I'm thinking of buying a new car , and as the Seat Ibiza is on 0% finance at the moment , i thought it might be a good idea . really looking at the Fabia VRS equivalent the FR130 , can't stretch to a Cupra 160 , so what are everybodies thoughts if any on the Ibiza , is it better than the VRS , i read recently that its a girls car :eek: does it suffer from the same stutter that the 06 VRS suffers from . or the other option is wait to see if there is a VRS special edition as the mark 1 fabia finishes

It's a nice car. But the ride is completely different to the Fabia. Also in-car comfort isn't the same. Try it and see, it appeals to a lot of people, but not me

Quite similar cars, but quite different personalities.

Not a bad car by any means.

My mate has one, I did a review side by side with the vRS some time a go, a quick search should turn it up.

cheers Snoopie and Tom , i'll do a search

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/why-should-i-buy-fabia-vrs-instead-ibiza-fr/61254/?highlight=Ibiza

Maybe I didn't do a full review after all - but that is a good thread.

Yes, Tom's right - quite different characters. Ride is quite a bit harsher, but sorting that out soon on mine

I've now got the Sport, which is the model prior to the FR. So doesn't have the external visual appeal of the vRS or FR, but I like the understatement of it - even more of a 'Q' car than the vRS was. I like the cabin better too, feels more driver orientated and as if a bit more thought's gone into it. Red backlighting gets a big from me too! Dash was always one the Fabia's main negatives, IMO. Build quality seems to be at least on a par, but I'm comparing a 4 1/2 yr old with 60k against my old Fabia's 18months and 20k, so not really fair. I've got a few rattles but on the whole, things are very good.

It doesn't feel as nose heavy as the Fabia either, and doesn't feel as overwelmed on the std brake setup. I do have the upper front strut brace fitted, which I didn't on the Fabia, and the turn in is certainly better. Whether this is all down to the fitting of the brace is debatable though, I feel.

I'll gladly meet up with you again, if you fancy a go.

Steve

I hear what you are saying Steve, the Fabia dash sure is bland, but imo the Ibiza one seems a little to tacky... And as for the red illumination - it is ALL red, and a fuzzy blurry expanse of red at that, really not my cup of tea.

My mate's has done 70k now, nothing has been repaired other than a few bushes. Sure it has a few creaks and rattles, but no worse than the Fabia in the build quality stakes. However, the quality of the actual plastics, the lack of small touches like a boot light really let the package down.

The car certainly feels tighter, and turns in sharper than the vRS, but when it comes to handling/grip, there really is nothing in it. The harsh ride doesn't justify this, but it does make the car feel sportier on the whole.

I think the latest FR is a better package, with things like 17s as standard

Both very good, but very different cars.

I've got a boot light on mine!

Steve

I've got a boot light on mine!

Steve

Wow! The FR of my mates doesnt have bootlight or glove box light. Even the courtesey light is a single jobby with no map lights. No red lights in the doors like the Fabia either. :thumbdwn:

I'll gladly meet up with you again, if you fancy a go. quote Wardy

Awesome rolling road on Saturday ,Wardy ?

i'm just thinking my VRS is getting a bit tired , doing another track day on Friday , and with the interest free credit about thought i would take advantage , but i see the opinions are a bit split , i do like both cars to look at , but the VRS seat colour has always bugged me , now if it was dark like the Ibizas or even the Fabia sport that would be great

Just treat it to a retrim?

I test drove an FR130 not so long ago. Firmer suspension, lower quality interior (check out the mirror switch and the window switches for prime examples), climate control which isn't effective (In both Ibiza's, the Cupra and the FR, they've been the same so I think it's design rather than a fault with that car) and won't go as cold as my Fabia's (which is nearing 5 years old too!). However, it gets a nice steering wheel, a better driving position, I like the white dials, far sharper steering and a bizarrely light gearbox compared to the vRS.

Up to you ultimately, but I think I'd choose the Furby.

Awesome rolling road on Saturday ,Wardy ?

Yep, I'll be there

Steve

lower quality interior (check out the mirror switch and the window switches for prime examples)

I don't mean to pick holes, or be seen as some Ibiza protector, but I do have the advantage of having owned both cars. The electric door mirror switch is exactly the same, and the driver's side electric window switches work in exactly the same way, albeit with a different choice of actual switch, but I've not noticed the difference :confused:

Overall, in terms of cabin quality, plastics and trim, I see it as no better or worse than the Fabia I owned.

It is seen as a bit of a Marmite car and I can understand why, maybe I'm just in the minority of liking both the Fabia and Ibiza?

Steve

I don't mean to pick holes, or be seen as some Ibiza protector, but I do have the advantage of having owned both cars. The electric door mirror switch is exactly the same, and the driver's side electric window switches work in exactly the same way, albeit with a different choice of actual switch, but I've not noticed the difference :confused:

Overall, in terms of cabin quality, plastics and trim, I see it as no better or worse than the Fabia I owned.

It is seen as a bit of a Marmite car and I can understand why, maybe I'm just in the minority of liking both the Fabia and Ibiza?

Steve

I like them both Steve, although I think the overall feel of the Fabia is that it is a more comfy and classy car, hence why I chose it. The FR is more overtly sporty...

The Ibiza definitely seems to use cheaper materials imho, the dash plastic being one, the cheap painted console (where if you look carefully you can see the plastic matrix behind)... but the actual BUILD quality is on a par.

I know what you mean about the leccy window switches Rob, and again can't really see how they are any different to the Fabia ones? :confused:

Lucky Dip : 1993 Tatra 613

Air cooled V8 :eek: :eek:

I'm thinking of buying a new car , and as the Seat Ibiza is on 0% finance at the moment.

Go the the Skoda website - the Fabia Sport and the Fabia vRS are also being offered on 0% finance over three years.

Hope this helps to sway your thinking!!!!

Wow! The FR of my mates doesnt have bootlight or glove box light. Even the courtesey light is a single jobby with no map lights. No red lights in the doors like the Fabia either. :thumbdwn:

Our Ibiza has boot and glovebox lights too. Also pretty sure it has the lights in the doors.

Regarding the quality of materials I personally think that the Fabia has the nicer dash.

Go the the Skoda website - the Fabia Sport and the Fabia vRS are also being offered on 0% finance over three years.

Skoda finance is 0% over only 2 years , so makes the repayments a bit expensive , also the reason i want to change is that a neighbour has got the same colour VRS (SILVER) and my brothers getting a silver VRS on Saturday :(

The three Ibizas I've played with (a colleage had a 1.4tdi something or other as a courtesy car) and a significantly cheaper window switch, it made a nasty click noise when it was pushed, unlike the almost silence of my fabia's switches. The mirror switch also seemed to be cheaper and was hard work to move around compared to the fabia's (in terms of preciseness) but then again maybe I had duff cars?

Ibiza is definately the drivers car of the two though.