Cupra Lease or 15k second hand car??
Discussion
My leased Leon Cupra 290 is due in a couple of weeks but I've only just got round to test driving one this lunchtime (well it was a nearly new 300). I was very impressed with it. It was very quick obviously and handled very well. I had to search for negatives but one might be the ability to put all that power down and having to hold the wheel quite firmly to avoid torque steer. The other was a very slight lack of real involvement in the drive though I did like the distinct comfort and Cupra modes for which the Cupra mode does address this to some extent.
For those 2 reasons I was wondering if I was better off using the same outlay as the lease (1.5k down and 230 / month) and getting a loan to spend 15k on a 5 year old M135i or 3/4 year old Mini Cooper S JCW. Is it worth trying these out if I have time (the agreement is there for me to sign so they won't wait that long) or should I just go with the brand new Cupra which was very nice and more practical too.
For those 2 reasons I was wondering if I was better off using the same outlay as the lease (1.5k down and 230 / month) and getting a loan to spend 15k on a 5 year old M135i or 3/4 year old Mini Cooper S JCW. Is it worth trying these out if I have time (the agreement is there for me to sign so they won't wait that long) or should I just go with the brand new Cupra which was very nice and more practical too.
I have a Cupra 300 on a lease, it's boring. Yes it's quick but I find it does everything well enough without being great at anything.
Torque steer isn't a thing but if you drive it hard then front tyres get expensive. I'm on my 3rd pair of fronts at 18k miles.
I'd go for the M135/140i given the choice.
Torque steer isn't a thing but if you drive it hard then front tyres get expensive. I'm on my 3rd pair of fronts at 18k miles.
I'd go for the M135/140i given the choice.
Current car is a Cupra 300, previous car was an M135i. So I’m pretty well placed on this.
Don’t go for Seat - as has been said it’s dull. Looks dull, sounds dull, not an exciting ownership prospect. I miss my BMW badly. So much more characterful / interesting, nicer cabin, engine is on another planet. I preferred it in nearly every way.
Don’t go for Seat - as has been said it’s dull. Looks dull, sounds dull, not an exciting ownership prospect. I miss my BMW badly. So much more characterful / interesting, nicer cabin, engine is on another planet. I preferred it in nearly every way.
You sound like you were quite impressed with the Cupra and that's a cheap lease for a brand new car car with that sort of performance.
If you value an easy life go for the Cupra.
If you value driving involvement go for the 135i.
If you value your sanity don't go for the Mini. Just sold my wife's 2015 Countryman Cooper S after a year of ownership, worst car I've ever bought. Cheap feeling, noisy, rattly and generally not a nice place to spend time.
If you value an easy life go for the Cupra.
If you value driving involvement go for the 135i.
If you value your sanity don't go for the Mini. Just sold my wife's 2015 Countryman Cooper S after a year of ownership, worst car I've ever bought. Cheap feeling, noisy, rattly and generally not a nice place to spend time.
SWoll said:
If you value your sanity don't go for the Mini. Just sold my wife's 2015 Countryman Cooper S after a year of ownership, worst car I've ever bought. Cheap feeling, noisy, rattly and generally not a nice place to spend time.
That comes as a bit of a surprise to me, I have a 2017 3dr Cooper S and I was expecting the interior to be pretty diabolical(before the test drive) because it is just a shopping car. Yet I've been very impressed by it to be fair and it is far from cheap feeling to me and I find it a nice place to be. I thought that the Countryman was a step up again in quality compared to the smaller Mini?
cerb4.5lee said:
SWoll said:
If you value your sanity don't go for the Mini. Just sold my wife's 2015 Countryman Cooper S after a year of ownership, worst car I've ever bought. Cheap feeling, noisy, rattly and generally not a nice place to spend time.
That comes as a bit of a surprise to me, I have a 2017 3dr Cooper S and I was expecting the interior to be pretty diabolical(before the test drive) because it is just a shopping car. Yet I've been very impressed by it to be fair and it is far from cheap feeling to me and I find it a nice place to be. I thought that the Countryman was a step up again in quality compared to the smaller Mini?
It was collected this morning by the new owner and we couldn't be happier to see the back of it. Quality of materials, paint, refinement, ride, kit etc. were dreadful for the money they charge.
I did have a 2009 Cooper S a couple of years ago and got rid after just a month thanks to a multitude of problems but it was fun and hopefully they've improved on quality. As people have said the Seat is the safe and easy choice. It's just lacking in a bit of character and as my last car was a bog standard Focus lease, character was what I wanted. Interesting thoughts thanks.
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