I like these, I think the 1.0 TSi FR Ibiza is a fantastic model. Well made, robust, good spec, good on fuel, a bit sporty to drive without rattling your fillings out over rough roads. It’s just one of those cars that’s just right from the off. That they’re popular with young drivers and affordable to insure means they’re an easy sell when you want rid of it too.

Overall, I think SEAT got most things right with this model.

Looks good, without looking aggressive. Good size. Right engine, Nice gearbox.

When I got this car, I was looking for a car with LED Headlamps, Cruise control and Heated mirrors. To get any (and all) of these features, I had to go for at least the FR or Xcellence models, which were both the same price.

The reason I chose the FR was that the Xcellence had Keyless Entry (and ignition), whereas the FR had standard remote central locking and a conventional ignition key.

I also really like the automatic dipping interior mirror.

I’ve now had my SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSi (115) for 5 years and 80,000 miles. I have owned it from new.

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As I have stated previously, I have 2 criticisms of this car. The 1st is, there is no courtesy light over the rear seats and no light escapes from the front light unit to illuminate the rear of the car. The 2nd is, the car only has one extremely feeble reversing light, which makes reversing the car in the pitch dark challenging.

The reversing light is there to alert other road users that you are carrying out a reverse manoeuver?

Well that depends on the angle they approach from. Often a single reversing lamp can be obscured and not be visible to other road users, unless they are approaching the car nearly straight on.

However, I've had a number of cars which have had decent reversing lights which you can see with in the dark. Examples: 1999 VW Transporter, 2004 Clio, 2012 Fiesta.

They could and should be better on this car. I don't dispute that the reversing light meets the legal requirement, it's just that the standard is so poor.

I’ve now had my SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSi (115) for 5 years and 80,000 miles. I have owned it from new.

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As I have stated previously, I have 2 criticisms of this car. The 1st is, there is no courtesy light over the rear seats and no light escapes from the front light unit to illuminate the rear of the car. The 2nd is, the car only has one extremely feeble reversing light, which makes reversing the car in the pitch dark challenging.

The reversing light is there to alert other road users that you are carrying out a reverse manoeuver?

Hyundai provide two reversing lights, on my i30 and i10 I have found these really useful reversing where there are no street lights. Only providing one seems a bit of a cheapskate idea, how much extra would it cost?

My VW Touareg had rather feeble reversing lights, so I replaced the bulbs with a pair of canbus-compatible LEDs which are a huge improvement. The canbus-compatible was needed to prevent the bulb-failure system working overtime.

As I have stated previously, I have 2 criticisms of this car .... there is no courtesy light over the rear seats and no light escapes from the front light unit to illuminate the rear of the car.

Is there a chance that higher-spec Ibiza versions have rear courtesy lights, and the wiring loom for them is hidden behind the trim, so you could fit some ? I ask because altho my elderly 205 (1991) has no dimming resistor for the instrument lighting, the wiring for one is behind the steering cowl, shorted out.

Thanks Andrew-T. A very good thought, but none of this generation of Ibiza have the rear courtesy lamp. Looking about online, some owners have fitted their own rear courtesy lamps (mainly to the SEAT Arona's) and wired them directly to the front one.

I don't have a problem with wiring a rear set in, but I just don't want to cut the headlining, you only get the one chance at it.