Mastodon's Leon Cupra R
Discussion
Alright all, thought I'd throw some pics of my new car up.
I was recently looking for a new car, and explored many avenues, including some truly horrific Golf GTI MK2s, Clio 172 and 182s, Fiesta STs, nearly went down the Civic Type R route etc but then settled on this. From the moment I sat in it I knew I wanted it, from the moment I turned the key I was working out how to buy it!
Some pics before I talk about my early thoughts on the car
Took it for a test drive, instantly fell in love with the way it drove - the driving experience is characteristed by a little bit of old skool turbo lag then an almighty kick up the arse as the car surges for the horizon. This is definitely a car of the same DNA as the likes of the Astra VXR; about as much power as you can put through the front wheels without a mechanical differential, it's absolutely savage when it comes on boost! The traction control is quite effective at reigning the car in when you are pushing on, but you have to be closing in on the redline on a poor surface for it to cut in, as long as you are careful with the throttle. With more considerate use of the throttle it will cross even poorly surfaced, cambered, bumpy roads at incredible pace without even a hint of losing grip. Unlike some turbo hatches though, it's definitely not a one trick pony; the R suspension set up is excellent and really lets you shoot the car down a difficult road, it just holds on and grips like I've never felt in a FWD car. The exhaust is incredible, with a deep rumbling sound punctuated with popping burbles as you slow down. Easily the nicest inline 4 I've heard, I liked it even more than the Civic Type R (EP3s) that I tried, and they aren't bad sounding cars!
So far, I have averaged about 28.5mpg with a mix of short and medium journies, with some use of the turbo every now and again. When crusing slowly (as in the warm up and cool down phase of each journy) the turbo can be heard spinning very gently and the dump valve making a satisfied "pssht" noise on a closing throttle. The powerband is impressively wide and the car will pull even in 5th from about 35mph, and at 60mph in 6th gear on a dual carriageway the turbo only takes about 2.5 seconds to spool up to full boost and send you rocketing down the road.
And indeed the turbo is the star of the show here - when it comes on it feels like a rocket-boost! The suspension is stiff as you'd expect, but the car is still very comfortable when driving in a relaxed fashion. The Cupra R seats are fantastic and easily the best I've sat in. Perfect side bolsters and plenty of under-thigh support too. The gearshift is the best I've felt in any car, incredibly slick and with an amazing "thunk" as it goes into gear. The clutch feels excellent and the brembo brakes are incredibly strong without feeling electronic or grabby like some powerful stoppers can. Of course, being my baby it gets a gentle treatment rather than a hard one, I certainly won't be ragging it from cold or putting it away with a hot turbo, nor will I be stamping on the brakes like a club-footed French playboy. Having tested it a little bit it will go far, far faster than I'd dare to drive, as it will flout the laws of legal speed without even trying. The massive surges of speed are great for slotting in quick and easy overtakes though, particularly when you come across someone dawdling at 40mph on a nice straight bit of NSL road. Unsurprisingly, the Cupra R needs very little road to get out, past and back in.
The interior is really nice, which I'm glad to say; in some of the other cars I looked at the interior was definitely an afterthought to the car itself, whereas the Cupra seems styled to focus the driver on the experience of driving, but adding enough luxury to let them do so in comfort. The climatronic climate control in particular is fantastic, easy to use and very effective in operation.
In short, I love this car! It's everything I wanted and while it was not that cheap to buy or insure, I thought "I might only get to do this once!" so I went ahead and did it. It's in a different league to my old Fiesta in terms of performance and comfort, and I couldn't be happier with it!
I was recently looking for a new car, and explored many avenues, including some truly horrific Golf GTI MK2s, Clio 172 and 182s, Fiesta STs, nearly went down the Civic Type R route etc but then settled on this. From the moment I sat in it I knew I wanted it, from the moment I turned the key I was working out how to buy it!
