Hicky

This will probablyu sound weird what with this being a scooby site and most topics being about high powered cars of one type or another. Which way would you go? 172 Sport or Ibiza TDi(130bhp)?

Only asking as Im hopefully gonna shift my 206 gti and these are my two final choices, 172 is a class hot hatch but the Ibiza is bot under powered and not too ropey handlilng wise, or so I've read.

Have driven a 172 and really like it better then the pug anyone tried the Ibiza?

Brendan Hughes

I've not driven either but you haven't said your needs.

OTTOMH I'd say Clio for B-roads, Seat for m-way commute.

?

danny-boy

the 130 diesel can be chipped by APR to 186 ish, that will scare a Clio 172 and still give good fuel consumption.

Check out www.seatcupra.net for lots of Seat Info.

Hicky

I commute by train as I work in London so the car stays at home parked on the road. At this rate Im gonna have to pull straws to choose. I can see the plus points for both cars, nippy bhp of the 172 or torque drive of the Ibiza(especially with the APR chip).

It's a toughie!

ChrisB

Hicky,

I have a Beezer TDI 130 on order to replace my Scoob. Had a 206 GTI before that. I had a 30/40 minute test drive in the Ibiza and thought it handled very nicely. I was almost sold on a Focus TDCi but the Seat has more toys like Climate, 6 speed 'box and it was cheaper.

Almost the same BHP as the 206 but piles more torque, heavier though. As Danny says, the APR ECU re-map is popular right now. Around 180bhp and a shade over 300lb/ft torque. With that I reckon it will hold it's own with most hot hatches. Loads of low down torque means fab in gear times.

Insurance group 5 (or is it 7) and 40+ MPG. Will do for me

[Edited by ChrisB - 12/13/2002 12:12:11 PM]

frisby

Here's one I made earlier

Hicky

I think I can see the light... but need to get around the girlfriend, she liked the 172. This car will be the one that she learns to drive in!

About bloody time! She can take herself to the shops on a saturday afternoon!

ChrisB

Hmm... Perhaps I should have chose black...

Hicky

Black is V.sexy looking, do you think the wheels look a bit smal in the arches? Maybe lower it a touch to fill em in?

ChrisB

Some of the guys on SeatCupra.Net have been discussing lowering recently to fill up the arches and reduce the body roll.

I'm going to run mine std for a few thousand miles to see what I think (hah, like I'll be able to resist an APR re-map that long!)

wilf

172 or Clio Cup for me 36.3 mpg average from new and still have the acceleration and handling of a proper drivers car.

Tubodiesel hatches are good on the motorways - if thats where you do all your driving then maybe they're for you as you may find Clio less comfy and noisier.

Question is do you have petrol or derv running through your veins?

Hicky

ChrisB - What do you think to the seats, I've heard some guys complain about sore backs.

TurboBoost

Yet again the save money by buying a brand new diesel myth rears its head.
This is just my personal opinion, if you want a fun hot hatch (not an oil burner) with loads of torque then you can pick up a Cupra 20VT for much cheaper than a new Ibiza TDi (how many miles will you do before the TDi pays for the difference? take new car depreciation and other factors into account).
Chip the Cupra and you have superb performance, around 195bhp and 220lb/ft and it has UK Impreza-type acceleration.
The downsides - not as sweet handling as the 172, and a hard ride, but the power band is very wide giving grunt from 2000-6000rpm. Well built compared to French cars, but not quite as good as VW or Audi yet.
Try one and if it doesn't float your boat then I'd have a Clio 172 or Cup.

Sorry but I bloody hate diesels, and the thought police will not change my mind.

danny-boy

I was a Cupra 20 VT owner, dont waste your money.

With a chip it may give you 0-60 in about 6.5 but above a 100 the car is really skippy and dangerous.

And if you do chip it, you need to upgrade the brakes if you go for Brembo's of the Ibiza Cupra R, you need to change the wheels because of the standard off set of the 16" they wont fit, and you need to sort the suspension too, so the chip is 600, wheels 700, brakes 450, and then suspension probably another 700 hmmm expensive car to make faster.

Thanks

Dan

TurboBoost

Danny,
I agree in hindsight the cost of the mods push it up into a higher price bracket (God knows I spent too much on mine) but if you can find one thats already had some of it done.
I had 17s, grooved discs and uprated pads on mine and it stopped a lot better without going to the expense of the Brembo four pot calipers from the R.
As for the suspension mine was standard and it coped OK, I didn't feel justified in spending any more on it to the detriment of ride quality. The 0-60 doesn't really flatter due to intial getaway, its the in gear bursts that are really impressive. It would stuff a Civic Type R.
My biggest gripes were torque steer, ride on rough roads and when I was selling it insurance was an issue for some potential buyers.

On second thoughts just buy one of the Clios, and just keep it for a year or two before it starts falling apart.

danny-boy

I had two mates who had Integra Type R and I was keep up.

Thats why I got rid of mine cos I relised the amount I'd have to spend to get a real quick, so I flogged it and brought a scoob instead.

Hicky

Isn't the new Ibiza on a new chassis? All the reports I've read say that it's quite a tidy handler, even EVO found it to be a good handling car. They do love the 172 though aswell.

TurboBoost

I know what you mean. Mine (Oettinger) would outsprint an Integra Type R, but no way would it out handle one.
Also wet weather traction was a issue, but then it will be in most high power front drive cars.

The only SEAT I'd go for now would be a Leon Cupra R, the chassis is in a different league and not a sniff of torque steer, plus its clever enough to not suffer too much in the wet.

ChrisB

On my brief test drive I found the seats fine. Time and a 300 mile m-way slog will tell though...