1998 Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport GTi 16V 2.0

Summary:

A lot of fun to drive in the right hands!

Faults:

Just normal running costs for me. Never had a problem whatsoever, apart from using up tyres and brakes rather quickly.

General Comments:

This car is a lot of fun to drive.

There are a couple of people who will say this car is down on power, but that's just because they can't drive it properly. I personally have had my car up to 150 mph at Santa Pod, and ripped the doors off an RS Turbo.

The car handles very well, both in the wet and dry, but do watch your speed around sharp corners in the wet, as the back end can get the better of you.

I feel the cabin is a nice place to be, with a lot of room in it for the size of the car. I have no problem getting in and out, and I also have two kids in the back with plenty of leg room. The boot is quite big, as we can get our weekly shop in it no problem.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th February, 2011

1998 Seat Ibiza Estillo 1.4

Summary:

Its great, I love it and still show interest in every model I see!

Faults:

Cylinder head gasket, cost £120 to repair (along with a new timing belt fitted) at 148000 mls, MOT failed, handbrake needed tightened and needed new front pads.

General Comments:

I bought this car due to being an offer I couldn't refuse, the car had a high mileage and I was prepared to pay out for a few repairs.

I spent about £200 on the car for new alloys, tyres, cleanup of bodywork, and a new stereo system, the car was in amazing condition, you wouldn't have expected it to have done so many miles, I carried out a full service by myself.

20,000 miles on it was time for the cars MOT, it needed new brake pads and the handbrake tightened, I was very surprised as I did rag the car a good bit.

When the car reached 148,000 miles the car required the cylinder head gasket to be replaced as I found oil had mixed in the expansion tank, I got this replaced along with a new timing belt for £120 at a local garage.

Unfortunately a woman drove into me 3 days later after getting the car back, the car was then written off.

If your thinking of getting a Mk2 Ibiza, the 1.4 is quite nippy, very fuel efficent and a comfortable car, I'd not have swapped it for anything.

Since then I've had another Polo and a Corsa, in a few weeks time I get my new car... Seat Toledo 1.9 TDi mMmMm.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2005

24th Dec 2012, 22:09

I bought the same model of this car. It is very comfortable to ride in, and as you said, it's nippy. But the handbrake is broken and the seat belts need to be repaired.

Thanks for this useful explanation sir. Appreciated.

1998 Seat Ibiza SXE 1.4

Summary:

Unreliability lets down good car

Faults:

New clutch at 45k.

New headlight at 51k.

Seat belts need replacing as tension has given.

Auxiliary drive belt tensioner needs replacing.

Countless squeaks and rattles.

General Comments:

This is my girlfriends car and she loves it. My wallet hates it though.

How can a German engineered car be so badly unreliable?

Dealers have been pitiful, though this is the specific dealers fault, not SEAT.

I drive a 1989 Honda which has given me 60k trouble free miles since I bought it 5 years ago (when it had 35k miles)

We are desperate to sell this car and buy Japanese.

A decent car, but ours was made in a rush before siesta time!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th December, 2003

10th Sep 2004, 12:56

I can’t believe you are complaining about the car needing a new clutch and headlight! Surely these are wear and tear items (maybe your girlfriend rides the clutch). I have a 1998 1.4 Ibiza SXE and have had no problems with it (just the usual from tyres & exhaust). My previous car was a 1995 Honda civic ESI. The civic was a huge disappointment as it was always in the garage (countless electrical faults, leaking head gasket, split breather pipes…. the list goes on), the Honda also needed a service every 6000 miles, this meant the annual service bill was over £300. In my opinion Honda are seriously overrated and suffer appalling build quality (do miss the vtec engine though).