Which fast estate: SEAT Cupra ST vs BMW 330d?
Discussion
Hello all
First post, go easy won't you
I'm in the market for a hot-ish family estate and have come down to these two:
SEAT Cupra ST 290 DSG
- fab engine, petrol safer option than diesel?
- kinda rare compared to yer standard German options
- good boot space but not tow bar compatible it seems
- very few local dealers, so servicing a bit of an issue
BMW 330d M Sport Touring
- another great engine with fab performance
- possibly better economy but is an oil burner. At some point will be outlawed I assume
- the one I'm looking at has electrically deployed tow bar - well swish
- very comfy interior
- local BMW specialists to service
The Cupras are so rare I've not been able to drive one yet. Hoping to do that on Monday.
Anyone care to enlighten me on which I should choose?
First post, go easy won't you
I'm in the market for a hot-ish family estate and have come down to these two:
SEAT Cupra ST 290 DSG
- fab engine, petrol safer option than diesel?
- kinda rare compared to yer standard German options
- good boot space but not tow bar compatible it seems
- very few local dealers, so servicing a bit of an issue
BMW 330d M Sport Touring
- another great engine with fab performance
- possibly better economy but is an oil burner. At some point will be outlawed I assume
- the one I'm looking at has electrically deployed tow bar - well swish
- very comfy interior
- local BMW specialists to service
The Cupras are so rare I've not been able to drive one yet. Hoping to do that on Monday.
Anyone care to enlighten me on which I should choose?
Not on your list, but the facelift Golf R Estate can now have a towbar IIRC.
Are you buying cash/HP, PCP, leasing? If you get a diesel, then there is a slight possibility of higher depreciation than expected if the onslaught against diesels picks up pace. If you are buying cash or HP, then that could be a worry. If on PCP or leased then it isn't your concern.
Are you buying cash/HP, PCP, leasing? If you get a diesel, then there is a slight possibility of higher depreciation than expected if the onslaught against diesels picks up pace. If you are buying cash or HP, then that could be a worry. If on PCP or leased then it isn't your concern.
In the real world the performance will be all but identical, however, being RWD, the BMW can deploy it's performance better under typical road situations (like turning out of a T junction onto a busy road for example)
Economy won't be that difference, the BMW will probably cost a bit more to run (bigger tyres, heavier etc) but it ain't going to be night and day.
The SEAT might gain a bit of cult following over the next few years which could help residuals
The BMW might get clobbered by any eventual diesel backlash.
If you are going to use it as proper family car, and go on long trips, the BMW will be a significantly nicer place to be sat. Quieter, better quality interior, more toys to play with.
The BMW "looks better" to the average person on your drive (probably)
The SEAT will be more "fun" to drive i suspect, assuming you have some suitable traffic free roads to drive on.
In short, only you can decide between all those. Either car will be pretty decent i think (id take the BMW 'cause it's RWD personally)
Economy won't be that difference, the BMW will probably cost a bit more to run (bigger tyres, heavier etc) but it ain't going to be night and day.
The SEAT might gain a bit of cult following over the next few years which could help residuals
The BMW might get clobbered by any eventual diesel backlash.
If you are going to use it as proper family car, and go on long trips, the BMW will be a significantly nicer place to be sat. Quieter, better quality interior, more toys to play with.
The BMW "looks better" to the average person on your drive (probably)
The SEAT will be more "fun" to drive i suspect, assuming you have some suitable traffic free roads to drive on.
In short, only you can decide between all those. Either car will be pretty decent i think (id take the BMW 'cause it's RWD personally)
spookly said:
Not on your list, but the facelift Golf R Estate can now have a towbar IIRC.
