RE: Shed(s) of the Week: SEAT Leon Cupra/BMW 325i
Discussion
They're both nice, but that's kind of damned by feint praise. Neither of them are particularly interesting in any way either.
But I'd have the Beemer. I've found old turbos to be a bit of a nuisance as they're often tired and the performance has gone off. The Beemer just being capacity means it probably has way more horses left in the paddock. And it looks less like a 'shopping car'.
But I'd have the Beemer. I've found old turbos to be a bit of a nuisance as they're often tired and the performance has gone off. The Beemer just being capacity means it probably has way more horses left in the paddock. And it looks less like a 'shopping car'.
GOOOOOO SHEDS!!
I'd have either of the Cupra or E46, the colour/spec of the Leon is more appealing than the BMW in dubious green ( I say that and I have a glacier green BMW sat outside my house) but as there are now so many of both Leons & BMW E46s in the scrap yards it would be easy to keep them on the road for buttons plus add a few upgrades to make them more desirable.
Also, "shopping cars" is one of those annoying phrases which makes absolutely no sense given that people drive their Ferraris & Catherams to shops and others drive their VW Golf to the race track.
Someone above mentioned how they would never buy a VAG product because a 20VT can suffer from boost leaks, really!!?? The single factor which stops you buying a car is when a tiny bit of rubber hose may spring a leak or a metal clip becomes weak. Bloody hell you lot must have the most reliable cars in the world and clearly must have never had any kind of component failure in your driving career if these are the things that scare you about cars!
I'd have either of the Cupra or E46, the colour/spec of the Leon is more appealing than the BMW in dubious green ( I say that and I have a glacier green BMW sat outside my house) but as there are now so many of both Leons & BMW E46s in the scrap yards it would be easy to keep them on the road for buttons plus add a few upgrades to make them more desirable.
kellyt said:
I've found old turbos to be a bit of a nuisance as they're often tired and the performance has gone off. The Beemer just being capacity means it probably has way more horses left in the paddock. And it looks less like a 'shopping car'.
Really this nonsense again about all old cars suffering from lost power. I presume you have not experienced a BMW I6 that has a marginally less than perfect camshaft/crankshaft sensor/MAF/Vanos seals or Solenoid as regardless if they are the 2.0 , 2.5 or 3.0 they feel like they have 50hp! Any of those sensors can set you back over £100 plus more if you can't fit them yourself. Ever had a BMW that uses more than a 1 litre of oil every few hundred miles, ask MANY owners, that's effectively doing rolling oil changes but hey , if the engine still feels like it might make within 10% of factory power it's better than a engine with a turbo on, right,??Also, "shopping cars" is one of those annoying phrases which makes absolutely no sense given that people drive their Ferraris & Catherams to shops and others drive their VW Golf to the race track.
Someone above mentioned how they would never buy a VAG product because a 20VT can suffer from boost leaks, really!!?? The single factor which stops you buying a car is when a tiny bit of rubber hose may spring a leak or a metal clip becomes weak. Bloody hell you lot must have the most reliable cars in the world and clearly must have never had any kind of component failure in your driving career if these are the things that scare you about cars!
Pica-Pica said:
Filibuster said:
daemon said:
Weirdly its listed correctly as a straight six on the gumtree advert
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/2001-bmw-325i-for-sa...
To be pedantic, only listed as "6 cylinder engine", not specified whether inline, or "V", or Boxer, or Flat.https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/2001-bmw-325i-for-sa...
)Had two very similar cars: a '97 E36 328i (0-60 7.1), for £1,450 - just about the new shed money, and replaced it with a £3500 '04 Seat Toledo TDi 150 Sport (booted Leon with the same or similar sport suspension and quick(ish) acceleration - 8.4 sec).
Massively different driving experiences, and ownership experiences. BMW was astonishingly painless to own. Nothing ever went wrong in two years and 29k, and when I sold it, at fourteen years old and 147k, it was still on the original clutch, original cat and original exhaust. Tough as old boots. Didn't rust at all, but mine had been meticulously maintained. Sadly, the 7 year old, 68k Seat gave me over a grand's worth of trouble in three years on just niggling electrical problems. Endless sensors, control units to the sensors, glow worms went twice(!!!) and the control unit to the glow worms. Had to be plugged in every time. Very surprising for a VW diesel engine. I would've saved money if I'd bought the much thirstier Cupra. Beemer wasn't maintenance free, as you'd expect at that age and mileage, and it had new fuel lines and front struts; routine around that age. But the Seat was just in and out of the garage like a yo-yo.
If you buy a Leon/Toledo, check the carpets are not wet. I had to spend £300 to get my inner door seals replaced to cure this. They all go, so check it's been done.
