Leon Cupra, Are there any other options that suit my needs?

[brett_collis]

Currently in a leased Leon SC 184 TDI but that goes back in March and looking at what to get next....

List of Needs/Wants/Wishes:-

- Automatic
- 35mpg or Above during my 30 mile commute to work on mainly Motorways
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Non ridiculous insurance

I've had a look at M140i's and was looking to test drive one until I did an insurance quote, For myself (25 years old and 3-4 years no claims) a Leon Cupra brand new is £500 a year, and equivalent M140i is £900-1000 which is a bit ridiculous and not really something I want as a recurring cost for the ongoing future.

Golf R is quite a bit more expensive and supposedly less engaging as well as worse mpg due to the 4wd system.

I've test driven a Leon Cupra and am looking at potentially purchasing a LUX version brand new that should set me back ~£26k

Is there anything else out there that has similar value for money and fulfills my main wants, I've looked at most hot hatches but the Cupra seems like my best option at the moment.

Interested to hear other peoples thoughts and suggestions

[nunpuncher]

You won't get 35mpg from a Cupra.

I had mine for 2 years and averaged 28mpg. Best I ever saw on my 30 mile commute was low 30s. That was with the traffic in my favour and driving in a sedate manner. I'm not really the kind of person who rags a car about everywhere. If you are then expect less than a 28mpg average.

Perhaps I'm the exception to the rule but my golf R was more economical in the same conditions and also cheaper to insure (I'm old and the R had that collision avoidance thing which my Cupra didn't). I also wouldn't say the golf was any less engaging. TBH, as good as both cars were I wouldn't use the word "engaging" when describing either.

Edited by nunpuncher on Monday 4th February 15:14

[brett_collis]

nunpuncher said:

You won't get 35mpg from a Cupra.

I had mine for 2 years and averaged 28mpg. Best I ever saw on my 30 mile commute was low 30s. That was with the traffic in my favour and driving in a sedate manner. I'm not really the kind of person who rags a car about everywhere. If you are then expect less than a 28mpg average.

Perhaps I'm the exception to the rule but my golf R was more economical in the same conditions and also cheaper to insure (I'm old and the R had that collision avoidance thing which my Cupra didn't). I also wouldn't say the golf was any less engaging. TBH, as good as both cars were I wouldn't use the word "engaging" when describing either.

Edited by nunpuncher on Monday 4th February 15:14

Hmm ok that's interesting, I know that the newer ones now come with the 7 speed DSG which should mean motorway cruising uses less revs I believe,

I definitely drive relatively economically most of the time, No point accelerating just to have to jam on the brakes to stop hitting the car in front.

Cupra's now seem to have collision avoidance as standard just like the golf R etc as well as pedestrian avoidance.

[nunpuncher]

No idea. I think the LUX pack or whatever it is does but not sure the regular ones do. There was a bit of confusion about it recently on the lease thread.

I'm not sure whether the 7 speed DSG actually has a longer final drive or just closer/shorter ratios so if you're 35mpg or above is a deal breaker I would certainly do some research as I never saw 35 in my cupra and very rarely saw it in my Golf R.

In saying that. The elderly gentleman that delivered my Cupra managed 39mpg driving from Leeds to Glasgow. When I asked how he managed it he told me they work the fuel out almost exactly, the routes are planned to be the most fuel efficient avoiding busy times of day and he isn't allowed to go above 60mph. So you could do it, but there's probably no point in owning the car.

[jam_up]

GTI PP? Lower tune, will be more economical than the Cupra. I’ve read 7th gear is almost like overdrive in the VW but the Cupra could be similar.

[The Voice]

Also worth remembering that the Golf / Leon / 1 Series are all due to be replaced very shortly, so will quickly become ‘old model’.

[Chrispee]

I've been leasing my Cupra ST for just under a year now and it's a very very capable all rounder (not to mention a bit of a sleeper in estate form and light silver)

It will do mid 30's on a run...the highest ive seen is 44 but that was at between 60-65mph tops. Any kind of boost and it will drop. Low 30's is doable depending on how you drive and route/traffic

I find it a bit clinical though..it's fun because its very rapid and the EA888 is so flexible for when i'm feeling lazy, but for driver involvement and excitement because of what it is, it leaves me a little cold. I like the fact its rarer than the usual Golf R/ S3 suspects crowd. Will i be gutted when it goes back? I doubt it... would recommend a test drive at the least. See if the wheel hop in first is liveable for you.

