Did I make the wrong choice? (May contain a 'What Car?')

[lglynn]

Last year (May) I sold my Focus ST and bought a Monaro. Just after I got the Monaro me and the wife found out we were expecting a baby. Towards the end of last year I sold the Monaro and replaced it with...a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9TDi 05 or 55 reg I think.

The reasons behind it... I park in Birmingham city centre daily so wanted a small car I could shove in a small space on the street. Also, when the Fabia VRS first came out I test drove one and loved the engine.
I stumbled across a cheap £5k (in comparison to the Fabia VRS, and other FR's) low milage 30k Ibiza locally that suited my needs (5 door, ISOFIX, and PD130 engine) so test drove it and bought it.

Now the but...

The ride quality on this Seat is awful! My first car was an old Fiesta with trashed suspension and it rode better than the Ibiza. Everyday I get shaken to death, the roads are not at their best after the December freeze. This is really making me dislike the car, and causing all manner of squeaks and rattles.

Now do I stick with it as it costs very little to run, or get rid of it and have something I enjoy driving?

[adycav]

lglynn said:

Now do I stick with it as it costs very little to run, or get rid of it and have something I enjoy driving?

ALWAYS the latter.

It'll only get more annoying.

[300bhp/ton]

lglynn said:

Last year (May) I sold my Focus ST and bought a Monaro. Just after I got the Monaro me and the wife found out we were expecting a baby. Towards the end of last year I sold the Monaro and replaced it with...a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9TDi 05 or 55 reg I think.

The reasons behind it... I park in Birmingham city centre daily so wanted a small car I could shove in a small space on the street. Also, when the Fabia VRS first came out I test drove one and loved the engine.
I stumbled across a cheap £5k (in comparison to the Fabia VRS, and other FR's) low milage 30k Ibiza locally that suited my needs (5 door, ISOFIX, and PD130 engine) so test drove it and bought it.

Now the but...

The ride quality on this Seat is awful! My first car was an old Fiesta with trashed suspension and it rode better than the Ibiza. Everyday I get shaken to death, the roads are not at their best after the December freeze. This is really making me dislike the car, and causing all manner of squeaks and rattles.

Now do I stick with it as it costs very little to run, or get rid of it and have something I enjoy driving?

I'm sorry, but do you really have to ask???

[soad]

Get rid, i say. cheap runner but uncomfortable, little incentive to keep it imho

[lglynn]

I thought as much, but what do I replace it with? Budget 5k, 5 doors, cheapish to run, small car is a bonus.

[james_tigerwoods]

I a 55 plate Seat Leon TDi FR - A truly hateful, steaming pile of ste that I'd rather have set fire to. It had/was:

Horrendous ride - think of the worst car you've seen bumping down the road - that was the Leon
Dodgy handling - Oversteer, aquaplaning
A break-in - the alarm didn't go off....
Road/Cabin noise
Off camber at the rear (Never got round to sorting that)
Not very economic - averaged less than 42mpg over 10,000 miles - 55mpg my arse
Smoky, very smoky
Creaky front dash
Squeaky pedals
Creaky suspension
Leaky boot
Leak around the driver's sill
Leak in the front passenger footwell
The bonnet wasn't on quite right
Not sure where the second key went - I never got it (Got one cut though)
Sounded awful at idle/low/mid/high revs
Never tracked straight (despite many attempts to fix)

It was st. Supremely st.

I got rid for a Passat - I did toy with the idea of just leaving it in the centre of Rotherham to be nicked, but I was worried someone might bring it back....

Clearly the Ibiza is no better than the Leon...

[adycav]

SEATs have silly hard rides nowadays, which are not often suited to the UK's execrable roads.

Ford have the ride/handling thing sorted imo so a small Ford is my suggestion.

[lglynn]

james_tigerwoods said:

I had one, a 55 plate Seat Leon TDi FR - A truly hateful, steaming pile of ste that I'd rather have set fire to. It had/was:

Horrendous ride - think of the worst car you've seen bumping down the road - that was the Leon - Check
Dodgy handling - Oversteer, aquaplaning - Check
A break-in - the alarm didn't go off.... - Not had a break in (touches wood)
Road/Cabin noise - Check
Off camber at the rear (Never got round to sorting that) -
Not very economic - averaged less than 42mpg over 10,000 miles - 55mpg my arse - Check
Smoky, very smoky - Check
Creaky front dash - Check
Squeaky pedals -
Creaky suspension - Mine doesnt feel like it has suspension
Leaky boot
Leak around the driver's sill -
Leak in the front passenger footwell - Check (although could be due to a new windscreen)
The bonnet wasn't on quite right -
Not sure where the second key went - I never got it (Got one cut though)
Sounded awful at idle/low/mid/high revs
Never tracked straight (despite many attempts to fix) - Check (pulls to left, not due to camber of the road either)

It was st. Supremely st.

