New Car

[Robbo73]

Hello there.

I had a car nightmare over the festive period. Had a little niggly problem with the DSG box in my FR, so started to look for alternative cars. I ended up going for a Golf R32 07 plate- lovely car. After 2 weeks I find myself realising just how much this car costs on a daily return trip to London. I missed my Leon!! As they say you make these mistakes once!
Fortunately my VW dealership was understanding to a point(I still lost a few quid)and have decided to take it back from me. I have the car until the 25th Jan in order to get my reg document back and give it back to them. Then I can buy a new car. I visited a Seat dealership yesterday. Tried a couple of different cars. I walked away with a great deal lined up on an '08 plate(7k mileage)black Cupra K1(silver 18''s on there). What a lovely drive and I instantly noticed a more refined ride!

 

[2zeroalpha]

From a completely unbiased point of view hehe, get the K1 it is brilliant.

 

[predo]

what was wrong with your dsg box?

 

[Robbo73]

I got a regular drop from 6th to 4th gear due to a faulty sensor that brought on the ABS, traction control and tyre pressure lights at the same time. Got it back to the garage 3 times(quite a distance from me). Effectively they told me there was nothing wrong with the car but the problem reoccured and I decided to go back to manual for a while. there is no doubt the DSG box is a terrific box all the same.

I did find the FR ride pretty firm. The K1 felt firm but i found it a bit more forgiving strangely. i know the new FR is softer. tried a diesel FR(facelift)on the back of driving the K1 and just loved the way that with the Cupra, you can leave it in 3rd and 4th a little longer with a gentle nice rasp from the exhaust. Both great cars. I find the Seats great value for money compared to VW golfs. Can't wait to pick my new wheels up in the next week or two! Definitely think it's a long termer- even with a 5 month old:0)

Cheers,
Iain

 

[Robbo73]

A bit of a frantic day at work today and just realised that I pick up my new K1 tomorrow Really looking forward to it. Any thoughts on differences over my FR TFSI DSG? I realise the manual gearbox will be different for starters. This car is a non-facelift K1 with a shade over 7k on the clock in mint condition so I still get some time to run it in a bit more. I bet they're an engaging drive.

Looking forward to posting some pictures on here ASAP after pickup.

Cheers!
Iain

P.S. great site by the way guys. I don't regret moving from a VW back to a Seat- it'll be nice to drive something a bit unusual

 

[chrisjgill]

I switched from a 57 plate DSG FR back in November last year to a Golf GT TDI 140 mk6. The golf is a nice car with good interior but it didnt get my heart racing or put a smile on my face. I pranged it into a post in earlier this month so am now trading it back in for a new FL FR TDI 170...cant wait and agree about going back to SEAT!

 

[Robbo73]

I considered a diesel and a golf TDi 170 but would have gone for a FL FR Tdi 170 instead. Liked the drive very much but the petrol K1 I felt was what I was after after having the R32. The other thing I found which was surprising is the Seat sound system in the FR/Cupras are as good as or better sounding than the VW top end hatches. Certainly the one in my old FR had a terrific sound compared to the golf's stereo. Minor thing but important none the less:0)

 

[Robbo73]

picked up said Cupra today///the inferi black looks stunning! In sunlight there's a metallic purply tinge. The ride has a nice firm sporty feel without feeling too harsh. I haven't floored it yet but the power is evidently there. The one big difference over the golf is the gear ratios...the Cupra has a really fluid 1st to 2nd. I found the R32 was very difficult to move into 2nd without a jolt as you might aswell move upto 3rd from 1st when applying a bit on the right pedal.

All good fun, I love it so far and really delighted to be back in the Seat fold! I'll get some shots taken and post over the next few days.

Cheers,
Iain

 

[Kevo]

Doubt you will see much more if any mpg from the k1 than the r32.....

 

[Poverty]

Doubt you will see much more if any mpg from the k1 than the r32.....

you reckon so? The OP has had an FR and the mpg should be similiar. Obviously i see you have had an R also, so maybe its just driving style?

 

[Kevo]

you reckon so? The OP has had an FR and the mpg should be similiar. Obviously i see you have had an R also, so maybe its just driving style?

