Thursday 31st October 2013

SEAT Leon Cupra: Spotted

Disillusioned by dull diesel SEATs? Take a look at the last exciting one then!

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Oh SEAT, what has happened? Only yesterday we were pondering its offer of a long-term fleet car, only for a flick through the back pages of Autocar to reveal very, very slim pickings. Ibiza Cupra? Not bad, but a bit behind the current hot hatch crop. Smart new Leon perhaps? Fastest version is a 184hp diesel. And would you want to read about life with a Mii, Toledo or Alhambra?

Who doesn't love a centre-exit exhaust?

Then today it announces 'the most extreme production Leon ever' has 110hp. Because it's an extreme 'environmental performer' with a claimed 85.6mpg. Oh joy.

Where did the auto emocion go? Sure, the first gen Leon Cupra and Cupra R weren't the most tactile of hatches, but they were quick, cheap and looked great. Eminently tuneable too, as the wealth of hopped up cars in the classifieds show. Five thousand pounds now buys you one of the best BAM-engined 225hp cars.

But the attention here is focused on the Mk2 Leon, the one with the unfortunately MPV-esque styling. The search for a 265hp Cupra R proved fruitless, the only available car having been subjected to a couple of tweaks.

Black certainly the dominant colour here!

So here's a regular 240hp Cupra, equipped with the K1 bodykit. Looks a bit like a touring car, doesn't it? SEAT won two WTCC title with diesel Leons not so long ago, and enjoyed some success in the BTCC too. Heck, it even won some races with a Toledo.

Anyway, enough nostalgia, to the car. Black on black works quite well to disguise the high-roofed design, and even looks slightly menacing from some angles. Almost. This dealer car is being sold with 12 month's MOT, a full SEAT service history and a warranty. If you're after a standard Leon Cupra, this is probably one of the best available.

But do you really want one? There are certainly encouraging reports. Comments such as 'unshakeable composure, 'powerful brakes' and 'great engine' are good to hear, even if they are slightly undermined by a hard ride and a slightly prescriptive handling balance.

Bring on the next one please SEAT!

Perhaps the Leon's biggest problem isn't the quality of its own talents, more the fantastic competition it faced at the time and now on the used market. £12K buys an awful lot of Focus ST, Golf GTI or Megane RS after all.

As something a little bit different with proven mechanicals though, is still a really good hot hatch. And that's what swift SEATs should be all about, right? Bring on the next Cupra ASAP please SEAT. We really want to like it, honest!

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SEAT LEON CUPRA
Engine: 1,984cc 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 240@5,700-6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@2,200-5,500rpm
MPG: 34 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 199g/km
Recorded mileage: 53,927
First registered: 2009
Price new: £19,695
Yours for: £12,250

See the original advert here

[anonymous-user]

These things to be a smash hit with the s around here, I see them often and they are always being driven in a knob headed fashion.

[dukebox9reg]

Engine maps to a nice 300bhp though and the petrols are a lot more robust than the diesels. Always like the BTCC/K1 kitted cars. Shame SEAT ruined it though and started putting the kit on cars willy nilly lessening the impact of the kit a little. (think Corsa VXR vs SRI etc)

[Panda P]

Most of these get ramped up to 380bhp (or so the owners would tell you, 340 -350bhp is really the relistic maximum once you've addressed the awful cooling, exhaust and fuel flow issues to sustain that level of horsepower). No doubt quick but lacking an LSD, driven at the 'wrong' wheels and with a habit of warping the head when tuned too hard.

[dukebox9reg]

dme123 said:

These things to be a smash hit with the s around here, I see them often and they are always being driven in a knob headed fashion.

I still find the nobbers drive Mk1 Leon Cupra's round my way with stupidly bright HID conversions as a standard. There's 3 of them at least in Banbury.

[mnkiboy]

Had a black MK2 Cupra (without the K1 kit, thankfully) mapped to 310bhp, though more likely 290ish.

