Ive been to see the Cupra today in Dynamic Grey the colour is fantastic but for what it costs, I don't know if the price tag is worth it.
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MK3 Leon Cupra, what we know
- Thread starter Adman77
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phil_____
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I took one for a test drive today. It's a very quick car, and very refined at the same time. It does struggle to put the power down, even from a rolling start, but the traction control doesn't kill the throttle. It is very difficult to pick out amongst other Leons, the wheels being the only obvious clue, and they're not exactly garish.
There's no chrome trim in the cabin, which is a good thing in my opinion. The seats are pretty much identical to those in the FR. The car I drove had the standard alcantara, which is lovely but could do with losing the white leather.
Honestly, it's not much different from any other Leon, apart from having a lot of options ticked by default. Oh, and the small matter of the engine, which is fantastic. Very little turbo lag. Pulls from low revs, very linearly, which suggests to me that it'll be tunable. No surprises there then.
I still can't get the hang of the DSG though. It's nice being able to potter around in drive, and that's really going to suit a lot of people. In manual mode it gets through the rev range so quickly that the car changed up before I wanted to, which was annoying as it kept changing up two gears: the car's selection and mine. I expect that's something you get used to.
The dealer said that the first run was only DSGs because those were going to the dealers. After that they're building both types at the same time. He also said there was no chance of a discount. The allocation will be limited and they expect to shift them all. There's currently a 3-month lead time.
I am going to try and test drive the Golf R, but I really can't see it being worth an extra 7K. I specced up the Leon how I wanted it and it came to £29272. The Golf with the same(ish) spec is £36283. I know that in the past the Golf has held its value more, but this Leon has really closed that gap. I know now that I won't even consider the Golf GTI, performance pack or not.
There's no chrome trim in the cabin, which is a good thing in my opinion. The seats are pretty much identical to those in the FR. The car I drove had the standard alcantara, which is lovely but could do with losing the white leather.
Honestly, it's not much different from any other Leon, apart from having a lot of options ticked by default. Oh, and the small matter of the engine, which is fantastic. Very little turbo lag. Pulls from low revs, very linearly, which suggests to me that it'll be tunable. No surprises there then.
I still can't get the hang of the DSG though. It's nice being able to potter around in drive, and that's really going to suit a lot of people. In manual mode it gets through the rev range so quickly that the car changed up before I wanted to, which was annoying as it kept changing up two gears: the car's selection and mine. I expect that's something you get used to.
The dealer said that the first run was only DSGs because those were going to the dealers. After that they're building both types at the same time. He also said there was no chance of a discount. The allocation will be limited and they expect to shift them all. There's currently a 3-month lead time.
I am going to try and test drive the Golf R, but I really can't see it being worth an extra 7K. I specced up the Leon how I wanted it and it came to £29272. The Golf with the same(ish) spec is £36283. I know that in the past the Golf has held its value more, but this Leon has really closed that gap. I know now that I won't even consider the Golf GTI, performance pack or not.
No discount, sales man sounds like a tool, online brokers are offering good discounts so unless dealers match them which I know they can from past experience, I'm sure people will be going to another make.
Phil do you think you could of put the power down easier in a manual rather than the auto ?
In manual mode on the auto did you have full control or did it still change gears for you ?
Dealers are being unrealistic if they think people will pay list. There's too much competition with poverty spec S3 and Golf R being not a lot more.
I thought it put the power down exceptionally well. It will obviously be a different story in the wet but when I drove one yesterday it was bone dry and sunny.
I reckon that's bullshit and allocation won't be limited. Seat will build as many as they get orders for.
I agree with that , the allocation might be slow to start but as production ramps up they will have excess stock and deals will be there to be had
They'll certainly be deals, if one dealer doesn't another will. Allocation is a nonsense excuse, they build them to order and many will be built for stock too. Being the top model the production may slip on delivery dates as production is generally always geared towards volume sales. However there is certainly no limit to allocation, that is just rubbish. As I understand the MQB platform, it was designed so they can build all the cars on the same production line, regardless of wheelbase length, or specification. So an SC an ST and 5 door can all be built back to back on the same line, one could be a Cupra, one an SE and one an FR. As far as I am aware it also means they can build LHD and RHD on the same line too.
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shhhhh
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I did not know that DSG changed up for you even in manual mode... That will seriously suck if you can't do anything about it.
Edit: When I drove the merc a250 "by AMG" with the transmission in manual mode, and that didn't change up for you if you didn't press anything. Just sat there screaming lol.
Edit: When I drove the merc a250 "by AMG" with the transmission in manual mode, and that didn't change up for you if you didn't press anything. Just sat there screaming lol.
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I cant see the DSG changing up for you, there as to be a way of turning auto off. If thats the case which I'm sure its not there wont be many DSG being sold.
