Sons 2nd car - Mk1 Leon Cupra
Discussion
Since my son passed his test in Feb he has been giving a lot of thought as to his second car once he has 1 years NCD.
Has no interest in modern stuff and decided to go old school (relatively speaking) hot hatch.
First job was to look at hat could be affordable (limit of £1800 in year 2) insurance - ruled a lot of relatively mundane stuff but still left some interesting / fun options.
He has always liked Mk1 Leon Cupras, I had one from new and liked it but they have unfortunately fallen through the hole in the market where most have been thrashed or ruined.
Looked at one local at £2k, 133,000 miles but good history but needed a lot of paintwork - just did not add up and whilst he wanted a project car I see a project as something where I can do most of the work, removing / repairing rust and painting is not in my remit.
The more we looked the more we realised it could well be a very long search - until this morning.
Facebook Marketplace threw up a Cupra that warranted a message for more info.
Quick exchange and deal was done, deposit transferred and train booked to Dunfermline on Friday, at least the 300+ miles back will unearth any issues and hopefully take in some enjoyable roads (A701 / 702 remembered from past journeys across the border).
Details from the advert:
Extremely clean for age no rust
Almost a full year mot all advisory’s fixed as well
Full history and tons of receipts thousands spent on the car
Couple of small modifications such as full stainless steel cobra exhaust and air filter apart from this standard car
Brembo brake discs front and back
2 new front shocks along with springs
2 new rear springs
4 new calipers
Ice cold AC/air conditioning
I’ve serviced it every 3k miles in my ownership
New brake pipes front and back including flex’s
New front genuine seat/vw subframe cost over £1000
New abs sensors both sides
New handbrakes cables
New thermostat and coolant flushed
Drives like the day it come out the dealership no noises or bangs
Gearbox and engine perfect oil clear and clean like apple juice
Interior immaculate no rips or wear on seats
Brand new refurbished alloys with new tyres less than 1k miles ago
He won't be driving it for a while, has a few months before he has 1 years NCD so it will give us time to have some father / son bonding time resolving anything that we find - quite pleased with his choice and quite different to what most 18 years gravitate towards
First job will be going back to standard airbox with a Pipercross filter - owner has not got the original but sourced one from Ebay for £20
Has no interest in modern stuff and decided to go old school (relatively speaking) hot hatch.
First job was to look at hat could be affordable (limit of £1800 in year 2) insurance - ruled a lot of relatively mundane stuff but still left some interesting / fun options.
He has always liked Mk1 Leon Cupras, I had one from new and liked it but they have unfortunately fallen through the hole in the market where most have been thrashed or ruined.
Looked at one local at £2k, 133,000 miles but good history but needed a lot of paintwork - just did not add up and whilst he wanted a project car I see a project as something where I can do most of the work, removing / repairing rust and painting is not in my remit.
The more we looked the more we realised it could well be a very long search - until this morning.
Facebook Marketplace threw up a Cupra that warranted a message for more info.
Quick exchange and deal was done, deposit transferred and train booked to Dunfermline on Friday, at least the 300+ miles back will unearth any issues and hopefully take in some enjoyable roads (A701 / 702 remembered from past journeys across the border).
Details from the advert:
Extremely clean for age no rust
Almost a full year mot all advisory’s fixed as well
Full history and tons of receipts thousands spent on the car
Couple of small modifications such as full stainless steel cobra exhaust and air filter apart from this standard car
Brembo brake discs front and back
2 new front shocks along with springs
2 new rear springs
4 new calipers
Ice cold AC/air conditioning
I’ve serviced it every 3k miles in my ownership
New brake pipes front and back including flex’s
New front genuine seat/vw subframe cost over £1000
New abs sensors both sides
New handbrakes cables
New thermostat and coolant flushed
Drives like the day it come out the dealership no noises or bangs
Gearbox and engine perfect oil clear and clean like apple juice
Interior immaculate no rips or wear on seats
Brand new refurbished alloys with new tyres less than 1k miles ago
He won't be driving it for a while, has a few months before he has 1 years NCD so it will give us time to have some father / son bonding time resolving anything that we find - quite pleased with his choice and quite different to what most 18 years gravitate towards
First job will be going back to standard airbox with a Pipercross filter - owner has not got the original but sourced one from Ebay for £20
I had a black one of similar vintage. it was a decent car TBH, very little went wrong, but it felt a bit numb and soulless. Very inert, mute steering with little feedback, but the handling was transformed by a decent set of tyres, at least on the fronts so don't skimp there. I did come from a 306 GTI-6 so very little available at that time would have been even half as talkative.
