So, for those of you that aren't aware, yesterday AM I was lucky enough to be the first to test drive a new black Cupra 290 with white pack (white pack didn't suit it tbh) but besides the point and of course how you spec it is very subjective.
The lease on my 280 is coming to a close in Spring, so it's about time I order a new vehicle to ensure the old new and new vehicle both tie up nicely.
With my faithful 280 being a stellar, quick, multifaceted machine, I'd have another one in a heartbeat, hence considering the 290.
Of course, the below is solely my opinion rather than fact, but as I have been a very happy Cupra 280 driver for the past 18 months, I thought it considerate and worthwhile sharing my opinion with you guys so you can see in my mind at least are the key differences between the two cars.
So, let's get to it. What's the difference?
-- Styling and design --
So first things first - styling. I've a keen eye for design at least I think so. I'm that fussy guy that complained the rear cluster indicators weren't LED when I collected my 280.
Are there any changes? From the outside, I'm afraid not. None. Everything looks identical. From the tailpipes through the the headlights and body panels. So a little disappointing to not see even a few styling amends to separate the two cars and help us enthusiasts spot the difference.
Besides the PS figure on the Cupra badge of the tailgate, there's no telling them apart.
On the inside, I did notice something. Really small, but still. They appear to have updated the font on the binnacle LCD screen for the clock, consumption data etc.
This car also had the optional nav upgrade (this could be why the font changed) but otherwise the interior remained unchanged too. A real shame.
Not that there's anything wrong with the interior of the 280 but a little revision here and there would have helped update and refresh the 2+ year old cabin.
-- Driving feel and first thoughts --
Ok so the first thing to jump out to me was that the sound actuator has changed. The note, sound and even the volume have been revised for the 290 in Cupra mode.
(I'm unsure of sport mode as didn't try this out but I did try comfort to have a good listen to the exhaust - more on that later...)
I also wouldn't say the car felt more powerful, but they did at lest appear to update the throttle mapping in both cupra and comfort modes so the car now feels more eager and responsive than the 280.
This could be that my car is a manual and this was a dsg, but still, thought I'd mention it as there seemed to be a noticeable difference.
Ride quality felt the same during my first drive. Didn't get an opportunity to feel that new dif at work but at least up to 7/10s all is well and the same. Great news there.
-- Exhaust --
Ok I'll be honest. At first. I didn't notice it so much. That was dissapointing. The car was in Cupra mode for most of the drive which didn't help with the actuator masking the exhaust.
However I was super-eager to find out if this new exhaust was actually any good.
So I slipped the 290 in to comfort mode to silence the actuator, blipped the throttle to about 4 grand at a standstill and there was an immediate difference.
Gorgeous little pops on overrun (likely not hugely noticeable on the move but still)
The exhaust was definitely louder, throatier and with DSG, the upshift pops were louder, more rewarding and even more awesome.
Ok so the Golf R exhaust is still the better unit at first listen but a very welcome and worthy improvement over the 280s substandard soundtrack.
Comfort mode will likely be best to take advantage of the new improved soundtrack from the new unit.
-- Overall thoughts --
What's strange here is, I like it more than my 280. I expected it to feel just like my 280 but it felt more impressive and better packaged. Maybe because it's newer, cleaner etc. But actually it's because it's just better.
The exhaust makes it just about worthy of its new badge, DSG sounds better than ever and the new (I think) throttle mapping really suits.
I'm impressed!
So, will I be buying one?
No. Haha. I'm buying a M135i instead.
But if this was my first time round (didn't already have the 280) then I'd of taken the 290 with DSG over the M135i any day and to me that's impressive.
DSG is also better than BMW's 8-speed ZF box too for the record....
Anyway, back to the Cupra. It's a brilliant car better than its 280 predecessor, just about worthy of its 290 badge but too similar to make it feel like a 'new' car to me and likely many others thinking of trading up from a 280.
6 cylinders in a hot hatch (quite possibly the last one ever in production) was just too big an opportunity to turn away.
If this is your first Cupra or you don't have a 280, the 290 is better than the R, it's better than the M135i and it's better than the S3 in many ways and in motoring, you can't get a bigger achievement than that.