Some pics before I talk about my early thoughts on the car
Took it for a test drive, instantly fell in love with the way it drove - the driving experience is characteristed by a little bit of old skool turbo lag then an almighty kick up the arse as the car surges for the horizon. This is definitely a car of the same DNA as the likes of the Astra VXR; about as much power as you can put through the front wheels without a mechanical differential, it's absolutely savage when it comes on boost! The traction control is quite effective at reigning the car in when you are pushing on, but you have to be closing in on the redline on a poor surface for it to cut in, as long as you are careful with the throttle. With more considerate use of the throttle it will cross even poorly surfaced, cambered, bumpy roads at incredible pace without even a hint of losing grip. Unlike some turbo hatches though, it's definitely not a one trick pony; the R suspension set up is excellent and really lets you shoot the car down a difficult road, it just holds on and grips like I've never felt in a FWD car. The exhaust is incredible, with a deep rumbling sound punctuated with popping burbles as you slow down. Easily the nicest inline 4 I've heard, I liked it even more than the Civic Type R (EP3s) that I tried, and they aren't bad sounding cars!
So far, I have averaged about 28.5mpg with a mix of short and medium journies, with some use of the turbo every now and again. When crusing slowly (as in the warm up and cool down phase of each journy) the turbo can be heard spinning very gently and the dump valve making a satisfied "pssht" noise on a closing throttle. The powerband is impressively wide and the car will pull even in 5th from about 35mph, and at 60mph in 6th gear on a dual carriageway the turbo only takes about 2.5 seconds to spool up to full boost and send you rocketing down the road.
And indeed the turbo is the star of the show here - when it comes on it feels like a rocket-boost! The suspension is stiff as you'd expect, but the car is still very comfortable when driving in a relaxed fashion. The Cupra R seats are fantastic and easily the best I've sat in. Perfect side bolsters and plenty of under-thigh support too. The gearshift is the best I've felt in any car, incredibly slick and with an amazing "thunk" as it goes into gear. The clutch feels excellent and the brembo brakes are incredibly strong without feeling electronic or grabby like some powerful stoppers can. Of course, being my baby it gets a gentle treatment rather than a hard one, I certainly won't be ragging it from cold or putting it away with a hot turbo, nor will I be stamping on the brakes like a club-footed French playboy. Having tested it a little bit it will go far, far faster than I'd dare to drive, as it will flout the laws of legal speed without even trying. The massive surges of speed are great for slotting in quick and easy overtakes though, particularly when you come across someone dawdling at 40mph on a nice straight bit of NSL road. Unsurprisingly, the Cupra R needs very little road to get out, past and back in.
The interior is really nice, which I'm glad to say; in some of the other cars I looked at the interior was definitely an afterthought to the car itself, whereas the Cupra seems styled to focus the driver on the experience of driving, but adding enough luxury to let them do so in comfort. The climatronic climate control in particular is fantastic, easy to use and very effective in operation.
In short, I love this car! It's everything I wanted and while it was not that cheap to buy or insure, I thought "I might only get to do this once!" so I went ahead and did it. It's in a different league to my old Fiesta in terms of performance and comfort, and I couldn't be happier with it!
JFReturns said:
Congratulations, and nice write up. Always preferred these to the later Leons, though judging by your chat in the Jap section I thought you were going to get a Scoob or EVO 
EDIT: Love the wheels, the colour suits the yellow nicely.
I would love a Scoob and I'd give a bEDIT: Love the wheels, the colour suits the yellow nicely.
k for an Evo, but despite being group 17E this was considerably more friendly with the insurers! Not as fast over tough terrain as either of those cars, but in terms of straight line speed it's in the same region, and while it's a different kind of "cool" to the rally reps I still feel incredibly privileged every time I jump in, fire up the engine and hear that Miltek rumble away behind me 
Nice car! The ride height of your car would indicate its running either coilovers or substantially shorter springs. Its lower than mine which is running Eibach springs on Koni dampers. I expect yours is also remapped, as the standard K04 map is actually quite lazy and tails off quickly. Glad you are enjoying it though!
Looks like a nice example!
