1995 Seat Cordoba GLX review from Australia and New Zealand

Left passenger wheel emitted a whirring noise that the used car yard where I bought the car, and the SEAT dealer, both in Canberra, could not (or would not) properly identify or fix. However, when I took the car to the Canberra VW Centre, it was immediately identified as a wheel bearing problem and fixed. I now only deal with the Canberra VW Centre as they really seem to understand SEATs and other VW-family cars.

Plastic under-car protectors, under bumper, have come loose and bits have broken off.

Boot light can be very touchy as to whether it wants to work or not.

Gear selector light has also been very intermittent.

Rear passenger windows tend to slip down a bit over time.

Just a few weeks ago the immobiliser stopped working properly and would not let me start the car even with the key in the ignition. A new bulb holder, including a clip that holds the wire connecting the immobiliser with the gear selector, had to be ordered in from Spain and installed under the gear selector.

It is hard to describe how much I love driving my SEAT Cordoba. The German VW engineering combined with the Spanish SEAT flair and feel makes for a very unique and enjoyable drive and appearance.

The real spoiler, front and rear fog lights, and body shape make the car look quite sporty and stand out from the VW Golf or Polo, or any other car in Australia really. I especially like the big chrome SEAT "S" on the front grille and chrome badging on the rear.

The black console, with red instrumentation illumination, and patterned cloth trim and seats makes for a very stylish interior.

For a 1995 car, and for the price it was selling for new, it is a car packed with great features - electric mirrors and front windows, heated mirrors, fog lights, power steering, air conditioning, central locking, reading light, four speaker superb sound stereo, and, of course, the gigantic boot these cars are famous for - and a very, very stylish steering wheel with (again) the SEAT "S" on it!

In Canberra, and anywhere else in Australia, the SEAT Cordoba really stands out as being different - even eight years later. I have loved driving my Spanish chariot to work each day at the Japanese Embassy where I work!

My only gripe is to SEAT head office in Spain: please, please start exporting to Australia again. I want to buy another SEAT - and a new one this time!