Seat Ibiza Cupra Buying Advice

[Calz229]

Hi guys

I have always liked the Seat Ibiza Cupra, it is such an into your face car and seemed much better to me then the Polo Sportline TDI/GTI.

I am also looking at getting one. I love the 1.9 TDI version but also opened to the 1.8T if it is better.

Any issues with these cars?

Modified or unmodified? And if modified, what mods are good and what are bad?

What problems I should expect? What should I look out for?

I also need to travel occasionally for about 600KMs at a time.

And also, alternatives?

 

[sMh]

Depends on what you really want or what you intended to do with the car (city driving, cruising, tuning, daily, show etc.).
I am a diesel fan but, if you drive more in the city or you don't make long trips you can buy an 1.8t lower maintance cost, very good all around engine.
The diesel version you will have much more tuning potential with less money, I mean you don't need to change rods pistons cam etc for 300hp. If well mentained physically runs forever. If you want a diesel search for a BPX or ASZ (EURO 3) because euro 4 engines (BLT BUK) have some "problems" (can be solved easily but better not).
After all it's a fun car, any chose you make you can't go wrong!

 

[Calz229]

It will be a daily, with long distance trips.

I also want to tune it, have it quick but it should also be safe and reliable.

Can you elaborate on the issues with the euro 4 engines? I would like to know if it is something I can solve myself or if it will need weeks of work at a shop.

 

[sMh]

First problem, and the biggest is injection sistem, all of it, injectors/tandem pump, you can find a good euro4 tdi but still, it some time you will get some injection problems.
Vacuum box, another down for my personaly, it can work flawless but again it will fail at some point and you need to change it for an old N75.

Shorter gearboxes on EU4(this is not a problem) for what the car could do, ASZ has the longest gears ~130km/h @2000rpm (long trips silencer haha), good for long trips or max speeds depends.

With the ASZ you will need a good turbo and an fmic to get ~250hp
With BPX you will need just a turbo for the same 250hp, maybe a good tuner could do 260 270(for both ASZ or BPX).

On EU4 cars injectors are the limiting factor when it comes to tuning maybe 220hp MAYBE(530cc injectors eu4 vs 550cc injectors eu3) but still when they fail you can change them for the 550cc ones haha.


If you make long trips, and need a good daily, take the diesel one. When you buy it just do a full service/maintace on engine and you will be good.

Golden rule for a healty diesel engine: DO NOT WOT till the engine (oil mostly 3 5 min after the coolant is up to temp) is up to temp. Have fun and keep us up to date.