MK3 Leon Cupra, what we know

[robdf2]

If this new Cupra was 4WD I for one would order one tomorrow. I know people comment on the perceived lower quality as opposed to other VAG brands, but to be honest it is something I am happy to live with if a car drives well and it is obvious there have been continued improvements on that front anyway. Our mk2 Cupra has been the only new car we have ever owned which has been 100% problem free during our ownership (which counts for a lot in my book). It will be three years old at the end of March and I would happily have another SEAT based on experience with this one.

The stumbling point for me is price. When we bought the mk2 in 2011 it was heavily discounted and (I thought at that time) a very good value hot hatch. Three years later, the list price for the mk3 equivalent is over £10k more than we paid in 2011. I don't think SEAT have priced it correctly and, unless there will be very big discounts from day 1, I fear a lot of prospective buyers will end up in Audi S3 / Golf R / M135i.

I am not a badge snob by the way, far from it in fact.

This will be seats downfall for shifting numbers for the Cupra
But I would imagine that heavy discounts will be available and dealers will be incentivised to shift the numbers.
The polo R is going to be launched around the £24k region and the S1 around the £25k those are 2 massive thorns in Seats side , forget extras and standard equipment , I'm sure you will be able to get a 1 year old S3 soon for the same price as a 280 Cupra unless there are heavy discounts on the Cupra.
Seat could have prices themselves out of sales , oh and don't forget the new 300bhp civic type R expected shortly , it's going to be a buyers market.
I know every manufacturer has it's own horror stories but buying a brand new model from seat is a no no from me their customer support is diabolical to say the least and dealer network shocking.

 

[DeanC]

Saying the Cupra should be more like the S1 or S3 or Golf R is completely academic. The same people that say Audi can build the S1 are the same people who tell SEAT what they can and can't build.

Audi are in a different market space to SEAT, they are profitable not just on the back of their sporty brands, on their range in general. (If your wedged enough to be able to afford it) Their range of cars is huge, with a large selection of variants.

This is where SEAT will always lose out, they are slap bang in the middle of a recovery.

The last decade was pretty bad for the company in global sales, not so much in the UK, where it has risen year on year. However they are now bucking the trend in a way they have never managed before, the Leon is being lauded by the press and most customers as a serious market contender to Ford, Renault and even VW's own Golf.

SEAT need to build on this, overall range popularity is what makes an argument for the kind of cars Audi can offer. They sell 1000's of A1's, A3's A4's Q3's Q5's TT's need I go on. Their global sales bubble is in a state where it can generally do no wrong at the moment in the eyes of the bean counters.

So when the marketing people come along and say lets make a Quattro based shopping A1 barmy hatch, the bosses say go for it.

When SEAT have the same conversation, it will generally go... how many SE's FR's have been sold this year, how is the profitability and what can we do to sell more. Truth is its all about volumes, the small amount of Cupra sales will be eclipsed by the SE and FR sales over the course of a year, and that is how it should be if the company is to succeed.

As I say its been a tough decade for the brand, but the Leon has bucked the trend, and the management now appear to be on the right track by offering choice.

The Cupra is the first statement of intent, but I don't think its the overall picture.

The Ibiza needs a reboot in due course, maybe another product such as an small SUV type needs introducing to the range, something based on the Q3 which is already built at Martorell.

When SEAT are in a growth position, and sustain that growth, which appears to be happening, will the suits say ok lets build something a bit meaner, a real halo product. 4WD Cupra R, well maybe, lets hope that is the case.

Patience is a virtue, but just because Audi and VW can generally do what they like, it doesn't automatically follow suit that SEAT get carté blanche to do the same.

I understand and agree with everything you said but the bottom line is as a punter you don't care about any of that, you just want the best car for the best price.

VW still have the ultimate goal of creaming off of the SEAT bottom line so it is in their interest to expand the appeal of each, not force inter marque competition.

 

[Al]

The stumbling point for me is price. When we bought the mk2 in 2011 it was heavily discounted and (I thought at that time) a very good value hot hatch. Three years later, the list price for the mk3 equivalent is over £10k more than we paid in 2011. I don't think SEAT have priced it correctly and, unless there will be very big discounts from day 1, I fear a lot of prospective buyers will end up in Audi S3 / Golf R / M135i.

I am not a badge snob by the way, far from it in fact.

Snap. Also they need to get much better at marketing.

Cupra 280 for £28k or Golf R for £30k - No brainer for me.

Hopefully SEAT don't screw up the spec of the interior like VW have though.

 

[ZBOYD]

I understand and agree with everything you said but the bottom line is as a punter you don't care about any of that, you just want the best car for the best price.