Yeh not being stupid about it but from experience i owned the r for about 8 months and the k1 for around 18 months, the mpg is pretty much identical i averaged 24mpg out of the last tank of juice in the k1 (not figures from dash worked out properly) and frokm memory they were pretty simalar from the R.....#

Like you say maybe just my driving style but don't see as i drive any of my cars any different!!

 

[Robbo73]

Hi Kevo. Interested to know why you changed from the R32 to K1? Admittedly, what a noise those straight 6's make! Not had the car long so will report back in the next week or so once I need to fill up for the first time...if the computer is correct it looks like it could give me at least 25-30 more miles out of a tank. 6 fills a month and that starts to add up.
One thing I noticed on the drive back from London down the A40 today was the mid gear acceleration in 3rd and 4th the Cupra has...fluid and very very nice. I found the gold a bit heavier with less driver feedback. A mild observation- don't get me wrong, the R is a very nice drive! I love this car.

 

[joolsvern]

30 miles a tank, 6 tanks a month = 180 miles (max), thats £5 a gallon???, 25 miles to gallon, 7 gallons, =£35 a month, = £420 a year, I'm sure the dealer ripped more than that out of your pocket for returning the golf.

Still I'm jealous as either car would be something I would love to own, just not financially viable for me unfortunately, and the K1 looks sheds loads better than the golf, I actually saw a new golf today that I didn't laugh at, that was until I pulled in behind it - horrid.

 

[NickP]

Hi Kevo. Interested to know why you changed from the R32 to K1? Admittedly, what a noise those straight 6's make!

The R32 has a V6 rather than a straight 6 - did you have it for such a short time you didn't look under the bonnet?

 

[Kevo]

Hi Kevo. Interested to know why you changed from the R32 to K1? Admittedly, what a noise those straight 6's make! Not had the car long so will report back in the next week or so once I need to fill up for the first time...if the computer is correct it looks like it could give me at least 25-30 more miles out of a tank. 6 fills a month and that starts to add up.
One thing I noticed on the drive back from London down the A40 today was the mid gear acceleration in 3rd and 4th the Cupra has...fluid and very very nice. I found the gold a bit heavier with less driver feedback. A mild observation- don't get me wrong, the R is a very nice drive! I love this car.

The main reason i swapped at the time was because the car market was taking a big drop and with petrol prices etc the 3.2 was dropping quicker than most...The K1 seemed the best choice for value and performance, in standard form i would say that the K1 is quicker but to say i miss the noise of that v6 is an understatement even after 18 months,

What spec was your R? 3 or 5 door? How much did you pay and what did they give you for it if you don't mind me asking, reason being i am considering another one..

Thanks
Kev

 

[Robbo73]

Apologies, I'll get it right...a V6..and yes I did look at the engine- it's a good looking one. I loved the noise of that too and I can see why you miss it. The Cupra pulls nicely though, really chuffed with it. You're right I felt the golf a bit ordinary looking-the Leon's a much cooler looking car IMO....and....you just don't see many Cupras about, they're quite rare and I like that.
The R32 was bought for 17k and given back for just under 16k...ouch! I may have learned the hard way but glad I reacted and rectified quickly. Spec was nice- leather heated seats, xenons, 5 door, pearl blue with 30k. The K1 is an 08, inferi black, with silver 18's and only 7k on the clock. It has nearly 2 years of warranty to run- keeping the R32, i would have had to face a £700 warranty extension, £410 annual road tax and a service all due at Christmas time- not handy. I have learned the hard way admittedly, but love having my K1. Filled up today after a bit of a run and got 340 miles out of it as opposed to averaging 295ish on the VW...not massive but it's not as juicy- suppose it depends on how much urban etc... hey ho you don't buy either worrying too much about this I guess- the extra running cost at the end of the year would have been a bit of a hefty one to swallow

 

[Kevo]

Yeh the tax and warranty extension would of been a killer, so if you look at it that you lost just over 1k now, it would prob of cost more than that at christmas time.....

Great car the K1 enjoy...i have only kept 1 car for longer and that was the mk5 gti i had..

Kev