Persuade me to buy a 1.9TDi Ibiza Cupra

[Chriso]

Howdy

Got told to pay this site a visit by a friend. Im currently weighing up what car to get next out of a facelift civic ek9 type-r import or a Ibiza Cupra 1.9TDi.

Currently got a non stock ek4 atm and am recieving many biased views (honda owners mainly) persuading me to get a 9, without hearing what the seat crowd have to say about the Cupra. It's even more tricky as iv'e been in a non stock 9 and own a 4 so am used to a similar drive. I have barely looked around a cupra as i don't know anyone with one If anyone has one within the Midlands area (remapped pref) i'd be grateful for a meet up. It's either that or listen to a Seat salesman waffle on in my ear as i test drive a standard one

Any info/help greatly appreciated!

 

[hon_n_gem]

Cupra all day everyday!

Much more fuel efficient you will see 50mpg pretty easily.
Very quick, and a remapped version will see 190ish bhp with very little money.

 

[jenk]

If you dont do decent journeys then I would get the civic, rare little beasts the type R.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

Cupra tdi all the way. Big clutch, big turbo. Bye bye Impreza's!

 

[tdi_chris]

car tax on a new civic is going up to £455 in 2010 whereas a 1.9 cupra will be sitting at the £120ish mark! remap up to near 200bhp and your close to the civics performance with at least 40mpg giving it some!!!

 

[Deleted member 13581]

Great performance, great looks, great economy. Cupra TDi all the way i have to say.

Simple re-map and your looking 200bhp-ish and still turning out high 40s mpg. Cant beat that on anything.

I dont have 1, but have driven a standard Cupra and they are seriously quick. Although his is kicking out 170bhp standard. (Cheers John )

 

[muddyboots]

You couldn't have two more different driving styles - low torque but high revving Type-R at one end of the spectrum, and then massive torque / low revs from the TDI at the other ...

 

[UncleFester]

If it's a 2nd 'fun' car ... get the civic. If it's a daily drive that you want some fun out of without breaking the bank .... get the Ibiza Cupra Tdi. Personally i'd have the diesel either way.

 

[warren_cox]

From a non SEAT owner the Ibiza 1.9TDi is a great car with a very good engine, especially when tuned. Found the brakes a bit weak, and if its an FR TDi the suspension could do with changing to something a bit more compliant, but other than that its a great ownership proposition.

The EK9 will be a far more focussed driver tool, but if you're not getting to enjoy it on the right roads every day it may also become quite tiring. It will also cost significantly more to run in the future.

Tough call, but looking ahead to the future I'd have to go with the Ibiza.

 

[Chriso]

Yer they are both very different cars offering different things. If i got the cupra it would be remapped straight off using p-torque, custom code or revo. The clutch situation is a slight worry as that's extra £££ and the cupra already costs more outright than a 9. I do agree the running costs are greater with the 9 (insurance, tax, fuel) although in terms of maintaining both im not so sure, 9's and the b16b are literally bullet proof. Tough call indeed!

 

[UncleFester]

Yer they are both very different cars offering different things. If i got the cupra it would be remapped straight off using p-torque, custom code or revo. The clutch situation is a slight worry as that's extra £££ and the cupra already costs more outright than a 9. I do agree the running costs are greater with the 9 (insurance, tax, fuel) although in terms of maintaining both im not so sure, 9's and the b16b are literally bullet proof. Tough call indeed!

On the basis fuel isn't going to get cheaper ... i'd have the Tdi. I came from a honda vtec ( albiet the 126bhp detuned one) but the economy was shocking. Worst was 146 miles to a tank, best was 290 driven carefully. 90% of the time the diesel is the car i'd rather be in, the other 10% of the time i do miss the petrol razz and thrash but i'm not prepared to go back to those sort of running costs.

People say diesel is now more expensive than petrol which is true, servicing costs are similar ..... but diesel would need to be 40% more than petrol to make the change back to petrol a worthwhile one. Unless you're lucky enough to be on a telephone number salary then the price of fuel is a very real issue.

I love driving, always have and always will however the reason why i have a car is because I need one, not because i like driving one.

 

[warren_cox]

Try working out what kind of mileage you do each year, and how much it would cost to run both cars. If one is significantly cheaper than the other you may have your answer. Conversely sketch up a life time ownership costing (cost of car, likely running cost, depreciation and likely mileage / wear & tear). If one comes out clearly ahead then maybe go with that.

