Seat Leon Cupra R 225 | Spotted
Original down to its cassette player, might a good Cupra R scratch your noughties hot hatch itch?
While not impossible, a fourth Leon Cupra R seems unlikely now. Maybe something will be spun off whatever the Golf ‘R350’ becomes, and maybe Cupra will renew its interest in Nurburgring lap times with the demise of the Civic Type R, but none of that really seems what the brand is keen on right now. Hard to argue with the business sense: look how many bronze-accented Atecas, Brembo-braked Formentors and Atacama Desert Tavascans are out there now. Making SUVs is far more lucrative than limited-run hot hatches, however much we’d like to pretend otherwise.
The previous Cupra R was a real cult classic, an example of how to do it well. Offered as an estate (with £500, 350hp Abt upgrade possible) or super serious - Cup 2 tyres, manual only, 24 RHD units - hatchback, it was quite some sign off for Seat-badged Cupras. Since then, the model has been a very decent hot hatch, albeit without the sort of enthusiast concessions that made previous ones so likeable: no fun colours, no manual gearboxes, no option packs called ‘Sub8 Ultimate’. Cupra’s a bit too cool for all that nowadays. Or likes to think it is.
The success of Cupra R Leons has always been pretty simple: more power, more swagger, not much more money. The second car offered 265hp for one very busy front axle as far back as 2009 for just £23k. It also featured a colour catalogue copied straight from Stabilo Boss, which was great.
And before that, of course, was this Leon, the original Cupra R. The very first Leon Cupra, launched at the end of the 20th century, arrived just in time for the hot hatch’s renaissance and was perfectly pitched: faster than a Golf GTI, better looking anything with five doors had any right to be (thanks Giugiaro), and not much more than £15k - perfect. A few years later came a 210hp Cupra R, with its handsome new wheels and bodykit, then, because hot hatches were a big deal 20-odd years ago, the 225hp Cupra R. The one with the BAM engine, the one everyone wants.
And here is a Cupra R 225, owned by just two keepers over 22 years (they were neighbours, one bought it from the other in 2006), and showing just 44,000 miles. It really feels like one of those cars that’s fallen off the radar a little, never with the following of GTIs or the more exhilarating hatches of the time but with plenty still to recommend it. Even in grey, even pictured next to Transits, a Cupra R looks fantastic.
In the near two decades it’s been with its current owner, the Leon has only been used for longer trips and kept in a garage; so it’s free from scrapes or, really, much wear at all. A proper unmodified gem, basically, even if it will want a cambelt as soon as possible. Something to factor into an offer, perhaps. The benefit of not having GTI heritage is not having a GTI price tag: the Cupra R is for sale at £10,990. An ideal distraction from no new hot hatches, surely.
SPECIFICATION | SEAT LEON CUPRA R
Engine: 1,781cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 225@5,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207@2,200-5,500rpm
MPG: 32.5
CO2: 211g/km
First registered: 2003
Recorded mileage: 44,190
Price new: £16,995 (2002)
Yours for: £10,990
I don't understand the current strategy at all to be honest. Seat was always the fun, youthful offshoot of VW, but they seem to have thrown that away in favour of a series of dull, forgettable crossovers, trying to trade off any lasting sentiment towards the Cupra badge. Last time I was in the UK, I don't recall seeing very many at all, so has it even worked?
Yes like most VAG stuff it had plenty of minor niggles but generally a very easy car to work on.
Lowered on ST shocks and springs, uprated roll bar at the front an one at the back, REVO map and a decent air filter. Apart from the off the line traction it was a proper little rocket.
£10k is strong money but you`re looking at £4-5k for one with many more miles (and likely problems). But theres a lot of fresher metal out there for the same money thats quicker and better equipped.....
I can't disagree with you about the proliferation of dull crossovers, but they are decent cars, you can get low powered ones or hybrids with varying degree of power and as a day to day car.
Obviously, as someone who has a Leon wagon hybrid (the 272bhp) one on order, I am a little biased. But I'm just glad they are still out there offering a performance wagon, aside from the Golf R or Octavia vRS estate there isn't much out there that ISN'T a crossover, so I have a lot of time for Cupra.
I always admired this model. They nailed the styling.
Smart looking cars though even all these years later.
TX.
Smart looking cars though even all these years later.
TX.
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