Test Drive Advice

[AndiS]

Hi,

Going to see a 2000 X-Plate Ibiza Cupra tomorrow (and possibly a couple of 2001-Y 's) and was after some advice... I know about several problems such as the coil packs, MAF and dodgy sensor that reads the temperature, but I don't know any other issues (other than you'd get on any other car) or how to recognise any of the above.

Can some helpful soul please give me a bit of advice on areas to look for (or point me to a buyers guide, I've been searching the forum for ages) and what certain issues may show up as and what they cost to fix... Main reason I ask is that things like the coils and MAF I guess will reduce performance, but seeing as this is much quicker than my 306 HDi (Laugh if you want - It's pretty funny) it's not something I might pick up on.

Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas!

 

[flashbsd]

Hi Mate, you will notice if there is a major MAF issue, a fault code will be thrown on the dash board, and it will basically be very sluggish and not respond at all, coil packs you cant really predict, just ensure its firing on all cylinders and starts ok especially when cold with no stutter.

Temperature sensor, just make sure you select external temp on the wiper stalk switches and see what its reading, it will be major'ly out if its dead, e.g. -40oC, check the Air Con functions ok and gets ice cold.

Another thing to check is wear on the inside of the tyres, especially if they are the original pirelli p-zero's, the tyres are to blame for this so don't think its the tracking, i replaced my front 2 without ever getting them retracked and these are wearing correctly. (not pirelli's)

Hope this is some help.

Other things to check are the basics, the first one i went to see was in bad condition, leather worse for wear etc, lucky being a leather steering wheel you can tlel if its shiney its done alot of miles, mines rough still

 

[flashbsd]

one other thing, check for any moditication, e.g. boost gauges, chipping etc

 

[AndiS]

Thanks, it sounds like they don't have too many weak areas which is good... I'm going to test absolutely everything though!

Any more advice is very welcome... Hopefully it'll be in good nick!

 

[bazza1000]

I went to help my friend look at a few Ibiza cupra's this week and last, went to view one last week 120 miles away the seller described it as mint excellent condition, interior like new, no marks on the exterior etc etc. As soon as we got there could see it was a bag of nails!!!!! The chap selling it hadn't even bothered to clean it - it was very very dirty, interior was badly worn, had 2 extra owners on the log book, in poor condition, was disgraceful especially after he had talked it up. Really annoys me when people describe cars falsely! - so if it’s a black X-Reg located in Warrington don't bother!!!!!!!!!!!

Found a good one on Tuesday, a proper minter - silver Y-Reg, 38k one lady owner from new, needless to say he left a deposit immediately!

 

[cordobabrendy]

find asomeone local with vagcom, usually a good indicator of impending faults!

 

[bazza1000]

Yes if you had that to help it would be great!

 

[AndiS]

Found a good one on Tuesday, a proper minter - silver Y-Reg, 38k one lady owner from new, needless to say he left a deposit immediately!

I was going to ring her about that one! You swine!!!! lol! It'd had new tyres, just had a service... Much better than what I went to see... Travelled 70 miles and it was really rough...

- Air-Con didn't work
- TCS didn't work
- Boot wouldn't open
- Exterior temperature sensor didn't work
- Had a PX Filter (with no cold air feed) and a Scorpion Exhaust (Too big)
- Had M3 mirrors, a chrome aerial and Lexus lights...

All that and it was literally covered in scratches, the kind where it's dented the panels and every panel had stone chips.

Interior was okay but arm rests were scratched and some trim was missing...

Mechanically it seemed okay but I thought it would be much quicker than it was, noticed it has a new re-circ valve too, honestly I think it's been thrashed to death and certainly hasn't been given the love it deserves.

Garage said it was going in for all the bodywork sorting and they would fix all the other problems for me if I left a deposit... Yeah right... So avoid an X-Plate, Blue @ Hilton Garage.

On the upside at least I've been to see one and spotted some of the faults... Guess I'll keep looking.

 

[Russ_20vt]

Keep looking, took me ages to find a minter!

 

[bazza1000]

I was going to ring her about that one! You swine!!!! lol! It'd had new tyres, just had a service...

Yes thats the one, my mate snapped it up striaght away!

Keep looking there will be a nice one waiting for you I'm sure, will be well worth the wait!!

 

[Undezcupra]

weyy

Hi mate im the one who bought the silver one, one lady owner e.t.c e.t.c, yer bazza is deffinatley right about that black one it was a bad example, i was lucky to get mine at such a good price in mint condition, i think you have just got to keep searching as alot of the cupras are a little over priced, good luck mate,

 

[flashbsd]

took me over a year to find the right one

 

[AndiS]

i think you have just got to keep searching as alot of the cupras are a little over priced, good luck mate,

After looking at Glasses and Parkers I can safely say that they're all overpriced (except the rubbishy blue one @ Hilton and that's because nothing worked on it!). There's some nice cars for sale, but I don't want to pay over the odds because it'll just sting me when I come to sell it. There's some great examples for sale on some of the forums that I'd love to buy, but one that springs to mind is £1000 over book price and the guy is bumping the posts, wondering why it's not sold...

It's going to take a long time to find a good example that someone is selling for a sensible price... If that's you though, please let me know