Considering Buying Cupra TDI Please HELP

[DavidJohn]

Have seen one that I Can probably afford but its got 50000 Miles on 54 Reg. I know its a diesal but thats a lot by anyones standards. Its due a service is there any main components that need doing on a 50000 miles service or very shortly after. All other services have been via SEAT. Currently got a PUNTO HGT, wil I notice a significant difference in power. The Punto doesn't really pull until 4000rpm but a video an youtube shows the two of them racing and the Ibiza wins but not by very much. Also what is a realistic MPG from this car I love the idea of when i'm stuck in traffic doing 40-45 mpg rather than 20-25 in the punto yet when I want to having loads of power it being available-is this realistic or will i buy it and be dissapointed.

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[KAZSTE]

buy it

im on my 2nd diesel cupra (that must say something) first one was 04 and traded it with 47000 miles, still as tight as my new one, couple of things to check for though, probably mainly motorway miles so check state of clutch a definite weakspot, get in 5th or 6th at 2000 rpm and floor it wathc the revs and if they shot up then stay stationary it needs a new clutch (about £500)
as mpg i get about 44mpg 70% motorway 10% a road 20% town driving.

make sure you check the alloys as very easy to curb due to the tyres being low profile.

regards to punto on youtube, guessing ti was from a standing start, 1st gear is useless pretty much feed clutch in without using throttle then change to 2nd and go for it probaly accounts for why punto kept up, but in normal driving many cars do not stand a chance, and anyway not enough power CHIP IT! (just change the clutch first to a sachs!

buy one, you know you want too!

 

[DavidJohn]

Currrently Got Yellow Punto and have nothing but stick for it so will get a more civilised colour this time. The one i'm looking at is grey. Thanks for advice with clutch, problem is it's about 200 miles away from me. Will have to ask were mileage has been done and risk getting train down and then test it. Sounds extreme but as you say I think this is the car for me and maybe able to get it fot around 8000 which seems a good price from what i have seen. Any idea if there is a plan to replace ibiza. Bought Punto without checking and the grande punto came out and values plummeted don't want to get caught again. Punto was from standing start punto 0-60 8.3-8.6 depending on were you look and ibiza 7.4-7.6 so expected a bit more ( Maybe ibiza driver wasn't as sharp). Like the idea of chipping and heard that this engine can handle it easily but worried about insurance cost to be honest.

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[keithr]

50,000 miles for a diesel is nothing if its been looked after

 

[muddyboots]

As above - 50k is nothing as long as it's been serviced properly.

I covered 80k on my 2003 TDI Sport in 3 years after which the engine still sounded and ran as good as new, and my Passat (same engine) is now on 140k miles.

Note - cambelts are usually due at 60k miles, unless the more recent models have been extended (in which case I'd still err towards 60k for peace of mind anyway).

 

[muddyboots]

There is a new Ibiza out later next year - although the FR & Cupra models will probably be quite a while after (Seat usually launch the hot models later than the rest of the range), and Seat have stopped making the current Cupra - so prices should hold for a little while yet on these models I'd have though.

 

[KAZSTE]

to be honest i dont think i would buy another yellow one i love it but see to many stone chips whereas my old one was black and didnt notice any marks on it, you can chip them using revo and has very good reviews which can for an extra £50 come with an attachment so that you can put on and take of the chip at will, so lets leave insurance to your conscience!!! i'd say £8000 is about right as long as no work is required is it a private sale? if not try and get a service thrown into the price. one other thing i forgot to mention is that they really dont like ordinary fuel and run far better with something like bp ultimate diesel but is approx 4p a litre more (about £3 per tank so worth it).
there is a new ibiza coming out poss early next year no news as yet on cupra, but i believe they have stopped making new cupra's may be wrong hopefully someone else could clarify, but dont worry only muppetts like me who only just bought a brand new one have to worry about bombing depreciation!

 

[muddyboots]

LOL, keep thinking of more things...

A remap will take the Cupra TDI to 190-200bhp, it already has a FMIC, decent brakes etc to handle it.

 

[Mr Cellotape]

Check that the car has got a full SEAT service history and that the safety recall has been done, should be together with all of the service stamps.

Ask if it has had any accidents and check the number of owners, the car should only of had 1-2 depending on who owned it first.

When you drive it take the revs in every gear except first from 2K to 5K. If that doesn't float your boat nothing will.

PS the MPG is all dependant on who drives and which roads they use. I drive all sorts but on my fav' country road manage over 50MPG taking it easy

Good Luck. PS if you haggle make sure you haggle the air vent and gear surround Chrome kits. They really lift the interior.

 

[muddyboots]

one other thing i forgot to mention is that they really dont like ordinary fuel and run far better with something like bp ultimate diesel but is approx 4p a litre more (about £3 per tank so worth it).

