Just been out for a short ride with my mate in his new Seat Ibiza FR 1.8T.

Lovely motor, the dashboard and dials are much improved over his old TDI Sport model, and looks far more sporty. The wheels also look nice and look bigger than their 16-inches suggest.

On the road, the 1.8 engine is a keen performer, turbo seems to kick in at around 3000rpm, initially not as much surge as a TDI engine but obviously, and unsurprisingly, far better at the higher end of the rev range, making the stock TDI seem a little asthmatic. Most impressive though, is the handling. I've got to say, its a lot better than my vRS and thats as standard - I've really got to get something done about the suspension and brakes on my car as it really does seem to feel pretty lardy in comparison.

I think lookswise, I still prefer the Fabia, but the FR really is much better looking than the old Sport model, and it really did get me thinking why they didnt decide to opt for the 1.8T in the Fabia, and give it 3 doors. It would have been a really wicked car then.

On the negative side, unsurprisingly the economy is (a lot) worse than the Fabia. His driving style is much like mine, and yet his average is 28 MPG, compared to the 41 MPG I get.

A very nice motor, good tuning potential too.

Have test driven the TDi FR and its not bad

More impressive is the new Ibiza Cupra TDi, 160bhp, 0-60 7seconds or so. Not bad for a standard oil burner

He had the TDI Sport beforehand. The handling of that was nowhere near as good as the petrol one. I think that diesel engined cars are probably inherently poorer handlers than the same car in petrol form. I wish they did a vRS 150 1.8T. Saying that, 28 MPG is shocking compared to the 41 from the TDI, but like I say, he really thrashes it all the time anyway, so its pretty good considering.

Having said that about the handling though, I expect at higher speeds it may be a little closer - because I find the high speed handling of the vRS fine, its at lower speeds it seems poor to me, too much understeer and weight at the front.

Its just made me all the keener to get my brakes and suspension sorted out, and get a chip!!!

I think lookswise' date=' I still prefer the Fabia, but the FR really is much better looking than the old Sport model, and it really did get me thinking why they didnt decide to opt for the 1.8T in the Fabia, and give it 3 doors. It would have been a really wicked car then.

[/quote']

Yeah, that would be something. And I wouldn't care about the economy - diesel cars have huge road taxes over here, so you only start profiting above 30k kms...

I think that diesel engined cars are probably inherently poorer handlers than the same car in petrol form.

That's because it needs a lighter diesel engine at the front...like the 1.4TDi unit. What it lacks in performance it makes up for in balance, hence why some people recommend it over the vRS...

Rob.

I guess I can see your point in some ways, still much rather have the vRS though

Speaking of light fast diesels, Fiat are releasing their Panda in Abarth spec, complete with a 1.3-litre multijet diesel with 105 BHP!!! Imagine how mental that car is going to be

Assuming it stays together long enough to use all of those horses Anyone here sat in one of the new Pandas?

Chris

Assuming it stays together long enough to use all of those horses Anyone here sat in one of the new Pandas?

Chris

The faster you go... the lighter it gets

The faster you go... the lighter it gets