Mk3 Leon Cupra vs other vag hot hatches
Discussion
I'm hankering after a hot hatch again after selling my mk6 gti not too long ago. I've been looking at Mk3 Leon Cupras as they apparently handle better than the other vag hatches and come with good standard kit. It would have to be manual. What should I be looking out for and would you say the golf gti performance would be a better buy?
JS1902 said:
I'm hankering after a hot hatch again after selling my mk6 gti not too long ago. I've been looking at Mk3 Leon Cupras as they apparently handle better than the other vag hatches and come with good standard kit. It would have to be manual. What should I be looking out for and would you say the golf gti performance would be a better buy?
The manual comes with a chocolate clutch. Look out for the water pump needing replacing, very common fault on the EA888. I had a leon cupra 300 and then a 290 lux. The 300 was more raw than the newer 290 and the 300 sounded a LOT better. Hard to put the power down in anything other than perfect conditions in 1st and 2nd. But for overtaking I do miss that power now I've gone down to a 245hp engine. Can't comment on the golf. I've just got a cupra 300 (st so 4wd) and it goes like muck off a shovel, squats and goes in any condition. DSG though as manuals the clutches go if you look at them wrong and any sort of power increase need to be replaced.
Standard things are silca bag in the coolant bottle - remove it as can burst and leaking thermostat / water pump as plastic but buy from a dealer and get a warranty. I did and mine was gone when I got the car so all replaced.
Otherwise noisy top mounts and pan roofs can leak.
Loved our 1.4 then now 1.5 st so got the cupra from myself once I sold my i30n
Standard things are silca bag in the coolant bottle - remove it as can burst and leaking thermostat / water pump as plastic but buy from a dealer and get a warranty. I did and mine was gone when I got the car so all replaced.
Otherwise noisy top mounts and pan roofs can leak.
Loved our 1.4 then now 1.5 st so got the cupra from myself once I sold my i30n
I had my Cupra Lux 290 (2020) for just over a week now and coming from a 115hp Skoda it feels bloddy rapid.
I previously had a 1.4 125hp Leon FR back in 2018/2019.
As the 290s only came with DSG I can't help on the manual front.
One slight niggle so far is the road noise, I'm thinking it's the PS4S. There are some suggestions on the Facebook group and I've already bought a wheel well carpet from a golf, at the moment it's just bare metal.
Took me a while to find, I viewed quite a few before I found this one at a Seat dealer. There was many out there with scuffs and marks on the bodywork and the sellers weren't interested in fixing bar a "detail".
Check out this YouTube channel, he's recently purchased a 300 DSG and has done a few videos on it now: https://youtube.com/@CarFocused
Any questions let me know.
I previously had a 1.4 125hp Leon FR back in 2018/2019.
As the 290s only came with DSG I can't help on the manual front.
One slight niggle so far is the road noise, I'm thinking it's the PS4S. There are some suggestions on the Facebook group and I've already bought a wheel well carpet from a golf, at the moment it's just bare metal.
Took me a while to find, I viewed quite a few before I found this one at a Seat dealer. There was many out there with scuffs and marks on the bodywork and the sellers weren't interested in fixing bar a "detail".
Check out this YouTube channel, he's recently purchased a 300 DSG and has done a few videos on it now: https://youtube.com/@CarFocused
Any questions let me know.
Edited by steedy27 on Wednesday 3rd May 00:09
I had a Leon Cupra 300. Sadly was stolen at just under 2 years old (so not as immune to theft as I had hoped).
It was a manual and, in that time, I had zero problems with the clutch. Went through tyres (Continentals) like no tomorrow, but that was mainly because it was so easy to spin the front wheels in the wet and damp.
Was the first (and so far only) VAG car I have owned. Everything was fine save for the infotainment which would freeze every now and again. Having driven lots of Japanese cars this was a surprise (but I understand is normal for German vehicles to have minor niggles).
Recommended.
It was a manual and, in that time, I had zero problems with the clutch. Went through tyres (Continentals) like no tomorrow, but that was mainly because it was so easy to spin the front wheels in the wet and damp.
Was the first (and so far only) VAG car I have owned. Everything was fine save for the infotainment which would freeze every now and again. Having driven lots of Japanese cars this was a surprise (but I understand is normal for German vehicles to have minor niggles).
Recommended.
I had a 2014 Cupra 280 DSG, it was my last SEAT, I had previously owned a fair few Cupra/FR/Cupra R.
My car was used for the REVO development back in 2014 and I then had APR software on it @ 420ps with a fair few modifications it was excellent fun. Water pump was leaking on the engine but that got done under warranty.
What budget do you have?
My car was used for the REVO development back in 2014 and I then had APR software on it @ 420ps with a fair few modifications it was excellent fun. Water pump was leaking on the engine but that got done under warranty.
What budget do you have?
Budget is around £13-14k. Looks like i will need to also set aside a grand or so for water pump if it hasn’t been done and clutch/flywheel.
I dont think my budget will get me to a facelift 300; is the facelift worth stretching to aside from the 10hp increase? Visually they look the same inside and out!
I dont think my budget will get me to a facelift 300; is the facelift worth stretching to aside from the 10hp increase? Visually they look the same inside and out!
steedy27 said:
I had my Cupra Lux 290 (2020) for just over a week now and coming from a 115hp Skoda it feels bloddy rapid.
I previously had a 1.4 125hp Leon FR back in 2018/2019.
As the 290s only came with DSG I can't help on the manual front.
One slight niggle so far is the road noise, I'm thinking it's the PS4S. There are some suggestions on the Facebook group and I've already bought a wheel well carpet from a golf, at the moment it's just bare metal.
Took me a while to find, I viewed quite a few before I found this one at a Seat dealer. There was many out there with scuffs and marks on the bodywork and the sellers weren't interested in fixing bar a "detail".