Check the oil pickup isn't blocked if you can, but it'll involve dropping the sump. They can become blocked and that orange low oil pressure light on the dash can become a red light and a dead engine in less than a minute if it's blocked. Mine needed a passenger window regulator and I don't really remember much else. I think it was supposed to be scrapped when it failed it's MOT for a blowing exhaust and a full system from Seat, as they didn't sell parts was something like £1,100 and even an aftermarket system was not far off that, too much at the time for me. Apparently it's still going with the MOT just renewed until June next year!
Check the oil pickup isn't blocked if you can, but it'll involve dropping the sump. They can become blocked and that orange low oil pressure light on the dash can become a red light and a dead engine in less than a minute if it's blocked. Mine needed a passenger window regulator and I don't really remember much else. I think it was supposed to be scrapped when it failed it's MOT for a blowing exhaust and a full system from Seat, as they didn't sell parts was something like £1,100 and even an aftermarket system was not far off that, too much at the time for me. Apparently it's still going with the MOT just renewed until June next year!
MissChief said:
I had a black one of similar vintage. it was a decent car TBH, very little went wrong, but it felt a bit numb and soulless. Very inert, mute steering with little feedback, but the handling was transformed by a decent set of tyres, at least on the fronts so don't skimp there. I did come from a 306 GTI-6 so very little available at that time would have been even half as talkative.
Check the oil pickup isn't blocked if you can, but it'll involve dropping the sump. They can become blocked and that orange low oil pressure light on the dash can become a red light and a dead engine in less than a minute if it's blocked. Mine needed a passenger window regulator and I don't really remember much else. I think it was supposed to be scrapped when it failed it's MOT for a blowing exhaust and a full system from Seat, as they didn't sell parts was something like £1,100 and even an aftermarket system was not far off that, too much at the time for me. Apparently it's still going with the MOT just renewed until June next year!
Mine was faultless in the 12 months I had mine. Have advised him that it will not be the most dynamic of cars but coming from an Up that he has been driving for his first 12 months it will be a big step up for him. Check the oil pickup isn't blocked if you can, but it'll involve dropping the sump. They can become blocked and that orange low oil pressure light on the dash can become a red light and a dead engine in less than a minute if it's blocked. Mine needed a passenger window regulator and I don't really remember much else. I think it was supposed to be scrapped when it failed it's MOT for a blowing exhaust and a full system from Seat, as they didn't sell parts was something like £1,100 and even an aftermarket system was not far off that, too much at the time for me. Apparently it's still going with the MOT just renewed until June next year!
Thanks for the heads up on the oil pickup, will definitely check it
Andy665 said:
Mammasaid said:
I don't want to be that guy, but have you considered the mods for insurance? The exhaust, airbox and wheels (don't think they are OEM) should all be declared.
OE airbox is going back on, wheels are OE and exhaust will be declaredP.S. nice car, looks in great nick.
I remember a friend of mine had one of these when we were in college - seeing as that was 18 years ago now (time flies!) it's awesome to see they're still a sought after car for younger petrolheads, although it pains me to hear it referred to as 'old school' 
(I know what you mean though!).
(I know what you mean though!).fantheman80 said:
that looks clean as a whistle fair play to the previous owner, and good luck
would you have to declare a gorgeous set of Cupra R wheels?
These are nice but I think the R are one of best designs on hot hatch ever
Son wants it as standard as possible, exhaust will stay as it has same tailpipe as OE, he does not even want to upgrade the stereo would you have to declare a gorgeous set of Cupra R wheels?
These are nice but I think the R are one of best designs on hot hatch everThat will be a fantastic 2nd car!
I bought a 2000 Cupra ex-company car from my employer in 2003 and really liked it - not least because it had the optional leather seats with electric adjustment and driver's memory. But I wasn't too impressed with the handling or tendency to lift the inside front wheel accelerating on a corner.
But hopefully he won't be driving it like that.
I bought a 2000 Cupra ex-company car from my employer in 2003 and really liked it - not least because it had the optional leather seats with electric adjustment and driver's memory. But I wasn't too impressed with the handling or tendency to lift the inside front wheel accelerating on a corner.
But hopefully he won't be driving it like that.
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