RE: SEAT Leon Cupra: Spotted

[tim-jxv5n]

I'm going for one of these next. Test drove one last year and thought it was fantastic fun. Felt quicker than my mates rs5 and much more entertaining than my other mates remapped golf r.

A set of eibachs and spacers would solve the bland looks

[Bladedancer]

Drive Blind said:

the folk commenting that it's dull or boring - surely its good we have the choice?

You want a shouty hot hatch, there's plenty of them.

The world isn't binary.
The choice shouldn't be between dull as wallpaper paste and something from the pages of Max Power magazine.

[kambites]

Bladedancer said:

The choice shouldn't be between dull as wallpaper paste and something from the pages of Max Power magazine.

Go back a couple of decades and this would be the epitome of an aggressive looking hot hatch - huge wheels, spoiler, twin exhausts, big boxy bumpers,... I think the problem is that standard (non-hot) hatches look so aggressive these days, it's very hard to find a middle-ground.

Of course this isn't unique to hot hatches, cars like the M3 have become parodies of themselves to differentiate them from "320d M-Sports", etc.

[Ahbefive]

Seems like a lot of low mileage, capable performance for £15k. Just a shame it is nearly impossible to distinguish it from any other Seat Leon. It just looks so plain, bland, dull etc... I'm sure that's why some people love it though.

[Jonno02]

kambites said:

Go back a couple of decades and this would be the epitome of an aggressive looking hot hatch - huge wheels, spoiler, twin exhausts, big boxy bumpers,... I think the problem is that standard (non-hot) hatches look so aggressive these days, it's very hard to find a middle-ground.

Of course this isn't unique to hot hatches, cars like the M3 have become parodies of themselves to differentiate them from "320d M-Sports", etc.

You've hit the nail on the head. The worst offender for me is the Focus. Every ghetto spec focus comes with sizeable alloys, a spoiler and a rear diffuser that's comically oversized even for aesthetics that the performance models don't look like anything other than a 1.6tdi.

[Gad-Westy]

Ahbefive said:

Seems like a lot of low mileage, capable performance for £15k. Just a shame it is nearly impossible to distinguish it from any other Seat Leon. It just looks so plain, bland, dull etc... I'm sure that's why some people love it though.

It's funny the amount of polarisation over its styling. I wish mine didn't have Cupra plastered in huge letters all over the tailgate and I could live without the twin tail pipes too. For many reasons, I would rather it didn't have 19" wheels as well.

So it seems strange to me reading so many posts saying that they wish wish it were more aggressive. Can't think of anything worse. It already attracts far too much attention from those who wish to conduct in unofficial motorsport. Would hate it be more conspicuous.

[Bladedancer]

kambites said:

Go back a couple of decades and this would be the epitome of an aggressive looking hot hatch - huge wheels, spoiler, twin exhausts, big boxy bumpers,... I think the problem is that standard (non-hot) hatches look so aggressive these days, it's very hard to find a middle-ground.

Of course this isn't unique to hot hatches, cars like the M3 have become parodies of themselves to differentiate them from "320d M-Sports", etc.

Fair point. I mean the new Civic Type-R looks just ridiculous. To think EP3 or DC5 could have been considered bold and aggressive at one point...

I personally like aggressive looking cars. Not necessarily the over the top ones. Heck, I even think the max-power stuff has its place (and audience). My problem is more with the fact that manufacturers don't make models distinctive enough from one another, and to me that smacks of laziness.

[ganfarr]

Have had my Cupra 290 for a year and a half now. Running winters at the moment, but the biggest improvements have been the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and dogbone insert.
https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-brand/034motors...

The insert making the biggest difference on the wheel hop as I fitted it before changing the tyre to the Michelin's. Night and day difference in the tyres too from the Pirelli Pzero's fitted from the factory.

Standard car performance more than ample in my book for road use.