Ibiza Cupra (2001) what are they like to drive? (other cars)

[Emubiker]

Well pretty much as the title says. I know that power shouldn't be an issue (many with circa 200bhp upwards) but I can't seem to find any comparisons on the handling of them.

I'm currently in a position where my 205 is not really suitble for the miles Im now doing and my girlfriend has bought my corsa off me so Im looking for something with a few more creature comforts, quick but still small in size (I just like my hot hatches) and my budget will be about £4k.

Also I'm not going to be looking for a similar paced car (or slower) so no mx-5s, saxos etc if you are going to make some suggestions (which is welcomed)

Ben

[nottyash]

Emubiker said:

Well pretty much as the title says. I know that power shouldn't be an issue (many with circa 200bhp upwards) but I can't seem to find any comparisons on the handling of them.

I'm currently in a position where my 205 is not really suitble for the miles Im now doing and my girlfriend has bought my corsa off me so Im looking for something with a few more creature comforts, quick but still small in size (I just like my hot hatches) and my budget will be about £4k.

Also I'm not going to be looking for a similar paced car (or slower) so no mx-5s, saxos etc if you are going to make some suggestions (which is welcomed)

Ben

My brother bought a silver one brand new. I remember driving it thinking the handling was poor for a hot hatch, not that fast either in standard form. I had a Civic Jordan at the time, which wasnt the best handling car itself to be honest, but it was better than the Ibiza.
They look pretty good and he liked it, he replaced it with a brand new Leon Cupra R 210 when they first came out.
Dont expect the drive to match a 205GTI, its no where near, but it would make a great car for doing the miles in. Go for it.

[irish boy]

mate has one....drives fine nothing special typical vag over sensitive brakes etc but a solid car.

on another note i'm always temped by the older shape late 90's cupra....they made one with the vw 2.0 16v 150 hp engine. in a car the size of a polo it would make an excellent shed.

[Emubiker]

irish boy said:

mate has one....drives fine nothing special typical vag over sensitive brakes etc but a solid car.

on another note i'm always temped by the older shape late 90's cupra....they made one with the vw 2.0 16v 150 hp engine. in a car the size of a polo it would make an excellent shed.

Yea I also like the look of the older Ibiza, but I thin that would be to muc of a step down from the 205 tbh: less power, more weight not much more in creature comforts (already have lecy windows and powersteering lol), and not as good in the twisties. I'd like to improve somewhere

[NumberoftheBeast]

Had one and it handled ok. No Focus RS front-wheel-drive weapon, but still very good. Ours was modified, bigger turbo, Milltek, remap with Brembos etc and it embarrassed a few decent hot-hatches.

[JB!]

mine handled like a sack of st when i bought it, but its LOADS better now, i reccomend:

GOOD QUALITY Coil-over suspension (I run Weitecs, perfect for the job, made by KW but loads cheaper, mine might be for sale, 12 months old). http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/seat-ibiza-6k-99-0...

Polybushing, the entire front-end is done on mine, and then the car was set up and laser aligned. MASSIVE differnece after 7-8 years of hard driving on standard bushes. http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/seat-ibiza-6k-99-0...

Poly Engine mounts, a little more hardcore mod, but again power transmission to the wheels and general handling vastly improved. MK3 Golf VR6 items are a direct fit (as standard) except for gearbox which is a Golf G60 item. this is what i am running - there IS a softer kit available, my dash does rattle a little when the engine is cold, but its worth it for the big difference! http://www.usrallyteam.com/index.php?main_page=pro...

20mm rear hubcentric spacers, the rear track is too narrow from the factory, 20mm is perfect, but catches the arches occasionally, 15mm is a good comprimise. http://www.venommotorsport.com/product_details.php...

• *I am in now way affiliated with the companies above***

if you are local i can take you out so you can compare the difference to a standard one?

[Emubiker]

thanks for that ^^^ There are so many that have already been modified (not strictly a bad thing here as it will save me some time ) but I would defo be looking at coilovers, yet many seem to have just been lowered on springs so will have a look into those.

[300bhp/ton]

Emubiker said:

Well pretty much as the title says. I know that power shouldn't be an issue (many with circa 200bhp upwards) but I can't seem to find any comparisons on the handling of them.

I'm currently in a position where my 205 is not really suitble for the miles Im now doing and my girlfriend has bought my corsa off me so Im looking for something with a few more creature comforts, quick but still small in size (I just like my hot hatches) and my budget will be about £4k.

Also I'm not going to be looking for a similar paced car (or slower) so no mx-5s, saxos etc if you are going to make some suggestions (which is welcomed)

Ben

Think it depends what you want.

I mean there is nothing fundamentally wrong with such a car. Not particularly are great steer or drive. But it doesn't really do much wrong.

