Xmas present to myself: Leon Cupra 290

[Gypsum Fantastic]

Treated myself to a new car and as luck would have it, I was able to take delivery of it earlier than expected. Rather than the end of January as originally promised, I picked it up on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!





Really pleased with it so far, the journey back from Colchester was a lot of fun and seems pretty good on fuel for the performance. The touch screen system is great, I know the nephews are going to the love the g-force display!

[Escort3500]

Really like these, a nice under-the-radar fast hatch. Look forward to updates on how it's going. And please don't be tempted to chav it

[Buff Mchugelarge]

I pointed one of these out to my nephew at Goodwood and told him the BHP,
He laughed as he thought I was joking!

I love these, I imagine in the real world it quick enough to worry a Golf R, infinitely cooler too

[MrsFallon]

I've got 3 of those going out to customers in the next few weeks.

[rb5er]

MrsFallon said:

I've got 3 of those going out to customers in the next few weeks.

Cool story

[Bungleaio]

When did they update it to 290? I test drove a 280 in July and I was very impressed with it.

Enjoy, cracking cars.

[Gypsum Fantastic]

Escort3500 said:

Really like these, a nice under-the-radar fast hatch. Look forward to updates on how it's going. And please don't be tempted to chav it

Haha! No chance! That is exactly what I like about it, very understated, just a couple of hints that there's something unusual going on.

[Gypsum Fantastic]

Bungleaio said:

When did they update it to 290? I test drove a 280 in July and I was very impressed with it.

Enjoy, cracking cars.

I think mine is one of the first few. Comes with the Full link system as standard now, and apparently 5kg lighter, which I will cancel out with my Christmas diet.

[carreauchompeur]

Not a fan of Seats, but 290bhp in that looks like a hoot. Enjoy

[Escort3500]

C

Gypsum Fantastic said:

Escort3500 said:

Really like these, a nice under-the-radar fast hatch. Look forward to updates on how it's going. And please don't be tempted to chav it

Haha! No chance! That is exactly what I like about it, very understated, just a couple of hints that there's something unusual going on.

Good man. One passed me last week in Lincolnshire. Effortlessly. OK, I was in an old 320D, but his pass was very impressive

[jakeharvey63]

Great motor mate! I love an understated hot hatch! Although I feel these are a little too understated to look at!

[aka_kerrly]

Looks good in red + 3 door.

I take it you get the LSD an adaptive ride on these as standard?

ENJOY!

[dwol]

Picked up my red 280 st at the end of September still haven't seen another cupra in any shape or colour on the road yet, Bradford is full of golf R and Audi S3 see them everyday without fail. Wish id waited for a 290 now although my car has all the my16 updates apart from full link.

[philmots]

Practically 300hp in a more 'ordinary' hot hatch now, Jesus!

Years back my Megane F1 was mapped to around 265hp and that went like hell.

Enjoy it.

[Escort3500]

philmots said:

Practically 300hp in a more 'ordinary' hot hatch now, Jesus!

Years back my Megane F1 was mapped to around 265hp and that went like hell.

Enjoy it.

I had much the same thought recently after I saw a Sierra Cosworth. I had an early XR4i (circa 150 bhp) when the Cosworth came out. They pushed out about 215 bhp from memory and were the car to aspire to for me (never got one though 😕). That power is now commonplace in numerous mainstream cars today and the equivalent of the Cossie's 215 brake has been replaced by anything over 350-400 bhp.

[1598Craig]

290 BHP sounds phenomenal in a hatch back, especially having grown up on Gran Turismo with 276 Bhp NSX's, Skyline etc

Hope you enjoy it! The Colour shows off the shape great too

[Davefgf]

i really do like these new leons. I was always a fan of the old 5 door cupra r as well!

[Max M4X WW]

Looks great, I have a boring Ecomotive ST but its a great car and with over twice the power I'm sure its a lot of fun.

[Escort3500]

Escort3500 said:

philmots said:

Practically 300hp in a more 'ordinary' hot hatch now, Jesus!

Years back my Megane F1 was mapped to around 265hp and that went like hell.

Enjoy it.

I had much the same thought recently after I saw a Sierra Cosworth. I had an early XR4i (circa 150 bhp) when the Cosworth came out. They pushed out about 215 bhp from memory and were the car to aspire to for me (never got one though ). That power is now commonplace in numerous mainstream cars today and the equivalent of the Cossie's 215 brake has been replaced by anything over 350-400 bhp.

[Evolved]

Escort3500 said:

I had much the same thought recently after I saw a Sierra Cosworth. I had an early XR4i (circa 150 bhp) when the Cosworth came out. They pushed out about 215 bhp from memory and were the car to aspire to for me (never got one though ??). That power is now commonplace in numerous mainstream cars today and the equivalent of the Cossie's 215 brake has been replaced by anything over 350-400 bhp.

This is true BUT the difference is the Cossie was detuned for the road and could handle huge hikes in power due to it's massively strong bottom end and this was back in the day when elecy giszmos to modulate boost etc didn't really exist, the cars nowadays are being run toward the upper edges of what they can take and do so with the advancements of years of development. The old Cossie lump is agricultural by today's standards but will take the power if it's tuned without breaking a sweat.

Edit: nice car btw OP, bet it goes like a rocket ship.

Edited by Evolved on Sunday 27th December 23:51