I got rid for a Passat - I did toy with the idea of just leaving it in the centre of Rotherham to be nicked, but I was worried someone might bring it back....

Seems I am not alone.

[farrendahl]

I'm having a similar quandry at the moment with the Saab, it's a great car but not giving me the enjoyment I want from it, unfortunately I can't afford to replace so I'm stuck with it, but if I were you with your own situation I'd be looking at something else, how about a late MK1 Fabia vRS? Or the perennial favourite family wagon a Focus but in (5 door) ST170 spec?

[lglynn]

farrendahl said:

I'm having a similar quandry at the moment with the Saab, it's a great car but not giving me the enjoyment I want from it, unfortunately I can't afford to replace so I'm stuck with it, but if I were you with your own situation I'd be looking at something else, how about a late MK1 Fabia vRS? Or the perennial favourite family wagon a Focus but in (5 door) ST170 spec?

I looked at the Fabias when I got the Seat. They are expensive, which is why I went for the cheaper Seat. Hindsight now shows me why the Seat was cheaper.

A Ford is a very safe bet, but they dont offer anything special. The Seat was bought mainly for the engine.

[james_tigerwoods]

lglynn said:

james_tigerwoods said:

I had one, a 55 plate Seat Leon TDi FR - A truly hateful, steaming pile of ste that I'd rather have set fire to. It had/was:

Horrendous ride - think of the worst car you've seen bumping down the road - that was the Leon - Check
Dodgy handling - Oversteer, aquaplaning - Check
A break-in - the alarm didn't go off.... - Not had a break in (touches wood)
Road/Cabin noise - Check
Off camber at the rear (Never got round to sorting that) -
Not very economic - averaged less than 42mpg over 10,000 miles - 55mpg my arse - Check
Smoky, very smoky - Check
Creaky front dash - Check
Squeaky pedals -
Creaky suspension - Mine doesnt feel like it has suspension
Leaky boot
Leak around the driver's sill -
Leak in the front passenger footwell - Check (although could be due to a new windscreen)
The bonnet wasn't on quite right -
Not sure where the second key went - I never got it (Got one cut though)
Sounded awful at idle/low/mid/high revs
Never tracked straight (despite many attempts to fix) - Check (pulls to left, not due to camber of the road either)

It was st. Supremely st.

I got rid for a Passat - I did toy with the idea of just leaving it in the centre of Rotherham to be nicked, but I was worried someone might bring it back....

Seems I am not alone.

I misread your post about it being a Leon, but clearly the ride and build quality are on a par with each other - st....

[300bhp/ton]

lglynn said:

I thought as much, but what do I replace it with? Budget 5k, 5 doors, cheapish to run, small car is a bonus.

Accord Type R. MG ZS180. MG ZT190. Jag X-Type 3.0 V6. Civic Type R. Mazda RX-8 (all bar mpg). Integra Type R (do you really need 5 doors?).

[300bhp/ton]

BMW e36 328i. Maybe an e46 or more retro e30.

[adycav]

300bhp/ton said:

Jag X-Type 3.0 V6.

Good call if you are happy with a slightly larger car. And there are some diesels if mpg is important. Nice comfy underrated cheap motor!

[lglynn]

300bhp/ton said:

Accord Type R. MG ZS180. MG ZT190. Jag X-Type 3.0 V6. Civic Type R. Mazda RX-8 (all bar mpg). Integra Type R (do you really need 5 doors?).

In an ideal world. Makes getting the car seat in and out easier when there is not much room.

I'll have a browse at the MG's and the type r's

[LimitedSlipDisk]

300bhp/ton said:

BMW e36 328i. Maybe an e46 or more retro e30.

This.

You would get a very nice e36 for that sort of money, or an e46. The 328 is a bit heavy but still chuckable.

Edited by LimitedSlipDisk on Monday 14th February 12:04

[braddo]

Won't the MGs and Type Rs have harsh rides too (although at least you should get better handling than the SEAT)?

Could you get an E46 BMW 320d estate for £5k? Get one without sport suspension and 17/18 inch wheels and you should get something that rides nicely, handles well and has a very impressive diesel engine.

[boobles]

I have to say that I love my Leon. Really comfy & a pleasure to drive compared to some cars I have owned.
The only thing I don't like, is the fact that no matter how I drive it, it still drinks ALOT of petrol.

[jenpot]

300bhp/ton said:

Accord Type R. MG ZS180. MG ZT190. Jag X-Type 3.0 V6. Civic Type R. Mazda RX-8 (all bar mpg). Integra Type R (do you really need 5 doors?).

If you have a child back doors make everything a damn sight easier. 3 door cars have huge doors that you can't fully open in most carparks (even if you use the hated parent and child parking)

[TOENHEEL]

Lifes too short! Having a kid doesnt mean the end of being a petrolhead. Plenty family cars that can keep you smiling on a weekend!