but its designed to be a sporty type car so its expected really.

Let us know how you get on?

 

[Tom_O]

Spec is

Red
30k
54plate

Just sold a Focus RS, Ford Racing Puma, and Im part exing a 206 GTI 180 for a 55 plate VW Passat TDI. Love speed, but £900 on juice, per month is a joke

 

[mrcoyote]

The suspension and noise issues can be fixed by a change of suspension and choosing different tyres next time. I suppose it's not ideal as every car is a compromise, but it can always be better with a few tweaks.

 

[S3ROB]

The suspension and noise issues can be fixed by a change of suspension and choosing different tyres next time

Had Toyo's on the front when i got it, changed them for Toyo's again but a different tread pattern and still very noisy, was gonna change make but the Toyo's were £55 each so too good to turn down.

Red
30k
54plate

Just had a look at it on there website, looks very nice, i wanted red originally but mine came along at the right time/price so i went for it

 

[S3ROB]

Just sold a Focus RS, Ford Racing Puma

If your used to good handling cars like that you may need to spend it bit of cash on the ibiza suspension

 

[Tom_O]

Road noise isnt that much of an issue, because we've been used to loud cars for years. If anything, it may be quieter than what we've been driving. Regards tyres, we had Michelin Pilot Exaltos on our old RenaultSport Clio 182, and we found these to be good. Yoko Parada Spec 2s on the Focus RS, Toyo T1Rs on the FRP, and some cheap **** Khumo (spelling) on this GTI 180.

For the long journeys, we'll be using the Passat.

 

[Tom_O]

If your used to good handling cars like that you may need to spend it bit of cash on the ibiza suspension

Haha, I know! I fitted the FRP with the Ford Racing LSD too, and trail braking around corners achieved ridiculous speeds, plus the Alcons were the most powerful brakes Ive used on a road car - better than the larger Brembos on the Focus RS.

So what is a Cupra TDI like to live with? Im sure its perfectly acceptable, but havnt even been in one, so Im still in the dark

 

[mrcoyote]

The best things about the car are the SeatSport branded AP 4 pot brakes, but living with it on a day to day basis is pretty easy. The performance is easily accessible and with a little fettling it handles quite well.

 

[S3ROB]

Only had mine for just over a week, averaging 46.8MPG (worked out on calculator)

Very good brakes, handles ok for a standard car, no problems so far, only thing that bugs me is the road noise.

REALLY tempted with a re-map as a bit more power is always nice and its supposed to improve MPG???

Just not sure if the standard clutch can take the extra torque???

Girlfriend has a Fabia VRS running approx 175-180bhp and standard clutch has been ok for 16000 miles so far but Ibiza would be running approx 195-200bhp with a custom code map.

 

[Tom_O]

These remaps sound pretty good! Clutches would be taking a battering from over 300lb/ft though. Also, do these engines have the dual mass flywheel, or whatever its called?

 

[mrcoyote]

The standard clutch is only rated for around 300lb/ft, so they have to be driven "properly" with a remap and yes they do have a dual mass flywheel.

 

[Tom_O]

So Im guessing a couple of full throttle "bootings" will put pay to a clutch

What after market clutches are there to be had? I had a Helix on the FRP, and in traffic it was a pain sometimes.