RE: SEAT Leon ST Cupra 300 4Drive: Review
Discussion
It is a bit dull looking but I guess it's standard in the more modern cars. Safety regs and lack of real interesting designs these days.
The only upside compared to a the VW equivalent is that it has "only" 2 exhaust tips.
It really puts me off the 4 exhaust tips on cars such as Audi S3, Golf R, it is just too much and detracts from the car, at least for me. Worse, only the fake exhaust trim on the latest mercedes, even in AMG guise... WHY???
The only upside compared to a the VW equivalent is that it has "only" 2 exhaust tips.
It really puts me off the 4 exhaust tips on cars such as Audi S3, Golf R, it is just too much and detracts from the car, at least for me. Worse, only the fake exhaust trim on the latest mercedes, even in AMG guise... WHY???
moorejam said:
Towing. As a car for all occasions, can the Seat or the Golf tow a decent sized caravan? I know that the pre-facelifted Seat could not have a towbar fitted??
VAG is renowned for not putting their fast models through the type approved process, even where the chassis and drivetrains are type approved within other models. Although if you disregard the legislation I'm sure it will be perfectly competent with a caravan or big trailer, the old ones certainly are. Thanks for the great review, and actually going into details, as opposed to just applying rubber stamps that I found in many other reviews from the same Barcelona event ("this car is boring, etc").
My perspective seems to be a bit special -- since where I live, Cupra 300 4drive costs ~10K EUR less than Golf R Variant. The key question is then, is the Cupra any worse? If we forget the exterior looks (subjective), interior materials (I can live with the facelifted Leon quality), what about the performance and handling? Is the Golf really worth 10K extra?
Originally coming from a Honda/BMW-land and currently driving the 3-series (E91), I value the fun factor a lot, and would likely take it to the track couple of times a year. And I thought Golf R has proven to be quite an entertaining machine, both hatch and wagon. What do the authors think about the handling, comparing Cupra 4drive back to back with Golf Rs?
My perspective seems to be a bit special -- since where I live, Cupra 300 4drive costs ~10K EUR less than Golf R Variant. The key question is then, is the Cupra any worse? If we forget the exterior looks (subjective), interior materials (I can live with the facelifted Leon quality), what about the performance and handling? Is the Golf really worth 10K extra?
Originally coming from a Honda/BMW-land and currently driving the 3-series (E91), I value the fun factor a lot, and would likely take it to the track couple of times a year. And I thought Golf R has proven to be quite an entertaining machine, both hatch and wagon. What do the authors think about the handling, comparing Cupra 4drive back to back with Golf Rs?
caelite said:
moorejam said:
Towing. As a car for all occasions, can the Seat or the Golf tow a decent sized caravan? I know that the pre-facelifted Seat could not have a towbar fitted??
VAG is renowned for not putting their fast models through the type approved process, even where the chassis and drivetrains are type approved within other models. Although if you disregard the legislation I'm sure it will be perfectly competent with a caravan or big trailer, the old ones certainly are. List price comparisons between the R estate and the Cupra ST are misleading as discounts on the Cupra are far more generous - I spec'd one with leather, upgraded satnav and upgraded sound for under £30k, which is a bargain if youre after that sort of practicality / performance. Doubt I'll bite the bullet though as the looks of the R estate and Cupra ST just dont do it for me, although the Cupra is admittedly less ugly that the R - and slightly less likely to get nicked
When comparing the ST AWD with a Golf R estate, you would need to add VW's prices for the items included in the Advanced Driving & Comfort Pack which is included in the ST's price. (It's really buried in the price list on pages 14 & 15.)
Add that to the std. 19" wheels & DCC, & the gap widens, even more so if you visit the car price comparison websites!
FWIW, it seems that we can get a nicely loaded ST AWD on the road for £31.800 & at that price it's very tempting.
(That's less than we paid for an R estate & that was with app. £10k discount.........)
Cheers, DC
Add that to the std. 19" wheels & DCC, & the gap widens, even more so if you visit the car price comparison websites!
FWIW, it seems that we can get a nicely loaded ST AWD on the road for £31.800 & at that price it's very tempting.
(That's less than we paid for an R estate & that was with app. £10k discount.........)
Cheers, DC
Ahbefive said:
Looks a pretty boring car to me and I'm not sure who would want this over the Golf R estate. Still, nice to have alternative options I guess.
We might want one, if only 'cos we have an R estate & are looking for a 2nd car that's similar to drive but isn't another Golf, or an Audi!DC
PS For us, boring (to look at, not to drive) is good, we don't want our cars to be seen &/or noticed......
Rob.043 said:
I prefer the two tail pipes to the 4 on the golf. silly little detail, but it puts me right off the R.
The R estate only has 2 working tail-pipes, the other pair are there for visual effect only!OTOH, my trusty Superb has 2 x 2 dirty pipes, all working but very quiet. Go figure that......
DC
Hi everyone. New to the forum.
Living abroad, I'm always curious to observe VAG and other groups pricing strategies in the UK.
815 quid difference is a no brainer, Golf R everyday, but over here in France:
Cupra ST 4Drive is 40,345 euros list price
Golf SW R is 47,430 euros list
7k difference is a lot more significant. Add in a few options like pano roof, nav pro and on the Golf, the DCC and the difference goes up to 9k.
Serious head-scratching time for that price difference.
And to put a further spanner in the works, consider this: A Ford Focus ST 250 Estate is currently on special offer in France for 25,000 euros before options. 15k saving on the Cupra ST. Admittedly, 2 very different cars and the Focus is starting to look dated, especially inside, but if the objective is swift family transport with room for the dog and occasional wardrobe, what would you have?
Living abroad, I'm always curious to observe VAG and other groups pricing strategies in the UK.
