Building a better Mk4 Ibiza Cupra TDi!

[chopper-lew]

OK, so I posted a thread up the other day looking for some advice on the potential upcoming purchace of a TDi Cupra.

On paper the car does everything I want it to - nippy, fun to drive, yet cheap to fuel/tax/insure.

The only thing that is putting me off are some of the horror stories of the cars lack of comfort.

So, as im not shy of a bit of modding, I was wondering what it would take to make the car eaiser to live with day to day. Im guessing these are the main points that would need addressing, so has anyone got advice on the following points or other ideas to make it a little more comfortable?

Suspension - Whats best, primarily for comfort instead of outright handling?
Sound deadening - How much do you need and wear do you put it?
Tyres - Whats best for road noise?
Stereo - To drown out the noise haha. Are they easy to do a basic upgrade on head unit/spekers as I hear the standard one in pants.

Cheers.

 

[vroomtshh]

Suspension - Weitec Hicon GT shocks and springs
Sound deadening - tons of the stuff, and put it everywhere you can

Stereo - Very easy to upgrade the head unit and speakers although I don;t think the standard stuff is too bad TBH.

My other advice would be to get a prefacelift. They seem to be better built

 

[abbotsmike]

In terms of sound deadening, if you are trying to cut out road noise, then you want a sound barrier type product rather than deadening. Deadening reduces panel resonances, a barrier like Luxury Liner or noise isolator blocks noise entering the cabin.

Some quieter tyres would probably help, I think the Hankook V12's have been recommended on here?

In terms of build, I've pulled apart a pre and facelift to put stereo in, and they both seemed pretty similar. If anything the older one a bit worse, but I think the was due to age and higher mileage.

 

[.Phase]

a headunit improves the sound dramatically

 

[lee_fr200]

That's the only thing that annoys me, how much road noise comes into the cabin

 

[mgrays]

Buy an FR and chip it + 312 brakes..

.. longer gear ratios so quieter
.. controls on steering wheel
.. softer suspension
.. no silly rims that are custom and can foul on tall kerbs

Chip will make it back to Cupra levels but below clutch killing levels (which is £0.6-1k bill),
Brakes a nice to have and Golf 312 brakes are way better for not falling apart compared to the AP timebombs.. but then they don't look so pretty.
Insurance on chipped FR is probably less than Cupra!
Economy of FR is 5mpg more than Cupra.
Guess the interior of Cupra is a little better... but then the black cloth shows everything..
Exterior is nice to have but cannot fit towbar to Cupra offically..

.. and I have a chipped Cupra.. thought the FR would have been too cheap for a company car

 

[Willsy33]

You could also go for some 16's (that fit over the AP's) and put bigger side-wall tyres on?! That should reduce road noise even further.

As vroomtshh suggested, a set of decent shocks/springs would be better for comfort than coilovers. Either the Weitec GT's or Bilstein B12's (if your budget can stretch to them) would be a preferred choice.

 

[Chriswaite130]

What 16's fit over the AP's though? My 16" Sport wheels wouldnt even look at them. It wasnt a case of spacing them out either - they physically wouldnt fit lol.

 

[vroomtshh]

What 16's fit over the AP's though? My 16" Sport wheels wouldnt even look at them. It wasnt a case of spacing them out either - they physically wouldnt fit lol.

D90s are the only ones I've ever seen

Did you go for those pro race 3s? They clear by a mile. But I don;t think they come in 16s

 

[Chriswaite130]

I haven't yet mate, busy saving for them and tyres

 

[vroomtshh]

I haven't yet mate, busy saving for them and tyres

I got 3 of mine. Courier dropped the other one

 

[Joshh]

I think comp mo's fit too, didn't Scott run them on his 1.8t cupra?

 

[Chriswaite130]

I think comp mo's fit too, didn't Scott run them on his 1.8t cupra?

17's though?

 

[Chriswaite130]

I got 3 of mine. Courier dropped the other one

They look stunning! Shame one got dropped hope it gets replaced soon!

 

[Mickylad]

Have Pro Race 3's with 323mm Leon Cupra Brembos...