SEAT Ibiza vs Alfa MiTo

Five Years down the Line...

Well I think I know which one of these cars will be more special to own, once on the driveway through the years down the line. No its not the one with Volkswagen parts within it...

Diesel is not a sporting choice for anyone whom enjoys the interal combustion engine...Its for economy geeks!"

The Alfa maybe flawed, but its "free revving" petrol engine makes it the winner every time and its dash of Italian flair more than compensates too for any slight dynamic chinks...

Why would anyone want a civilised, quiet, smooth(diesel?) hotish hatch...Unless they are pensioners or fuel-misers?

Diesel sucks...

By LegioIXHispana on 5 May, 2010, 12:48pm

Dear LegioIXHispana

Diesel Sucks????
Have you ever drove a decent diesel car these days???

I had Celica Tsport, I had Seat Cupra R and my last petrol was a Subaro Impreza WRX, last because my wife on our vauxhall CDTI150(remapped to 200BHP) left me for dead after we past the 60mph all the way to about 140.

Maybe you should try one, you might change your mind too

By jbsp00 on 5 May, 2010, 3:32pm

jbsp00

You could be in the fastest diesel car in the world...It would still suck!

Diesels just are for truckers and cabbies...Not for people whom enjoy driving cars...Oh and for German barges too.

Yes I`ve tried VAG turbo-diesels and give me a petrol engine anyday...Preferably at 8250 rpm, and then honey to my ears!

Diesels are second rate...Misers need only apply!

Petrol-Hybrids are the future of performance, a car fans weapon of choice anyway...

By LegioIXHispana on 5 May, 2010, 10:57pm

Auto Express in anti Alfa Romeo shocker!!

Suprise suprise.......
Alfa bring out the Giulietta, a car that beats the Golf, A3, Astra etc etc all end up and then they complain that the car has not got the soul of Alfa's of old......BMW, Audi et al have been souless from day one but the old guard of motoring journo's still kiss their a***
No suprises here that they prefer the Seat, however I suspect it would never be a choice that would be relevant as you are either looking for a diesel or a petrol and the Alfa diesel would trounce the Seat diesel offering anyway

By philipdayton on 6 May, 2010, 8:48am

Diesel vs Petrol

I don't understand why the constant comparison and comment on engine torque between (turbo)diesel and (trubo)petrol - the 2 cars have different gearing, and the torque deficit of the petrol engine is offset by it's shorter gearing / lower final drive ratio!

Eg. diesel produces 320Nm but revs to 4500, with low-rev biased torque curve, petrol produces 210 revving to 6500, with mid-rev biased curve. So the diesel gives impression of effortless perfomance, but doesn't "inspire" going for the redline...

High gear accelaration tests are not directly comparable, as Ibiza has 6 speed vs. Alfa 5 speed gearbox.

By mko_20vt on 6 May, 2010, 9:39am

ZZZZ

Seems like LegioIXHispana has been listening to Clarkeson a little too much. If you want to rev the hell out of a petrol engine then I guess that may be fine: preferably I prefer to ride the torque wave on a good diesel which in the real world is probably faster, less demanding, more relaxing and cheaper. Not all diesel's are 2nd rate - they're just different that's all. Try the 3.0 Jag XF LegioIXHispana and if you're not impressed then you're beyond help anyway!

By thorntonjames on 6 May, 2010, 11:09am

thorntonjames

Are you a cabbie by any chance too?

Thorntons: Yes revving is a bit more fun than being strapped to an asthmatic diesel engine incapable of providing anything in terms of the entertainment value which a good petrol unit will!

Dont see a 911 Tubo D, Aston Vantage VTD, Ferrari 458 Italia Dci, Lamborghini Gallardo Tdi or Rolls Royce Silver Diesel anytime soon, and for one reason DIESEL sucks!

Even Audi (king of the style over substance) knows that an R8 with a diesel engine within it wont sell!

I stand by my assertion..Diesel Sucks and are for drivers uninterested in driving enjoyment!