815 quid difference is a no brainer, Golf R everyday, but over here in France:
Cupra ST 4Drive is 40,345 euros list price
Golf SW R is 47,430 euros list
7k difference is a lot more significant. Add in a few options like pano roof, nav pro and on the Golf, the DCC and the difference goes up to 9k.
Serious head-scratching time for that price difference.
And to put a further spanner in the works, consider this: A Ford Focus ST 250 Estate is currently on special offer in France for 25,000 euros before options. 15k saving on the Cupra ST. Admittedly, 2 very different cars and the Focus is starting to look dated, especially inside, but if the objective is swift family transport with room for the dog and occasional wardrobe, what would you have?
If you go off RRP there is little difference, but SEAT dealers are offering upto 19% off the Cupra, VW dealers are offering about 10%.
New Golf R estate does have 7 speed and virtual cockpit, but the ST has DCC (adaptive dampers) as standard.
The original Cupra 280 & 290 were a bit more of a bargain as you got SatNAV, adaptive suspension, front & rear parking sensors and some other goodies as standard over a standard Golf R, however the face lifted Golf R has picked up most of the shiny bits except the suspension so the Cupra doesn't seem as much of a bargain anymore and the 4wd ST really doesn't seem competitive in price.
New Golf R estate does have 7 speed and virtual cockpit, but the ST has DCC (adaptive dampers) as standard.
The original Cupra 280 & 290 were a bit more of a bargain as you got SatNAV, adaptive suspension, front & rear parking sensors and some other goodies as standard over a standard Golf R, however the face lifted Golf R has picked up most of the shiny bits except the suspension so the Cupra doesn't seem as much of a bargain anymore and the 4wd ST really doesn't seem competitive in price.
adrian50 said:
A Ford Focus ST 250 Estate is currently on special offer in France for 25,000 euros before options. 15k saving on the Cupra ST.
More correctly compared to a 300 ST fwd manual, that is starting at ~28k in Germany street price. You should be able to get something similar, maybe little bit more 29k? in France. For me the ~4k more is worth it, better engine, real lsd, looks nicer (subjective).delticdavid said:
The R estate only has 2 working tail-pipes, the other pair are there for visual effect only!
OTOH, my trusty Superb has 2 x 2 dirty pipes, all working but very quiet. Go figure that......
DC
Could a bit of surgery cure the problem in which case then? I also think the 4 pipes thing looks ridiculous on a 2 litre car.OTOH, my trusty Superb has 2 x 2 dirty pipes, all working but very quiet. Go figure that......
DC
pppppppppppppppp said:
Here we go again. Why can't you people just not bother posting if you don't have anything interesting to say about it? By all means criticise the car if you think there's some tangible aspect of it that warrants criticism. And do base that on the content of the article or your own experiences driving one.
Frankly, if all you can do is look up the list of pathetic clichés: VAG=boring, and post that then you are the ones who are boring. Never, ever describe any car as boring, let alone one with 300 sodding bhp. If you can't get into a 300 bhp car, or any car for that matter, and make it fun, then you need a different hobby.
While we're on the subject, stop describing French cars as unreliable, American cars as bad at cornering, Italian cars as rust buckets, Porsches as never changing or convertibles as hairdresser's cars. They are very, very crappy old clichés, we've heard a million times before. If you can't think of anything useful to say, say nothing.
I haven't driven one of these. I did consider getting a 280 when they came out and had a test drive of an FR, which was all the dealer had.
It was a bit dull, to be honest.
;-)
So do you want anyone to reply to you or not? Frankly, if all you can do is look up the list of pathetic clichés: VAG=boring, and post that then you are the ones who are boring. Never, ever describe any car as boring, let alone one with 300 sodding bhp. If you can't get into a 300 bhp car, or any car for that matter, and make it fun, then you need a different hobby.
While we're on the subject, stop describing French cars as unreliable, American cars as bad at cornering, Italian cars as rust buckets, Porsches as never changing or convertibles as hairdresser's cars. They are very, very crappy old clichés, we've heard a million times before. If you can't think of anything useful to say, say nothing.
I haven't driven one of these. I did consider getting a 280 when they came out and had a test drive of an FR, which was all the dealer had.
It was a bit dull, to be honest.
;-)
pppppppppppppppp said:
Dr.jeffs said:
Competent im sure it is, and quick. But boring. Can be applied to most of the vag range imo 
Ahbefive said:
Looks a pretty boring car to me and I'm not sure who would want this over the Golf R estate. Still, nice to have alternative options I guess.
Here we go again. Why can't you people just not bother posting if you don't have anything interesting to say about it? By all means criticise the car if you think there's some tangible aspect of it that warrants criticism. And do base that on the content of the article or your own experiences driving one. Frankly, if all you can do is look up the list of pathetic clichés: VAG=boring, and post that then you are the ones who are boring. Never, ever describe any car as boring, let alone one with 300 sodding bhp. If you can't get into a 300 bhp car, or any car for that matter, and make it fun, then you need a different hobby.
While we're on the subject, stop describing French cars as unreliable, American cars as bad at cornering, Italian cars as rust buckets, Porsches as never changing or convertibles as hairdresser's cars. They are very, very crappy old clichés, we've heard a million times before. If you can't think of anything useful to say, say nothing.
I haven't driven one of these. I did consider getting a 280 when they came out and had a test drive of an FR, which was all the dealer had.
It was a bit dull, to be honest.
;-)
Secondly please don't tell me what i can and can't say. there isnt some magic bhp number that stops a car from possibly being boring, and you kinda broke your own "never say any car is boring" rule when you described the leon you drove as "dull" ,a synonym of boring.....
As for your last paragraph re. fench cars etc, i don't know who you're aiming that at :/ , though i can and will say what I like (within forum rules of course )
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