However its very much a white goods, an automotive kitchen utensil. Spending £4k on one makes me cringe, even more so when you seem to be talking about power and handling

Out of so many nice fun cars available, my comments would be

"can do better"

or at the very least do as good (probably still slightly better) for a fraction of the price.

[tegwin]

Emubiker said:

thanks for that ^^^ There are so many that have already been modified (....

I quite fancied one lastyear... went to view 4 over about a month period... every single one of them had been modified badly...

Holes smashed in the dasboard for wiring, really messy wiring alterations under the bonnet... rolled wheel arches that were now rusting... Missing warning lamps on dashboards etc... all of them complete dogs owned by people who obviouisly didnt know what they were doing...

If I had managed to find a decent one that looked like it had been cared for I would have gone for it... But they seem to be few and far between sadly..

[Emubiker]

tegwin said:

Emubiker said:

thanks for that ^^^ There are so many that have already been modified (....

I quite fancied one lastyear... went to view 4 over about a month period... every single one of them had been modified badly...

Holes smashed in the dasboard for wiring, really messy wiring alterations under the bonnet... rolled wheel arches that were now rusting... Missing warning lamps on dashboards etc... all of them complete dogs owned by people who obviouisly didnt know what they were doing...

If I had managed to find a decent one that looked like it had been cared for I would have gone for it... But they seem to be few and far between sadly..

Really? I havn't seen many with body mods, but the one's I have paid a bit of attention to have seemed (though I havent actually been to see one yet) And as for them being slow...I wouldn't call a 200+bhp 1100kg hatch slow by any means. I understand they may not be the best handlers but there aren't many of them (400 cupras/75 R's if i remember rightly in the uk) so I wouldn't call them "whte goods" either. Plus with a decent suspension setup I reckon they could be quite good.

[sideways20vT]

Mine was great. In standard trim they don't handle well at all. Slightly skittish. As mentioned, 15/20mm rear spacers are a must. Rear track is 30mm narrower than the front for some reason.



I miss mine so much. Didn't feel like "white goods" to me. Fantastic little b-road car. Buy one with some sensible engine mods and you won't be dissapointed.

[JB!]

tegwin said:

Emubiker said:

thanks for that ^^^ There are so many that have already been modified (....

I quite fancied one lastyear... went to view 4 over about a month period... every single one of them had been modified badly...

Holes smashed in the dasboard for wiring, really messy wiring alterations under the bonnet... rolled wheel arches that were now rusting... Missing warning lamps on dashboards etc... all of them complete dogs owned by people who obviouisly didnt know what they were doing...

If I had managed to find a decent one that looked like it had been cared for I would have gone for it... But they seem to be few and far between sadly..

i looked @ 3 an bought the 3rd. i reckon its 50/50 good owners/bad. the oldest ones are now 10 years old remember, mine is Jan 2002...

300bhp/ton said:

Think it depends what you want.

I mean there is nothing fundamentally wrong with such a car. Not particularly are great steer or drive. But it doesn't really do much wrong.

However its very much a white goods, an automotive kitchen utensil. Spending £4k on one makes me cringe, even more so when you seem to be talking about power and handling

Out of so many nice fun cars available, my comments would be

"can do better"

or at the very least do as good (probably still slightly better) for a fraction of the price.

personally i think the vairaible power steering is oen of the beeter PAS systems i have used.

white good? there are 75 Cupra R's, and under 500 Cupra's in the UK, and with 50% of those in "bad hands" or broken/crashed, they are far from your average hatch.

4k should get a quick one, these all have potential at the top of your budget:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1575023.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1620987.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1620371.htm

needing work but cheaper:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1599574.htm

Good things about MK3 Ibiza Cupras:

Parts availability
20VT engine
Good looking
not massively heavy

Bad things:

Spanish build quality headaches
not 4wd (limits how far you can take the 20vt)

mine as i bought it:



at the body shop:



at edition 38 2009:



i payed £3500 for mine, with full MOT, FSH, Weitec GTN kit (possibly for sale :P), Powerflol cat-back exhaust and it was "mapped" (actually found to be chipped, which is a pain.) I threw another £1k at it, £500 in the bodyshop and the rest on a full service, cambelt, pump, new discs and pads etc, for peace of mind.

since spent a bit more, (polybush fetish, 3-piece jap splits & adapters) car probably owes me £5250 now, will probably end up costing more as i have big plans...

Edited by JB! on Friday 9th April 22:41

[bazking69]

Solid, well specced, capable, different and the interiors/dashboards are nice, even if the materials are not quite VW. Lots of toys too.

However, they aren't that nimble and are a long way off the crowd if it is a 'hot hatch' you are after. Hardly a B road screamer.

