MK3 Leon 1.8TSI FR or MK5 Ibiza Cupra (1.8TSI)

[yellowcone87]

To be perfectly honest, if I were you I'd be buying a Fiesta ST instead. Or wait for the new Ibiza Cupra (2017? 2018?).

I totally agree. I wouldn't buy any Ibiza to be honest, Cupra or not. It has felt tired for a long time now. Ibiza has always felt like an elderly polo, and the polo is dull in its freshest configuration. You'd have a lot more fun in the fiesta ST.

I bought my Leon because it didn't feel like a compromise. I saved money by going without the bits I couldn't care less about, like a VW badge or softer carpets, and in return got a decent spec car made with all the same parts as the latest Golf.

In the Ibiza you're getting a generation old Polo. It just never felt finished. It's the little things, like being able to see the exterior body panels from inside the car - look at the boot lid from the drivers seat for a perfect example. The Leon had to be good when it launched as SEAT needed the customers. The Ibiza meanwhile had to be cheap, and it shows. The fiesta ST has it trumped in every area.

 

[BenH]

I totally agree. I wouldn't buy any Ibiza to be honest, Cupra or not. It has felt tired for a long time now. Ibiza has always felt like an elderly polo, and the polo is dull in its freshest configuration. You'd have a lot more fun in the fiesta ST.



I bought my Leon because it didn't feel like a compromise. I saved money by going without the bits I couldn't care less about, like a VW badge or softer carpets, and in return got a decent spec car made with all the same parts as the latest Golf.



In the Ibiza you're getting a generation old Polo. It just never felt finished. It's the little things, like being able to see the exterior body panels from inside the car - look at the boot lid from the drivers seat for a perfect example. The Leon had to be good when it launched as SEAT needed the customers. The Ibiza meanwhile had to be cheap, and it shows. The fiesta ST has it trumped in every area.

I agree, my friend has an St-3 has tonnes of power through all the gears and makes an incredible sound, obviously not the most luxurious place to be but by the sounds of what the OP is after it sounds like pure power anyway. Fiesta > VXR > Ibiza

 

[yellowcone87]

Spot on Ben, as a drivers car nothing can touch the fiesta for the same money. If what you want is the car to put a smile on your face every time you rev it through, the ST is incredibly hard to beat. It's one of very few Fords I'd actually buy.

 

[BenH]

And if it's just not enough power whack their mountune on and get another 30bhp or something, great car for the money and brand new wouldn't be an awful lot more than the 13-14k of the Ibiza cupra which beyond the paper figures looks pretty mediocre

 

[j.owen]

@yellowcone87/@benharris3
I think you're wrong regarding the Ibiza feeling tired and like an elderly polo. I'm just speaking from my 1.2TSI FR of course but I think it's leagues above the similar spec fiesta and the same goes for the Cupra vs ST - The Cupra is much more classy and has a lot more technology, not to mention interior/exterior looks. More torque, not to mention you rarely see a Ibiza Cupra, you see at least a handful of Fiesta ST's every time you drive to town.

You could argue that this is for good reason, but as shallow as it sounds I want a car that's less popular. And the other reasons stated above.

Pricing for the fiesta st is definitely hard to beat - The MP215 package is something I would definitely pay for if I ever bought one.


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[BenH]

I'd still hands down go for fiesta over Ibiza and I disagree about technology, what does the Ibiza have that the ST doesn't? Because ST-3s have things that even Leon's haven't started rolling out

 

[j.owen]

I'd still hands down go for fiesta over Ibiza and I disagree about technology, what does the Ibiza have that the ST doesn't? Because ST-3s have things that even Leon's haven't started rolling out

Okay, maybe I described that wrong as you're right they do have pretty much the same technology. What I meant was that the Ibiza includes technology which has a better user experience.

For example the touch screen nav system. Also, I'm pretty sure the fiesta ST's don't have hill assist although I could be wrong.

The general dash and console is so much more minimalistic and usable whereas the fiesta ST looks like a spaceship made in the early 90's with the little buttons everywhere and the small screen.

All of this is subjective of course.


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[j.owen]

One other thing worth mentioning is that the Corsa VXR Clubsport has a LSD, which I'm pretty sure nothing else in the class has?

You could definitely feel the difference too. I found that in the VXR you really had to rev it out whereas the fiesta felt way more torquey than the figures suggest. Maybe overboosr? Don't fully know how to tell if you're "in" overboost.


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[BenH]

The ST has keyless entry and keyless start, it may as well be a spaceship and Ibizas are cute looking but the exhaust on the cupra looks ridiculous in my opinion, why they jabbed 2 little pipes in that weird shaped centre piece is beyond me, like the old style VXR and they've ditched that in the new model with good reason haha and the ST does have hill assist

 

[j.owen]

The ST has keyless entry and keyless start, it may as well be a spaceship and Ibizas are cute looking but the exhaust on the cupra looks ridiculous in my opinion, why they jabbed 2 little pipes in that weird shaped centre piece is beyond me, like the old style VXR and they've ditched that in the new model with good reason haha and the ST does have hill assist

Yeah that's true, didn't think of that - But that alone doesn't really excite me.

The Ibiza is mean looking with the bi-xenon/DRL's - Yeah I agree about the exhaust situation, I'd probably put a miltek on it after owning it awhile.

At the end of the day, I think a test drive in one will be the decider of course. If I still can't get one booked soon I'll test drive a 1.8TSI Polo just to get a feel for the engine.


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[Rob66]

To be perfectly honest, if I were you I'd be buying a Fiesta ST instead. Or wait for the new Ibiza Cupra (2017? 2018?).

We have an Ibiza, but the ST is a cracking car fantastic road holding and Mountune Kit available to up power without invalidating warranty. Difficult choice have a long test drive in each.

I often drive new Fiesta's at work and am always impressed.

 

[j.owen]

We have an Ibiza, but the ST is a cracking car fantastic road holding and Mountune Kit available to up power without invalidating warranty. Difficult choice have a long test drive in each.

I often drive new Fiesta's at work and am always impressed.

Have you got the 1.8TSI?

I must admit, the option of the MP215 kit is a big attraction, as well as the price.

The main things stopping me are how common they are, and he interior/exterior looks in comparison to the Cupra.


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[Rob66]

Have you got the 1.8TSI?

I must admit, the option of the MP215 kit is a big attraction, as well as the price.

The main things stopping me are how common they are, and he interior/exterior looks in comparison to the Cupra.


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Hi mate unfortunately not just the Ibiza Black Edition. My Leon is a Mk2 FR. Nice car the Ibiza but for fun and thrills I would go for the Fiesta. To be honest i am actually considering one myself, before the stop production for the MK8.

Rob