Really- not doubting your word but is this now the case (... new model I assume)? I was very interested in an R estate, especially at the silly low PCH deals that were around, but the lack of Type Approval for a tow bar made it a non starter. Anyway, back on track- instead I went for a 330d Touring and on the whole I am very pretty pleased with it. The performance is exceptional- it is perfectly happy doing the day-to-day 'pootling about'- but adopts a pleasing growl and pace should you want to get a move on. Then there's the option of Sport mode which increases the fun further
. The auto gearbox is very clever and the Touring body, whilst not the most voluminous around has swallowed everything we've thrown at it so far. The only quibbles have been fuel consumption (low / mid 30s if you get enthusiastic, although low/mid 40s for day-to-day is not too bad given the performance) and the build quality- we've had a couple of trim squeaks, the days of faultless German build quality are long gone I think. Oh and as our is an X-drive (the only Estoril Blue we could find with the right spec) we do have the issue with the SE suspension and choppy ride on bumpy roads- but I knew this at the time of buying and the ACS spring solution is an easy remedy.
darren f said:
Anyway, back on track- instead I went for a 330d Touring and on the whole I am very pretty pleased with it.
Cool, how old is your one? Disappointing to hear about the fuel consumption particularly due to the way it's advertised as 50mpg+! But I guess 70-80% of my miles will be on the m-way so may get the benefit.Re the suspension, is yours the M Sport? I've driven an M Sport with performance and brake upgrades and did notice it was a bit firm but not anything more than I'm used to (currently in a Fiesta ST and before that an Alfa Giuletta QV)
darren f said:
spookly said:
Not on your list, but the facelift Golf R Estate can now have a towbar IIRC.
Really- not doubting your word but is this now the case (... new model I assume)? I was very interested in an R estate, especially at the silly low PCH deals that were around, but the lack of Type Approval for a tow bar made it a non starter. Detachable towbar shows as an option in the VW configurator (don't know if the link will work): http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/golf-estate-vii-pa...
I wouldn't say a 330d is a more comfortable car than the Cupra and interior wise the 3 series is dated. The 8 speed box is brilliant though, the m sport brakes would not be a deal breaker and at main dealer prices its around £700 plus vat for discs, pads and wire and they don't seem to get much further than 50k, pads usually last around 25k
I would rather a newer Cupra over an older 330d and i think they look much nicer.
I would rather a newer Cupra over an older 330d and i think they look much nicer.
How about a C63?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I would say that thanks to that fabulous engine it will hold its value quite well.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I would say that thanks to that fabulous engine it will hold its value quite well.
djbunker8 said:
Cool, how old is your one? Disappointing to hear about the fuel consumption particularly due to the way it's advertised as 50mpg+! But I guess 70-80% of my miles will be on the m-way so may get the benefit.
Re the suspension, is yours the M Sport? I've driven an M Sport with performance and brake upgrades and did notice it was a bit firm but not anything more than I'm used to (currently in a Fiesta ST and before that an Alfa Giuletta QV)
Ours is quite a late one (Feb 16), it is a M-Sport but as said above it is a X-drive so is on SE rather than M-sport suspension so not a true comparison for you. Test drives I did have with S-drive (2WD) cars with M-sport suspension seemed fine to me (firm yes, but not mental) so given your previous drives one wouldn't be a problem. I was really not fussed about X-drive (I actually preferred one without, and really, really wanted a 340i petrol) but we needed a quick change and this one was the perfect spec for me (prof media, electric memory seats, adaptive lights).Re the suspension, is yours the M Sport? I've driven an M Sport with performance and brake upgrades and did notice it was a bit firm but not anything more than I'm used to (currently in a Fiesta ST and before that an Alfa Giuletta QV)
Such is the way with most manufacturers, mpg figures are done to a standard test so BMW's 50mpg is a pipe dream I'd say. You might get close on a motorway journey with a meaty 50mph contraflow or such like, but real world will be 40-45mpg if driven sensibly, but into the 30s if exploiting the power regularly.
tektas said:
How about a C63?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I would say that thanks to that fabulous engine it will hold its value quite well.
450bhp and 20mpg - not made of money haha https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I would say that thanks to that fabulous engine it will hold its value quite well.
