Leon Cupra or Octavia vRS
Discussion
I am looking for an everyday car to replace my old MK1 MX-5 1.8 which is 14 years old now and has 107K on the clock. I will semi-retire the '5 for weekend fun.
I'm looking for somethig resonably quick an nimble, but don't want to pay Audi/VW money, so am looking at the Leon Cupra or Octavia vRS.
I'm looking at 18 month to 3 year old cars. I have driven both, and to be honest found the Leon rather more exciting, though the vRS was very smooth. I'm 42, and part of me feels too young for a skoda, but also mayve the Leon is too young a car also.
The trouble is on a short drive you cannot know how they will be to live with.
The Skoda felt OK until I can to turn into some tight junctions when the steering seemed to load right and and it seemed reluctant to turn. The leon felt more sprightly, but I wonder if the stiffer suspension will become wearing over time.
Both fall short on the handling front compared to the '5 as I that has pretty stiff (too stiff if I'm honest) springs and dampers on it and is VERY low, so handling is sharp as you like. I have some disc issues in my neck which is another reason for retiring the '5, so looking for a little more compliance, though that will ot be hard.
My head says to get the vRS, but I can't shake the feeling I will be dissapointed in teh end by teh performace and agility.
I'm looking for somethig resonably quick an nimble, but don't want to pay Audi/VW money, so am looking at the Leon Cupra or Octavia vRS.
I'm looking at 18 month to 3 year old cars. I have driven both, and to be honest found the Leon rather more exciting, though the vRS was very smooth. I'm 42, and part of me feels too young for a skoda, but also mayve the Leon is too young a car also.
The trouble is on a short drive you cannot know how they will be to live with.
The Skoda felt OK until I can to turn into some tight junctions when the steering seemed to load right and and it seemed reluctant to turn. The leon felt more sprightly, but I wonder if the stiffer suspension will become wearing over time.
Both fall short on the handling front compared to the '5 as I that has pretty stiff (too stiff if I'm honest) springs and dampers on it and is VERY low, so handling is sharp as you like. I have some disc issues in my neck which is another reason for retiring the '5, so looking for a little more compliance, though that will ot be hard.
My head says to get the vRS, but I can't shake the feeling I will be dissapointed in teh end by teh performace and agility.
The latest shape Octavia vRS' are stupid cheap at the moment, just £15,637 on drivethedeal.com at the time of writing for a brand new 2010 model. Would make a good buy IMO. Compared to the Leon its far more practical with a more functional interior, and a fair chunk cheaper. Leon probably better for outright speed and power though.
Edited by va1o on Thursday 3rd June 23:29
The VRS has a nicer interior (less cheap/plasticy) than the Leon (the Mk1 Leon was far better), and by the sounds of things, as/when you need sporty, you can always take the '5.
That said, you could always throw on an aftermarket set of coil overs onto the VRS which if setup properly will kep the ride nice, but massivly improve the handling......
Skoda gets my vote
That said, you could always throw on an aftermarket set of coil overs onto the VRS which if setup properly will kep the ride nice, but massivly improve the handling......
Skoda gets my vote
If you get the cupra it is a different animal to the vrs. Has 240 compared to 200 bhp. Will do 24 compared to 35 mpg. Has a firmer ride and is smaller.
Depends what you want.
Cupra is an excellent drive but probably a licence looser. VRS can be driven 'slowly' and quickly. The cupra want to be driven.
We have a cupra as an unmarked car and I've driven the vrs as I own one and as a work car.
The cupra at 45.000 miles in 5 months has been bullet proof and tyres have lasted about 8-10,000 miles.
The cupra grips and grips then grips more.
The vrs is not quite as effective as a quick car but you will be going some to lose grip in it. More than adequate for most drivers skill levels.
The question is do you want fuel economy, gentler ride, more space with some fun or just fun?
Depends what you want.
Cupra is an excellent drive but probably a licence looser. VRS can be driven 'slowly' and quickly. The cupra want to be driven.
We have a cupra as an unmarked car and I've driven the vrs as I own one and as a work car.
The cupra at 45.000 miles in 5 months has been bullet proof and tyres have lasted about 8-10,000 miles.
The cupra grips and grips then grips more.
The vrs is not quite as effective as a quick car but you will be going some to lose grip in it. More than adequate for most drivers skill levels.
The question is do you want fuel economy, gentler ride, more space with some fun or just fun?
In my opinion the vrs is a great all rounder, nice compliant suspension but decent handling when you need it to be. Plenty quick enough for the UK roads, roomy and comfy. I've not tried a Cupra but I don't think you will be disapointed by the Skoda.
You've got the 5 for the days where you want fantastic handling and a harder ride....
