56 Plate Ibiza 1.4 Sport Buying Advice Needed Please

JasonR

Guest
Hi, I have been browsing this forum for any information on any things to look out for when purchasing a Seat Ibiza;

I'm thinking about buying an Ibiza for my wife, she does about 20 miles a day around town working as a community OT.

It's a 56 Plate Seat Ibiza 1.4 Sport with 38,000 on the clock and is priced at £4,000, has 5 doors, and seems perfect for us with a baby and quite reasonably priced. Is there anything I should be looking out for when trying to purchase this vehicle, any common faults etc?

It will be probably be due a 40k service pretty soon after we buy it, is this expensive?

Any help is greatly appreciated thanks, nice forum you have here!


Heres a full copy paste of the ad;

2006 56 Reg SEAT Ibiza 1.4 Sport
5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 38,000 miles, Metallic Black, MOT-11-2011, 1 Owner. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Folding rear seats, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Radio/CD, Rear headrests, Sports seats, Full size spare wheel, Isofix child seat anchor points, Body coloured bumpers, Drivers airbag, Electric door mirrors, Front head restraints, Rear wiper, Service indicator, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Trip computer, 3x3 point rear seat belts, Front electric windows, Front fog lights, Height adjustable drivers seat, PAS, Remote central locking, Steering wheel reach adjustment, Solid Paint, Cloth seat trim. Insurance Group:4

Would post a link but cant unfortunately
 

matthab

Active Member
Jun 16, 2010
841
29
West Midlands
Hi, and welcome to the forum. Enjoy your stay :D

I own a Sport DAB (Limited edition with ipod and DAB radio) with the 1.4 in it. I bought it in July with the optional aero kit. I paid £7125 from a dealers with 1 year warranty. Heres my take:

*The 1.4 is a lovely little engine and is well refined from VW. Its not as fuel friendly as many other 1.4's I see 32 - 34mpg out of my daily commute of 12 miles (A - B roads). On long drives itll creep up to 40mpg. But it loves to rev.

*The cabin is not the quietest and the ride is firm but this comes with most Seats.

*Handling wise it has a very planted feel.

Heres the common faults ive come across:

*Check the rear washer and wiper work. If not the pipes come off and is most likely emptying the washer fluid into the spare wheel.

*Look in the bonnet and check the condition of the cables. I had my starter motor cable break off which was easily fixed with a crimp set.

*As with most cars check for any squeaks and knocks when going over bumps of at full lock.

*When you take it for a drive check it starts first time cold with no blue smoke etc.

*Most of all check everything works.

Apart from all that its a reliable car from what ive seen and heard my self. Your misses should enjoy it.
 
Last edited:

JasonR

Guest
Thanks for the replies, will check those points out in that first post, going looking at it now :D

Thanks again!
 

Blanco92

www.racedriversinc.com
Apr 11, 2010
2,496
4
Bournemouth/Cheshire
Along the lines of what Mick said, test it on bumpy and/or uneven roads and listen out for knocking or creaking noises. The replacement bushes aren't expensive but fitting and tracking usually costs £150-£200.
 
Nov 6, 2008
2,177
0
Kettering
also check to see if its the 100bhp or the 85bhp, the 100 had a software update which made it more driveable, i used to have the 100 and it was a great car. (i've had 3 MK4 ibiza and i love um great fun :D)

other things to check are:

rear wash wipe (very prone to popping off, easy fix)

wind noise from the mirrors (could be a sign of the seals going)

and to touch on what Mick, bushes, check the tyres are wearing evenly and not excessivly on the inner edges.

they tend to be the 3 main ones but dont forget your basic checks (tyres lights etc ) ;)

servicing is expensive at the main dealers, but a 40k (or 4 years) should include air filter, spark plugs, timing belt and tensioner and checks of all fluids (that came out of my haynes book)
 

matthab

Active Member
Jun 16, 2010
841
29
West Midlands
also check to see if its the 100bhp or the 85bhp, the 100 had a software update which made it more driveable, i used to have the 100 and it was a great car. (i've had 3 MK4 ibiza and i love um great fun :D)

other things to check are:

rear wash wipe (very prone to popping off, easy fix)

wind noise from the mirrors (could be a sign of the seals going)

and to touch on what Mick, bushes, check the tyres are wearing evenly and not excessivly on the inner edges.

they tend to be the 3 main ones but dont forget your basic checks (tyres lights etc ) ;)

servicing is expensive at the main dealers, but a 40k (or 4 years) should include air filter, spark plugs, timing belt and tensioner and checks of all fluids (that came out of my haynes book)

I thought it was 20k or every 2 years......
 
Nov 6, 2008
2,177
0
Kettering
Right and a 56 plate is 4 years old.....

A 20k service includes as far as im aware:
All the standard 10k bits + pollen filter and transmission oil

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk
 

Blanco92

www.racedriversinc.com
Apr 11, 2010
2,496
4
Bournemouth/Cheshire
Right and a 56 plate is 4 years old.....

A 20k service includes as far as im aware:
All the standard 10k bits + pollen filter and transmission oil
There is no interval on transmission oil. It's purely as and when required.

10k intervals is inspection, oil and filter change, 20k is the same again but pollen and air filter too. Fuel filter on diesels.
 

JasonR

Guest
Thanks for all your help, I purchased the car, a few minor things with it, the rear washer needs sorting out but couldn't see any water in the boot. I see what you all mean about the electrical connectors, there is no insulation behind the plugs like on other cars is there, but all electrics function fine.

Car drives absolutely superbly, feels solid, no rattles, drives like new really, and after a bit of investigation I found out its the 85hp model and they seem to go really well. Went out for a drive in it last night and it made me jealous! I think the wife is going to struggle to keep hold of it at this rate!

Used the major service needed as a bartering tool and got him to up my px price considerably, and I would prefer to get the service done myself as I don't trust car dealers one bit, nice independent vw specialist near my home ill take it to.

Only down side to it all is that with it being the 85 hp model the insurance will cost more than she thought but its a small price to pay.

They seem a pretty well kept secret these motors, might look at an fr for myself or something.
 
Progressive Parts, performance parts and tuning specialists