VW still have the ultimate goal of creaming off of the SEAT bottom line so it is in their interest to expand the appeal of each, not force inter marque competition.

The truth is there is no bottom line for VW to cream off of, VW Group have propped up a loss making brand for a decade or so, that had poor VOLUME products. As far as global VOLUME sales are concerned, the Cupra isn't an all important consideration.

In my mind that is where SEAT fell down in the past, the FR/Cupra/R were the stand-out models and everything else were shades of grey.

Indications now say that the downward trend is on the up, figures indicate that SEAT have unprecedented growth in their sector at the moment. That is simply because they are selling VOLUMES, not Cupras.

The more appealing you make the rest of the range to the average punter (which out number the people that want 4WD 300HP super hatches) the more you sell at volume and the more profit you make. Brand success is key to making a profitable group, with which they get free reign to produce hyper cars.

If your a punter, your a punter, you go where you want to, if you buy an Audi or a VW, the group isn't concerned you didn't buy a SEAT because the money is still in the group. So from their point of view, no problems. Kerching!

 

[DeanC]

Agreed. On a more cheerful note my local dealer said they had the best month ever last month.

 

[Bobanegra]

I'm in the same boat pricing wise, when I got my 170PS FR TDI in 2007 I got it for shy of £15k with about 25 miles on the clock and quite well specced (Bluetooth etc)… for the equivalent car now, the 184PS FR TDI is about £8-9k more expensive.

I think if I'm going to get a Cupra I'll be waiting 2 or 3 years for either discounts to kick in or grabbing a second hand bargain.

 

[LeonCR]

Truth be told not many people buy new cars outright anymore so it all comes down to the monthly cost

 

[morini]

Truth be told not many people buy new cars outright anymore so it all comes down to the monthly cost

I think you are spot on here and I can kind of see the attraction, though that way of running a car isn't for me. Personally I have never felt comfortable with the concept of PCP as I don't like being tied into multi year financial contracts with the ever present possibility of unemployment in this day and age. I have taken bank car loans in the past, but always short term 2 years max and have always put large deposits down.

Whichever way you do it though buying new cars is a recipe for losing a fair wedge and there is no cheap way of doing it. If people are happy financing car depreciation (which is what PCP is at the end of the day) then good luck to them I say. Not for me though.

 

[LeonCR]

That the tging I got my LCR for first cheap brand new, but to get anything equivalent or better would cost 10k+ more than I paid, makes it hard to justify a cash purchase these days

 

[Syphon]

Two new promo videos up:

http://youtu.be/V66MVXeogjM

http://youtu.be/4he0HGhAuqU

Scott

 

[CraigFrTsi]

Loving the standard setup for dsg farts!

 

[Siboneh]

Thanks for posting the videos Scott really looking forward to test driving one of these or even ordering one, I bet you're really happy ordering early without test driving one first you had faith in SEAT.

 

[Syphon]

Thanks for posting the videos Scott really looking forward to test driving one of these or even ordering one, I bet you're really happy ordering early without test driving one first you had faith in SEAT.

No probs. LOL yes, but having driven the FR and seeing the teaser ring vids hinting at the speed of the car. Once the spec came out there was a very low risk SEAT would have messed up with this car.

Scott

 

[big eck]

I've just spotted this on Instagram. I've no idea if its a shop or not but it looks a lot better than the standard Cupra item.

 

[Syphon]

That's the new body-kit option for the std cars as discussed on another thread.

Scott

 

[big eck]

Ah right. I think its a good looking rear, beefier and more purposeful tha the standard item.

 

[DeanC]

I just noticed the 265 uses the standard spoiler and the 280 one is not the aero kit version as it does not have the fins but it does have a bigger 3rd brake light.

 

[Tahiti]

So I was all for buying a manual GTi with the Performance Pack but having driven one (specced with quite a bit of other kit), the Leon grabs me more on standard kit and looks.

I'm struggling to identify exactly what the standard seats will look like in the 5 door 280 though. Can someone please put me out of my misery?

As an aside, there is a lot of talk of residuals on here, but does anyone have access to expected residuals on the Cupra 280/GTi PP/S3? Judging by previous models is fair enough, but I wonder what the realistic expectations are on the new ones.

 

[Syphon]

Seat pictures can be found in the links in our main site www.seatcupra.net. suspect residuals will be around 42-48% after 3 years.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[robdf2]

Seat pictures can be found in the links in our main site www.seatcupra.net. suspect residuals will be around 42-48% after 3 years.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

That's similar residuals to the current Cupra r on dealer fore courts.