RE: SEAT Leon Cupra 280: PH Fleet
Discussion
I we had mine for almost 2 weeks and so far, I love it. Fake engine noise is great. I thought I'd hate it, but I actually love it. The nav not accepting postcodes is a pain, but one I can live with. I just google the address. I have the basic stereo, and it's really good. The optional upgraded stereo must be awesome.
Bad points? Wheels are too big, making it ride a bit crap. Would much prefer some wider 18's. The exhaust looks wrong, like an afterthought. Needs twin round tailpipes like the FR. The looks are a bit too understated, so I plan on getting the accessory side skirts from the sub8 pack, which are a ridiculous £700 fitted... But I think they will help it stand out next to the FR.
But overall, I love it.
Bad points? Wheels are too big, making it ride a bit crap. Would much prefer some wider 18's. The exhaust looks wrong, like an afterthought. Needs twin round tailpipes like the FR. The looks are a bit too understated, so I plan on getting the accessory side skirts from the sub8 pack, which are a ridiculous £700 fitted... But I think they will help it stand out next to the FR.
But overall, I love it.
A 30k car that doesn't accept postcodes in the sat nav is pretty terriblé imo. (Going off what I read above it seemed to be the case but glad to know it does.)
I've got an equivalent car to the Golf R and the Seat. It's a hoot. I get about 28mpg my other half got 40mpg on or way up through Scotland.
I took off twice today in the car going over a fun country lane.
The Cupra looks really good value for money if specced correctly but sack the sat nav off!
I've got an equivalent car to the Golf R and the Seat. It's a hoot. I get about 28mpg my other half got 40mpg on or way up through Scotland.
I took off twice today in the car going over a fun country lane.
The Cupra looks really good value for money if specced correctly but sack the sat nav off!
Edited by WokkaWokka on Thursday 6th November 16:37
I've had mine coming up for 4 months now, a manual 5 door 280 with metallic silver paint and space saver as the only options. So far so good, this is my main family car (changed from a Mazda 6 Sport) and it's delivered everything I want of it without any problems. On longer journeys I typically get around 33mpg if pressing on, high 30s when taking it easier. I mainly use it for commuting, school runs etc. but long journeys are great in it - standard alcantara seats are good, ride is acceptable in Comfort setting, all the driver aids you will typically need as standard - and serious pace if you are in the mood.
Best bits for me are;
- Plentiful and readily accessible power, strong and smooth delivery from low revs
- Great handling, still can't believe how a FWD car can corner that quickly without understeer when deploying the diff.
- Generous kit as standard and enough space for four
Not so good points
- The Sat Nav definitely does accept post codes per previous response in this thread but it still isn't a great system - v poor compared to standard Nissan offering.
- Now evenings are darker the jury is out on the LED headlights - I think they look great but for me they just don't light up the road like the xenons on my last car.
- lack of guttering means you get wet if you open the window with any water sitting on the car - you learn not to but still annoying.
- Not that fond of the wheel design, they look frighteningly easy to damage, saying that it has made me a more careful (and nervous) parker.
There are multiple menus for all manner of functions, many are intuitive but some are a bit odd or just plain hard to fathom. I've found that the CupraNet community are great, the forums there usually have answers to the stuff I've struggled to figure out such as how to activate the heated elements in the mirrors, getting the passenger mirror to dip in reverse, input postcodes etc.
I'm on a 2 year personal lease so not worried about depreciation - the low lease price would indicate that the projected residual value compared to the supply price is pretty good though (unless they were massively discounted to boost numbers). I'm trying not to think about what I'll replace it with as it's hard to imagine having this much fun for the same money. Saying that, there are some excellent lease deals on the Golf R right now, just hope something like that is being heavily backed come July 2016...
Best bits for me are;
- Plentiful and readily accessible power, strong and smooth delivery from low revs
- Great handling, still can't believe how a FWD car can corner that quickly without understeer when deploying the diff.
- Generous kit as standard and enough space for four
Not so good points
- The Sat Nav definitely does accept post codes per previous response in this thread but it still isn't a great system - v poor compared to standard Nissan offering.
- Now evenings are darker the jury is out on the LED headlights - I think they look great but for me they just don't light up the road like the xenons on my last car.
- lack of guttering means you get wet if you open the window with any water sitting on the car - you learn not to but still annoying.
