SEAT Leon Cupra: Spotted
The earliest Mk3 Cupras are £20K less than a sold-out Cupra R now, and soon out of warranty - thinking what we're thinking?
Perhaps it's because there aren't yellow ones. Perhaps it's because of the whole Nurburgring fiasco. Perhaps it's because the Golf GTI is better than ever, as is so much of the competition. For whatever reason, the Mk3 Leon Cupra doesn't appear to have been the runaway hit of previous generations. When did you last see one?
Which brings us very neatly to this car. On the face of it this Leon Cupra is like many others, a 2014 manual 280 with five doors. Interestingly though, it's now less than £15k - £14,950, with 28,000 miles and a full SEAT service history - and, as a 64-plate car, it would have just ran out of warranty. Which means you can start modifying...
Now we're not talking anything ridiculous here, because £15k is still not a bargain and you don't want to compromise its everyday suitability. But with the Cupra improved so appealingly by SEAT's own Performance Pack, there's nothing to say you couldn't go about doing your own.
Point being that an even more enjoyable, more exciting and more capable hot hatch could be made fairly simply from this Leon Cupra. A Stage 1 Revo remap makes anything up to 370hp for £599, a set of Cup 2s on a 235/35 R19 wheel is £900 and those incredible Endless MA45B pads are on sale at £557+VAT. Just over £2,000, basically, which still makes it cheaper than this Golf GTD(!) with similar miles.
What you'll have is a car that's still tremendously subtle and won't attract any unwanted attention, while being great fun on both road and track. And even faster. Given how things seem to be, it'll be quite a rare spot too. Perhaps a Megane is yet more entertaining still and there are rivals which offer the security of all-wheel drive, but there are different strokes for different folks and the Leon has always been a very appealing alternative. With a few aftermarket tweaks some years down the line it could arguably be even more so.
SPECIFICATION - SEAT LEON CUPRA 280
Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@5,700-6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@1,750-5,600rpm
MPG: 44.1
CO2: 149g/km
First registered: 2014
Mileage: 28,000 miles
Price new: £26,940
Price now: £14,950
See the original advert here
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I like rarity....most thieves may walk by it unlike R's S3's et al
Only thing as with the previous generation FWD cars including MK5 GTI and Edition 30 once mapped in rain soaked Britain they torque steer. I got to 365 in my Edition 30 and even with a Quaiffe Diff it was great in bone dry conditions especially on track with decent brakes but it was far from standard.
Cheap R's with DSG are great all weather tools.....point to point in the wet even stock they're a weapon.
Get it to APR's Stage 2 and for not a lot of money you'll see 400+ bhp & 450lbs .
That and some decent brakes and it's not to be sniffed at for the money. An M2, M4 or C63 in the wet on a B road wouldn't know which way it went.....all for sub £20k....bit of a bargain really.
I like rarity....most thieves may walk by it unlike R's S3's et al
Only thing as with the previous generation FWD cars including MK5 GTI and Edition 30 once mapped in rain soaked Britain they torque steer. I got to 365 in my Edition 30 and even with a Quaiffe Diff it was great in bone dry conditions especially on track with decent brakes but it was far from standard.
Cheap R's with DSG are great all weather tools.....point to point in the wet even stock they're a weapon.
Get it to APR's Stage 2 and for not a lot of money you'll see 400+ bhp & 450lbs .
That and some decent brakes and it's not to be sniffed at for the money. An M2, M4 or C63 in the wet on a B road wouldn't know which way it went.....all for sub £20k....bit of a bargain really.
The thing that always puzzles me was the need for such big wheels. 19" alloys just seems like a bit of overkill for me. I think the alloy design though is great. This article should have been saved for the Cupra 260. They're very rare!
Only major problem is the epic axle tramp.Sounds like someone is chucking bricks at the bottom of the car.
Anyone know of a fix?
Have also heard good things about Uniroyal Rainsport 3's which are about £50 a corner cheaper than Contis or Pirellis.
Has anyone tried them?
Only major problem is the epic axle tramp.Sounds like someone is chucking bricks at the bottom of the car.
Anyone know of a fix?
Have also heard good things about Uniroyal Rainsport 3's which are about £50 a corner cheaper than Contis or Pirellis.
Has anyone tried them?
I have the Rainsports on my 290. The Continentals lasted 7K and the Goodyears that replaced them a little less. The grip from the Rainsports is marginally better than both.
Does look like a nice car, though.
Where's the proper bucket seats? I'm guessing an option? And that wheel design is awful.
Side skirts were always an option I think, but just looks like every other Leon without them.
Still a relative bargain given the performance available.
Does look like a nice car, though.
We should be glad we can get 300 bhp hot hatches that still have plenty of live left for 15 grand or so.
Was reading the other day that the lower spec engine in the Golf Gti and others, normally 230 bhp is generally found to have nearer 250 and with a remap can achieve nearer 330, explains why I didnt gain on one in my CLS/
Some very, very rapid cars, or cars with a lot of potential to be around these days, though not sure a remap to nearer 370 bhp is that good an idea when you have fwd only, in the dry though these are every bit as quick as the Golf R, at least according to Autocar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5dRujiHbpA
" With a few aftermarket tweaks some years down the line it could arguably be even more so."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKuT-An8z8
I wonder if PH contributor Dale's ran a standard clutch
Other than that I am very tempted although spec is quite important.
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