Difference between 1.2 TSI sportrider and 1.2 TSI FR

[loonymoon]

Just saw the autotrader review of the ibiza 1.2 TSI FR and couldn't really see much in it that would suggest much difference to my 1.2 TSI sportrider... i.e same engine, same power, same suspension(?). They say the 1.2 TSI in the FR doesn't have start stop which mine does. The only other thing I can see is that the FR has a flat bottomed Steering wheel....

am I missing something or is my sportrider pretty much the same as the 1.2 FR (other than not being the face lift model of course)??

 

[phil750]

i believe they are very very similar, the sport rider had/has more options that the standard fr 1.2tsi,
But yer the stop/start, the steering wheel and the seats i think are different.

I was planning on getting the sport rider until they got rid of it and lowered the price of the fr.

both very nice cars.

 

[loonymoon]

It is a great car, I've had mine since Oct and still in love it's just wonderful the 1.2 TSI is a great match to the ibiza. Nice to know it's pretty much an FR without the badge

I had a 1.4 Ibiza before (mk4) but this car just blows it away it's way better on every level - the only point the Mk 4 gets is that the the stereo on the sportrider only has 4 speakers where my old one had 8.... LOL

 

[BaldyDave]

I know this might not please everybody, but IMO the Sportrider looks better than the new facelift FR (not a fan of the new styling), has a lot more options fitted as standard than the FR and can be picked up for a lot less cash for the same performance and (probably) almost identical handling.

The new FR has been turned into a styling pack which in my view is a real shame.

I’ve nothing against the I.2TSI engine - I've driven a 1.2TSI Ibiza and think it's brilliant unit, but don't think an FR badge should have been attached to it. Seat should have called it a Sport (for the cost of a badge).

Just my opinion!

 

[loonymoon]

I’ve nothing against the I.2TSI engine - I've driven a 1.2TSI Ibiza and think it's brilliant unit, but don't think an FR badge should have been attached to it. Seat should have called it a Sport (for the cost of a badge).

Just my opinion!

I actually agree Dave. Whilst to me the 1.2 TSI is plenty sporty (I'm having a whale of a time compared to my old 1.4) it's not a hot hatch... the 150bhp FR makes more sense as an FR... as you say if the 1.2 FR is only a restyled sportrider then it's lost some of it's sportiness and is really just a styling exercise like sticking skirts on.

Seems strange the FR comes with less options.. what does it miss out on other than stop start, does it not get the bluetooth and parking sensors etc?

 

[phil750]

Seems strange the FR comes with less options.. what does it miss out on other than stop start, does it not get the bluetooth and parking sensors etc?

It misses most things - no bluetooth no parking sensors no rear speakers, no automatic lights or wipers - it has cruise control and esp that about it i think.

I needed to spec up my fr first (put all the above on and bit more), which is a pain but im happy with it.

but yer i agree its a shame they changed it all around but i do love my new fr personally i think it looks nicer than the sportrider but its down to opinions and im a bit bias! love the steering wheel and seats.

 

[loonymoon]

It misses most things - no bluetooth no parking sensors no rear speakers, no automatic lights or wipers - it has cruise control and esp that about it i think.

I needed to spec up my fr first (put all the above on and bit more), which is a pain but im happy with it.

but yer i agree its a shame they changed it all around but i do love my new fr personally i think it looks nicer than the sportrider but its down to opinions and im a bit bias! love the steering wheel and seats.

Really..!! My sportrider doesn't have rear speakers either but it has all the rest and I really like the spec. Sounds like I inadvertently got a bargain then as I paid £12000 + the silver paint for the sportrider which was about a grand or more below the list at the time fully loaded.

Though have to say the FR does look a bargain at the price now... but less so once you factor in the options I guess.

After I bought it I then realised that the face lift model was just coming out and I felt a bit cheated... but it seems I got a great buy after all!

 

[Giz]

I mean no offence to the people buying the 1.2 "fr" but I personally don't class it as a FR.
I've thought for years that the fr was one of the higher models in the range with only the cupra and boc above it and now its coming with less equipment than the sportrider. Don't get it. They are very nice looking cars though
I have a 11plate fr 1.4tsi.

 

[loonymoon]

I think we agree with you Giz, it seems the 1.2 FR is really just a sportrider with sportier looking seats and steering wheel but a way of making more money by giving it a more desirable name but less standard options... shame really.

I personally think "sportrider" is a naff name and I'm glad mine didn't come emblazoned with the badge (it came with ecomotive which I've taken off now). SPORT would probably be a better description for the 1.2 TSI.

