1997 Seat Ibiza SE review from UK and Ireland
"Good first car, but don't keep it long"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Indicators failed just after purchase. Indicator stalk replaced under warranty.
Thermostat housing (made of plastic) became warped at 68,000 miles, leaking coolant, but was quite cheap to fix.
Two new wheel bearings at 68,000 miles (common problem apparently)
New exhaust at 68,000 miles (approx)
Window winder cable snapped at 70,000 miles (approx).
Clutch became heavy at 75,000 miles (approx). Replaced clutch cable.
Engine problem 75,000 miles (approx) - often cuts out when idling or applying brakes. The fault is still undiagnosed.
Needs new starter motor - current starter motor is hit and miss. 75,000 miles (approx).
Driver's seat now badly worn (holed)
Some corrosion now evident, on sills, petrol cap flap and tailgate.
Otherwise, body and paintwork still in very good condition.
General comments?
A good first car, looks more stylish than the Polo and is cheaper to buy.
Poor interior with very basic features, i. e no central locking. Also, the seat fabric (light grey) wears easily and becomes dirty very quickly.
Ride is reasonable, but fuel economy is not as good as I expected for such a small car.
Still looks a lovely car and it has been generally reliable, but I'm starting to have problems now (76,000+ miles).
The engine cutout - every time you dab the break or just when idling from cold - is a major headache as no one seems to know what is wrong with the car.
It still drives, but I will be letting the car go as soon as I can and expect a big loss.
Bought the car for £2,999 in 2002 and it's probably worth about £750 now, so that probably says something about Seat depreciation, compared to a VW Polo which holds value much better.
Just bought an L Reg Vauxhall Cavalier for £650 and couldn't believe how much smoother the engine, gearbox and ride is. Need I say more?
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 53000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 76000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 25th November, 2004 |