2019 Leon Cupra 300 ST 4drive DSG… lots of letters!

[croakey]

Let’s start at the beginning….

I had this (my 2nd T5) but had lots of people asking on social media if I’d sell it. The market having gone absolutely daft on vans meant I got a very healthy price for it and as such needed a new daily driver.



I work in London some days and the Mayors obsession with penalising everyone for having older diesels is getting a bit boring.

In the end it came down to a sensible Audi A6 avant diesel ultra, or throw caution to the wind and get something more fun.

In the end more fun won out…




Enter El Cupre.

Originally I wanted a Golf R, and I looked and looked and looked to find one that fitted my budget (£20k) and didn’t have dubious history. To make matters worse I’d decided I wanted a 7 speed to try and make the fuel economy less detrimental. This meant I was looking for a 7.5R which made my selection even smaller.

I’ve had Seats over the years and we also have an Ateca, so when I begun to look closer the Cupra’s began to catch pull me in.

Mechanically it’s a Golf R, but comes with virtual dash, DCC and some other bits as standard.

I picked this one up from cinch (presumably an ex 2 year cheap lease return) with 16k on the clock.

It was about 3k less than Seat dealers were asking for, and 7-8k less than an equivalent spec/mile Golf R

I promised not to mess with it.

(I lied)

I HATED the diamond cut alloys, they’re fussy, and in the case of these notorious for corroding, bending, and doing not being that good.

Now I know the majority on here hate black wheels but I don’t…


Got these from Germany, they weigh naff all, and are known for being a strong wheel.



Also fitted my private plate to achieve peak chav status

Also lowered it slightly on some H&R springs




Then lied my wife further and bought some Cupra R grille inserts. These come with bronze inserts, which quite frankly look naff, so I wrapped them gloss black



One thing that let this specific car down was it’s lack of exhaust noise, this is a GPF equipped car which seems to stifle the stock system. A set of aftermarket back boxes appeared on eBay so I made them mine.

However it is now a touch too loud and droney, so there will be a resonator box going in shortly.



Overall it’s the perfect daily, faster than it has any real need to be, and not *that* bad on fuel averaging 36-38mpg on my daily 80 mile round trip on the motorway.

Once out of warranty I want to get an intake fitted and get it remapped.

[Stig]

Good shout.

I have almost the same car, except mine's the Carbon Edition (one of 42 in the UK I gather).

Like you, I found the Golf R too bland and too many on the road. There's a local Seat dealer to me and they happened to have one in when I was looking for Cupra 300 STs, whilst the price was a bit trumpy, the additional carbon bits (front splitter, rear diffuser, side strakes) did set it apart and after a swift test drive, it was bought.

Not inteding to mod it at all, though agree on the diamond cut wheels. Mine are different design and one of them is already showing some small 'white bloom' corrosion under the lacquer. I think a bronze set could work (my car is Storm Grey - the Carbon only came in that colour to the UK)

Enjoy!

[croakey]

I’d of liked a carbon edition but this was essentially too cheap to look at any others… I’ve looked at the carbon bits to retrofit but they’re £££ so they’ll wait 🤣

These Motec Ultralights are a great upgrade, I even swapped the tyres over. Net cost to change was less than £250 after I’d sold my stock wheels

[Andy665]

Looks nice, mine was one of the last non GPF built cars and the exhaust was incredibly quiet on that too.

Almost too competent for its own good, did everything I needed it to but got rid after 21 months as it bored me - unfair on the car really as it was everything I thought I needed

[Stig]

Here are my wheels - look great when clean, but that's usually about 5 minutes! Keeping gloss black alloys looking good is a nightmare.

[croakey]

Andy665 said:

Looks nice, mine was one of the last non GPF built cars and the exhaust was incredibly quiet on that too.

Almost too competent for its own good, did everything I needed it to but got rid after 21 months as it bored me - unfair on the car really as it was everything I thought I needed

For me it’s a daily commuter that can be fun if needed… it wasn’t bought as a “fun” car , I think if that was the case as you say it’s almost too competent

[Andy665]

croakey said:

For me it’s a daily commuter that can be fun if needed… it wasn’t bought as a “fun” car , I think if that was the case as you say it’s almost too competent

Mine was the daily driver too but it replaced an M135i that was a lot of fun but deeply frustrating with its lack of traction. Even when I was driving hard across country I felt like the 4Drive was fast but dull - the M135i you had to drive, the 4Drive you just pointed and went.

BUT the 4Drive was better equipped, a whole lot more practical and better built than the M135i was.In retrospect going from manual 6 pot RWD to auto 4 pot awd it was always going to feel detached in comparison.

I do really like the changes you have made and the previous generation model is so much better looking than the new one too

[croakey]

My other consideration of a more fun daily was an M140 … but the reviews of being tail happy put me off as I commute at odd times of the day and night.

The 4drive system provides the security I needed to be able to drive at all times in all weathers.

I’d like 375bhp and I’ll be happy.

My proper pride & joy is waaaay slower : P



These 2 make a good pairing, just need something classic now

[HazzaT]

Love these, definitely my favourite MQB car. As far as remaps I'd say you can't go wrong with Revo, made a huge difference with my Mk8 ST

[blank]

Quite a rarity to have a 7 speed / GPF version but not have the silly copper bits. They only built them like that for a couple of weeks.

[ahenners]

Lovely these, I'd rather have one over the Golf, it looks better.

[croakey]

blank said:

Quite a rarity to have a 7 speed / GPF version but not have the silly copper bits. They only built them like that for a couple of weeks.

Yep! I deliberately didn’t want a copper tat wagon - this was listed as a 6 speed ( as we’re all of them!) but had a virtual dash etc.

On the various owners clubs people go mad for the copper bits, no idea why!

[croakey]

HazzaT said:

Love these, definitely my favourite MQB car. As far as remaps I'd say you can't go wrong with Revo, made a huge difference with my Mk8 ST

I have a friend who runs PerformanceRemap - will sort out a session with him on the dyno etc.

I’ve mapped everything I’ve had, always makes things more interesting.

I also have form for black wheels on a grey car