Check out this YouTube channel, he's recently purchased a 300 DSG and has done a few videos on it now: https://youtube.com/@CarFocused
Any questions let me know.
Yes I found that and called one dealer out on the groups "blackpool" as the girl I dealt with was great, the company shutting her down and red tape was shocking though. They they change the rules offering discounts to group members and then saying no its not on that car etcI previously had a 1.4 125hp Leon FR back in 2018/2019.
As the 290s only came with DSG I can't help on the manual front.
One slight niggle so far is the road noise, I'm thinking it's the PS4S. There are some suggestions on the Facebook group and I've already bought a wheel well carpet from a golf, at the moment it's just bare metal.
Took me a while to find, I viewed quite a few before I found this one at a Seat dealer. There was many out there with scuffs and marks on the bodywork and the sellers weren't interested in fixing bar a "detail".
Check out this YouTube channel, he's recently purchased a 300 DSG and has done a few videos on it now: https://youtube.com/@CarFocused
Any questions let me know.
Edited by steedy27 on Wednesday 3rd May 00:09
My experience, having owned Golfs, a Leon, and an Octavia, is they all have their own unique pros and cons, but are broadly the same.
The Leon is the most raw of the three. It's a more 'focused' drive, the suspension is firmer (unless you have adaptive suspension), and there is more road noise. The interior quality and materials is the worst of the three, but still OK.
The Octavia is the most practical, a little softer on the road, and less focused (put upgraded anti-roll bars on your must-buy list for a huge improvement). The interior is noticeably better than the Leon's, IMO.
The Golf is the most premium and well built. It's not as focused as the Leon nor as practical and easy to live with as the Octavia. It drives about the same as the Octavia, maybe a little better.
The Octavia is the sweet spot IMO.
The Leon is the most raw of the three. It's a more 'focused' drive, the suspension is firmer (unless you have adaptive suspension), and there is more road noise. The interior quality and materials is the worst of the three, but still OK.
The Octavia is the most practical, a little softer on the road, and less focused (put upgraded anti-roll bars on your must-buy list for a huge improvement). The interior is noticeably better than the Leon's, IMO.
The Golf is the most premium and well built. It's not as focused as the Leon nor as practical and easy to live with as the Octavia. It drives about the same as the Octavia, maybe a little better.
The Octavia is the sweet spot IMO.
_Rob said:
My experience, having owned Golfs, a Leon, and an Octavia, is they all have their own unique pros and cons, but are broadly the same.
The Leon is the most raw of the three. It's a more 'focused' drive, the suspension is firmer (unless you have adaptive suspension), and there is more road noise. The interior quality and materials is the worst of the three, but still OK.
The Octavia is the most practical, a little softer on the road, and less focused (put upgraded anti-roll bars on your must-buy list for a huge improvement). The interior is noticeably better than the Leon's, IMO.
The Golf is the most premium and well built. It's not as focused as the Leon nor as practical and easy to live with as the Octavia. It drives about the same as the Octavia, maybe a little better.
The Octavia is the sweet spot IMO.
Couldn't have put it better myself having owned a Leon Cupra 300, Octavia vRS & eGolf all on the same MQB platformThe Leon is the most raw of the three. It's a more 'focused' drive, the suspension is firmer (unless you have adaptive suspension), and there is more road noise. The interior quality and materials is the worst of the three, but still OK.
The Octavia is the most practical, a little softer on the road, and less focused (put upgraded anti-roll bars on your must-buy list for a huge improvement). The interior is noticeably better than the Leon's, IMO.
The Golf is the most premium and well built. It's not as focused as the Leon nor as practical and easy to live with as the Octavia. It drives about the same as the Octavia, maybe a little better.
The Octavia is the sweet spot IMO.
Spidersleg said:
The manual comes with a chocolate clutch. Look out for the water pump needing replacing, very common fault on the EA888. I had a leon cupra 300 and then a 290 lux. The 300 was more raw than the newer 290 and the 300 sounded a LOT better. Hard to put the power down in anything other than perfect conditions in 1st and 2nd. But for overtaking I do miss that power now I've gone down to a 245hp engine. Can't comment on the golf.
I'd second this. I bought a 280 manual ST just over a year ago on 88k. Over the last 24k miles, I've needed a clutch, the thermostat housing ( and therefore the water pump), brakes, a wheel bearing, tyres all round and a couple of services. I've used a VAG specialist for the clutch (£500 cheaper than Seat but still £1k) and Seat for the rest (dealer contributions for the thermostat housing made them cheaper but still £800). All of that was age related, it had a full Seat service history and one owner and was well looked after. I was a bit annoyed to find, from both the specialist and Seat, that mine has probably been remapped. It wasn't apparent from the test drive as it doesn't pop and bang and drives normally. I average 36 - 40 mpg on 99 octane measured tank to tank. It is quick, on a par with my e46 m3 so maybe 340 bhp, but I really bought it as a sensible family car. It's entertaining-ish but I have other cars for that job.
Huge fan of both the Golf GTI/R, Audi S3 and Cupra.
Admittedly I find the Octavia VRS is definitely a step down to drive and sit in vs the other VAG group stable but still a good car.
Financially you get a better deal with Cupra so I’d be on the look out for one.
Water pump and clutch as mentioned. My advice is when the clutch goes just upgrade it and get a remap and you’ll have one of the quickest cars on the road.
Admittedly I find the Octavia VRS is definitely a step down to drive and sit in vs the other VAG group stable but still a good car.
Financially you get a better deal with Cupra so I’d be on the look out for one.
Water pump and clutch as mentioned. My advice is when the clutch goes just upgrade it and get a remap and you’ll have one of the quickest cars on the road.
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