- Not that fond of the wheel design, they look frighteningly easy to damage, saying that it has made me a more careful (and nervous) parker.
There are multiple menus for all manner of functions, many are intuitive but some are a bit odd or just plain hard to fathom. I've found that the CupraNet community are great, the forums there usually have answers to the stuff I've struggled to figure out such as how to activate the heated elements in the mirrors, getting the passenger mirror to dip in reverse, input postcodes etc.
I'm on a 2 year personal lease so not worried about depreciation - the low lease price would indicate that the projected residual value compared to the supply price is pretty good though (unless they were massively discounted to boost numbers). I'm trying not to think about what I'll replace it with as it's hard to imagine having this much fun for the same money. Saying that, there are some excellent lease deals on the Golf R right now, just hope something like that is being heavily backed come July 2016...
A mate has a 280 DSG which returns mid 20s with hard use, very high 30s in normal motorway use. Setting the cruise at 70 sees it go past 40. The nav does take post codes.
Anyone asking why you'd have one over a Golf R, there are two reasons - first is for as many people who want a Golf you'll find one who wants to do something a little different. And, drive them back to back and the Cupra is actually more engaging (feels lighter and pointier - golf would be quicker in poor conditions obviously - but it's the cupra by small margins in the dry).... Worth watching a few comparison tests as it's a surprise VAG would allow this car to tread on the Golf R's toes the way it does. Also worth noting the price differential rises when you start adding some packs / options.
Anyone asking why you'd have one over a Golf R, there are two reasons - first is for as many people who want a Golf you'll find one who wants to do something a little different. And, drive them back to back and the Cupra is actually more engaging (feels lighter and pointier - golf would be quicker in poor conditions obviously - but it's the cupra by small margins in the dry).... Worth watching a few comparison tests as it's a surprise VAG would allow this car to tread on the Golf R's toes the way it does. Also worth noting the price differential rises when you start adding some packs / options.
The reason I chose the Seat over the Golf was simple. Money. The golf with all the same options as the Seat has standard, was 34k. The Seat was 27k.
Also, Seat did interest free finance, VW did not. I could have leased the Golf I suppose, but then it would never have been my car. I barely use Sat Nav as I have an age old ability to read maps and plan my journey. So for me, the Seat fits nicely.
Although, I may move this on in a few years for a used Golf R as it's definitely the better car.
Also, Seat did interest free finance, VW did not. I could have leased the Golf I suppose, but then it would never have been my car. I barely use Sat Nav as I have an age old ability to read maps and plan my journey. So for me, the Seat fits nicely.
Although, I may move this on in a few years for a used Golf R as it's definitely the better car.
It is strange that you can't spec the 280 with the smaller 18" wheels, they make much more sense on our rough pot holed roads. I've ordered my FR with 17" wheels rather than the optional better looking 18" wheels for that reason.
Glad that the standard nav does take postcodes, I think I read that the more advanced VAG unit will be available as an option soon.
Glad that the standard nav does take postcodes, I think I read that the more advanced VAG unit will be available as an option soon.
I've had mine a 5dr 280dsg since October and done 1,700 miles. it's averaging 32mpg with a best of 35.8 on a trip from SW19 to Humberside, followed by 34.8 on a trip to Aberystwyth.
It certainly does have Postcode input, if you hit the town button it then pops up in the bottom left corner.
It certainly does have Postcode input, if you hit the town button it then pops up in the bottom left corner.
I had it on an independent RR the other day (It had been on REVO's hub dyno)
318 engine power using REVO stock file and VWR intake, 374 engine power using REVO stage1 file and VWR intake.
Now they sound quite high but 2x other Cupra 280 with Stage1 files have been RR'd since at different RR in the country (1 was up in Scotland and one Durham) and they both made very similar results to mine.
VWR's Golf R made similar figures aswell.
My previous car was a Stage2+ MK2 Leon Cupra R and this is easily as fast already.
318 engine power using REVO stock file and VWR intake, 374 engine power using REVO stage1 file and VWR intake.
Now they sound quite high but 2x other Cupra 280 with Stage1 files have been RR'd since at different RR in the country (1 was up in Scotland and one Durham) and they both made very similar results to mine.
VWR's Golf R made similar figures aswell.
My previous car was a Stage2+ MK2 Leon Cupra R and this is easily as fast already.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff