Odd one... e46 330 or mk1 Leon Cupra R?

[LawAys]

I know they are both very different - one's a RWD coupe, one's a FWD 5-door hot hatch.....but I like them both and they can both be had for similar price (£4k-£5k) and similar insurance for me, although the BMW would be a couple of years older and higher mileage than a Cupra R of the same price.

Not overly worried about fuel consumption as I won't be doing many miles for the next couple of years, so my biggest concern is other running costs and any potential big bills.

Is it going to be a case of having to go and try both out, or is there a clear winner here?

I'm swaying towards the 330 but potential for bills scares me a bit...

[Chicane-UK]

I've never owned either.. but the 330 sounds glorious and will surely be a heck of a lot more soulful than the Cupra! That's where I'd put my money personally, whilst making sure I'd found a good BMW specialist!

[Baryonyx]

I'd lean towards the Cupra. They are very entertaining hot hatches. The 330 is a bit poor man's M3 for me. If you were looking at an M3 and a Leon Cupra R it would be a bit more of an even contest.

[McSam]

Baryonyx said:

I'd lean towards the Cupra. They are very entertaining hot hatches. The 330 is a bit poor man's M3 for me. If you were looking at an M3 and a Leon Cupra R it would be a bit more of an even contest.

A Cupra R could really stand against an E46 M3?! I'm surprised the consensus isn't that the 330ci gives it a good rogering! Haven't driven either, but that Cupra must be really very good.

[lemonslap]

Cupra R for £4-5K? Times have changed since I last looked! Good examples were fetching £8k a year ago!

[Baryonyx]

Yes, the Cupra is my pick of the turbo hatches. It wipes the floor with the Focus ST/Astra VXR etc etc pound for pound.

[snotrag]

Cupras are nice and one of my favoured hot hatches. But a good 330Ci is a really good car with the best engine option bar the M. They really do sound good, there creamy smooth and there even half decent on fuel.

If you take the time to get a nice colour and spec the 330ci is a great car.

[obscene]

Biased here, but a manual E46 would get my vote

[squareflops]

I think you get more Cupra for your money. It will be newer, probably less mileage. I was looking at the 330s when I bought my R and half the money for the BMW is for the badge as far as I can see (along with the equivalent Golf). The Seat is very well built, never went wrong for me and was a superb FWD hatch with plenty of power and the option for a lot more with the Revo.

[sparks_E39]

E46 330.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Hmm.. An odd one.

Head says SEAT

Heart says BMW

Im fairly dim when i come to choices, so I go with the BMW

[BJT]

I have a 330 Touring and had the 3.0 Z4 too! The engine is superb! Loads of fun to be had there. Never driven the Leon but hav the Golf, also a great drive.
I think the BMW would be more rewarding.

[Fox-]

Baryonyx said:

I'd lean towards the Cupra. They are very entertaining hot hatches. The 330 is a bit poor man's M3 for me. If you were looking at an M3 and a Leon Cupra R it would be a bit more of an even contest.

No, it wouldnt be an even contest at all, the M3 is simply in another league to a Cupra R and should not be compared in any way whilst holding a straight face. It's also in another league in terms of ownership costs too, so the Cupra shouldnt feel hard done by by this opinion.

Neither is the 330i a 'poor mans' M3, either. It's a decent car in its own right and the best E46 (Alpina aside) you can buy if you want a Saloon or a Touring rather than a Coupe or a Cab.

Edited by Fox- on Monday 19th December 19:31

[mattcov]

BMW will sound better and its RWD, interior quality prob a little better. I had a remapped Cupra R with all the options and it was a great car - far better drive than any of the Mk4 Golfs it was based on. Dont know of any specific probs with E46 apart from heard about subframe probs/cracks?? on early ones. Leons fairly reliable, just make sure the twin engine fans are working OK and discs/pads are OK - they're brembos - discs/pads dont think were cheap. Some people moan about door seals leaking; I never had that problem.

[a_bread]

squareflops said:

half the money for the BMW is for the badge as far as I can see

In that case tell me what car in the £2,000-£2,500 price range is as good (taking into account the kind of factors discussed on this page - engine, driving experience, running costs, quality etc) as a 330Ci in the £4,000-£5,000 price range.

[Shieldsy94]

cupra r simply cause there are so many 330 on the road and there a poor mans m3. Cupra is one of the best hot hatches out there so that gets my vote.

[sparks_E39]

Shieldsy94 said:

cupra r simply cause there are so many 330 on the road and there a poor mans m3. Cupra is one of the best hot hatches out there so that gets my vote.

[Fox-]

Shieldsy94 said:

cupra r simply cause there are so many 330 on the road and there a poor mans m3.

What an amazingly well considered, well thought out and well written reply. Clearly your opinion is obviously well worth considering.

If a 330i for 'poor men' then I presume a Seat Leon is for people who have gone bankrupt?

[Tim330]

I would go for the 330

[woots787]

The Mk1 cupras I've driven have a relatively soft rear compared to the front which makes them a bit understeery as stock. The internet says you can fix this with mods, I wasn't prepared to. My 330 touring has a nicer balance and much better turn in but feels heavy when pressing on. Engines are similar in spread of power but the 6 sounds nicer at the expense of worse economy. Both cars are good but as you say different. Good luck!