That's a beast of a car but I'm not a Merc person at all - that horrid wood marble effect around the gearstick surround... YUCK
Actually went into this search thinking I'd get something 'normal' like a slow Mundane-o estate, but here we are 3 litre engines and 300 bhp...
djbunker8 said:
Oh yeah should have said. Buying cash. The Cupras I'm looking at are low mileage ex-demos - 65/16/66 plate. The Beemers are more like 13/63/14 models. Budget is £20-24K.
You're only £1k short of a brand new 300ps Cupra (if you're happy with the manual 2wd version)https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Seat/Leon_ST/44804/...
seadragon said:
I second the Golf R estate, it's awesome. I have one and wouldn't have anything else in the same price range and I plan to keep it a long time.
Of the other the OP is choosing between, I guess the Seat, since I am a VAG guy and have owned some Seat's in the past too.
I know, the Golf R does get a lot of plaudits.. I was tempted but I've had 2 Golfs, decided they're boring (if exceptionally "competent") and thought I didn't need the 4WD. A bit over budget too.Of the other the OP is choosing between, I guess the Seat, since I am a VAG guy and have owned some Seat's in the past too.
Interesting to hear in one of the messages above that you can fit a tow bar now though...
alock said:
You're only £1k short of a brand new 300ps Cupra (if you're happy with the manual 2wd version)
https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Seat/Leon_ST/44804/...
Now that _is_ interesting. Had looked at Caw Wow and most stealers are offering £3-4K discount. But SIX?!? - will follow up... thanks!https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Seat/Leon_ST/44804/...
I have a 290 black edition on lease right now. The interior is actually fab. It doesn't look that nice in photos, but the interior is very nice. It's almost identical quality to my OH's 17 plate Tiguan SEL; she has a few more patterned plastics though.
If you have the slip diff on the car activated, it's an absolute monster. Very, very fun car to drive. It's on rails and not much will throw it off. If you're looking at a black edition, the bucket seats are the best seats I've ever sat in in a car. Everybody seems to comment on them. I was helping a friend move house on Saturday and him, his dad and his friend all commented on that the car looked lovely, sounded good (especially for a 4 pot) and the seats were amazing.
Interior will not be as luxury as the BMW admittedly, but the interior is nice. You'd be looking more Audi level for a VAG equivalent (although I think many BMW consoles do look outdated). The exhaust will pop and burble at 2k revs in Cupra mode, if that's your thing. Or not at all in Comfort/Eco. I was looking at a Golf R / S3 as my next car, but after driving 40 miles on Saturday and seeing 5 R's and 3 current shape S3's, I've decided I may have a gander at the Cupra 300 next year, when my car goes back.
Whilst the BMW will undoubtedly gain more approval from the neighbours, the Cupra will attract a few smiles from other petrolheads.
Wish I could comment on the other side of the coin, but I've never owned a 330d, so my post is heavily bias.
If you have the slip diff on the car activated, it's an absolute monster. Very, very fun car to drive. It's on rails and not much will throw it off. If you're looking at a black edition, the bucket seats are the best seats I've ever sat in in a car. Everybody seems to comment on them. I was helping a friend move house on Saturday and him, his dad and his friend all commented on that the car looked lovely, sounded good (especially for a 4 pot) and the seats were amazing.
Interior will not be as luxury as the BMW admittedly, but the interior is nice. You'd be looking more Audi level for a VAG equivalent (although I think many BMW consoles do look outdated). The exhaust will pop and burble at 2k revs in Cupra mode, if that's your thing. Or not at all in Comfort/Eco. I was looking at a Golf R / S3 as my next car, but after driving 40 miles on Saturday and seeing 5 R's and 3 current shape S3's, I've decided I may have a gander at the Cupra 300 next year, when my car goes back.
Whilst the BMW will undoubtedly gain more approval from the neighbours, the Cupra will attract a few smiles from other petrolheads.
Wish I could comment on the other side of the coin, but I've never owned a 330d, so my post is heavily bias.
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