Cheers guys!
Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
The lease on my 280 is coming to a close in Spring, so it's about time I order a new vehicle to ensure the old new and new vehicle both tie up nicely.
With my faithful 280 being a stellar, quick, multifaceted machine, I'd have another one in a heartbeat, hence considering the 290.
Of course, the below is solely my opinion rather than fact, but as I have been a very happy Cupra 280 driver for the past 18 months, I thought it considerate and worthwhile sharing my opinion with you guys so you can see in my mind at least are the key differences between the two cars.
So, let's get to it. What's the difference?
-- Styling and design --
So first things first - styling. I've a keen eye for design at least I think so. I'm that fussy guy that complained the rear cluster indicators weren't LED when I collected my 280.
Are there any changes? From the outside, I'm afraid not. None. Everything looks identical. From the tailpipes through the the headlights and body panels. So a little disappointing to not see even a few styling amends to separate the two cars and help us enthusiasts spot the difference.
Besides the PS figure on the Cupra badge of the tailgate, there's no telling them apart.
On the inside, I did notice something. Really small, but still. They appear to have updated the font on the binnacle LCD screen for the clock, consumption data etc.
This car also had the optional nav upgrade (this could be why the font changed) but otherwise the interior remained unchanged too. A real shame.
Not that there's anything wrong with the interior of the 280 but a little revision here and there would have helped update and refresh the 2+ year old cabin.
-- Driving feel and first thoughts --
Ok so the first thing to jump out to me was that the sound actuator has changed. The note, sound and even the volume have been revised for the 290 in Cupra mode.
(I'm unsure of sport mode as didn't try this out but I did try comfort to have a good listen to the exhaust - more on that later...)
I also wouldn't say the car felt more powerful, but they did at lest appear to update the throttle mapping in both cupra and comfort modes so the car now feels more eager and responsive than the 280.
This could be that my car is a manual and this was a dsg, but still, thought I'd mention it as there seemed to be a noticeable difference.
Ride quality felt the same during my first drive. Didn't get an opportunity to feel that new dif at work but at least up to 7/10s all is well and the same. Great news there.
-- Exhaust --
Ok I'll be honest. At first. I didn't notice it so much. That was dissapointing. The car was in Cupra mode for most of the drive which didn't help with the actuator masking the exhaust.
However I was super-eager to find out if this new exhaust was actually any good.
So I slipped the 290 in to comfort mode to silence the actuator, blipped the throttle to about 4 grand at a standstill and there was an immediate difference.
Gorgeous little pops on overrun (likely not hugely noticeable on the move but still)
The exhaust was definitely louder, throatier and with DSG, the upshift pops were louder, more rewarding and even more awesome.
Ok so the Golf R exhaust is still the better unit at first listen but a very welcome and worthy improvement over the 280s substandard soundtrack.
Comfort mode will likely be best to take advantage of the new improved soundtrack from the new unit.
-- Overall thoughts --
What's strange here is, I like it more than my 280. I expected it to feel just like my 280 but it felt more impressive and better packaged. Maybe because it's newer, cleaner etc. But actually it's because it's just better.
The exhaust makes it just about worthy of its new badge, DSG sounds better than ever and the new (I think) throttle mapping really suits.
I'm impressed!
So, will I be buying one?
No. Haha. I'm buying a M135i instead.
But if this was my first time round (didn't already have the 280) then I'd of taken the 290 with DSG over the M135i any day and to me that's impressive.
DSG is also better than BMW's 8-speed ZF box too for the record....
Anyway, back to the Cupra. It's a brilliant car better than its 280 predecessor, just about worthy of its 290 badge but too similar to make it feel like a 'new' car to me and likely many others thinking of trading up from a 280.
6 cylinders in a hot hatch (quite possibly the last one ever in production) was just too big an opportunity to turn away.
If this is your first Cupra or you don't have a 280, the 290 is better than the R, it's better than the M135i and it's better than the S3 in many ways and in motoring, you can't get a bigger achievement than that.
Cheers guys!
Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
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