Audi S3 (prev generation) vs Leon Cupra R
Audi S3 (prev generation) vs Leon Cupra R
Author
Discussion

Brucie177

Original Poster:

45 posts

226 months

Monday 10th March 2008
quotequote all
What do you reckon would be the better purchase??

For the money (about £10k) I would be looking at a 2002 S3 or 2003/4 Cupra R.

Has anyone been in this position and got some advice??

I like the idea of the Leather/Xenons/Bose spec of the Audi, but can't help thinking that the Cupra R us better value. Don't particularly need the 5 door benefit the Cupra R brings, but not a deal breaker!

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

marctwo

3,666 posts

290 months

Monday 10th March 2008
quotequote all
There is NO answer to this. Buy the one YOU like. They are both good cars. With the S3 you pay more for the added niceties so it depends if that matters to you or not. I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever you choose. Good luck!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Tuesday 11th March 2008
quotequote all
Brucie177 said:
What do you reckon would be the better purchase??

For the money (about £10k) I would be looking at a 2002 S3 or 2003/4 Cupra R.

Has anyone been in this position and got some advice??

I like the idea of the Leather/Xenons/Bose spec of the Audi, but can't help thinking that the Cupra R us better value. Don't particularly need the 5 door benefit the Cupra R brings, but not a deal breaker!

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers
Firstly your going to be buying a car that is 4 years old & not 6 years old so with that you will have fewer miles and clearly perishable parts will not be as perished.

Cupra dials are white - is that a concern to you? Not my cup of tea but I would happily buy a Cupra R with them.

Which has the best seats?
Cupra R is a fine looking car and my personal colour choice is Gun Metal Grey - its a much more agressive looking car than the S3.

S3 = 4wd do you really need 4wd? If not then there is added weight = lower MPG and clearly there is more to go wrong with it.

Personally given the choice & my money Id save £4-5k and but a Cupra R 225 at half the price with 100k on it and use the saved £4-5k for any potential repairs needed in the future due to the higher milage.

Thorny

1,076 posts

240 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
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FWIW I had two previous gen S3s and thought they were wonderful!

Dr G

15,987 posts

272 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
For the money, an S3 is a tractable, enjoyable and reliable all weather package with decent residual values and fairly sensible running costs.

Leon is excellent also but 225 BHP through the front wheels can be 'entertaining' in less than ideal conditions. Interior isn't as nice either.

Fidgits

17,202 posts

259 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
My 2002 S3 is stunning - and is going for £8k cash at the moment..

Its a great all-rounder.. and those leather recaros are worth the price alone!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
An intresting issue to think about now is the VED

Leon Cupra R is going to cost you £300p.a. moving to £310p.a.
Whereas the Audi is just 2g/km over the banding meaning that it will cost you £415p.a. moving up to £430 the following year.




Fidgits

17,202 posts

259 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
is £100 a year really going to make that much difference though?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Fidgits said:
is £100 a year really going to make that much difference though?
The following year its currently £125 - if you dont think that its going to increase further then Id be prepared for a nasty surprise.

Given the Vauxhall Corsa VXR & Mini Cooper S turbo are both £120 a year and offer very similar performance to these two cars (being lighter mainly - but easily chippable too) and 2nd hand are a very similar price then £320p.a. is a significant number - if that isnt a lot to you well its flights and a nice city break for 2 long weekend to me.

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

248 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Come on - you know you want to......


Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Cannot buy it as its too old for me in the opting out of company car (cash 4 car)

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

248 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
In that case I quite like both the S3 and Cupra, although I would probably lean slightly more towards the S3, particularly in Nugaro Blue.

Definitely test drive both.

marctwo

3,666 posts

290 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
An intresting issue to think about now is the VED

Leon Cupra R is going to cost you £300p.a. moving to £310p.a.
Whereas the Audi is just 2g/km over the banding meaning that it will cost you £415p.a. moving up to £430 the following year.
Government Website said:
Over 225 – for cars registered on or after 23/03/06
So I believe it will be £210 for the S3.

Dave B S3

3,280 posts

255 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
I recently made a similar decision, opting out and ended up with a S3, the Cupra R was a consideration until i looked at depreciation and image, personalyy I like the Subtlety of the S3 and the carpark kudos, my Director likes it nad has even ignored the fact its a 3 door (4door rule)

Ive done 15000 mile's including hoons etc and its does every thing very very well, nip to Devon from north Oxfordshire easy, hoon it on the nex breakfast run easy, bad weather easy, pullinng up to a meeting easy.

