RE: SEAT Leon Cupra R: Catch It While You Can
Discussion
I ran my LCR from new in 2003 until I traded it for a 120d in 2012. 140,000 very enjoyable miles with only a single failure: the VW clutch fracture. This happened at 138,000 miles. The local garage refused to even attempt the repair which involves unbolting the clutch master cylinder from the bulkhead. It sounds easy, but there is not enough space between the engine and bulkhead to insert your hand. The only other issues were warning lights and the inter cooler piping slowly collecting oil. When I stripped it at 100,000 miles there was probably half a pint on there. Great car, and my daughter has not forgiven me for selling it. She wanted it stored until she could afford the insurance.
I have had mine since 2005, practical, good looking, fast (especially with a decent remap) and still enjoy the almost old school turbo power delivery, maintenance costs are reasonable if you find a good independent.
The interior is well screwed together, no rattles and the brakes are top notch. They are an absolute bargain for the money now.
The interior is well screwed together, no rattles and the brakes are top notch. They are an absolute bargain for the money now.
Martin_Hx said:
I think these still look great.
I almost bought one instead of my CTR 7 years ago, i just thought the interior was a little dark and "old", i just didn't get on with the interior (same as the Mk1 Focus RS). They do look great on the outside though.
But i ended up with the CTR!
I did the same in 2005. A box fresh Cupra R was a quality piece of kit and fresh on the eyes, but all the 'specialness' was in the cosmetics and adopted components, unlike the CTR (drivetrain) and 182 Cup (handling). The Leons I tried seemed a touch soft especially under braking.I almost bought one instead of my CTR 7 years ago, i just thought the interior was a little dark and "old", i just didn't get on with the interior (same as the Mk1 Focus RS). They do look great on the outside though.
But i ended up with the CTR!
A few years later on I got a Leon 1.8VT "FR" with the K03a turbo. Nice engine but practically broke my spine due to the ride 'quality'.
I guess we were lucky in that era though, with horses-for-courses hot hatches (N/A vs Turbo, 3dr vs 5dr etc) whereas these days they're all getting a bit homogenous.
I had a 2002 Cupra, which I sold over a year ago. It was and still is a good looking car. It was quick and good low down torque. The ride was firm but not uncomfortable and it handled quite well. Certainly better than my friend's MK4 Golf GTi. It was, however, the car that I've spent most on maintaining. Wiper motor had to be replaced, the front spring snapped, temp sensor, various other bits and pieces. There were squeaks and rattles seemingly coming from all around the cabin. It suffered from the infamous water leak. Coupled with the high road tax, I eventually got fed up spending so much and replaced it with a 1.6 Focus.
Having said that, I'd still consider a low mileage, well maintained late model Cupra R.
Having said that, I'd still consider a low mileage, well maintained late model Cupra R.
I owned a 210hp LCR for about 3 years and did over 20,000 miles a year, it was awesome, so much so that I keep looking at getting another one, just for fun. I had it remapped to a supposed 260hp and it was very quick, however tyres lasted no more than 10,000 miles and I went through clutches in 18 months max, very costly.
The Cupra R appeals a fair bit, but having had experience of the 1.8T engine in a VW Passat, I know that they have their issues as the miles rack up!
Funnily enough if I was going to have that generation Seat, I'd probably plump for the Q Car Toledo TDI 150 and get it re-mapped! I was well impressed with a drive I had in one of those and the boot is massive.
Anyway, I'd take a CTR any-day over a Cupra R. Now THAT is a car that I feel WILL be a future classic.
Funnily enough if I was going to have that generation Seat, I'd probably plump for the Q Car Toledo TDI 150 and get it re-mapped! I was well impressed with a drive I had in one of those and the boot is massive.
Anyway, I'd take a CTR any-day over a Cupra R. Now THAT is a car that I feel WILL be a future classic.
GreenArrow said:
Anyway, I'd take a CTR any-day over a Cupra R. Now THAT is a car that I feel WILL be a future classic.
Definitely. Any Type R will end up being a thing worth holding on to. Especially if the 2015 CTR doesn't get good reviews. If I had £5k and I had a choice between a LTR and either a ITR or CTR, the LTR wouldn't even be a consideration. And you will need to spend more than what's been suggested in the article if you want one that hasn't been ruined by dude-bros.