The ride was firm but not unbearable, and the interior was well made but without much flair apart from the red stitching in the seats and the Cupra logo on the wheel and gearknob.
The car was rock solid at speed, but the handling a little underwhelming for a hot hatch. It had massive grip, but compared to a Focus ST the rear wasn't as mobile. It wouldn't tighten its line in a corner with a lift of the throttle, or cock a rear wheel.

Before the remap the engine felt strong, but once you got used to the torque it began to feel a little boring. Like driving a diesel.
Once remapped the car was transformed. Real third gear shove, often enough to spin the wheels. The car felt like a hooligan, instead of a sensible quick hatch.

Wish i'd never sold it, but it became a house deposit, and i'm glad i've got somewhere to live.

[iloveboost]

Patience Seat fans, patience. VAG politics dictates we have to let all the early adopters buy the 'pricier' versions of the same car. I'm sure Seat will release a cupra probably with the same spec as the golf gti performance pack when the current Leon gets a facelift.
No doubt that the current ibiza cupra is dissapointing. A dual clutch, twincharged, great looking, economical, quick little hot hatch. It even has Lamboghini styling details! Then I read that apparently anything else is more fun. Painting by numbers, waiting for a bus, playing bridge. How can this be? The raw ingredients were there but we got a quarter pounder not a sirloin steak. Then I read the engines waste more oil than BP and die slowly if you hoon them, and quickly if you tune them.
As for the 'presciptive' handling most road cars have the same 'problem' but it's much safer than lift off oversteer. Average drivers like me can explore high speed lift off oversteer before exploring hedgerow wildlife. People say ahh but ESP prevents oversteer! IMO ESP isn't predictive it's reactive stopping oversteer turning into spins. It can't do anything when one or more tyres aren't on the road!
I don't think they have the image problem posted above round here. Golf Mk4s/Passats/Polos I see slammed/dubbed/modded/stanced all the time. Seats are rarer tho I see the occasional modded Ibiza they usually stay away from the Leon/Toledo. Skodas they don't touch!
I drive a 'warm' diesel Leon. It's boringly competent.

Edited by iloveboost on Thursday 31st October 14:26

[PaulD86]

I've driven an 07 Leon FR TDI quite a lot and then drove a Cupra. The two felt absolutely identical apart from the acceleration. What I found really weird though was the engine noise, or rather that lack of it. When you gave it full throttle there just seemed to be a fairly faint whoosh noise and nothing more. It was odd! I was actually testing it on behalf of a friend who ended up buying a Focus ST instead. A wise choice IMHO as it is a much more fun car to drive. That's not a dig at the Leon, it's a capable and very likeable car, it just doesn't quite cut the mustard somehow though. But as mentioned, an exceptionally planted feeling car.

[mattcov]

You'll probably find this 2nd gen so so offering was a deliberate move by VAG.

The first versions of the Leon/Toledo etc were better than the VW (and in some cases Audi) equivalent offerings to make a name and position the brand well. The second era cars like here I suspect were made to be "worse" than the other VAG offerings so that they could milk the same gen Audi/VW equivalents (which incidentally were also a lot better than their previous versions). Que a couple of years back VAG bleeting on about how SEAT isn't doing too well and they might ditch them - well why do you think that is?

As long as they don't go too stupid on the pricing, I think the new hot versions of the Leon will be back on form.

[Captainawesome]

dukebox9reg said:

dme123 said:

These things to be a smash hit with the s around here, I see them often and they are always being driven in a knob headed fashion.

I still find the nobbers drive Mk1 Leon Cupra's round my way with stupidly bright HID conversions as a standard. There's 3 of them at least in Banbury.

There seems to be about a million of them in banbury. All driven by midgets judging by how much baseball cap you can see.

I do have a soft spot for these though, they look fantastic.

[kpb]

I think there is better bang for buck through getting a 2.0 TFSI 'FR' and mapping it though. They can be had for £5 - 6k now.