Now that's definitely open for debate...I'm of the opposite opinion. Have a read of the various threads on the subject, it's one of those subjects people will never agree on!

 

[Mr Cellotape]

one other thing i forgot to mention is that they really dont like ordinary fuel and run far better with something like bp ultimate diesel but is approx 4p a litre more (about £3 per tank so worth it).
QUOTE]

I don't agree with that, I use only Shell normal Derv and find that to work fine.

 

[KAZSTE]

Now that's definitely open for debate...I'm of the opposite opinion. Have a read of the various threads on the subject, it's one of those subjects people will never agree on!

true horses for courses! dont even start on the diesel vs petrol debate

just checked on autotrader they have a grey cupra 47000 miles on 54 plate £7250
and couple at £8000 mark so plenty of bargaining power for you.

 

[DavidJohn]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Have seen the 7250 on autotrader thought i had found bargain but its cat D unfortunately. I think 8000 is reasonable for the Cupra TDI. Can anyone confirm how much a cambelt will cost. Thankfully use to putting premium fuel in. Never used anything but shell optimax and BP ultimate in Punto becasue its Fiat and I want to give it every chance to be reliable and start which in fairness it pretty much has been.

Car as full seat service history 2 owners from new which sounds reasonable. Mechanic at work said reasonable mileage for a diesal but more pleasing to here from people who actually own car.

Another thing I like about this car is its good looking without being overstated. Freinds get astra VXR and thats lethaly fast but if I park outside work gauranteed to get keyed because people think its flash.

Another point is the PUNTO crashes over the speed bumps at work at any speed. I'm thinking my spine is out of place it hits them that hard. Heard seat is similar but i'm hoping either it handles better than punto so there is a benifit (puntos tall and rolls all over place to be nonest) or more modern set up with suspension means it will be better any thoughts anyone?

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[DavidJohn]

Check that the car has got a full SEAT service history and that the safety recall has been done, should be together with all of the service stamps.



Can anyone tell me what the safety recall was. Cheers





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[KAZSTE]

pain!

yes the suspension truly does hurt you sometimes ( i know i'm a wuss) does handle quite well but they really benefit from a strut brace on the front £45 ( i have the seat one but apparently the forge one is better (any thoughts chaps???) and get an anti roll bar for the rear from jabba think about £100 but been a while since i bought one as transfered them both so pricing may be wrong, there is normally a group buy for the arb's if you look around the forum as very popular.
strut brace helps counter understeer, and arb bring moumental lift off oversteer when wanted and also helps generally tighten the car up,

if your anywhere near notts pm me and you can have a ride in mine so you know what a new one should feel like to help you see if anything is wrong on the one you are looking at.

 

[kriso]

I like the suspension. Have thought about swapping to a more comfy car but I think I would miss the bumpiness. And going round corners fast makes up for it anyway

 

[KAZSTE]

i agree

I like the suspension. Have thought about swapping to a more comfy car but I think I would miss the bumpiness. And going round corners fast makes up for it anyway

the wife doesnt!

if you shut your eyes (make sure your the passenger) it feels like a rally car on the way to the next stage it really is part of the charachter of the car and i find it a nice trait although does make you slow down sometimes on the bumpy stuff, again maybe i'm too much of a wuss for my car i think i'll let the wife have it and buy a fiesta

 

[DavidJohn]

Cheers for the offer its very generous just been on multimap i'm in Manchester and it's a little far. What i'm worried about is because Punto goes over bumps every day (feels like i have gone through rather than over) its generating quite a few rattles. Was of the opinion that the seat doesn't rattle and is quite well put together although a few other threads suggest not worryingly. Looked at CLIO 182 but the owners reviewed via PARKERS GUIDE said its like a babies toy it rattles so badly as did clarkson on top gear. Am hoping that seat/volksw have screwed it together well. KAZSTE your on your second does the car have little rattles from everywhere

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[DavidJohn]

Kriso I sort of know what you mean about getting used to the stiff suspension. I had Citreon prior to this and it drove amazingly glided over bumps but don't know how I would find it now if I went back to it. My 4 year old lad the over day turned and said "Daddy why is it so bumpy" and that was on a normal road. I'm gathering ibiza suspension is similar to punto but you get a much better handling car for the sacrifice

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[KAZSTE]

rattles

first one did not rattle at all through the time i had it and have to go over some big speed mountians at work, 2nd one has an annoying rattle from dashboard, and airbox is catching on strut brace, but with the way i feel about my local dealer i strongly believe they will sort out these problems when i can find time to let them look, strut brace airbox is a known problem usually fixed by some tacky rubber black stuff between the two.

please dont buy a clio i had a 172 cup for a while and got sick of seeing the the AA dude.