What more can I say, i'll prbably replace it for a 996/7 Turbo when I can


Dave

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
quotequote all
marctwo said:
Welshbeef said:
An intresting issue to think about now is the VED

Leon Cupra R is going to cost you £300p.a. moving to £310p.a.
Whereas the Audi is just 2g/km over the banding meaning that it will cost you £415p.a. moving up to £430 the following year.
Government Website said:
Over 225 – for cars registered on or after 23/03/06
So I believe it will be £210 for the S3.
Incorrect Im affraid - A Darling has made the rules change back to Mar 2001 so bands A-g have now changed to A - M and the Leon Cupra R is Group K (201-225)g/km whereas the S3 is Group L (225-255).

Very annoying.

marctwo

3,666 posts

290 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Incorrect Im affraid - A Darling has made the rules change back to Mar 2001 so bands A-g have now changed to A - M and the Leon Cupra R is Group K (201-225)g/km whereas the S3 is Group L (225-255).

Very annoying.
So 1g/km co2 is costing me £115.

rage

Edited by marctwo on Thursday 13th March 09:28

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
quotequote all
marctwo said:
Welshbeef said:
Incorrect Im affraid - A Darling has made the rules change back to Mar 2001 so bands A-g have now changed to A - M and the Leon Cupra R is Group K (201-225)g/km whereas the S3 is Group L (225-255).

Very annoying.
So 1g/km co2 is costing me £115.

rage

Edited by marctwo on Thursday 13th March 09:28
Unluckily for you yes, Id say that the 1g/km is due to the 4wd/extra weight that adds.
Yesterdays budget will really make people think very hard about what they are going to buy - clearly if you can have 95 of the speed for £120p.a.in a new turbo Mini Cooper S or pay 4 times as much in tax for the S3 or 3 times as much for the Cupra R it does make it difficult to justify.

Id also say given your in that band your car has just depreciated a fai chunk of £ too - used car analysists are estimating at least 8% downwards which on a £10k car is a nice £800 hit.

boy1ndr

4 posts

223 months

Friday 28th March 2008
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think of your residuals in how everlong your keeping the car i had a cupra sport ibiza a few years ago and got next to nothing for it when i sold it and the car was in good nick.the cupra is a good car but will loose a lot of money later the s3 would be the better choice ,i,ve just traded a edition 30 in for the new s3 due to was never happy with the interior the check seats are ok but realy get on you tits after a year lots of creeks from the dash and could never get the car looking good once it was polished loads of swirls in the paint , and been the worst car for chips inthe paint work finished coat just looks to thin slightest bit of grit leaves whit specks coming through .

Rich VRS

605 posts

230 months

Friday 28th March 2008
quotequote all
S3 will be much quicker in the wet, damp, icey, etc. if your planning on moding id go for an s3 over a LCR as itll be easier to get power down as fwd and 250bhp+ isnt the best. LCR will hold more street cred with some s3 will pass by unnoticed until they attempt to keep up.

all depends really on personal taste and what youll be using the car for. id striggle to choose but would probably get an S3 due to its price, less depreciation, less likely to attract tea leaves and been raced at every set of traffic lights.

however in the dry on the straights a LCR should in theory be quicker.or buy an Octavia VRS for 5-6 and spend 4-5 on making it a lot faster than the LCR and S3

Edited by Rich VRS on Friday 28th March 16:06

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Friday 28th March 2008
quotequote all
Rich VRS said:
S3 will be much quicker in the wet, damp, icey, etc. if your planning on moding id go for an s3 over a LCR as itll be easier to get power down as fwd and 250bhp+ isnt the best. LCR will hold more street cred with some s3 will pass by unnoticed until they attempt to keep up.

all depends really on personal taste and what youll be using the car for. id striggle to choose but would probably get an S3 due to its price, less depreciation, less likely to attract tea leaves and been raced at every set of traffic lights.

however in the dry on the straights a LCR should in theory be quicker.or buy an Octavia VRS for 5-6 and spend 4-5 on making it a lot faster than the LCR and S3

Edited by Rich VRS on Friday 28th March 16:06
Mate you keep forgetting that the road tax will be £150 extra a year for the S3 over the LCR due to CO2 (4wd system being the issue) to a lot of buyers thats not a nice cost to swollow