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!
Just to add on the SEAT Cordoba GLX 95 they are a good little car nice to drive, but under powered 1.8l. I bought mine five years ago the engine is faultess, but the interior is starting to degenerate. The central locking has failed and the rear winders uses the cable system so they are starting to stick a bit. The whirring noise in the rear drums are bearing problems I have changed mine twice in the last years five years easy to replace. Apart from all those problems it's a great little car nice European shape great when they are lowered, mag wheels and sports exhaust added.
I agree with the writer's comments. I purchased a '96 GLX model in a metallic burgundy for my daughter almost six months ago. She has already clocked up over 11,000 kms with the only expense being a replacement battery. What a superb little car! Hers is a 5 speed manual, and although the 1781cc 8 valve motor generates only 66kw of power, having a decent displacement in a small car means the torque is very good. With the gear stick having very close throws, I have inadvertently taken off in third gear instead of first and it handled it easily. With the added attractions of a stylistic interior and attractive exterior, the humongous boot (!), side impact bars in the doors, its solid feel and quiet, unfussed manners, it is a superb little car and great value. I paid AUD$5,600 for it, and the cheapest I could insure it at AGREED VALUE WAS $9,090. Bonus!
I have a 97 Cordoba.
240000 K with very few problems, coil, fan switch, starter motor stuck once. Haven't replaced any thing on the exhaust system
All weather, all Australian roads, still gets 40mpg on the open road (I have to convert it back)
Pity that Seat pulled out of Australia, what do I buy next?
I had a 95 GLX model and was very pleased with it.
I purchased two years ago the new Cordoba model 1.4 Automatic.
I'm quite happy with the car, though I consider that the painting scheme is not as good as the old one, minor things will cause a big scratch. The car is now 60.000km, but recently they had to replace the accelerator pedal and the engine throtle valve... I still note a lack of power, it's like if I drive with the parking brake on. Seat service as been unable to solve the problem, they're good to change the oil and filters, but when there's something wrong and the computer diagnostic is clean, they just can't solve it.
Nuno Amaro
Portugal
Hello, I have just recently bought a Seat Cordoba GLX 94. I love this car, but when I tried to take out the engine oil dipstick to check the oil level, I couldn't do it! I can twist it around, but it won't come out. The manual says to pull it out, but it won't budge. Can anyone help me? This is my first car. Also, how can you tell if a fan belt is getting old?
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