What was the point of the Sport

[killoran]

I have a new shape Sport and it's fine.

This may be more a marketing question than one for a car forum but why (oh why oh why oh why!) launch a new model and then within not much more than a year discount it and replace it with one that's the same but not quite.

I can't see the logic?

 

[Rampage]

Do you mean the 2.0 TFSI that got replaced by the FR?

 

[killoran]

I do

 

[Deev]

More likely the trim level designated the Sport that was basically the Stylance with sports suspension. The Sport trim was then dropped, but you can order a Stylance with sports suspension as an option - so essentially it's a Sport - it's just not called a Sport...

 

[killoran]

It may be partly that but the Sport does have a 185 BHP engine (essentially the Golf engine) and I'm sure it had a few other bits and bobs that the Stylance didn't have.

Is the FR much better euipped that the Sport because I thought it was essentially a Sport with 12 BHP more which is why I could never understand why they would go to all the trouble of launching a "top" model to replace/amend it about a year later.
Doesn't seem like forward planning!

 

[Deev]

The TDI Sport isn't any different to the TDI Stylance Sport though is it? The 2.0 TDI Sport only has 140bhp to the 2.0 TDI FR's 170...

 

[killoran]

Essentially from a purely selfish point of view it confuses dealers (most of whom are there for their selling skills and not their love of cars!) who see it wasn't made for long and therefore isn't in their computer and think its some kind of strange "foreign" car.

Not all dealers but some and personally I prefer the name Sport to FR!

 

[Rampage]

I think everyone is thinking of the current sport model.

Back in it's day a lot of people said the 2.0 TFSI had 197bhp (same as FR), people also say that it was a sort of market test for the FR/Cupra.
I was about to buy one when they discontinued it and released the FR which had different bumpers and seats (which I didn't like) for an extra £1k. So that put me off Seat for a year or so, untill I saw the Cupra.
Basically AFAIK it's an FR without the badge/seats/bumpers, I'm sure performance wise it is just as good, and probably a bit of a secondhand bargain.

 

[DanGB]

It was needed as a top-of-the-range car when the Leon came out, but when the FR came out (performance models are always delayed) it was dropped to stop a confusing model line up.

Spec wise its the same as the FR.
Engine wise, the sport had 182hp 2.0TFSI and 140hp TDI.

 

[killoran]

Second hand bargain. That's good news for other but so much for me who needs to sell the one he owns!

However on the point that always confused me. Why drop it so soon when the specs seemed pretty similar to the FR the suggestions people make do seem to make sense.

I still pefer the name Sport though!

 

[MatG]

sport didnt have the FR front bumper or seats though

 

[Deev]

I quite like the Sport's seats. The Stylance Sport doesn't have these does it?

 

[MatG]

the stylance with the sport kit was lower suspension and sports seats I think. However they are not the seats you get in the FR, they are the ones you get in the referance sport.

 

[darrellr]

sport didnt have the FR front bumper or seats though

It was officially 15 BHP more (as someone has already said, the jury is most defo out on whether the Sport was detuned), had a new body kit, 'special' cloth and a rather smart dash.

All for an extra grand!

Rip off to my eyes, no wonder Seat had to withdraw the Sport.

 

[MatG]

you have lost me a bit there darrell - what had the body kit special cloth and the dash - the sport?

 

[Tom B]

SEAT love to do this, they did it with the MK1 Leon 1.8T, the MK4 Ibiza TDI 130 and the MK2 Leon.

I think if you're looking at a new model and you like the hot ones, you should wait til the FR and Cupra models are out before making your decision.

 

[darrellr]

you have lost me a bit there darrell - what had the body kit special cloth and the dash - the sport?

No, the FR added:

15 Bhp
Special cloth
'Warmer' looking body kit
White dial dash
Interior Aluminium trim

This was marketed at a £1k hike in list price (now £1.5K)

My 2.0 TFSI Sport was £15,995 base (I paid £14,461 for base + metallic Paint/spare tyre from DTD)

Remember official 0-60 2.0T Sport = 7.5 compared to 7.3 for the 2.0T FR

 

[MatG]

worth the money in my eyes then - not bad for £1k more

 

[Rampage]

Not when £16k is your absolute limit to spend on a car, then Seat decide to stop selling it. You tend to look elsewhere.

 

[MatG]

I have just got a diesel Fr 3months old, 2500 miles, bluetooth and 18's for 15.5k - always a way to get one, and a fair few on the market to get what options you would like as well.