New member, new car :-)

[a11y]

a11y's Ibiza thread

***Just edited this post as I've added updated pics later on in this thread - no point starting a new one***

Howdy, I've already intorduced myself in the newbie section after signing up a couple of weeks ago for a bit of research. I'd been on the lookout for a replacement for my Civic Type R and I'm pleased to say I'm now the happy owner of a 55-plate Ibiza Cupra TDI . If this car is familiar to anyone on here that's because I bought it from another SCN member - JimmyDerv - via Pistonheads. Just a bit of my car history...

I owned a full-fat monaco blue Clio 172 for almost 3 years – subtle mods including H&R coilovers, panel filter etc – awesome car, loved it, but mine was a “Friday afternoon car” regarding reliability. This got traded in against my 05-plate milano red Civic Type R in November last year – again a brilliant car, nicer all-round car than the Clio IMO (not trolling!) but 2 main things made me sell up: running costs, and the smaller fun-factor than the Clio. The CTR was brilliant but in some ways too competent to be driven as quickly as the Clio on the roads, and I think that’s why I didn’t find it quite as enjoyable as the Clio. Sold my CTR privately to a dealership in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, onwards and upwards – I collected my new car on Monday: SEAT Ibiza Cupra TDI, grey, 55-plate, 24k miles. Very happy so far.

Had a bit of an epic journey to collect my new car on Monday. I’m based in central Scotland but the car was in Torquay! Set off from Edinburgh airport in our hire car (VW Passat estate TDI140 with DSG gearbox – woohoo) on Monday morning, M74/M6/M5 and 7.5hrs later arrived in Torquay. Checked over car, quick coffee and chat with the seller, a quick pre-drive pee, then set off for home. Eventually rolled into the house at 4.30am on Tuesday morning. Some of the most horrendous weather I’ve ever driven through – despite the weather up here being brilliant we saw some of the flooding around Tewksbury and Gloucester, and the general driving conditions were sh*t.

But the weather again yesterday morning (after 5hrs sleep!) on the way to work was brilliant – I fired off a quick few pics. Needs a good clean to remove the 470 miles of dirt and dead flies, and it could do with a good interior clean, but generally it’s in great condition - nice one James.

Looking forward to enjoying the car once I've recovered from the trip on Monday!

Ally

 

[Big_Lad]

Thats come some mammoth trip you had there.

Nice looking car though, any plans for it?

 

[jedi knight]

Great car mate and you got the best colour.

 

[lil3520]

Long way to buy a motor, but it looks like it was worth it.

great car.

happy seat motoring.

great pictures.

regards

ANDY

 

[AndyHazza]

Lovely motor mate, well dont on the journey! Shows some real determination to get a good car.

 

[a11y]

Cheers for the comments.

Aye, that was a beast of a journey, approx 470 miles each way through some horrendous weather. Always had the threat of the M5 being closed/flooded too so it was a relief to get back home. Journey was worth it though: great car in first-class condition, James really seems to have looked after it.

It was the only Cupra TDI for sale privately in the whole UK when I was looking - similar age/mileage Cupra TDIs were going for £2-2.5k more up here, so well worth the trip. Seem to be quite a rare car - I could easily have got an FR version but I was really after the extra power and different suspension. It only cost us £97 for the one-way car hire (and got a free upgrade from the 1.2 Clio we'd booked to the Passat 140bhp TDI DSG estate ), about £100 in fuel in total, and £40 on food!

 

[Andy_J]

good effort m8y, looks nice! I'm going to see a leon R at the weekend..

 

[spidermonkey]

Nice one!! I'm from Edinburgh and did a tour round England for a 'holiday' and did some car shopping myself and came home with a 55 plate TDi Cupra....well erm...exactly like yours!!

Actually I was in the New Forest near Southampton and almost went down to Torquay to have a look at that car you have now but couldn't manage it and eventually bought my Cupra privately in Preston on the way back up on the road home.

