+1000 rogerthecabinboy
Autocar:"The only obvious signs of cost-cutting are a few hard plastics and the cheap mechanism that tips the rear seat bases forward, which you must do if you want to fold the 60/40 split seat backs flat."
Autocar: "The placement of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel is fine, but they need to be bigger and easier to trigger, especially for track use."
It sounds like you are used to find soft-touch materials everywhere in the cabin of a supermini car... And really you 've never seen before exactly the same paddle shifters or even 'the same cheap mechanism that tips the rear seat bases forward' in a VAG car? I believe you have and since no one else has ever complained, I would like to have your opinion when it comes for those in a VW for example in order to see what your criterias are ...
Autocar: "Our test car came with optional £800 leather seats, which are expensive but are preferable to the cheap-feeling standard material."
Unless you had parked aside a car fitted with the so called 'cheap-feeling standard material', I find no reason for a comment like that in this specific road test. No reason though to disagree with your making comments like this and ...expressing your feelings when itcomes along comparing different levels of equipment, ... again as if all cars come with standard high quality textiles etc in the same price. Unfortunately, your writing gives the wrong impression as if you 're not trying to be objective.
Autocar: "Rear passengers will feel more claustrophobic in the Cupra than in a standard Ibiza Sport Coupé due to the large front seats"
It happens to be a great issue in a supermini car on track, as you say... Apparently not an issue for any of its competitors.
Autocar: "The Cupra has a rather less ground-breaking chassis, using MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam with trailing arms at the rear."
The Cupra doesn't share its platform and many parts of the chassis with the latest VW Polo? Of course if it were for the Polo, the same platform wouldn't be considered an issue as it happens to be the latest VAG supermiini platform! Or perhaps you could name lots of cars in this segment, other than the Mini, which haven't got a torsion beam in the rear axle...
Autocar: "the supposedly sporting ‘S’ mode frustrates, hanging onto gears too long and occasionally getting confused by a sudden throttle input and throwing the car off balance."
Yeap, I am sure the same DSG gearbox as soon as it will be tested on the Polo is going to be called brilliant and revolutionary!
Autocar: "But the experience is let down by inconsistent steering weight from the electrically assisted power steering, which reduces the resistance too much at slow speeds, resulting in a lack of feel and precision. This improves at higher speeds as the specially adapted servo weights up the steering, but there is never a real sense of connection."
Autocar: "The standard brakes may be effective, but they are not consistent. Push the brake pedal as hard as possible and you activate the Emergency Brake Assist, which results in a quite violent change in responses. It would work well in the emergency situation it is developed for, and you’re unlikely to activate it on road, but on track it is extremely disconcerting and easy to activate, despite the noticeable difference in pressure on the pedal."
Actually this is what happens when you push the brake pedal ...as hard as possible! There should be no doubt that the same tech features (brakes and steering weight) in a Polo or any of its rivals would make the job in an unquestionable way...
Autocar: "Disappointingly for a company that claims its products are defined by their dynamism, the Seat is less competitive in this performance sector. The Cupra’s chassis and engine combination work well enough. It responds quickly and has ample grip for both road and track driving."
Autocar: "The XDS diff is a worthwhile addition, though, virtually eliminating torque steer at anything other than full load in first or second gear, and even then it is a minor interference. XDS also gives the Ibiza excellent traction out of corners. Get on the throttle too early and the front axle will gradually lose traction, but it is easily brought back into line by easing off the throttle."
And now the same chassis works well enough in combination with the engine and the XDS, despite the fact you 're implying it is only this company that claims for itself its products are defined by their dynamism, and their products don't seem to follow...
Autocar: "Body roll is well contained, too. The nose may dive under heavy braking, but no more so than any of its rivals, and cornering is flat in all but the most severe direction changes."
Another way of saying that the nose will dive less than any of its rivals or the same in the worst case...
Autocar: "The Cupra’s handling may not be all that inspiring, but it has a supple ride which betters that of most of its rivals. The well controlled suspension can be caught out on sharp intrusions, but generally it absorbs the worst breaks and undulations with little more than a muffled thump in the cabin."
In conclusion 'a body roll which is well contained' and a chassis - that is not 'ground-breaking' - 'has a supple ride which betters that of most of its rivals', working well enough 'in combination witk the engine' and the XDS giving 'the Ibiza excellent traction out of corners' but at the same time 'the Cupra's handling may not be that inspiring! And you want us to believe... Okay
