RE: SEAT Leon Cupra 280: PH Fleet
Tuesday 9th December 2014
You know how it is with long-term test cars. Very good car arrives on loan, remains very good for a few months and then, just when it look like there's nothing left to write about, 'that drive' happens and the relationship is far more positive. I shared your cynicism. Right up until I had that drive in the Leon. Damn.
Wales and Leon a great matchIt was my transport for the Race of Remembrance weekend and it was, quite simply, brilliant. Whatever scenario was thrown at the Cupra over three days it absolutely excelled at. It was used to dry race suits, it was slogged across motorways, it was thrashed across Wales, I ate meals in it and I also got lost in a caravan park. All the time the SEAT was there and seemingly perfect for the task at hand. Which is kind of what you want a hot hatch to do. But it so far exceeded my expectations for a do-it-all performance car that I can't help but like it so much more.
Perfect for the way home tooThe A5 that takes you most of the way across Wales was the perfect indicator of the Cupra's strengths. It's a fast and flowing road when clear, a great test of acceleration, braking and traction. The Leon was huge fun, engaging and fast without being annoying. That huge spread of torque made overtaking easy too. Even after five and a half hours driving, I arrived at Anglesey with a smile on my face. Once the adrenaline had worn off on the way home I still had a smile on my face. Because now it was no longer the Wales warrior but instead a quiet and refined hatch, comfortably seeing off the 280 motorway miles home.
Individual setting decided. MaybeAdd the Wales trip to a university reunion in Hull (with a new best of 36mpg) plus a few drives just for the fun of it and I'm very much in the Cupra fanboy club. I even like yellow now. So much so in fact that I've been weighing up the Leon against that new doyen of all hot hatches, the apparently invincible Golf R. Now, full disclosure in the truest Colby Dousche sense: I've not actually driven the Golf yet. But in two track battles (including the Autocar comparison), the Leon has come out as faster and rated more fun by the reviewer. The circuits were Cadwell and Blyton Park so there's sufficient difference there to prove a point. The Leon is cheaper, lighter and, to my eyes, better looking. But even allowing for those dubious lease deals, there are so many more Golfs out there than Leons. Having now lived with the Cupra through 6,000 miles I think that's a real shame. Give one a try if you're after a hot hatch. It's a cracker.
SEAT Leon Cupra 280: PH Fleet
It's taken 6,000 miles and a road trip or two but Matt and the Leon have finally clicked
Wales and Leon a great match
Furthermore, it's now the car inextricably linked with huge highs (winning an endurance race) and lows (leaving home at 0400h. In a storm) of recent weeks. Experiences and adventures with a car always increase your attachment to the vehicle. It's simple and a bit stupid but it does happen.
Perfect for the way home too
Having spent so much time in the car recently I think I've found a setting for the 'Individual' mode. Possibly. At present the engine is in sport, the VAQ diff lock in Cupra, the dampers in sport and the steering in normal. That takes some deliberation! I've grown tired of the engine's drone in Cupra even though the throttle response is great. The behaviour of the 'diff' is quite addictive, hence using its most aggressive setting. Having the dampers in comfort is fine most of the time but sport remains my preference as there's a subtle improvement in control with little loss of comfort. The steering adds a load of unnecessary weight in Cupra and is frankly not very nice. All make sense?
Individual setting decided. Maybe
FACT SHEET
Car: SEAT Leon Cupra 280
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2014
Mileage: 6,091
List price new: £26,945 before options (£29,650 as tested, comprising Leather Pack with Winter Pack £755, Driver Assist Pack including high beam and lane assist £295, Safety Pack £115, SEAT Sound System £250, Adaptive Cruise Control and front assist £500, space saver £95 and Dynamic custom paint £695).
Last month at a glance: All sorts thrown at the Cupra recently and it has coped superbly
Previous reports:
A 280hp Leon arrives, all discussion is on the damn paint
Against racer and hot hatch nemesis the Leon does just fine
Quick and capable yes, but could it be more so?
Slower Cupra battles faster Cupra. Wins. Huh?
Cupra driven by others, verdicts mostly positive
Autocar vid here.
Discussion
Is it me or are some of the gear changes odd? Sometimes the driver 'pads' it up or down, other times the engine note changes without him moving and quite often it's in a corner...or appears so.
I've not driven a DSG yet and had hoped they were now almost 100% brilliant. Like the Golf. Or not...
I've not driven a DSG yet and had hoped they were now almost 100% brilliant. Like the Golf. Or not...
That Autocar video is awful - Steve in the Golf: "oh the Golf is definitely faster it's pulling away from the Leon". Steve in the Leon: "I don't believe it, but the Leon is definitely faster, it's pulling in the Golf". 
Crazy thought, but maybe Steve was the faster driver and unless you did multiple runs against the clock with the same driver, you are unlikely to see the difference visually between such evenly matched cars...
As for the Leon, I like it but not overly excited by it.
Crazy thought, but maybe Steve was the faster driver and unless you did multiple runs against the clock with the same driver, you are unlikely to see the difference visually between such evenly matched cars...As for the Leon, I like it but not overly excited by it.
It is undoubtedly a great car to drive but I think the problem - captured by the lack of responses to the story - is in the way it looks. It is so anodyne.
For many, I can understand that this would be a useful blessing. Very little unwanted attention, less worry parking it somewhere unsavoury, that sort of thing. But if I had bought a hot hatch for 30 grand, I would want some more attention, some more visual attitude, and I suspect I'm not alone.
For many, I can understand that this would be a useful blessing. Very little unwanted attention, less worry parking it somewhere unsavoury, that sort of thing. But if I had bought a hot hatch for 30 grand, I would want some more attention, some more visual attitude, and I suspect I'm not alone.
TheBigUnit said:
It is undoubtedly a great car to drive but I think the problem - captured by the lack of responses to the story - is in the way it looks. It is so anodyne.
For many, I can understand that this would be a useful blessing. Very little unwanted attention, less worry parking it somewhere unsavoury, that sort of thing. But if I had bought a hot hatch for 30 grand, I would want some more attention, some more visual attitude, and I suspect I'm not alone.
Yes, it's an interesting point. It will interesting to see how the Civic Type R is received (if the road car does look like the concept) and if buyers still want something more outlandish. Bring back yellow paint!For many, I can understand that this would be a useful blessing. Very little unwanted attention, less worry parking it somewhere unsavoury, that sort of thing. But if I had bought a hot hatch for 30 grand, I would want some more attention, some more visual attitude, and I suspect I'm not alone.
Matt
X5TUU said:
to me the Leon is all a bit vanilla and the idea of a hot hatch to me is that it should be a bit raw and ready and most definitely not a comfy mway cruiser ...
Go on then, I'll bite 
I disagree actually! A good "Leon sized" hot hatch (so, Leon, Golf, Megane, Focus ect) should be able to do be raw and ready when you put your foot down, but calm and comfortable when you're on the motorway.
I did over 500 miles in my Megane Cup on the weekend, a car that's meant to be the "hardest" of the hot hatches, but it was calm and comfortable the whole way there. It's only when you start provoking the throttle, work the brakes, and start steering it hard that it comes alive - and boy does it come alive! It can be a real Jekyll and Hyde car, unlike say, my old Fiesta ST, which was raw and ready all the time. But even then, when you're really giving it welly, the ST doesn't come close to the drive of the Megane. I'd imagine this Leon is fairly similar.
As a track car they're fantastic because you can drive to and from the track in comfort, but still absolutely thrash it when you're there.
I've had my 1.4 ACT FR for 3 weeks and 1,300 miles, it's a very good car. 150bhp probably isn't enough to make it even a "warm" hatch anymore, but weighing just 1150kg and with 184lb ft torque make it pretty nippy, while still getting a real world 45mpg+. Super smooth engine and tidy handling with a very light engine over the front wheels.
With the extra 130bhp in the Cupra, I bet it really shifts!
With the extra 130bhp in the Cupra, I bet it really shifts!
Matt Bird said:
Uncle John said:
Unfortunately says it all when there has been only 2 replies in a couple of hours.......good car or not.
I've noticed! How annoying. Err, hello?
The looks of the car are have grown on me too, personally I prefer understated to attention grabbing so the Leon suits. My brother's Golf R arrives soon, looking forward to seeing how the 2 cars compare for myself
I think SEAT are on to a winner with the Leon Cupra 280, its a marque that already has a decent following and over the years has brought us some nice motors (anyone remember the Ibiza 200bhp back in the early 90's?)
Now dont get me wrong, this would have been a car I would have looked at, but looking at all the complicated setting to set the car up?! I just want a car i can just jump in and go and not faff around in trying to get it to how i would like a car to be.
And i think this is the problem with the vw group, just give the people a car they can get in and drive, no hassles, no grief but fun.
This is why I bought an RCZR.
Now dont get me wrong, this would have been a car I would have looked at, but looking at all the complicated setting to set the car up?! I just want a car i can just jump in and go and not faff around in trying to get it to how i would like a car to be.
And i think this is the problem with the vw group, just give the people a car they can get in and drive, no hassles, no grief but fun.
This is why I bought an RCZR.
dorsetknob said:
Matt Bird said:
Uncle John said:
Unfortunately says it all when there has been only 2 replies in a couple of hours.......good car or not.
I've noticed! How annoying. Err, hello?The looks of the car are have grown on me too, personally I prefer understated to attention grabbing so the Leon suits. My brother's Golf R arrives soon, looking forward to seeing how the 2 cars compare for myself
MB
Matt Bird said:
dorsetknob said:
Matt Bird said:
Uncle John said:
Unfortunately says it all when there has been only 2 replies in a couple of hours.......good car or not.
I've noticed! How annoying. Err, hello?The looks of the car are have grown on me too, personally I prefer understated to attention grabbing so the Leon suits. My brother's Golf R arrives soon, looking forward to seeing how the 2 cars compare for myself
Mine's a manual 5 door - the demonstrator I test drove was DSG and I loved it but SWMBO couldn't be persuaded so manual it was. The gearbox is fine, although sometimes 2nd to 3rd can be clunky. Well judged ratios for the power & torque though, awesome acceleration in lower gears and great long legged cruising in 6th.
MB
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