Driving. Both engines were just utterly superb. Both had the torque of a freight train, and although the Seat was a diesel, it was surprisingly characterful for it. Weirdly, it sounded like a Subaru flat four - work that one out! Beemer was supremely quiet and smooth and, because of that, deceptively fast. In terms of handling, Seat was typical Golf Mk4/A3/Octavia etc platform and will be familiar to you if you've had any of those. Safe handling, would be an apt description. Beemer was, quite simply, the best handling car I've ever owned. Better than my Clio 182 Cup. I drive a BMW 130i now, and although it's a better car overall, I'd still say the 328i handled better. 130i is a little more fun, but you've got to watch it in the wet. 328i wasn't like that. The rear was just SOOO well planted, it would never get out of shape, wet or dry, unless you absolutely drove it like you stole it. Totally neutral handling. Felt a bit too grown up for it's own good at times; not as chuckable as my Clio. But it could be driven intuively like no other car I've ever had. Best steering feel and seat of the pants feel ever on it's donut tyres (205/60 15). A legend.
Massively different driving experiences, and ownership experiences. BMW was astonishingly painless to own. Nothing ever went wrong in two years and 29k, and when I sold it, at fourteen years old and 147k, it was still on the original clutch, original cat and original exhaust. Tough as old boots. Didn't rust at all, but mine had been meticulously maintained. Sadly, the 7 year old, 68k Seat gave me over a grand's worth of trouble in three years on just niggling electrical problems. Endless sensors, control units to the sensors, glow worms went twice(!!!) and the control unit to the glow worms. Had to be plugged in every time. Very surprising for a VW diesel engine. I would've saved money if I'd bought the much thirstier Cupra. Beemer wasn't maintenance free, as you'd expect at that age and mileage, and it had new fuel lines and front struts; routine around that age. But the Seat was just in and out of the garage like a yo-yo.
If you buy a Leon/Toledo, check the carpets are not wet. I had to spend £300 to get my inner door seals replaced to cure this. They all go, so check it's been done.
Driving. Both engines were just utterly superb. Both had the torque of a freight train, and although the Seat was a diesel, it was surprisingly characterful for it. Weirdly, it sounded like a Subaru flat four - work that one out! Beemer was supremely quiet and smooth and, because of that, deceptively fast. In terms of handling, Seat was typical Golf Mk4/A3/Octavia etc platform and will be familiar to you if you've had any of those. Safe handling, would be an apt description. Beemer was, quite simply, the best handling car I've ever owned. Better than my Clio 182 Cup. I drive a BMW 130i now, and although it's a better car overall, I'd still say the 328i handled better. 130i is a little more fun, but you've got to watch it in the wet. 328i wasn't like that. The rear was just SOOO well planted, it would never get out of shape, wet or dry, unless you absolutely drove it like you stole it. Totally neutral handling. Felt a bit too grown up for it's own good at times; not as chuckable as my Clio. But it could be driven intuively like no other car I've ever had. Best steering feel and seat of the pants feel ever on it's donut tyres (205/60 15). A legend.
Great choices Shed!
In 2003 I bought a 2000 Leon Cupra in Black Magic (with the optional leather and electric memory seats) and 3 years ago I bought an E46 325ti Compact Sport as a daily!
The Seat was a great car, but a few more bhp is always a good thing and RWD is so much better - BMW for me!
In 2003 I bought a 2000 Leon Cupra in Black Magic (with the optional leather and electric memory seats) and 3 years ago I bought an E46 325ti Compact Sport as a daily!
The Seat was a great car, but a few more bhp is always a good thing and RWD is so much better - BMW for me!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 2nd September 01:24
graham22 said:
Heart - BMW
Head - Seat.
Door lock common Seat/VW/Audi thing, have sorted on all 3 before, part looks similar. If it was like an A3 I had, just don't turn the child locks on as the failing release normally affects the external handle.
Just don't have children. Easy.Head - Seat.
Door lock common Seat/VW/Audi thing, have sorted on all 3 before, part looks similar. If it was like an A3 I had, just don't turn the child locks on as the failing release normally affects the external handle.
Edited by graham22 on Friday 1st September 09:56
[quote]Which one would you pick?
[/quote]
The 325 probably.....but in 6-Speed hatch format so a smidge more performance than that saloon thanks to the gearing and practicality of a hatchback ( useful for bikes etc )
Not this car maybe but something similar currently at half budget (£720 )
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172845084303
[/quote]
The 325 probably.....but in 6-Speed hatch format so a smidge more performance than that saloon thanks to the gearing and practicality of a hatchback ( useful for bikes etc )
Not this car maybe but something similar currently at half budget (£720 )
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172845084303
That looks like a very decent 325i for 1200 quid, and I'd pick that over the Seat. I always liked the E46, and the acres of grey plastic inside isn't really an issue IMHO.