You are not too young for the skoda, I'm younger than you and I have one.
You've got the 5 for the days where you want fantastic handling and a harder ride....
You are not too young for the skoda, I'm younger than you and I have one.
Sounds like the vRS has lots of votes then. Ironically I drove another Cupra last night to remind me what it was like, and it definitely puts a bigger smile on my face than the vRS. It reminds me a bit of my old Peugeot 309 GTI, yes a little plasticy in places, and firmish, but fun. The build and parts quality on that were terrible, but by gum it was a hoot to drive
I actually found the vRS to have better plastcs in the centre console etc, but the switchgear and controls felt more plsticy and filmsy than in the Seat, to my fingers at least.
In terms of size, we have a 2.2CDTI Civic (wife's car) which has loads of carrying space, so I don't need that much. As long as I can chuck my mountain bike the the back then that is fine.
I don't do a lot of miles, only 6 miles to work, and rarley do motorway trips. If I was doing more miles it would be the vRS no questions.
Looking at the quoted figures, the fuel consumption is not that different on the 2 cars. My '5 only does about 27mpg so I'm not sure either new car would be much worse!
Curiously the Cupra insurance quotes are coming ot at about £70 cheaper than the (group14) MX-5, and the vRS pretty similar to the Cupra.
I can't help feeling that whichever one I buy I'll feel a little bit that the other might have been the better choice - ho hum....
I actually found the vRS to have better plastcs in the centre console etc, but the switchgear and controls felt more plsticy and filmsy than in the Seat, to my fingers at least.
In terms of size, we have a 2.2CDTI Civic (wife's car) which has loads of carrying space, so I don't need that much. As long as I can chuck my mountain bike the the back then that is fine.
I don't do a lot of miles, only 6 miles to work, and rarley do motorway trips. If I was doing more miles it would be the vRS no questions.
Looking at the quoted figures, the fuel consumption is not that different on the 2 cars. My '5 only does about 27mpg so I'm not sure either new car would be much worse!
Curiously the Cupra insurance quotes are coming ot at about £70 cheaper than the (group14) MX-5, and the vRS pretty similar to the Cupra.
I can't help feeling that whichever one I buy I'll feel a little bit that the other might have been the better choice - ho hum....
Other factor is of course reliability. In the JD Power 2010 owner satisfaction survey released today; Skoda as a brand came 6th and the Octavia was rated 11th overall and 2nd best in class. SEAT on the other hand as a brand came 20th, and the Leon was 66th overall and 14th in class. Quite a difference considering they are fundamentally both the same car using VW Golf mechanicals.
Hmm, interesting, as you say the majority of the serious mechanical bits are the same so it can't be those that are causing trouble.
It does mention that the majority of the customer dissatisfaction was with the dealers rather tnan the car. Luckily I have no intention of using a main dealer for servicing etc as I knoe much more competant people.
It does mention that the majority of the customer dissatisfaction was with the dealers rather tnan the car. Luckily I have no intention of using a main dealer for servicing etc as I knoe much more competant people.
blank said:
It just comes down to personal choice seeing as the cars are virtually the same. You won't go wrong with either.
Personally I think the interior on the SEAT is awful.
And you're not too young for a Skoda - I'm 24 and have one.
Get a Skoda, I am 29 and want one!Personally I think the interior on the SEAT is awful.
And you're not too young for a Skoda - I'm 24 and have one.
They are awsome.
va1o said:
Other factor is of course reliability. In the JD Power 2010 owner satisfaction survey released today; Skoda as a brand came 6th and the Octavia was rated 11th overall and 2nd best in class. SEAT on the other hand as a brand came 20th, and the Leon was 66th overall and 14th in class. Quite a difference considering they are fundamentally both the same car using VW Golf mechanicals.
#i have pondered this as well and expect percetion and expectation has a lot to do with this. It appears some folk still have an issue with Skoda, very much the thinking mans audi at the moment imho.
istoo said:
va1o said:
Other factor is of course reliability. In the JD Power 2010 owner satisfaction survey released today; Skoda as a brand came 6th and the Octavia was rated 11th overall and 2nd best in class. SEAT on the other hand as a brand came 20th, and the Leon was 66th overall and 14th in class. Quite a difference considering they are fundamentally both the same car using VW Golf mechanicals.
#i have pondered this as well and expect percetion and expectation has a lot to do with this. It appears some folk still have an issue with Skoda, very much the thinking mans audi at the moment imho.
The Skoda Joke thing is old hat now, we have had an Octavia estate in the past and it was great. Wife now running a Fabia vRS 130Tdi.
If I was looking for a good allround every day performance car it would have to be an Octavia vRS Estate, the Leon Cupra was a bit to dark in the inside for me plus the seats lacked suport.
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