 

[Giz]

Totally agree with the name sportrider.....it terrible hah

Didn't wanna sound like a tool to the new fr owners....just my views on the situation.
Maybe I feel it because its cheap to get a FR these days, but then again im not paying much more for my 11 plate with more standard options and the 1.4tsi engine so im not bitter

 

[loonymoon]

I didn't even look at the cupra/FR when I was looking... bit out of my price range as I was wanting new..... and particularly the 1.2 TSI engine. Still plenty good enough to surprise a few people, the biggest difference with my old 1.4 is the torque... it actually has some...LOL No it's really quite impressive the range that it has max torque for and it makes such a huge difference to how it performs... no one would beleive it's only a 1.2.

 

[Giz]

Heard nothing but good things about the 1.2tsi. Never been out in one though.

 

[jc_boc]

FR is now only a trim level sadly......

 

[phil750]

ha just all insulting my fr

But you do have a point, fr isnt like the old fr's, but im not complaining means people look at it (who dont now about all this stuff) and go o thats a fr thats cool

at the end of the day i think its a nice car , which i suppose is whats important. (being bias again)

and i paid £13000 for mine with all the options, but with sizeable discount, should of been about £15000.

I compare it to my brother new mito and he got that for £16000, and its has everything the same plus few little extras, though the mito has more hp.

but saying all that, if i brought it 6 months ago before the facelift i would of brought a sport rider, no doubt.

 

[markmeus]

Correct, you may all get used to this, FR is to SEAT what SRI is to Vauxhall, now.
New Leons will be the same.

Personally I don't see the problem, they are betting looking and not everyone wants to have a hot hatch, but still appreciate the styling of the FR. Those who like to have a bit of exclusivity still have the Cupras and Cupra Rs

Having said all that, standard spec on the FR Ibizas sucks.
My Ibiza sport has bluetooth, climate control, 6 speakers, rain sensor, parking sensor, auto dimming rear mirror, USB/aux and folding mirrors, and it cost just over £12,000 looking on the SEAT website, a similar speced 1.6 TDI FR would cost over £16,000. I'm sure they're offering hefty discounts, but that was Cupra money back when I ordered mine!

 

[loonymoon]

It is a shame even if the "FR" is now just a trim level, that that trim level is so basic in standard form. I'd really have expected it to be an bit special, like the Sportrider.... seems strange really, you get a couple of sporty looking bits but the rest is down graded?
Is the 1.2 TSI only availble in the FR trim now ? If so then perhaps that's the "special" bit of the new FR, and then it does get more peformance than the other petrol lumps too.

Incidentally what do the seats look like in the FR? I got sports seats in the sportrider, so more supportive and deeper than standard seats - but they're just normal fabric.

 

[markmeus]

The sport seats are the same as the FR and Cupra ones, only difference is the fabrics, stitching and logos.

 

[phil750]

It is a shame even if the "FR" is now just a trim level, that that trim level is so basic in standard form. I'd really have expected it to be an bit special, like the Sportrider.... seems strange really, you get a couple of sporty looking bits but the rest is down graded?
Is the 1.2 TSI only availble in the FR trim now ? If so then perhaps that's the "special" bit of the new FR, and then it does get more peformance than the other petrol lumps too.

Incidentally what do the seats look like in the FR? I got sports seats in the sportrider, so more supportive and deeper than standard seats - but they're just normal fabric.

seats look like this (pics in thread) http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=359410 well you can kinda see the seats - red stitching other than that same i think as sport rider

and yer you can only get the 1.2tsi in the fr trim now.

But yer when i was looking at cars in the docks with dealer, all the fr's had some sort of options on them , which to me suggusts seat now there not going to be selling a lot of normal spec fr , which leaves the question why sell them in the first place just have the things as standard and up the price a bit!

 

[loonymoon]

seats look like this (pics in thread) http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=359410 well you can kinda see the seats - red stitching other than that same i think as sport rider

and yer you can only get the 1.2tsi in the fr trim now.

But yer when i was looking at cars in the docks with dealer, all the fr's had some sort of options on them , which to me suggusts seat now there not going to be selling a lot of normal spec fr , which leaves the question why sell them in the first place just have the things as standard and up the price a bit!

Looks great actually. I do quite like the look of those seats and the front end on the new style ibiza. Have to say the FR badges do look great and make it look meaner and sportier than mine.... despite it essentially being exactly the same.

Perhaps mines more wolf in sheeps clothing...LOL!!! I guess SEAT are assuming people will go for the badge really and pay a little more for the privilege over the sportrider version.

I do feel a bit peed off now that mine doesn't have FR badges after seeing that... though I know it wouldn't make any more difference to how it goes than go faster stripes...LOL I'm a sucker too!

 

[markmeus]

FR badges are only a few pounds from SEAT.
Although the badge police on here will frown upon it! lol