I sold my completely standard (even down to the crap rear wiper) 2003 210 in March after 33,000 miles of most trouble free motoring. I say mostly, as the last 5-10,000 miles were marred with numerous issues. In the end, it was becoming too costly to keep (££££'s spent repairing things) and I got shot in favour of a mint 350Z! Man maths... Anywho, given the space I'd have kept the Leon and run two cars. I still miss her, as even with all the niggles she was a fantastic car that you looked back at when parked up as they look great! Maybe I'll buy her back in a couple of years if she's still knocking about.
Hellbound said:
Definitely. Any Type R will end up being a thing worth holding on to. Especially if the 2015 CTR doesn't get good reviews.
If I had £5k and I had a choice between a LTR and either a ITR or CTR, the LTR wouldn't even be a consideration. And you will need to spend more than what's been suggested in the article if you want one that hasn't been ruined by dude-bros.
ITR = The thinking mans hot hatchIf I had £5k and I had a choice between a LTR and either a ITR or CTR, the LTR wouldn't even be a consideration. And you will need to spend more than what's been suggested in the article if you want one that hasn't been ruined by dude-bros.
CTR = The baseballcap wearing mans hot hatch
LTR = The married mans (with kids) hot hatch
They are all excellent cars that cater for slightly different needs.
Also you don't need to spend 5k, mine has sold for near asking price and it is in excellent condition.
I still have a soft spot for these, and I think the years have been kind to them.
Looked at buying a new one at the time, but during my test drive the flashing yellow on the dash due to spinning fronts all the time put me off.
Maybe its an unfair comparison grip wise as I was coming from a scoob at the time, but the nanny light seemed to be on almost permanently.
Looked at buying a new one at the time, but during my test drive the flashing yellow on the dash due to spinning fronts all the time put me off.
Maybe its an unfair comparison grip wise as I was coming from a scoob at the time, but the nanny light seemed to be on almost permanently.
Had one and loved it. Do not buy yellow it ages and fades horribly. Look out for leaking seals and thus a car full of water and pulsing air con fan, both well known faults on these. Fast but clinical you really don't get the sense of speed, great for daily commuting less fun for hooning. Sadly the chav choice now near me, one of the reasons I sold mine.
Got the diesel version and it goes pretty well after remapping. Also returned a genuine 60mpg today on a briskish 112 mile run from Aviemore back to Aberdeen over the Cairngorms.
Leaking door seals common but easy to fix with some silicone. Yellow paint lacquer peels and becomes opaque. AC fan control unit fails. Door lock units can fail. Overall it's been moe problematic than my other cars but I like the styling.
Not very exciting to drive but handles well enough and makes a good long-distance cruiser.
Leaking door seals common but easy to fix with some silicone. Yellow paint lacquer peels and becomes opaque. AC fan control unit fails. Door lock units can fail. Overall it's been moe problematic than my other cars but I like the styling.
Not very exciting to drive but handles well enough and makes a good long-distance cruiser.
I had a LCR 225, modded up to 280bhp. It was good, comfy enough and pretty quick, didn't really suffer from torque steer or struggling for grip under hard acceleration, but the tyres didn't last that well either. In the end I sold it and bought an EP3, which was a lot slower, in a straight line at least, but much more special and fun to drive.
Future classics,nah. They are the best looking hot hatch of at least the last 15 years though.
Future classics,nah. They are the best looking hot hatch of at least the last 15 years though.
When I had my (standard) MR2 Turbo I had a couple of plays with full-fat LCRs on the M6 and was very impressed.
Always thought the Leon Cupra looked good, and am now considering one as a daily driver. Slightly concerned at some posters becoming bored with the driving experience though. If I buy one it'll replace a Mk3 MR2 which has less poke but very direct and adjustable RWD handling. I've done pokey FWD before though; I even drove a Mk3 Golf VR6 for years...
Might try one. Future classic? Don't think so, not in the same VAG bracket as the Corrado VR6 etc.
Always thought the Leon Cupra looked good, and am now considering one as a daily driver. Slightly concerned at some posters becoming bored with the driving experience though. If I buy one it'll replace a Mk3 MR2 which has less poke but very direct and adjustable RWD handling. I've done pokey FWD before though; I even drove a Mk3 Golf VR6 for years...
Might try one. Future classic? Don't think so, not in the same VAG bracket as the Corrado VR6 etc.
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