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Just tested the theory in my FR. Flicked box over to manual it changes up automatically at the limiter around 6 to 6.5k in the FR at least.
I don't see much point though to thrash it at or above the limiter anyway.
Far better for it to change up, everything after about 5.5k is wasted energy anyway, better to be going up the cogs.
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I don't see much point though to thrash it at or above the limiter anyway.
Far better for it to change up, everything after about 5.5k is wasted energy anyway, better to be going up the cogs.
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As I say at the limiter it changed up itself. Not like a manual where you can bounce it off the limiter. For what reason you'd want it bouncing on the limit anyway is beyond me.
Mine was already telling me on the dash display to change up at 5.5k it was offering the suggestion. 2 > 3
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Mine was already telling me on the dash display to change up at 5.5k it was offering the suggestion. 2 > 3
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Better to do a 5th gear run, then the operator can get off the gas pedal before change up.
Obviously if operator is unfamiliar with the change point he could go to far.
A 5th gear run would be a bit more linear and gradual than a 4th gear run where everything would happen much quicker and harder to catch it before change up. As long as they stop it at around 6k the readings should be thereabouts. As I understand is most cars in the VW engine range even the tuned ones are hitting their sweet spot before 6k unless they have been modded internally to rev higher, and deliver more power at higher rpm.
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Obviously if operator is unfamiliar with the change point he could go to far.
A 5th gear run would be a bit more linear and gradual than a 4th gear run where everything would happen much quicker and harder to catch it before change up. As long as they stop it at around 6k the readings should be thereabouts. As I understand is most cars in the VW engine range even the tuned ones are hitting their sweet spot before 6k unless they have been modded internally to rev higher, and deliver more power at higher rpm.
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Apologies if this has already been covered by anyone (I did trawl back through the thread, but my skim reading ability isn't the best!), but....
I popped into my local dealership yesterday to take a look at their showroom Cupra 280 in the flesh, and was told that they're very shortly going to be offering a body kit as an option for the Leon. He showed me a picture that the dealership had been sent via internal mail, but unsurprisingly wouldn't let me have a copy...! The picture was taken from the nearside rear quarter, so no view of the front unfortunately, but it looks like it has very similar side skirts to the Aero kit, along with a bigger rear spoiler and (I think) a more pronounced diffuser.
They are actually sending one of their blue FR's off this week to have it fitted, and they're ringing me to let me know when it's back; I'll get some pics of my own when I pop down to see it and post them up assuming they don't appear in the meantime from elsewhere. No mention of price I'm afraid, but he did say it'll be available to order "within a few weeks"...
I popped into my local dealership yesterday to take a look at their showroom Cupra 280 in the flesh, and was told that they're very shortly going to be offering a body kit as an option for the Leon. He showed me a picture that the dealership had been sent via internal mail, but unsurprisingly wouldn't let me have a copy...! The picture was taken from the nearside rear quarter, so no view of the front unfortunately, but it looks like it has very similar side skirts to the Aero kit, along with a bigger rear spoiler and (I think) a more pronounced diffuser.
They are actually sending one of their blue FR's off this week to have it fitted, and they're ringing me to let me know when it's back; I'll get some pics of my own when I pop down to see it and post them up assuming they don't appear in the meantime from elsewhere. No mention of price I'm afraid, but he did say it'll be available to order "within a few weeks"...
IIRC VAG boxes are done this way to "preserve" the life of the box. I could be wrong but pretty sure i read it somewhere as i was doing all me research back in 2010 before i bought my bocanegra.
There is a kit becoming available for the leon which was featured in an article, there is a thread here somewhere, but this kit comes in at like 4K. Duel exit exhausts, side skirts, rear diffuser and front bumper altered with a "splitter". There will be a performance pack offered on the CUPRA which will have side skirts, different wheels (orange), bucket seats, mirror caps (orange) and some internal trimming in orange too. There are also pictures of that here some where but no mention of price or availability yet.
Performance Pack Link: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=397373
FR kit link: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/seat/leon/85286/seat-leon-fr-tdi-pictures/page/5/0#main-content-area
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phil_____
Guest
I doubt it would be any different. Most of the time it was perfectly OK. Just a couple of times it wriggled a bit as it was coming off the line. Not bad for an auto really.
Of course, I was the first person to take the car out, so it will have been on brand new tyres. Makes a difference.
What were the road conditions like Phil? Saturday, when I had a go, was the first nice day in a long while here and it was sunny and dry all day. I'm a little disappointed the standard fit tyres are bridgestones though. We put Potenzas on a Mini cooper S a few years back and I thought they were crap (though things may have moved on since as it was back in 2009). Out of choice I would pick Michelin PS3 or Goodyear Eagle assy 2 for replacements, but you get what you are given on a new car.
Having said that, the car didn't feel like it had any grip or traction issues to me (in the dry).
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