Similar to German luxobarge car buyers...

By LegioIXHispana on 6 May, 2010, 4:26pm

LegioIXHispana

obviously never heard of the Audi diesels that won Le Mans...don't knock it 'til you've tried it!!!

By darrylt1 on 6 May, 2010, 4:42pm

Power vs Fun

Most powerful car i have owned. A mint condition dark green 220 bhp fiat coupe (hard to find nice ones these days).
Most fun car i have owned. 2003 Ibiza FR TDI 130 bhp.
Power, noise and high reving is good on the track.
I follow the law and as a result would never use the full range of a petrol engine on the road.

Much prefer to ride the torque wave and keep the car zipping around at under 2500 rpm within the speed limit.

I was once like legiolXHispana but the ibiza was such a joy to drive i changed.

By gaffer1986 on 7 May, 2010, 12:39pm

Power vs Fun

PS, i have fun driving yet have a squeeky clean license. The two don't usually go together.

By gaffer1986 on 7 May, 2010, 12:41pm

"Diesels just are for truckers and cabbies...Not for people whom enjoy driving cars...Oh and for German barges too."

LegioIXHispana

You remind me very much Gordon Brown, you haven't got a CLUE.

By jbsp00 on 7 May, 2010, 3:55pm

LegiolXHispana

LegionlXHispana

You are talking rubbish! I love Alfa's and have owned 5 in the past. I also love SEAT's and have had 5 of those too. Currently I have a Leon FR550 TDi 170 and if you can't have fun driving that, you are incapable. The torque and acceleration is fantastic and so is the handling.

Petrol engines have their advantages and so do diesel, but don't accuse people who own diesel cars of being miserly or pensioners. There are diesels, and then there are seriously fast and fun diesels, and believe me, the Ibiza FR falls into the latter category.

That said, the Mito Veloce is a fantastic car too, and one I would love to own, if I could only manage to give up my brilliant Leon TDi

Incidentally, what won the World Touring Car Championship for the past 2 years? Oh Yes, the Leon TDi. Somehow, I think that the guys driving in that are having fun.

Before you make such commments you should perhaps try owning a half decent diesel and learn what you are missing.

By Debbie312 on 7 May, 2010, 5:58pm

Whats that smell?

Dear oh Dear the tears are flowing on the cabbie forum here?

Face it luvvies you drive expensive taxis...

No ones impressed, in fact its like listening to the noise of a diesel engine stationary!

Final point, diesel convertibles... Ha ha ha complete oxymoron of a purchase...

lets be having ya?

By LegioIXHispana on 7 May, 2010, 11:10pm

Diesel People the ethos?

Dull People for even duller engines...

How much is the fare cabbie?

By LegioIXHispana on 7 May, 2010, 11:22pm

Debie 312

Hell shall freeze over before I`d part with any cash for Derv!

By LegioIXHispana on 7 May, 2010, 11:24pm

I think that everyone is bored with your childish and ignorant rants LegiolXHispana. At least some of us bother to test cars an see which is best before spouting off. I have a friend with a Leon Cupra K1, which is a 2.0 petrol turbo, and even he admits that my FR diesel is quicker when overtaking and every bit as quiet, and SEAT have even managed to tune the exhaust so it sounds right too. The nice thing is that mine averages 10mpg more than his, and costs less to tax. But since you know everything, just carry on with your silly comments if it makes you feel better!

By Debbie312 on 11 May, 2010, 5:13pm

GrimeyM

My two-years-old BMW 123d Coupe with manual shift must be the finest example of combined style, speed and economy that money can buy. Its twin-turbo diesel engine accelerates 0-60 in 7 seconds, it averages nearly 50 mpg and the build quality plus sophistication is superb. That said, I have just ordered a new VW Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI with manual shift - simply because I am fed up with the sound and feel of a diesel which you have to change gear as soon as you reach 3k revs - and I am looking forward to going back to a free-revving petrol engine.

By S1GML on 16 May, 2010, 7:53pm