Ibiza 1.9 tdi Cupra - Possible new owner questions.

chopper-lew

Active Member
Jan 29, 2011
311
0
Helensburgh, Scotland
Hi.

Just popping in the Ibiza forum from my usual home in the Mk 2 Leon side of things as I have a couple of questions.

It looks like were gonna keep my wifes Mk2 Leon Cupra K1 for now, and my beloved high power focus RS will be up for sale soon to help in funding our house deposit :(.

So im probably looking for a new set of wheels soon and really want somthing cheap to buy/run/fuel thats still a bit of fun.

So doing a bit of research into Skoda fabia VRS's I discovered they made a Mk 4 Ibiza with the same PD unit in it, but making 160bhp instead od 130bhp.

Now, TBH, after looking around, I have a wide selection of cars that im considering next, but on paper, the Ibiza Cupra Tdi seems to be the best 'bang for buck'.

A couple of questions though...

1. Why do they seem to be so rare? Its basicly the same car/same price as the Fabia VRS (but with better looks more power) but there dosent seem to be many around (there are loads of VRS's) :think:

Surely they should have sold like hotcakes, but a search of any of the main car selling websites jut throws up a small handfull.

2. Re-maps. Im a big fan of re-maps. From a search, it seems a basic re-map will increase power to 190-200bhp. That is pretty good for somthing still hopefully achieving 45+mpg.

How do these cars cope though? Would it be advisable to budget some cash for an uprated clutch if I were to get a re-map, and what would it cost? How does the rest of the car/transmission cope with that level of power?

3. Spec levels. Most seem to come with aircon, electric windows, CD player which is enough for what I want really, but did any ever come with any extra kit like heated seats, sunroofs etc?

Cheers

Lew.
 
Apr 13, 2011
1,934
1
hull
1 they did not sell very well for some unknown reason I own one and it's the best thing I ever brought love it. The difference between the Vrs and the Cupra tdi is the mapping is different on the Cupra turbo and a large front mount inter cooler is fitted plus ap 4 pot brake calipers plus better serspension bushes are fitted to the Cupra tdi. I will say through the Vrs did do special edition version which comes with leather seats and a few other toys but they cost a little more. Plus the ride quilty on the Vrs is serposadly better than the Cupra but sayin that rolling down a hill in a weellie bin would be a softer drive lol

2 a remap makes the car a completely different car to be honest well worth doing but I would advise safe some money for a new uprated clutch plus u might find u will need to replace some boost pipe due to they blow off because seat made rubbish pipes but there not that expensive plus would not worry about them till they go if they even do some peoples have been fine.

3 Spec some came with hid head lights and head light washers and even some came with reverse sensors but that's about all the extra spec I hve seen to behonest. That's the only thing I find let's the Cupra tdi down the fact that they came with none leather seats and there ain't Meny that will fit into the car due to size of the **** pit.
 

FR_MATT

Active Member
Jun 2, 2010
1,382
3
Insurance is usually that little bit more to put people off getting it I guess

The VRS is more like the FR.

The main differences being the Cupra has a different turbo, front mount intercooler instead of side mount, bigger brakes, solid wishbone bushes and black headlining/pillars. If you can afford one it's probably worth it over the FR/VRS.

You may run into a slight issue changing the wheels as the AP calipers stick out a lot. I've seen Compomotives MO6 (possibly MO5 too) and Pro Race 3s (with a spacer) fitted on here. The issue is the shape of the back of the spokes.

In terms of optional extras: I find cruise control very useful on my FR. Don't think you can get heated seats. If you find one with xenons, buy a lottery ticket too haha

edit: too slow haha
 
Last edited:

lawrieIbizaMk4

Team Boc!
Aug 31, 2009
3,498
4
Milngavie, Glasgow
www.bebo.com
Insurance is usually that little bit more to put people off getting it I guess

The VRS is more like the FR.

The main differences being the Cupra has a different turbo, front mount intercooler instead of side mount, bigger brakes, solid wishbone bushes and black headlining/pillars. If you can afford one it's probably worth it over the FR/VRS.

You may run into a slight issue changing the wheels as the AP calipers stick out a lot. I've seen Compomotives MO6 (possibly MO5 too) and Pro Race 3s (with a spacer) fitted on here. The issue is the shape of the back of the spokes.

In terms of optional extras: I find cruise control very useful on my FR. Don't think you can get heated seats. If you find one with xenons, buy a lottery ticket too haha

edit: too slow haha

Cupra and FR have the same turbo. Only differences are: fmic, uprated bushes, AP 4 pots and mapping. Not to mention the body kit and interior :)

The pd160 is a total sleeper and goes like stink with a stage one map, enough torque and big enough brakes to make you sea sick!
 

chopper-lew

Active Member
Jan 29, 2011
311
0
Helensburgh, Scotland
Thanks for the inf fellas. It does seem weird how they never sold many though.

I have heard the suspension is rock hard in them but a common cure is fitting fr springs. Anyone done this and is it worth it?

What are the other popular mods to do to these little cars?
 

rf860

Active Member
Jan 23, 2010
3,570
2
scotland
Thanks for the inf fellas. It does seem weird how they never sold many though.

I have heard the suspension is rock hard in them but a common cure is fitting fr springs. Anyone done this and is it worth it?

What are the other popular mods to do to these little cars?

The FR was much more popular in tdi form as it was very low insurance meaning lots of young folk could get a quick car for buttons compared to other similar perfomance cars. The FR is a good all rounder tbh, i had one that had quite a few extra on it like auto wipers, auto dimming mirror, headlight washers, electric folding mirrors etc.

The suspension is the main reason i got rid of mine (fr). It's rock hard. Make sure you take it for a good test drive to make sure you can live with it. FR suspension and cupra suspension are much of a sameness in terms of 'crash, bang, wollop' i'd imagine.

Also, watch out for clonks from the front suspension, the droplinks and top mount bearings aren't the best.

Another thing to make sure you'll be able to live with is the loud road noise the ibiza has. It can be deafening at times lol. I sound deadened the floorplan in mine and it made quite a difference.

Remap and good coilovers should make it a good little car though.
 

Bondiblu

Enthusiast
Mar 18, 2007
1,648
1
Cheshire
Fitted FR suspension to mine, and yes it was slightly better, but may only have been because I was replacing suspension that had done 65k. I got rid of mine same as above.