Thursday 21st August 2014

SEAT Leon Cupra R: Catch It While You Can

For the price of SEAT's new Sub-8 upgrade you could have a whole Leon Cupra R. Is it a classic in waiting?

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So SEAT has a new 'Sub-8' performance pack out for its new Leon Cupra 280. I'll agree it seems like a tasty enough bit of kit: chunky 370mm front discs and Brembo four-pots (yum), side skirts (hmm, maybe not) and 19-inch wheels in orange if you like (and I do - being very much of the Spangles and Space Hopper era).

Even the price (£2,025) looks tempting. But hang on. For little more than the cost of the Sub-8 package, you could have an entire SEAT Leon Cupra.

Cupras are down as Shed money...

The original Cupra is on its way to becoming a minor classic. Born at a time when VW really wanted SEAT to be its sporty brand, if I say that the Leon Cupra is basically a Golf GTI Mk4, I'd be doing it a disservice. It's far better than that: more power, a better spec, sharper manners and a subtler road presence. I well remember doing a group test of hot hatchbacks back in 2003 and SEAT's Leon Cupra R emerging as the comfortable winner.

Let the Golf GTI be the 'one to have' with all the pumped-up pricing that go with it. No, the Leon will never be as desirable as a Golf, but that makes it sufficiently under the radar that the 'lion' is not so much roaring as mewing quietly in a corner.

Which, of course, is great news for buyers. Prices in the classifieds for early 180hp Cupras now start at Shed money. I did raise my eyebrows at the £1,100 price tag of a 20V T Leon Cupra of 2002 vintage with 79,000 miles, 10 months MOT and a smidge of tax.

... and the Cupra R under £3K. Tempted?

But the 20V T is not 'the one' - that's the Cupra R of course. As launched in 2002, the engine came straight from the Audi S3, with 210hp in initial form. The 225hp version that superseded it in 2003 is even better, and its 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds is still respectable.

With the entry ticket for 225hp R ownership starting at just £2,750, the only way is up. That buys you an unmolested 2004 model with 118,000 miles. Sure, it's got a few scratches and not much tread left on the PZeros, but a straight R for under £3K has got bargain written all over it.

Thing is, the Cupra's 1.8 turbo engine is tough, long-lasting and eminently tuneable. Many owners get tempted into remaps and (usually noisy) free-flow exhausts, which often means upgrades in other areas to cope.

Modified cars common, standard most desirable

There's plenty of choice of upgraded metal out there. The owner of this remapped, decatted 260hp R is "open to sensible offers", so it could likely be yours for under £3K. Another R with a 265hp Stage 1 Revo remap is up for £3,400.

As ever, my mantra with older performance cars is: keep it original. Sure enough, unmolested Cupras are becoming scarcer. Find a well looked-after original-spec Cupra R 225, pay £3-4K for it and you'll be on to a winner, I reckon. And one final word in favour of the Leon: being pre-2006, you'll even avoid the crushing top-rate VED.

[Mike1990]

There's something about these LCR's that excites me, they still look fantastic even buy today's standard's.

My cousin had a fairly well sorted one,

• Forge FMIC
• Forge Dump Valve
• Jabbasport Airbox/Filter
• Mapped and RR'd at 270BHP by REVO
• KW V1 Coilover's with full Geo setup
• Neuspeed (IIRC) Front and Rear ARB's
• DS2500 Brake Pad's Front and Rear
• Uniroyal Rainsport 2 Tire's all round.

It was a sure capable hot hatch, just lacked some character.

Few pictures of it with my VXR,

Untitled by michael.smith199042, on Flickr

by michael.smith199042, on Flickr

by michael.smith199042, on Flickr

[Mike1990]

T31WRC said:

Sold my classic scoob of 6 years to buy an ex demo 'revo'd ' r, but like the 1st couple of posters stated, it lacked that something special. It was quick, comfortable and IMO very good looking ,but for some reason I always felt the need to drive it like I'd nicked it in order to get any enjoyment out of it. Sold it after 18 months. Glad I owned one, but have never really missed it, so to me that says something as I usually regret selling all my past cars.

My cousin said exactly the same, you have to drive it really hard and push it to the limit and just beyond it for to get exciting which lead to him getting a Renaultsport Clio 182 in fear of losing his licence LOL in which you can properly enjoy a half the speed. Although after having a 172 i'd pick the LCR everytime.