General Cinq vs Sei

[rallychick]

In January as much as I love my cinq I need something a bit newer as I need to find something to keep for a few years. Now I was going for the newer Punto sporting on about a Y reg but although the triptronic gear box thingy was nice I don't like where your sat in the punto as I felt closed in.

So decided on a seicento Sporting as new as I can possibly get for 3k. found one with 2700 miles at about that price recently. Anyway, was talking to a lad at Uni with one and he says he wishes he had NEVER swapped from Cinq to Sei. It was okay on a test drive but what do people that have driven both think???

There is a chance I could throw the money at the cinq instead you see

Cheers.

P.s Is there a women member on here in the Derby area with aa seicento sporting with Nutty Tart on the rear window in graphics.????

 

[HP]

Best bet is to go and take it for a test drive, not the 30 second one the bloke in the showroom wants you to do but around roads you know well so you can compare.
I know of a couple of people who didn't like the Sei after the cinq, mainly because to them it felt more 'detached' - probably to do with it feeling more refined and quieter etc. - but the flip side is some people prefer the extra comfort.

It's a bit of a horses for courses thing.

 

[ivantate]

I changed the girlfriends car from a Cinq Soliel to a Seicento Sporting about 3 months ago and although she loved the old car she says the new one is almost like a proper car!!
I guess power steering, more oomph and some sound proofing are the things that do it.

I would also say if you spend alot of time on larger roads the standard Seicento may be better due to higher gearing. 4500rpm at 70-75mph isnt good for your ears, economy or engine wear.

 

[GeX]

I am a Sei owner but have drive arcs cinq on many occasions and have concluded that there is little difference. I know that mine and arcs cars are different in many ways (i have a 1242 and ground clearence) but the drive is very similar. I am biased but, i prefer the sei purely because i am not a fan of the cinqs dash and control setup. Three stalks on the steering wheel and not one of em controls you lights. Oh and the rear mirror has a smaller viewing area.
Not a lot in it really.

 

[arc]

yeah, but the later cinq has the same stalks as the sei and im sure u could get a rear view mirror with a magnifying lens.

i hear what pete is saying about them feeling detached, gex's sei feels like a bigger car when ive driven it - its like when you have pins and needles in your hand it feels odd, numb and bigger. Does that really make sense?

Handling wise, yeah they're similar. The steering was always lighter in the cinq compared to the sei, which didnt make much sense but i think since gex had some new tyres fitted it improved.

With regards to dashes tho, its swings and roundabouts - personally i hate most of the sei dashboard about from the fact the centre bit looks better. Shame they attached the tacky carbon fibre stuff to it. The actual instrument display, again i dont like that at all. It looks lost, its too small - completly obscured by the steering wheel.

The sei is a better built car tho.

 

[surfin_fella]

i haven't driven a Sei Sporting, but when I drove Silver_Sei's SX it did feel like a totally different car. that was due to the lowering, bucket seats and harnesses. I really fancy trying a Sei Sporting out actually. I have grown a fondness towards Gaz+Babysei's. But i would NOT buy one!

To quote Rob Whitney "A Sei is just a Cinq in drag"

 

[jimmosan]

I own a sei but what I like about the cinq is the purity of the design concept. When the cinq was put together everything was designed to go together, the body is clean and unfussy, it's specd as a town car, basic and comfortable for short distances. The sei, however, suffers from being an evolutionary product. The body is sweet but constrained by the dimensions of the cinq, lacks the slightly agressive appearance. The inside is a bit fussy and, while making it feel like a proper car, removes the slightly utilitarian edge, which I like. All this said, I really like my sei and have grown fonder and fonder over my three years ownership.

 

[rallychick]

Whats worrying me is I like the real feel of the cinq sporting being a drivers car.. no Power steering etc.. you can feel the road. The cinqs suspension is actually quite refined from the track set up I had in my 1.8 metro. Although obviously I had Power steering and comfy driving in my 200sx but that isn't in the same league as we are talking about here.

I want to test drive a seicento and get to "drive" it but not sure how the garage would feel about me giving a test car a little bit of stick. Have thought about just going to private sales with the cash and having a drive or seeing if the bloke at Uni will let me have a go. But he has seen me track side and is a tad reluctant. ( I am actually not bad on the roads as tracks are far better..no speed cameras for one)

I can't say there is anything I dislike about my cinq but I do need to get a much newer car if possible.

I guess I have to blag myself a real test drive somewhere.

Cheers.

btw... not sure if I said but it will be the sporting as I already have a cinq sporting.

 

[BlackSei]

so how far does a cinq s to a sei sport feel to drive?

somebody said the sei is better built? is that true, in what sense... are sei's less likely to brake down?

 

[Guzzi Steve]

I have owned my Sei Sporting since July,& I am really made up with it.I don't normally enjoy driving cars,to me driving is a bit of a chore, like washing the pots.But thats where the little Sei cuts teh mustard,they are just so much fun! I have drawn many comparisons to my old X/19 handling wise.If anything I think the Sei handles slightly better especially in the wet.They are an involving drive,underpowered for sure,but at the price you can't go wrong! When funds allow,mine is getting a Janspeed full stainless exaust,& a GSR stage 2 throttle body. :devil: I regularly go to Oxford & back in a day in mine no prob.They will cruise quietly at 80+ all day long.Mine is flat out at about 104 on a private road yer honour!

 

[gaz.d]

sie - next time we meet, i will swap with u

i havent drivin a cinq sporting, but ive driven a sx

the only real problem i had with it was the steering, i found it really hard compared to my sei, i know i have got power steering, but should u really need to tug it to turn

 

[HP]

I want to test drive a seicento and get to "drive" it but not sure how the garage would feel about me giving a test car a little bit of stick..

Last few times I've test driven cars they've let me out on my own. Just make it clear to blokey/lady (if he/she comes with you) that you want to know how it will go when you're wanting to press on, i.e. real world driving. Tell them you'll try not to kill them (with a little wink, quote x years accident/conviction free) and see what they say, if they won't let you drive how you want to, ask them why - scared it'll show up faults with the car? - then try another garage if you get a response you don't like. There's plenty for sale, make it clear you like the look of the car but have no qualms about going elsewhere if they don't want to play ball.

I nearly put a salesman through the windscreen when I was test driving a Mundano, told him I was gonna do a brake test but it looks like he 'forgot' to put his seat belt on. Classic!

Watch all the old tricks too if you're trading in - like expecting you to pay for a warranty (try to get it thrown in, hell are they expecting your new car to break down?), expecting you to pay for tax but leave disc on old car, the old 'phonecall' to a trader who can get you a 'really good price' for trade in when all they're listening to is "At the third stroke, the time (sponsored by Accurist) is ..."

Sorry if I'm talking down, not met you so don't really know you.

 

[surfin_fella]

sie - next time we meet, i will swap with u

Sure, just watch that clutch cable!

 

[rallychick]

Sorry if I'm talking down, not met you so don't really know you.

hehehe.. no worrys. I am used to dealers and frequent the auctions to look for new cars. I normally get dealers and garages trying to pull a fast one because I am female but soon they realise I normally know my stuff..

I shall try and get someone to give me decent test drive and quote my 3 years almost no claims and almost 2 years on a full licence. And X amount of cars that I have driven.

 

[gaz.d]

Sure, just watch that clutch cable!

well i got 3 spare so im sure we can sort something out

 

[Liam]

Ace advice from Pete, I'll take heed and put that to good use next time.

Liam <gives Pete virtual rep>

 

[smurfhead]

My technique when buying the Sei was pretend it is REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY pushing the bank. They will do owt for a sale at Perry's in Huddersfield.
Got my Y reg with 17500 miles on it for the same price they were selling a X reg mk1 with 15000 miles. Knocked hundereds off cuz they cud c I would walk away without spending. They don't look so chuffed now though when I take it there for parts and its got flashy new bits every time. hehe.

 

[fordy]

the sei is a really nice car - it just feels a bit gutless cos i went from a nova that did 0-60 in 7.9 (est) to a car that does it in about 10. but never the less i love the car,
my girlfriend has a cinq abarth sporting and it feels quicker on acceleration but runs out of puff at about 95mph, there really aint a lot in it

but my sei is for sale cos i am getting a renault 21 turbo if all goes to plan and the insurance is only £150 more than the sei!

 

[rallychick]

I have had a test drive now and not majorly impressed but I dont like p/s anyway.. sure I could grow to love it. However, I may just let the other half have the cinq, sell the punto and buy a Range rover again. ( seeing as I dont think weather is going to be to good this year)

I am not sure that whatever I buy ( apart from a 4x4) that I will get up the hill I live on once winter really sets in. Last year it was pointless to try and take anything out but the rangey.

 

[arc]

panda 4x4