Leon Cupra v FR 550 ?
Author
Discussion

Rafferj

Original Poster:

191 posts

226 months

Wednesday 12th November 2008
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Which is the better value for money, and which can be tuned more easily ? The diesel because its TDi ?

Am looking for a 5 door car with a bit of performance and have been weighing up a number of possibilities over the last few weeks. BMW 1-series is just no practical, rear legroom is atrocious, although its decent to drive. Scirocco and Type-r aren't practical as 5 door cars, and I really dont like the golf. Leon seems a bit underpowered, especially when I test drove the Evo X, but there's a £10k price dfference, and I'm not totally sure in the current financial climate that I'd stretch to £28k for the Evo, especially when my other half will be driving it a lot more than me :O

Quite like the look of the FR550 170hp diesel, 50mpg is indeed impressive ! Of course the cupra has more HP, but is perhaps a little less involving ? Certainly top gear rate the 170hp as being a lot sharper and fun to drive....

Decisions, decisions. Any decent advice from anyone in the know ?

Olivera

8,810 posts

269 months

Wednesday 12th November 2008
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Unless I was doing lots and lots of miles, I'd take the Cupra by far.

Rafferj

Original Poster:

191 posts

226 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
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Well I only do 10k a year, and mostly journeys of 20 miles or so, so on that basis probably the Cupra would be the better bet.

What I also don't like about the diesel engine is the filter issue with it having to clear itself on a decent length of journey, which I only maybe do once a week at the weekend.

Cupra seems to have more tuning potential also......

cuprabob

19,777 posts

244 months

Friday 14th November 2008
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At that mileage it's a no brainer CUPRA

Dift

1,687 posts

257 months

Friday 14th November 2008
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Cupra all the way.

Diesel 170 would remap to 200 ish.
Cupra remaps to 300 ish.

Add on filter exhaust and intercooler (plus a few cheaper bits) and your knocking on 340 bhp.

So in your shoes Cupra all the way.

shaunyvts

40 posts

227 months

Friday 14th November 2008
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Being as I am bias because I own a cupra, it has to be the cupra. As has previously been noted it can easily be mapped to 300+ bhp.

ChrisDT

1,902 posts

220 months

Monday 24th November 2008
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I'd have to say for my money a Cupra, but the 550 is an excellent drive.
The Cupra has it though - for that milleage it's got to be worth it.

I drive both on a regular basis (I work for a SEAT Dealership) and have to say the 550 is impressive, but the cupra, especially the K1 (Purley for the look) is a better drive.


Rafferj

Original Poster:

191 posts

226 months

Monday 1st December 2008
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Ok slight update, am now going down the company car route of financing it rather than buying it and doing 2 years contract hire.

Plus side is I don't take any hit on depreciation, downside is I can't really get away with doing any mods as the car goes back for a check etc after 24 months and goes into the auction.

So, back to the original question, which one is better now ?

Leon FR550 is £219 per month plus VAT.

Leon Cupra is £305 per month.

Over the 2 years the Cupra is £86 a month more expensive, i.e. £2064 more in total.

Worth it ?




Dift

1,687 posts

257 months

Monday 1st December 2008
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Would they really be able to detect a remap?? wink

I'd drive them both and make your decision from that.

ChrisDT

1,902 posts

220 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2008
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Honest opinion?
Get the 550 (Make sure you have one with Bluetooth too if it's a co car use?), the cupra is awsome, but everyday use it might be a bit hard on the suspension, the 550 is still quick enough for most people in standard form but chip it and it goes up to over 200hp and massive tq's whilst still retaining sensible mpg.

LCR270

326 posts

262 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2008
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ChrisDT said:
Honest opinion?
Get the 550 (Make sure you have one with Bluetooth too if it's a co car use?), the cupra is awsome, but everyday use it might be a bit hard on the suspension, the 550 is still quick enough for most people in standard form but chip it and it goes up to over 200hp and massive tq's whilst still retaining sensible mpg.
don't imagine there will feel like any difference in the suspension setup ?

mpg is a joke, you will never ever ever get 50mpg from it, maybe 40 occassionally, more likely be 35 region versus the cupra 20-25.

the cupra remapped will also have massive torque so why pay more in fuel ?

shaunyvts

40 posts

227 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2008
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LCR270 said:
ChrisDT said:
Honest opinion?
Get the 550 (Make sure you have one with Bluetooth too if it's a co car use?), the cupra is awsome, but everyday use it might be a bit hard on the suspension, the 550 is still quick enough for most people in standard form but chip it and it goes up to over 200hp and massive tq's whilst still retaining sensible mpg.
don't imagine there will feel like any difference in the suspension setup ?

mpg is a joke, you will never ever ever get 50mpg from it, maybe 40 occassionally, more likely be 35 region versus the cupra 20-25.

the cupra remapped will also have massive torque so why pay more in fuel ?
Cupra has a unique suspension setup compared with the rest of the range. It has an all aluminium setup.

dicktracy

241 posts

223 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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What about the non diesel FR - i.e. the 200 hp one - with the same engine as the Golf V GTI?

Poverty

211 posts

217 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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dicktracy said:
What about the non diesel FR - i.e. the 200 hp one - with the same engine as the Golf V GTI?
get the cupra if you can, more power, bigger brakes, superior (better riding and handling) suspension.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Friday 16th January 2009
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Dift said:
Would they really be able to detect a remap?? wink

I'd drive them both and make your decision from that.
If you do anything modifying to a Comp car your highly likely of getting sacked - WHY? well the company you work for has car insurance for all the comp cars if yours is not std then its not insured you will get your P45 for gross misconduct.

Likewise on any contract hire it is not your car you do not have permission to modify it and in the T&C there will be a clause containing it.