FR TSi - EVO magazine group test

[Wings988]

In this months Evo magazine, issue 167 there's a group test for small hatches featuring the Ibiza SC FR TSi. The other cars in the test are: Fiat Abarth 500, Mini Cooper, Ford Fiesta Metal (like a Zetec S but more power), Suzuki Swift Sport, Audi A1 1.4TFSi Sport, Renault Sport Twingo 133.

The SEAT was the fastest of the cars on test but unfortunately got rated as the lowest of the group by EVO. It seems that despite the good performance and fast shifts of the DSG 'box they weren't impressed by the understeer biased handling and inert steering feel. The FR TSi was rated 3 out of 5 stars. Winner of the test was the Suzuki Swift Sport with 4.5 star rating.

Maybe the tester was on a torque down day as in the rear of the magazine they have a full listing of cars scores and both FR's, TSi and TDi get 4 stars.

 

[Tonezz]

No way is the swift sport the best car out of all them! Lol

 

[RLyons]

But silly really, like you say, thy gave it 4 stars previously then knocked it down on this test. Probably a reflection of the competition. I have to say they are right about the steering, I'm really struggling to warm to it.

 

[m0rk]

No way is the swift sport the best car out of all them! Lol

Against what values though

fun? It probably is the most fun.

 

[Tonezz]

Against what values though

fun? It probably is the most fun.

Suppose it depends what they are looking at, every journalist will be biased towards something or another.

 

[NathWraith]

Reviews which base cars on fun factor are all very much opinion.

They also hardly every take everyday drivability into the case when reviewing anything with a performance label.

Also anything that isn;t a manual box is heresy to reviewers.

Strange how you can read reviews of the DSG box in the Golf, TT etc and they rave about it but as soon as it goes into the Cupra, polo GTI it gets bad reviews. Strangely though the fabia VRS gets very good reviews, despite being 99% the same!

Reviewers harp on about the Clio 200 Cup all the time. yes it is a good car, handling wise.

However 99% of the time a Cupra will show it a clean set of heels due to the DSG + torque & weight advantage (yes the cupra is lighter).

You can also drive the Cupra say to day without hating it.

Reviews often only focus on a short time period and usually track time where naturally a clio 200 is better, this is why a prefer long term reviews as they give a realistic review of the car.

that's just my 2p

 

[RLyons]

I agree with you mate, but to be fair Evo are about "the thrill of driving" and as people have said, the other cars on test may well be worse, but they are probably more fun!

In the long termer tests they do often give cars more points for being good day to day. I also think the Ibiza takes some time to warm to but the quality of it surpasses most other in the class - something which helps a "head" driven purchase (which is how people think in real life). People have different reasons for buying cars and the journalist won't always be singing from the same hymn sheet as a potential buyer.

 

[roblythamuk]

I read reviews that hatedd the dsg and said it was too soft agaisnt the clio cup. It was both of those reasons that made me buy the cupra. Maybe I'm just old though. Day to day the cupra is definitely the better car.

 

[Nutkin]

tbh the DSG is a slow box and very unresponsive compared to some of the better boxes EVO review, so being that most the competition are manual it probably seems a bit pants. But then again the FR probably lacks a few tweaks that the Cupras may get.

 

[Nutkin]

Reviews which base cars on fun factor are all very much opinion.

They also hardly every take everyday drivability into the case when reviewing anything with a performance label.

Also anything that isn;t a manual box is heresy to reviewers.

Strange how you can read reviews of the DSG box in the Golf, TT etc and they rave about it but as soon as it goes into the Cupra, polo GTI it gets bad reviews. Strangely though the fabia VRS gets very good reviews, despite being 99% the same!

Reviewers harp on about the Clio 200 Cup all the time. yes it is a good car, handling wise.

However 99% of the time a Cupra will show it a clean set of heels due to the DSG + torque & weight advantage (yes the cupra is lighter).

You can also drive the Cupra say to day without hating it.

Reviews often only focus on a short time period and usually track time where naturally a clio 200 is better, this is why a prefer long term reviews as they give a realistic review of the car.

that's just my 2p

tbh i wish i had bought the clio now, Silly me thinking french cars are unreliable!

 

[Tonezz]

tbh i wish i had bought the clio now, Silly me thinking french cars are unreliable!

The clios are nice looking cars on the outside, but I don't get why they have neglected the interior so much.. Its just nasty! Its basically the same in the twingo as well.

 

[NathWraith]

Clio interior is horrible. I chose the Ibiza over the Clio for economy, drivability and tuning.

Tuning a Clio is very hard as it is NA

 

[Nutkin]

The clios are nice looking cars on the outside, but I don't get why they have neglected the interior so much.. Its just nasty! Its basically the same in the twingo as well.

Agreed fully put me off the clio, got in the seat and was won over by the carbon fibre and the flat bottomed steering wheel, but the clio seats were nicer!

 

[Nutkin]

Clio interior is horrible. I chose the Ibiza over the Clio for economy, drivability and tuning.

Tuning a Clio is very hard as it is NA

at least the clio doesnt blow up !

 

[roblythamuk]

Lol, nutkin makes a fair point. But clio cup with no air con is just stupid, or am I just showing my age again.

 

[NathWraith]

at least the clio doesnt blow up !

lol neither does the ibiza.

The thing is the Clio and Cupra/FR are very different animals and aimed at different segments of the market imo.

yes they are both fast super minis but there is alot of difference.

Clio
+ Razer edge handling
+ 2.0L NA engine, no frills
- interior
- day to day drivability

Cupra
+ ease of power & DSG
+ Lower running costs
+ better day to day
- complicated engine has it's faults
- less sharp handling
- DSG

I have put DSG twice as some people love it, some hate it.

 

[Nutkin]

lol neither does the ibiza.

The thing is the Clio and Cupra/FR are very different animals and aimed at different segments of the market imo.

yes they are both fast super minis but there is alot of difference.

Clio
+ Razer edge handling
+ 2.0L NA engine, no frills
- interior
- day to day drivability

Cupra
+ ease of power & DSG
+ Lower running costs
+ better day to day
- complicated engine has it's faults
- less sharp handling
- DSG

I have put DSG twice as some people love it, some hate it.

MY Boca is in the garage for the 8th time in one year to investigate if i have a need for a new engine AND gearbox.

I just can't help but think if I had bought the Clio this might not have happened.

 

[NathWraith]

MY Boca is in the garage for the 8th time in one year to investigate if i have a need for a new engine AND gearbox.

I just can't help but think if I had bought the Clio this might not have happened.

Very good but what does that have to do with my above post? We are all aware of the reliability issues.

No car is good when it doesn't work, doesn't make it a bad car when it is working!

 

[Nutkin]

Very good but what does that have to do with my above post? We are all aware of the reliability issues.

No car is good when it doesn't work, doesn't make it a bad car when it is working!

Oh absolutely agree the Ibiza is better for me in every way and far cheaper to run, Probably even more cheaper for me as 1/4 of the time Im driving a 1.6TDI Sportrider Courtesy car lol.

Im just saying, and for those who know me will see the irony. It is no good building a fantastic car if it is unreliable. Again it wouldn't be so bad if SEAT customer service was great. But I understand cost is a factor especially when they are probably spending billions to attack the chinese market their recall budget and good will costs have probably taken a cut