Edited by Chrispee on Monday 4th February 19:37

[Nickp82]

Chrispee said:

I've been leasing my Cupra ST for just under a year now and it's a very very capable all rounder (not to mention a bit of a sleeper in estate form and light silver)

It will do mid 30's on a run...the highest ive seen is 44 but that was at between 60-65mph tops. Any kind of boost and it will drop. Low 30's is doable dependong on how you drive !and routing/traffi

I find it a bit clinjcal though..it's fun because its very rapid and the EA888 is so flexible for when i'm feeling lazy, but for driver involvement and excitement because of what it is,it leaves me a little cold. I like the fact its rarer than the usual golf r/ S3 suspects crowd. Will i be gutted when it goes back? I doubt it... would recommend a test drive at the least. See if the wheel hop in first is liveable for you.

We had a Cupra 290 Black on lease for two years and the above is pretty much exactly how I felt about it despite having being a fairly loyal Seat driver.

[flight147z]

Does it have to be brand new or newish?

You could get something more interesting that's a few years old and the increased insurance would be offset by the savings on depreciation.

An expensive hatchback is never going to be a particularly exciting car to own

[brett_collis]

jam_up said:

GTI PP? Lower tune, will be more economical than the Cupra. I’ve read 7th gear is almost like overdrive in the VW but the Cupra could be similar.

I did have a quick look into these but for similar or maybe even lower spec talking £4k more which is quite a hefty price for that, Yes I believe 7th is like an overdrive in the Cupra as well.

[brett_collis]

Chrispee said:

I've been leasing my Cupra ST for just under a year now and it's a very very capable all rounder (not to mention a bit of a sleeper in estate form and light silver)

It will do mid 30's on a run...the highest ive seen is 44 but that was at between 60-65mph tops. Any kind of boost and it will drop. Low 30's is doable depending on how you drive and route/traffic

I find it a bit clinical though..it's fun because its very rapid and the EA888 is so flexible for when i'm feeling lazy, but for driver involvement and excitement because of what it is, it leaves me a little cold. I like the fact its rarer than the usual Golf R/ S3 suspects crowd. Will i be gutted when it goes back? I doubt it... would recommend a test drive at the least. See if the wheel hop in first is liveable for you.

Edited by Chrispee on Monday 4th February 19:37

Maybe driver involvement wasn't the best word for me to use, I'm more looking for something that's going to be comfortable for most of my journeys on a motorway but then pretty rapid when i want to have a bit of fun.

Used to the wheel hop in my 184, Understand that the car isn't gonna be the fastest off the line due to that but I'm not trying to race every car at the lights so doubt it will be a problem for me.

[brett_collis]

flight147z said:

Does it have to be brand new or newish?

You could get something more interesting that's a few years old and the increased insurance would be offset by the savings on depreciation.

An expensive hatchback is never going to be a particularly exciting car to own

Definitely open to suggestions if you had something in mind?

Relatively open to age but don't want something that's going to require constant work or servicing as I don't have much time to do things myself at the moment due to circumstances and being away most weekends. I also want something that will soak up the miles when it's just boring motorway driving and hence the want for adaptive cruise control after borrowing my dad's C350e and seeing how easy it makes journeys on the motorways in that.

[flight147z]

brett_collis said:

Definitely open to suggestions if you had something in mind?

Relatively open to age but don't want something that's going to require constant work or servicing as I don't have much time to do things myself at the moment due to circumstances and being away most weekends. I also want something that will soak up the miles when it's just boring motorway driving and hence the want for adaptive cruise control after borrowing my dad's C350e and seeing how easy it makes journeys on the motorways in that.

Based on your current car and what you want I'd probably get a 640d. Quick enough, economical, good looking and cheap for what you are getting. Perfect car for easy long range driving

If you can take a slight hit on the mpg and fancy something a bit more exciting than a hatch but still sensible I would suggest a 370z/cayman/z4/TT

The TT isn't normally a favourite on here but you can get it with a diesel unlike the other 3 suggestions, it looks nicer than a hatch, has the sort out tech you would be interested in and a decent automatic box

I would expect the petrol 2.0T could do 35mpg too but I don't own one so I'm not certain!

[brett_collis]

flight147z said:

Based on your current car and what you want I'd probably get a 640d. Quick enough, economical, good looking and cheap for what you are getting. Perfect car for easy long range driving

If you can take a slight hit on the mpg and fancy something a bit more exciting than a hatch but still sensible I would suggest a 370z/cayman/z4/TT

The TT isn't normally a favourite on here but you can get it with a diesel unlike the other 3 suggestions, it looks nicer than a hatch, has the sort out tech you would be interested in and a decent automatic box

I would expect the petrol 2.0T could do 35mpg too but I don't own one so I'm not certain!

640d worries me slightly in terms of running costs, £250 for a rear tyre for example on a quick look and BMW servicing and parts are likely to be far more than Seat I would think.

While i would love something such as a 370z I often have to take quite a lot of kit with me when driving on weekends and two cars isn't really an option so I think that puts those options out of the window at the moment unfortunately

[Montybaber]

Type r if you can live with a manual