I had one running around the 260bhp mark and it was plenty quick. I hear VAG clutches don't like the torque though? Mine certainly slipped.

[steve1386]

Completely agree with the stupid HID conversions, I see them all the time (and little else due to being half blinded!).

I remember taking an FR out for a test drive and being completely put off by how dull and cheap the interior felt, even in comparison with the facelifted Octavia VRS I ended up buying - you'd expect the Skoda to hav ethe worst interior and it was better by miles! Also a nice, more understated looking car in my opinion.

Stuck driving a new 1 series diesel now - would not recommend to those thinking about it! Anyway I digress...

[Andy ap]

These:


To these:



Not a truly fair comparison i know being kits cars against works cars, but in my eyes seat used to be seen as the cool sporty looking underdog but now fit the fast MPV stigma quite well.

Edited by Andy ap on Thursday 31st October 16:50

[decadent]

Well I have a FR and I've been impressed with its build quality, decent engine and gearbox combo and value for money. I am most impressed with how little it has depreciated (for me).

I bought it 2 years ago @ 7K in the odo and a year old for £14k. I have been offered a PX of 10.5k fixed until December against an M135i. I got a 16% discount off the list price of the M135i as well so px hasn't been loaded up too much.

£3.5k in 2 years on a relatively new car is nothing!


Edit to add i'm having second toughts about trading it!

Edited by decadent on Thursday 31st October 16:56

[the_hood]

steve1386 said:

I remember taking an FR out for a test drive and being completely put off by how dull and cheap the interior felt, even in comparison with the facelifted Octavia VRS I ended up buying - you'd expect the Skoda to hav ethe worst interior and it was better by miles! Also a nice, more understated looking car in my opinion.

+1

A friend of mine has a mk2 Leon. The cheap, bland interior would put me of no matter how fast it is.

[acespizee]

Panda P said:

Most of these get ramped up to 380bhp (or so the owners would tell you, 340 -350bhp is really the relistic maximum once you've addressed the awful cooling, exhaust and fuel flow issues to sustain that level of horsepower). No doubt quick but lacking an LSD, driven at the 'wrong' wheels and with a habit of warping the head when tuned too hard.

Please stop spouting st and acting like a know it all. Just makes you look stupid.

[Hub]

One of the last Cupra Rs in blue with white wheels is quite desirable to me, though I doubt I will actually get one! The later interior is a little improved over the grim early one, and they are pretty good value for money, if very rare too.

Not keen on black with black wheels though.

[ManOpener]

the_hood said:

steve1386 said:

I remember taking an FR out for a test drive and being completely put off by how dull and cheap the interior felt, even in comparison with the facelifted Octavia VRS I ended up buying - you'd expect the Skoda to hav ethe worst interior and it was better by miles! Also a nice, more understated looking car in my opinion.

+1

A friend of mine has a mk2 Leon. The cheap, bland interior would put me of no matter how fast it is.

That was my fear when I bought an early 2.0 TFSI, but in reality it's no worse in terms of quality than the Focus or C30 of the same age, and a damn sight better than the Astra. A few of the design features are a bit suspect, but the quality isn't really that bad.

[Crafty_]

Never liked the mk2 Leon, the Mk1 Cupra R I had was a much better looking car I think.

The Mk1 was okay, but some of the build was a bit iffy, certainly not as good as the astra that replaced it.

I think the new Leon is the best looker of the VAG bunch, the Cupra might be a bit too subtle but it will be still worth a look when it appears.

[anonymous-user]

Urgh, the BTCC bodykit is truly hideous.

And yes, generally driven by total idiots where I live*

• I accept that normal people also own them

[Sampaio]

For that money, and if it had to be a hot hatch, I'd go for the Mk5 Golf GTI - looked pretty good compared to contemporary rivals (and other Golf's), and from what I've read they were a fantastic drive.