Test Drive Seat Cordoba since 2003 Sedan
Winter joy
A year and a half ago I had a chance to participate in the first navigator rally VW-Golden Ring. The crew of the motor in the draw got the simplest car - Polo Classic 1.6, which did not prevent the fourth place in the absolute and third in the speed slam. Meeting with SEAT CORDOBA 1.6 - a direct classmate Polo - not only caused pleasant memories, but also brought new sensations. Winter.
The appearance of the car is friendly friend, the frontal part is like the Ibiza model, and also reminds Koal. Color - metallic, the snow queen (strictly for the season), this is up to the features of body lines with almost any car. The Cordoba profile differs little from Polo Classic: low hood and high feed. On the stern, for some reason there is a small anti-collar - when the drive is not too necessary item. However, the main thing that interests me is how appropriate the Spanish car in our winter conditions is. Ronal alloy wheels with studded Rubber GISLAVED NORDFROST 3 Size 185 / 60R14 Surely make the way more pleasant. While the car hung in the cabin on the lift (tire replacement), I examined the bottom. It is absolutely flat, divided along only the graduation tract tunnel. In the middle and end, the tunnel broke across two screeds - it protects the pipes and a resonator from mechanical damage and gives the body an additional rigidity. Brake tubes are also well insured against damage, everywhere at the bottom of the anticorrosion processing. The engine crankcase has its own defense, externally not a butafors. In the rear breath there are silencer and compartment for the spare wheel. 
Wheels are put on, the lift is lowered, you can look into the salon. You won't call him spacious, but four will place almost comfortably. Torpedo is very different from Volkswagenovsky, there is only a turn of instruments with four round dials and a plurality of control light bulbs. The backlight of the devices is red - what is needed for twilight. In the same range, a large LCD display in the central part of the torpedo is set. Information about the temperature inside and overboard, the mode of operation of the audio installation (music is regular, but plays well), as well as time. It can be said, the front panel is made under the driver, the passenger remains only heating deflectors, airbag compartment and a very spacious glove box with cup holders. The landing is comfortable, unobtrusive belts, the seat fabric is well opposed to slipping. Armchairs have mechanical adjustments - here too, no complaints. True, pillows and backs are harsh. Rear is less free, but the volume of the luggage interior is simply created for the carriage of large loads. It seems that by folding partially or completely the back seat, you can drive a small elephant into the car. The body rigidity is provided by a powerful cross-linking rear rack, it is the base for the loops of the trunk cover. Under the dilated molded rug, a spare-crutch was attached on an ugly black disk, although the trunk would freely take a full-size wheel. There are also a jack and a regular tank capacity, separately lies a balloon key ...
It's time to the road. Once again, looking around the car, I note the difference in the size of the arches of the front and rear wheels, which is emphasized by the body of the body. Barank is nice in hand, a big hub with a safety pillow does not interfere with the survey of instruments. The red zone on the tachometer begins with 6500 revolutions per minute (per feeling, the limiter works about 6,700 revolutions). In the closed room, the engine sound is invalid-roller - nothing in common with the German brother VW Polo. Spring of the rear transmission retainer is much more elastic than in Ibiza, this is a plus. The space above the head is rather necessary than sufficient. A review of good, in the outer mirrors is excellent, the inner mirror is inner-informative - too high feed, and the anti-cycle interferes. Light control is traditionally made on a swivel-exhaust multi-position switch. Interestingly, the closest light will automatically light up with the rotation of the key, and I could not turn off it. In some countries, it is not possible to ride anything other than the headlights - apparently, in this particular car, it is also taken into account.
Mechanically subside the chair, I leave on the street. There - tight snowfall. (Strange: in the last test model Seat - Leon 1.8 20V - Hurricane happened.) Visibility - meters 300, speed - 30-40 km / h. People are clearly reinsured - free bands of the roadway are separated by rather dense snowy trees of a variable height and width. What seems asphalt, in fact, a layer of ice, places sunk to shine.
The car confidently starts, and slows down, the work of the ABS without comments. Rebuilding from a number of in a row, without any problems, drove through the snowy brutals. With such rubber, you can feel confident enough, and therefore I go much faster than the stream. The engine sound as it would be suggested to switch more often, just turns out, and in the entire range of revolutions (in these road conditions - from 1500 to 4000). Cordoba is effortlessly bend from the second transmission, the clutch pedal is very informative and allows you to dispense the torque, without breaking the wheels into the beams. Brake better combined: pedal and reduction of transmission. The motor reset the motor reacts with a clear cutoff, while the noise penetrates through sound insulation in very moderate quantities. Issue - just a masterpiece!
The box is quiet, and control it is one pleasure: the amplitude of the moves of the lever is optimal, the neutral position is clearly determined. The suspension is sufficiently tough, but in moderation is the energy-intensive, road microrelief, characteristic of the city winter, sedaws do not feel, despite the fact that the seat, as already mentioned, do not differ special softness. Steering with an amplifier is acute and informative, the car is typical front-wheel drivers. The climatic installation has so necessary in our latitudes, it has even excessive performance, thanks to which they stop sitting after a few minutes after the landing. Glass, by the way, do not touch at all. The second row is blown less intensively, but it was not possible to extended there - even in light boots. The day with Cordoba led to an unambiguous conclusion - this car is perfectly adapted to the Moscow conditions. It is important in the conditions of the Winter City Movement and its moderate appetite. I struck the volume of the sweeper washer tank: more than 6 liters! Is there really dirty roads in Spain?
The potential Cordoba buyer can embarrass the high price, but for his money he will receive a high-quality automotive product - a confident movement by the Suklon in a sporty style in any climatic conditions. And this in some cases is much more expensive.
Text: Egor Carpunin
A source: Motor magazine [№1 / 2002]
