Help please - cupra or fr??

[spicey]

Hi guys!

I'm new to this forum and would really appreciate your thoughts on this one. I'm currently thinking of purchasing a new Ibiza fr. I test drove one about 2 years ago and really liked its punchy low torque nature. I'm now in a spot of difficulty. I live in Guernsey and the local dealer has neither of these two models on demo and does not intend to get any in the future either. Can you give me some advice as to which model to go for please? To be honest, I don't really want to shell out an additional 2k (plus additional insurance) for the cupra if the performance difference between the two is fairly minimal. However, as I won't be test driving either I'd like to get it right! What IS important to me is punchy acceleration from standstill with minimal right foot effort (!) and good acceleration up steep inclines.

Many thanks!!

 

[Mikey_H]

are you looking at petrol or diesel?? to be honest best route to go down is buy the fr then just get a re-map this will be cheaper and faster than a cupra. don't want o turn this into a diesel vs petrol but diesel it better

 

[spicey]

I'd be going for the petrol versions - just can't warm to the sound of a diesel engine... Definitely petrol...

 

[rashcupra]

welcome to the site matey

imo in your position if your not fused about looks and interior looks and handing and just want a nippy car then the fr is your best bet but if you like to throw it round corners and want a sportier look and much better breaks and interior its much more worth getting the cupra these can map to more than the fr too the fr has a smic and the cupra has a huge fmic too

im not saying the fr cant handle ect but in standard form the cupra is a much beter performance drive and im sure every1 will agree but if you not a hardcore performance freek go for the fr as these still are amazing performance wolf in sheeps clothing cars

 

[Mr Cellotape]

welcome to the site matey

imo in your position if your not fused about looks and interior looks and handing and just want a nippy car then the fr is your best bet but if you like to throw it round corners and want a sportier look and much better breaks and interior its much more worth getting the cupra these can map to more than the fr too the fr has a smic and the cupra has a huge fmic too

im not saying the fr cant handle ect but in standard form the cupra is a much beter performance drive and im sure every1 will agree but if you not a hardcore performance freek go for the fr as these still are amazing performance wolf in sheeps clothing cars

I agree with everything Rash said.

PS go for the Diesel, you will have cheaper insurance, cheaper road tax and cheaper fuel bills.

 

[spicey]

Thanks for your comments. i'm still a bit torn though. just wish i could test drive them back to back and see for myself!!? i'm more interested in torque at the bottom of the rev range rather then top end grunt. Would you say that there would be a noticeable difference from take off in the cupra vs the fr??

Sorry, but going to petrol engine - better the devil you know and all that...

 

[Mr Cellotape]

If you want torque at the bottom end then you want the derv.

Trust me the Derv's are very suprising the first time you drive them down the road as you just don't expect the kick in the back that you get.

 

[spicey]

hehe maybe if keep trying you may convince me!

btw, another thread ive jst read dd end of August said that there were only 4 petrol fr's in the country and that seat weren't bringing anymore in due phasing th model out in preparation for the new model??? Is this true does anyone know??

 

[Martin Pick]

apparently yes the fr`s and cupra`s have/are going to be discontinued. i should thnk there will be some available, you will have to accept whats on stock tho and won`t be able to spec a car to your liking thats all.

also don`t discount the tdi. i had a fabia vRS and the 130PD engine is good at what it does. personally i got bored of the power delivery and wanted something i could rev!!

 

[keithr]

Get yourself a cupra, brakes are worth it on there own. plus body kit, interior, ESP and POWER!!

 

[Poverty]

Get the cupra

 

[luke c]

welcome to the site matey

imo in your position if your not fused about looks and interior looks and handing and just want a nippy car then the fr is your best bet but if you like to throw it round corners and want a sportier look and much better breaks and interior its much more worth getting the cupra these can map to more than the fr too the fr has a smic and the cupra has a huge fmic too

im not saying the fr cant handle ect but in standard form the cupra is a much beter performance drive and im sure every1 will agree but if you not a hardcore performance freek go for the fr as these still are amazing performance wolf in sheeps clothing cars

what is the big difference between the looks of the cupra and facelift fr . i agree with the brakes tho they are shocking on the fr and sometimes make you think you arnt going to stop in time

 

[chillcupra]

Think of it this way. Your at the lights in your FR and a cupra turns up. You notice the awesome alloys and those huge 4 pots. You will regret getting the fr. Go for cupra!

 

[luke c]

iam not saying the cupra isnt a better car but for the price and insurance difference i cant see it being worth the money there is hardly any visual difference between the two and the alloys arnt exactly awesome . think i would rather be sitting on a wad of cash and have the fr . but that is the reason i bought it

 

[chillcupra]

I dont want to start a debate but I have been in a remapped fr and my cupra running a proven 200bhp and 450nm and the cupra leaves the fr. Plus to properly tune an fr you wud need a fmic which you get standard on the cupra.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

Thanks for your comments. i'm still a bit torn though. just wish i could test drive them back to back and see for myself!!? i'm more interested in torque at the bottom of the rev range rather then top end grunt. Would you say that there would be a noticeable difference from take off in the cupra vs the fr??

Sorry, but going to petrol engine - better the devil you know and all that...

If you want loads of low down torque, you shouldn't be buying a petrol!!!!!!!! Try to get a test drive of the diesel....you won't be disappointed! Got s**t loads more torque than a petrol and can be remapped to 180bhpish before clutch issues.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

If you want torque at the bottom end then you want the derv.

Trust me the Derv's are very suprising the first time you drive them down the road as you just don't expect the kick in the back that you get.

What he said!

 

[spicey]

i thought you got a fair kick from the petrol fr when i drove it a couple of years back..? In fact, thought you had to treat it with a bita respect as front wheels prone to spin if revs to high from standstill?

 

[luke c]

you get a long gentle kick with the petrol fr the diesel is a short big kick you get the feeling of twice the power in the derv as its in short bursts

 

[spicey]

ok maybe i need to consider the diesel. Just getting bit worried that they're not manufacturing them any more?? I've got the latest Ibizia brochure from the dealer dd june 07. It seems a bit quick to phase out the fr and cupra when they've only released the updated brochure in june which still advertises both the fr and cupra. The Seat website also allows you to order both cars. Can anyone shed any light on this please? Do i still stand a chance of getting the car i want lol??