Seat Ibiza SXi

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'm off to have a look at this tomorrow:

 

 

 

Its supposedly a non-runner from sitting about for ages but looks decent for 300€ (about 210 quid).

 

Got a dent in the OS front wing but seems otherwise presentable. Its an earlier one too with the silly flappy Y-shaped button for the indicators instead of conventional stalks. If he will hang onto it till after Xmas for me to collect it I think I will be off for a mega A-frame mission early next year!!!!

 

My first proper girlfriend had a really tidy one of these and I drove it a lot. It was not a great drive admittedly but you could row it along OK and it was reliable. Main attraction is the styling - I think these are one of the sharpest-looking of all 80's hatches.

 

[AlabamaShrimp]

My claim to fame is accidentally driving over an injured mouse in a lovely grey one many years ago. Poor mouse but very nice car.

 

Used to be loads as there was a dealer in town but they all disappeared very fast

[wuvvum]

Been ages since I saw a pre-facelift one of those.  I assume an early SXI would be a 1.5, wouldn't it?  I think they only got the 1.7 after the facelift.  Only experience of that engine I have was the one in my Malaga, which was both carb'd and rather poorly - would imagine they go quite well with fuel injection.

[Lacquer Peel]

Poor man's Nanjing Yuejin Soyat.

 

Looks great, I agree with you about the styling - much more slick than the Uno of the time.

I think it has a 1.5 badge on the wing wuvvum.

[Guest Renault20tx]

A splendid thread, Mr Bo11ox! Absolutely loaded with photos, fascinating information, and your opinions on the car - which I value and appreciate!

[Guest Renault20tx]

I'm off to have a look at this tomorrow:

 

 

 

 

 

My first proper girlfriend had a really tidy one of these and I drove it a lot.

 

What were you driving at the time

[trigger]

I really like that. I used to want one as a first car but back then I was young and unwise to the virtues of shite and deemed it unworthy for pulling sexy females in so bought a brown Nova instead.

 

Silly me.

[garethj]

Good choice, Bo11, they're a real looker.  Was that Seat's first car under VW group, or is it still mostly Fiat parts?

 

 

A splendid thread, Mr Bo11ox! Absolutely loaded with photos, fascinating information, and your opinions on the car - which I value and appreciate!

 

And just in case a few people didn't think you were a twat, thanks for ending any doubt.

[HMC]

Great looking thing! That early white you put in the e bay tat thread was a honey too. The pre facelift ones deffo have crisper detailing and love the " system porche " graphics some used to have down the flanks. "Like"

[Alexg]

Bloody hell that Ibiza looks brilliant. Nice one!

[bub2006]

Nice looking motor. What year is it? Are they trims or alloys? Another car that seems to have disappeared now. No early ones left. Used to be a red system porsche knocking about when I was growing up. I never did understand it!

[dollywobbler]

The force is strong in this one. Ace.

[fatharris]

Lovely.

 

Don't forget to set up a collection thread two weeks in advance.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[nigel bickle]

Boll! Welcome.

 

Recall, I drive 2 regularly, both 1990s, both blue, 1 a 1200, 1 a 1500. I love them to bits.

Rust- top leading to die of the front wings- rust trap,often hammered in and filled but cheap pattern wings are available on EBay.de. That's it, really.

 

Most parts easily available, and it's a mix of German & Italian engineering. I'd. Those tins ( nice, I have 2 spare sets) are 4x 98 - so Fiat/ Lanciachrome.

 

Bet you wished you packed with he A frame now....

[nigel bickle]

That'll run, easy. Tip a drop of fuel direct into the carb, floor the throttle, and it should splutter. If do,you just need clean fuel and a pull through.

If it's electrical, swipe the points clean

 

Pm.d

[Jim Bell]

Yes please. You must only drive it while wearing sunglasses as you may be dazzled by all the COOL.

[UltraWomble]

Looks tidy enough - I remember when they seemed to be all over the place ( popular with nurses in Manc when I first qualified back in '92).

 

Any ideas on why its a non runner? TBH I suppose thats immaterial if the body work is sound as there must be something that will drop into that engine bay without too much pain if its uterly FUBAR - does it have the "System Porsche" inscription on the donkey?

[drum]

Like.

I have a rear parcel shelf for one of these somewhere.

[Hertz]

That's exactly the same as my mums. Hang on my mums didn't have that lower bodykit, is that standard? Her's just had a lower decal with "System Porsche".

 

Looking forward to the collection shenanigans. 

[Taff]

Like.

I have a rear parcel shelf for one of these somewhere.

 

This is exactly the sort of shenanigans that makes Autoshite great.

 

Keeping spares for cars we no longer have and are unlikely to ever have again. Top man

[Mr_Bo11ox]

1.5 injected System Porsche in this. My experience is that they are a pretty impressively tough motor considering that they are unique to a cheap Spanish hatchback, but a bit asthmatic. I always wondered if a slight change to the cam profile or maybe a lighter flywheel might give the whole car the 'brio' that it ought to have. The floorpan is straight out of a Fiat Strada, and strada bushes and shockers etc will fit no probs. The rear suspension is a transverse leaf spring. They handle ok if a bit 'woody'. I did manage to spin my gf's one on a Sunderland roundabout, so can confirm that lift-off oversteer is available to skilled/very unskilled drivers.

[Vin]

Nice. Am I mistaken or where these also available with the old OHV 903cc unit...

[nigel bickle]

Yes, but those weren't very nice...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Affirmative

[conkerman]

Smashing. Always thought these are a sharply styled little car. Well played sir.

 

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[bub2006]

1.5 injected System Porsche in this. My experience is that they are a pretty impressively tough motor considering that they are unique to a cheap Spanish hatchback, but a bit asthmatic. I always wondered if a slight change to the cam profile or maybe a lighter flywheel might give the whole car the 'brio' that it ought to have. The floorpan is straight out of a Fiat Strada, and strada bushes and shockers etc will fit no probs. The rear suspension is a transverse leaf spring. They handle ok if a bit 'woody'. I did manage to spin my gf's one on a Sunderland roundabout, so can confirm that lift-off oversteer is available to skilled/very unskilled drivers.

Was there any difference in the system porsche models or was it just some badges?

[dollywobbler]

As mentioned, I think the engine was unique to the Seats, warmed over by Porsche yet somehow lacking in sparkle despite this. It's along the same sort of marketing lines as the Morris Ital I think.

[bub2006]

Ahh ok. Thanks.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Theyre a pretty interesting car I reckon. Until the early 80's all Seat had done was assemble Fiats with a few minor tweaks here and there, but eventually it got to the point where they needed a new car of their own, relations with Fiat having soured somewhat. I think fiat tried to stop them building the Ronda on the grounds that it was basically a Strada, but they demonstrated that enough parts had been changed for it to not be a Strada any more, and they were allowed to carry on building it. For their new car they used the floorpan they already knew, got giugiaro to draw them up a new shape and got Porsche to develop an all-new engine and box for them. The engine is pretty unexciting, its an 8v SOHC effort with iron block and alloy head, I dont think its derived from anything in particular so its quite impressive that it doesnt have any inherent flaws. The injected 'sporty' one is only 100bhp like so not really a tarmac ripper but fair play to Seat for managing to come up with something that was at least semi-competitive with the other european hatchbacks.

[bub2006]

Saying that,100hp is not to be sniffed at for a 1.5 engine of the time. Especially 8v too. Considering the ford Zetec 1.6 was only 89 bhp to start with. And I'd hazard a guess that it will be a lot lighter too.