Mastodon2 said:
I would love a Scoob and I'd give a bk for an Evo, but despite being group 17E this was considerably more friendly with the insurers! Not as fast over tough terrain as either of those cars, but in terms of straight line speed it's in the same region, and while it's a different kind of "cool" to the rally reps I still feel incredibly privileged every time I jump in, fire up the engine and hear that Miltek rumble away behind me
Must be remapped or some mods to be in the same region as Evos k for an Evo, but despite being group 17E this was considerably more friendly with the insurers! Not as fast over tough terrain as either of those cars, but in terms of straight line speed it's in the same region, and while it's a different kind of "cool" to the rally reps I still feel incredibly privileged every time I jump in, fire up the engine and hear that Miltek rumble away behind me RobCrezz said:
Must be remapped or some mods to be in the same region as Evos
Well that may be massaging the truth slightly, but no one who has had a ride in it yet has been disappointed! It certainly doesn't feel much slower than an Impreza STI PPP I sat in while it got leathered through the gears, though I'll accept the 4WD on the Impreza and Evo would keep them ahead of a LCR on tougher roads. For a powerful FWD hatch though, it's very impressive, it doesn't snake around and lose grip like some of them do. Sounds good too!
Mastodon2 said:
Well that may be massaging the truth slightly, but no one who has had a ride in it yet has been disappointed!
It certainly doesn't feel much slower than an Impreza STI PPP I sat in while it got leathered through the gears, though I'll accept the 4WD on the Impreza and Evo would keep them ahead of a LCR on tougher roads. For a powerful FWD hatch though, it's very impressive, it doesn't snake around and lose grip like some of them do. Sounds good too!
Heard great things about them Miltek exhausts!It certainly doesn't feel much slower than an Impreza STI PPP I sat in while it got leathered through the gears, though I'll accept the 4WD on the Impreza and Evo would keep them ahead of a LCR on tougher roads. For a powerful FWD hatch though, it's very impressive, it doesn't snake around and lose grip like some of them do. Sounds good too!
Are you going to take it to the 1/4 mile and see what it will do?
Yeah the Miltek is fantastic, but at their prices you would expect them to be. I won't be drag racing it, or even leaning on it for extended periods of time, I do give it a squirt with the turbo now and again but the pace is so effortless I don't think it would take long to get snapped by a speed camera or plod. I think it would put in a good time in a 1/4 mile, but that would only show part of the brilliance of the car. To me this car is performance in terms of exellent handling and a good dose of speed, without sacrifice in terms of comfort or style.
I'd fully reccomend Miltek now too, it looks and feels very well made and sounds fantastic. If I could get my hands on a decent camera I'd do a video of the noise it makes, the rumbly pops on a closing throttle are the stuff dreams are made of
I'd fully reccomend Miltek now too, it looks and feels very well made and sounds fantastic. If I could get my hands on a decent camera I'd do a video of the noise it makes, the rumbly pops on a closing throttle are the stuff dreams are made of
I do like these but must say your review seems quite a biassed one. A friend has one and I can only assume you have not driven many cars to say the seats and gearchange are the best you have ever sampled. Some even have optional Recaro seats which must say something and the TT/S3/Golf/Octavia gearchange was never rated at a particularly amazing one.
Also if it seems "savage" in the acceleration then it cannot be standard as they are not usually massively fast but more quick and the standard exhaust is very muted so it obviously has some mods, and the standard suspension is very hard and unforgiving over bad road surfaces.
In spite of these things though they are a great car, good to look at, quick, good handling, pretty frugal for the performance, good brakes (albeit expensive to replace) and its a practical car.
I personally prefer grey ones though.
Hope you are enjoying it.
Also if it seems "savage" in the acceleration then it cannot be standard as they are not usually massively fast but more quick and the standard exhaust is very muted so it obviously has some mods, and the standard suspension is very hard and unforgiving over bad road surfaces.
In spite of these things though they are a great car, good to look at, quick, good handling, pretty frugal for the performance, good brakes (albeit expensive to replace) and its a practical car.
I personally prefer grey ones though.
Hope you are enjoying it.
I have to say the mkI Audi TT has an excellent gear change, I was just sitting in one today marvelling at that piece of kit. Very short and slick. The gearstick in this looks a bit longer though, so I can imagine the throw being somewhat different.
Mind you, if he likes the car, he likes it. I'd never really even thought of these before seeing that, but I reckon it looks very nice. Price wise, it's probably a class above the 182 and similar stuff, but as a sportier alternative to the Golf GTI etc etc it seems to fit the bill quite nicely.
Mind you, if he likes the car, he likes it. I'd never really even thought of these before seeing that, but I reckon it looks very nice. Price wise, it's probably a class above the 182 and similar stuff, but as a sportier alternative to the Golf GTI etc etc it seems to fit the bill quite nicely.
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