After a number of months considering a change from my Fabia II Vrs I have ordered a new car ............. Seat Ibiza FR TDI 143.

Posted a while back stating I was looking for a change as I have never really enjoyed the MK II with the DSG.

The car is a technological wonder but I felt detatched from the experience and as previously stated never felt like I was enjoying/able to utilize the full performance of the Vrs with my lifestyle.

Test drove a couple of options including fiat multi air and suzuki Swift Sport and then a Seat Ibiza Fr TDI (105) as there was no 143 available. Was inpressed with the torque of the 105 and the composed (sporty) chassis. The materials inside are not quite up there with the Skoda i dont think but not far off and the 2012 facelift of the Ibiza has helped.

Having negotiated £1700 off the list price of the Ibiza FR TDI 143 I have agreed a trade in for the Vrs which means my monthly PCP is the same (£1 more being exact - but with 3yr free servicing). Insurance will be down £50/yr and VEL down £40.

The main thing though is that it's a manual and I hope it will suit my driving style more than the Vrs has. I had a Mk I (Diesel) Vrs for a few weeks years ago and really enjoyed it. The figures of the Ibiza (143BHP, 236LB/FT) 0-62 8.2 SEC should mean it is a hoot as the original Vrs was.

I know the Ibiza is not the 'Hot Hatch' that the MKII Vrs is but with the control of manual and the short range, quick changes required with a TDI I will hopefully settle with a car for a while (I do tend to get bored and change too often - Wife NOT amused!).

Anyway should be changing in a week or so will post update with thoughts if i'm still allowed on here! (It is VAG after all!)

Any thoughts/experiences of the New Ibiza? Is it as fun as the original Vrs?

(Ps I did post a similar entry on the original post but got lost in the no of pages so thought I would start new thread for any views)

personally I love the mark II vRS, and kinda wish i could spend a day and 300 miles with you teaching you the joys of DSG....

but hell, I respect your decision....

what you have chosen seems a very good approximation to a mark I vRS in mark II form......

please give us a review ect, dealer experiance ect , and do stay around

I know alot of people want the mark I vRS recreated, and I always suggest a deisel monte with a TMC box....... (1.6 105bhp , to 130 bhp)

but I never5 knew that seat was available, so will be interested to hear your thoughts

shark.

Thanks for the reply.

I thought I was the only one sad enough to be up this time of the night!

The joys of shift work and never adjusting back to 'normal' on rest days!!

Will def post a review once I get in the new car. Perhaps i'll keep this one more than 15 months!!

When I changed to DSG from a manual I wasn't sure about it either and having only ever driven autos rarely took a while to stop going for the clutch and trying to change down. I initially found the engine noise disconcerting as it does make you think it is getting thrashed well before the red line. Having now been driving a manual for about a week I am longing to get the DSG back. Some of that is probably for the power and responsiveness, some for the better driving position and personal comfort but having converted back to manual I am not so convinced it is what I need or want for an involved drive. I know I am guilty of just relying on 'D' for my daily commute so have started to force myself to the paddles and I have been getting much more involvement out of it.

That said, it is very much a personal thing and so best of luck with the Seat, hopefully it will give you what you want.

lol... yes fox, me too... rest day today, days tue wed, then nights thiurday! :(

I had a Mk1 fab vRS a few years back and loved that car. Testdrove the Ibiza FR TDI 143 before I eventually bought my Mk2 vRS. Its a nice enough car with decent mid-range poke but obviously no match for the vRS in terms of out and out straight line performance. Ride and refinement were very good (better than the vRS imho) but SWMBO wasn't keen. She was pushing for the Fabia for more Powwwerrrr and DSG (good girl ).

Get a remap on one tho and it would be very tasty I would imagine....

A guy on scn had the 2.0 diesel ibiza fr mapped to 180bhp and 500nm.

Niiice :-)

Hi,

Just an update.

Chopped the Vrs in about a week ago.

Now have the Ibiza FR TDI143 (Don't kick me out!!)

Thought i'd give my opinion on the positives and negatives (albeit its only been a week and it's only my humble opinion)

Negatives:

1. Outright performance:

The Vrs obviously has the Ibiza beat on outright performance. Even thought the Ibiza has 143bhp/236lb/ft it doesnt feel that much. I think this is down to the smooth power delivery of the CR engine (as oppossed to the original Vrs which had a punch to it). I miss the 'whoosh' of the supercharger and the power pushing you back into the seat when you put your foot down in the Vrs. That said now that I have ammended my driving style to stay within the power/torque range of the TD it is a quick car. Might seem silly to say but as its so smooth it tends to be going faster than it feels?

Once i've put a few thousand on the clock may well consider TDI Tuning box (175bhp/295lb/ft). We'll see!

2. Seats:

Although there are sports seats in the FR the Vrs just seem to be that little bit better.

3. Entertainment:

In the 2012 FR there are only 4 speakers (which are all in the front) and as such the sound quality isn't up there with the Vrs and I do like my music so it is a bit of a pain!

4. Space:

There seems to be slightly less space in the rear of the FR as well as the boot being slightly smaller (due to battery in there!) than the Vrs

5. The Horn:

Terrible, Terrible road runner type noise. I'f i'm ever in a 'road rage' incident i'll have to just shout and swear as oppossed to hitting the horn. Although that would prob diffuse the situation with everyne involved rolling around in fits of laughter!!!

Positives:

1. Ride and handling:

Granted its only been a week but on my normal routes the FR seems to be that little bit more refined than the Vrs. I stuck with the standear 16" wheels on the FR and that seems to be a good option with a sporty ride without being overly 'crashy' on the b roads I use.

2. Manual Gears:

Although I always appreciated the technical marval that was the DSG I could never really get on with it and fely like I wasn't enjoying the performance of the Vrs which was a big factor in the change. Just think it wasn't for me. (Thanks sharkrider for the offer of teaching me how to use the paddles properly though!!). Really enjoying that 'driving' feeling again with the FR.

3. Economy/Tax/Insurance:

Tax will be £100 (Save a couple of quid), Insurance down £40/yr.

MPG - (Not brim to brim data but from trip on both cars knowing these will be 'out' from real figures but just as a guide for difference. Super unleaded/diesel being the same price give or take):

10 mile trip into work:

VRS - 33-35mpg

FR - 45-47mpg

10 Mile return:

VRS - 42-45mpg

FR - 62-65mpg

Given that the FR only has 100 miles on the clock at the moment thats pretty good I think.

Oh well thats my thought so far. Like I said i'll be sticking around on here as its the best forum i've found (don't tell seatcupra.net - ha ha!)

Cheers.

Edited 21 August, 201213 yr by FOX1429

pmsl at "negatives: 5"

stick around, its still VAG.... this is a friendly helpful place. I was on here for 2 years with a fiat! lol...

nice little review, what you've got is probably the closest to the mark I vRS thats currently available with this sort of car... interesting for people who may be chopping in their mark I and don't want a petrol mark II!

Glad your happy I dont really get on with my polo either

Edited 21 August, 201213 yr by daydotz