One thing I'd want to check is whether it's still on the original clutch (or when it was changed). After more than 130K miles I reckon it would be close to end of life or should have already been changed. I'd want to set aside 500 quid for that job (based on the prices quoted online).
One thing I'd want to check is whether it's still on the original clutch (or when it was changed). After more than 130K miles I reckon it would be close to end of life or should have already been changed. I'd want to set aside 500 quid for that job (based on the prices quoted online).
[quote=aka_kerrly]
Also, "shopping cars" is one of those annoying phrases which makes absolutely no sense given that people drive their Ferraris & Catherams to shops and others drive their VW Golf to the race track.
Yeah, right. That's what I see in Sainsbury's, nothing buy Ferraris and Caterhams.
Can't understand why I forgot that when I was typing. My bad. How could I have forgotten.
Also, "shopping cars" is one of those annoying phrases which makes absolutely no sense given that people drive their Ferraris & Catherams to shops and others drive their VW Golf to the race track.
Yeah, right. That's what I see in Sainsbury's, nothing buy Ferraris and Caterhams.
Can't understand why I forgot that when I was typing. My bad. How could I have forgotten.
I recently bought an e46 325ci (MY2000) for 900 quid. 80k miles, Two owners on the logbook, fantastic condition inside and out apart from a damaged rear bumper. Electrically adjustable seats, Harman Kardon sound upgrade, electric rear windows, DAB head unit installed. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been if the manuals with the service history were present - however this wasn't an issue as it was bought as a donor car. Was a fantastic machine, I ran it for a month before i got sent overseas to be broken for parts. I was sorely tempted to keep it but I already have too many cars. The only thing it would have needed was a new clutch as there wasn't much left on it, and of course, a replacement rear bumper - plenty of them about in Topaz blue.
4 pot fwd or 6 pot rwd, no contest for me I'm afraid! I'll take the latter. 
Also, it looks like Oxford green in the photos, it looks a lot better in the metal than it does in pictures, it polishes up very well. Quite a rare colour on an e46 too, it was mostly e39's that were that colour.
Edit; Looking again, I'm not so sure, seems a bit light for Oxford green?
Also, it looks like Oxford green in the photos, it looks a lot better in the metal than it does in pictures, it polishes up very well. Quite a rare colour on an e46 too, it was mostly e39's that were that colour.
Edit; Looking again, I'm not so sure, seems a bit light for Oxford green?
Edited by njw1 on Saturday 2nd September 14:21
I've a soft spot for the Leon after having one as a company car around the millennium. 36k / year for 3 years before i gave it back.
30mpg but only 15% of a £15,000 list in tax iirc.
Was still going strong up until it's 12th birthday with nearly 200,000 miles on it going by the MOT history.
30mpg but only 15% of a £15,000 list in tax iirc.
Was still going strong up until it's 12th birthday with nearly 200,000 miles on it going by the MOT history.
I think I looked at a BMW 320d that was this colour about ten years ago.
I mean... I definitely looked at the BMW. But it might not have been exactly this colour. It was a rather dark green, though. If this one is Boston Green, but Oxford Green is more common, and they're hard to tell apart - or vice versa - then it was probably one of them. It was a dark green, that was a bit unusual, but rather attractive, just like this one.
Sadly, I looked at 3 320ds that day, and ended up buying the 3rd, because the salesman was the best. And how do I know he was the best? Well, that's easy: the f
ker managed to talk me into buying one that was a sort of greyish light blue.
I mean... I definitely looked at the BMW. But it might not have been exactly this colour. It was a rather dark green, though. If this one is Boston Green, but Oxford Green is more common, and they're hard to tell apart - or vice versa - then it was probably one of them. It was a dark green, that was a bit unusual, but rather attractive, just like this one.
Sadly, I looked at 3 320ds that day, and ended up buying the 3rd, because the salesman was the best. And how do I know he was the best? Well, that's easy: the f
ker managed to talk me into buying one that was a sort of greyish light blue.For some strange reason, older green cars always seem to get looked after better than other colours. What's that all about?
Depends whether you need a hatchback, bit both will have their challenges - my father in law's 320i coupe has cost a bit fixing the water works, but is lovely to drive even if not fast.
Cupras had a reputation of having more than the quoted power. I had a newish one as a company car back in the day and it was a rocket ship and a lot of fun to drive.
Personally I would look for a 325i Compact Sport - I had one of those too, after the Cupra and they rust less.
Depends whether you need a hatchback, bit both will have their challenges - my father in law's 320i coupe has cost a bit fixing the water works, but is lovely to drive even if not fast.
Cupras had a reputation of having more than the quoted power. I had a newish one as a company car back in the day and it was a rocket ship and a lot of fun to drive.
Personally I would look for a 325i Compact Sport - I had one of those too, after the Cupra and they rust less.
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