If you do go for one avoid Onvi yellow. Seat should be defending themselves in court over the fiasco that is Onvi yellow...

[JB!]

bazking69 said:

Solid, well specced, capable, different and the interiors/dashboards are nice, even if the materials are not quite VW. Lots of toys too.

However, they aren't that nimble and are a long way off the crowd if it is a 'hot hatch' you are after. Hardly a B road screamer.

If you do go for one avoid Onvi yellow. Seat should be defending themselves in court over the fiasco that is Onvi yellow...

fades like a bd!!!!

its a great all rounder, and with a few tweaks is as competant as any fwd car on a b-road!

[Emubiker]

Thanks guys finally a bit of decent info on them instead of the "review" crap. I do like the look of the onvi yellow ones (like bright coloured cars as stand out agains the sea of grey/silver) but didn't realise that they had faded that much, so will look out for that.

As for the spanish build quality...I've had almost 3 years worth of french build and electrics so don't think the spanish would phase me much tbh.

There a red one not far from me in the classifieds will be getting a visit over the wekend, even if it is only to see if i like the drive of the cars or not (and also already shown interest in 2 out the 3 "good" ones suggested).

[JB!]

Emubiker said:

Thanks guys finally a bit of decent info on them instead of the "review" crap. I do like the look of the onvi yellow ones (like bright coloured cars as stand out agains the sea of grey/silver) but didn't realise that they had faded that much, so will look out for that.

As for the spanish build quality...I've had almost 3 years worth of french build and electrics so don't think the spanish would phase me much tbh.

There a red one not far from me in the classifieds will be getting a visit over the wekend, even if it is only to see if i like the drive of the cars or not (and also already shown interest in 2 out the 3 "good" ones suggested).

shame your the other end of the country really.

also, get on seatcupra.net, lots of info on there, but they do like you to use the search function...

[JB!]

here is something i wrote on another form:

when i asked for a buyers guide on SCN all i got was "use the search" here goes:

Outside:

check for accident damage,
panel gaps,
rust(leading edge of roof, wings, rear quarters)
mis-match paint,
expect stonechips on a 7/8/9/10 year old car, if there arent any, why not?

Engine bay:

Cupras are 156bhp 1.8t's in standard trim, all engine codes begin with A as far as i know, the code is under the plastic cover, near the cambelt at the top. these cars run a SMIC from the factory, its tiny and poo, alot have had FMIC's installed. check they have not removed the aircon in the process. they also run a plastic recirc, these split the internal rubber diaphram easily, and are also commonly replaced, the best standard replacement is a forge 007p, as a full dump valve confuses the managment. boost hoses pop off too and may also be changed. the air intake is in a woeful position behind the battery and alot of people run open filters which can cause heat sink, there isnt much you can do about this without putting the battery in the boot. when you tun the engine off you should be able to hear the secondary water pump, under the scuttle pannel.

Chassis:

Mk3 Ibizas are mk2/3 golf front end and polo 6n2 back end, as a result the rear beam is narrow comapred to the front end and alot of people run spacers (mine are 20mm with standard wheels an tyres, rubs with more than 2 in the car). for suspension as far as i know its ibiza specific, but there are murmurings of polo 6n2 stuff fitting. These cars run mk2 golf G60 brakes, which are shocking, decent disks an pads help a bit, but really you need bigger ones for anything over stage one. cupra R brembos are a common swap.

Interiour:

Cupras have half leather seats, watch for bolster wear, and stained centres, these seats also have side impact airbags in. the airvents are fixed into the dash and are not changable except for removing alot of other stuff, so watch for broken ones. the centre console uses a communal screen for A/C and stereo, these are prone to failing and are expensive to replace, so make sure it ALL works and your A/C is icy cold. standard audio is a radio/tape/6cd changer (in the boot)some owners fit another headunit under the steering wheel. if there are signs that this is the case, but the headunit is no longer there, check the original centre unit a few times when seeing the car, dodgy wiring might show up on a test drive after being shaken about. make sure your elec windows and mirrors are fully functioning.


hope this helps!!!!!

Al.

[Emubiker]

Thakns for that JB. Will help save a bit of time/flaming on the SCN.

[JB!]

Emubiker said:

Thakns for that JB. Will help save a bit of time/flaming on the SCN.

yeah, its definatly the angriest VAG forum i have ever used

the FAQ section is very good, and dont be afraid of people's cars being complete clusterfks, YGWYPF, so people that spent £2k, get a 2k car with 2k car issues...

HTH. if you look at a few and things seem out of place dont hesitate to ask!

[jatinder]

I had the previous gen cupra and was a great thing, I was sorely tempted to buy that one next but didn't.

I would say go for it. look quite good as well.