I must've spent about 3 months trying to find one at the right price and eventually just took the plunge.

Don't suppose you were a member on Cliosport.net when you had the Clio? I had a Clio too until recently and was a member on there for a few years, think I recognise your member name if you've kept it the same form that site?

Quick thought though for anyone out there, mine has a red TDi badge on the right hand side of the boot, yours doesn't? Anyone know if thats just an extra stuck on mine?

 

[IainW]

Nice car. Always liked platinum grey, even if I got rid of a car in that colour for a red one! That's dedication driving to the South West and back to pick it up!

I'm the saddo trying to work out where those photos are taken from. Is that Polmont or Shieldhill or somewhere round there?

 

[a11y]

spidermonkey: yup, I was (and still am) "Ally" (the original - nto the imposter "Ali" ) on Cliosport - been a member over there since about April 2004, still hang around with a few mates from there. What was your tag on CS, do you still frequent it?

TBH I had an easy time finding this car, although I had been on the lookout for a different car for a few weeks since selling my CTR. I'd originally been looking for a Lupo GTI but couldn't find a decent one at the right price. Glad I didn't because I'm already glad of the extra space of the Ibiza. Far superier car in just about every way. The prices of Cupra TDI's are mental up here but that's maybe because they're all at dealerships - no private Cupra TDIs for sale while I was looking. Worth the journey.

Also, I think that TDI badge on yours might be an extra but I couldn't say for definate: just that I remember reading an EVO review which commented there were no external differences, not even a badge, to distinguish between a petrol and diesel Cupra.

IainW: good guess . Pics were taken at the top of Wallacestone next to the flagpole/war memorial. I stay just on the edge of Reddingmuirhead/Shieldhill so it's very local to me. My father-in-law also has a 53-plate TDI sport in the same colour and I reckon it's a brilliant colour, hides the dirt too which is a bonus...

Seems to be lots of Scottish members especially around here - gutted I missed a meet recently. Will keep a lookout for anyone else though.

 

[elDuke]

nice car ............nice pics

 

[Andi]

Im sure it was worth the trip.

I got my LCR from Hemelhempstead.

 

[vangoo]

are your pics taken in falkirk

 

[a11y]

^Aye, see my post above (Wallacestone). Nice backdrop of Grangemouth in the distance...

 

[Ric 2001]

Great purchase. Best colour too. I thought that there was no difference on the exterior between the petrol version and the desiel (maybe more soot on the back bumper). I too was looking at a Lupo GTi but then they stopped production on it, but the girlfriend said wait for a bit and see what other cars are around that price bracket (This is the only good advices shes given me over the past 6 years.) So managed to save a bit more up and go for the Cupra instead.

 

[jonjay]

That looks totally wicked mate...nice pictures!

 

[a11y]

Great purchase. Best colour too. I thought that there was no difference on the exterior between the petrol version and the desiel (maybe more soot on the back bumper). I too was looking at a Lupo GTi but then they stopped production on it, but the girlfriend said wait for a bit and see what other cars are around that price bracket (This is the only good advices shes given me over the past 6 years.) So managed to save a bit more up and go for the Cupra instead.

Agree about the soot, my exhaust tailpipe needs a good clean...

Very happy I was put off getting a Lupo GTI. I actually test drove one and provisionally agreed a deal on one, but changed my mind. I saw the Lupo as a mordern interpretation of the mk1 Golf GTI: similar size/weight/performance but in an up to date car. It was a close thing: the Lupo would've been good too but I think I've certainly made the right choice. Still classed as "girlfriend" after 6 years? You're doing well to avoid the "M" thing ( I wasn't so lucky LOL).

 

[Ninja]

very nice am liking that a lot

Welcome mate

 

[Bunnin]

Looking good pal im sure ur gonna luv it

 

[a11y]

Cheers! Just completed my first mod (after only 3 days of ownership FFS) - LCR splitter now on...

Before:

After:

Not the best pic as I just finished fitting it and it's a bit dark, but you get the idea!