Only thing I would say I if you use a car a lot, AND you make the wrong choice its a tough pill to swallow / live with. The Ibiza block being diesel is pretty tough, but they do have the odd weak point which if under warranty is not an issue. Maybe worth doing a search for a thread called something like "MkIV Ibiza common problems", as this may give you some insight to likely Ibiza faults.

 

[Chriso]

On the basis fuel isn't going to get cheaper ... i'd have the Tdi. I came from a honda vtec ( albiet the 126bhp detuned one) but the economy was shocking. Worst was 146 miles to a tank, best was 290 driven carefully. 90% of the time the diesel is the car i'd rather be in, the other 10% of the time i do miss the petrol razz and thrash but i'm not prepared to go back to those sort of running costs.

People say diesel is now more expensive than petrol which is true, servicing costs are similar ..... but diesel would need to be 40% more than petrol to make the change back to petrol a worthwhile one. Unless you're lucky enough to be on a telephone number salary then the price of fuel is a very real issue.

I love driving, always have and always will however the reason why i have a car is because I need one, not because i like driving one.

All very true, i guess the real point is does spending all the extra running costs on the 9 warrant having something that little bit different. They are there to be driven, and to be driven hard and more often than not i don't think that will always happen. That's what sways me towards the cupra, im sure its a much 'easier' drive with all that torque so low down.

 

[Chriso]

Try working out what kind of mileage you do each year, and how much it would cost to run both cars. If one is significantly cheaper than the other you may have your answer. Conversely sketch up a life time ownership costing (cost of car, likely running cost, depreciation and likely mileage / wear & tear). If one comes out clearly ahead then maybe go with that.

Only thing I would say I if you use a car a lot, AND you make the wrong choice its a tough pill to swallow / live with. The Ibiza block being diesel is pretty tough, but they do have the odd weak point which if under warranty is not an issue. Maybe worth doing a search for a thread called something like "MkIV Ibiza common problems", as this may give you some insight to likely Ibiza faults.

Ill def be drawing up some running costs. I think it's going to be worrying to say the least just how much difference there could be, and yer, still need to look into all the common problems

 

[UncleFester]

Ill def be drawing up some running costs. I think it's going to be worrying to say the least just how much difference there could be, and yer, still need to look into all the common problems

If costs are that much of an issue, buy a cheaper diesel .... mk3 ibiza / mk3 golf as a daily drive and keep the civic for weekend fun?

 

[vinocolapso]

tdi Cupra is just loads of fun to drive.
quiet & unassuming until you get heavy with your
right foot & turn of the ESP then it becomes an
adreneline junkies dream!!
Civics are for open backed glove wearing, kleenex
on the back shelf type men who wear biege!
Just my humble opinion

 

[jenk]

tdi Cupra is just loads of fun to drive.
quiet & unassuming until you get heavy with your
right foot & turn of the ESP then it becomes an
adreneline junkies dream!!
Civics are for open backed glove wearing, kleenex
on the back shelf type men who wear biege!
Just my humble opinion

You have never seen the type R version then? Pretty amazing car, 180bhp from a 1.6??

 

[S3ROB]

I've gone from an Audi S3 and a BMW M3 to a Ibiza Cupra and got no complaints, £300 insurance, £120 road tax, 40-50mpg and still quick enough to keep up with everyday traffic.

Only negative point i can say so far is the road noise, even after a tyre change still need to keep the stereo volume high.

Best thing about it other than running costs/performance is the brakes, best i've ever had.

£7000 for a 54 reg so can't complain.

 

[Chriso]

tdi Cupra is just loads of fun to drive.
quiet & unassuming until you get heavy with your
right foot & turn of the ESP then it becomes an
adreneline junkies dream!!
Civics are for open backed glove wearing, kleenex
on the back shelf type men who wear biege!
Just my humble opinion

I think trying to better an ek9 with 8500rpm, 1050kg, 185ps, 0-60 in 6.3-6.5, lsd and solid chassis as standard all designed for the track with a cupra in terms of adrenaline & fun is a lost argument personally. It is not the reason i would choose to buy one.

cheers rob, always good to hear opinions of people who have 'downgraded'. It's even better that your still positive about the cupra!

 

[vinocolapso]

Ok so I am biased but I've never had a car that constantly
puts a smile on my face like the cupra does.
alot of car for not a great deal of money!