2019 Seat Leon Cupra 290 vs others?

[TheRingDing]

Hi, just looking for a bit of advice!

I am looking to get a new car. I'm after something fairly new (2018+), decent tech, decent MPG, 5 door, largish boot, and fun to drive. My budget is about £18/19000. I have seen a few Seat Leon Cupra 290's that seem to tick all the boxes. Has anyone had one before? What are they like?

[Bigivo1]

TheRingDing said:

Hi, just looking for a bit of advice!

I am looking to get a new car. I'm after something fairly new (2018+), decent tech, decent MPG, 5 door, largish boot, and fun to drive. My budget is about £18/19000. I have seen a few Seat Leon Cupra 290's that seem to tick all the boxes. Has anyone had one before? What are they like?

Hi I've had two. A 2016 290 and a 2018 300. Decent cars with plenty of poke and some decent tech.

Mine were leases so couldn't really modify, so had to put up with the wheel hop (when you wheel spin the engine makes a loud banging or knocking noise, like really loud). Apparently a small cheap modification can eradicate this.

If you get a five door or estate version then they are targets for theft. My 5 door hatch got pinched and my ST would have been except I'd beefed up my home security. Apparently the 3 door versions are lest attractive, must be due to accessibility if there's a few of them wanting quick exit and entry if used for further criminal activities.

I'd deffo have another though. Got a new cupra ateca arriving on Monday.

[ZX10R NIN]

Unless you want DSG then the 308 Peugeot Sport GTI is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203314...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205175...

[Jonno02]

Had 2

A ‘66 290 manual black edition and a ‘68 DSG 290. Fabulous cars. My first suffered with axle tramp if you treated the accelerator like an on off switch. The ‘68 never did though so I wonder if it was designed out by this year.

Fabulous cars, would have another in a heartbeat but unfortunately have had to go for a barge right now due to family.

One thing to note, the manual cars are known for having chocolate clutches. DSG is pretty bullet proof.

[the-norseman]

Had a fair few Cupra's my last being a 2014 "280" DSG, ran APR Stage 2 at 420ps nicely for nearly 4 years before I sold it.

[quintonside]

I’ve got a 70 plate Cupra 290. Good fun to drive, quite understated look. Decent interior. Only thing annoys me is I have an actual key for the ignition 😂

Also had a 308 GTI for a few months back in 2016. I really liked that and I think they are good value for what they are. Cupra is nicer to drive and more fun though.

[dunc69]

ZX10R NIN said:

Unless you want DSG then the 308 Peugeot Sport GTI is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203314...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205175...

ZX, why are these the pick? Just interested in your thoughts.

[cjstott]

I had a 290 on a lease deal, think it was 3 months down and 270 a month.

I actually really enjoyed it and once it had a good number of miles on it sounded great too - only thing that annoyed me is that if you used car play it was much quieter than just doing bluetooth. You could also use spotify on the mainscreen but on the digital cockpit the song information was displayed better on bluetooth.

Cheap servicing and i personally think it looks better than the golf R/S3

My friend had a stage 2 equivalent S3 and I prefered the more nible handling but im an absolute layman so maybe i just prefered it because it was mine*

• the lease companies

[jonwm]

66 plate 290 black edition and would have another in a heartbeat, often trawl the classified section to see if they have dropped in price.

[ZX10R NIN]

dunc69 said:

ZX, why are these the pick? Just interested in your thoughts.

For me as a hot hatch it's a great steer & the engine is a good one, interior wise I'd say they're on par with their rivals.
The only possible downside is the dash layout that's a bit marmite.

[dunc69]

ZX10R NIN said:

dunc69 said:

ZX, why are these the pick? Just interested in your thoughts.

For me as a hot hatch it's a great steer & the engine is a good one, interior wise I'd say they're on par with their rivals.
The only possible downside is the dash layout that's a bit marmite.

Fair enough. The interior is not for me, as you suggest. Prefer the VAG offerings at this price point.