Modifying the Cupra - Not to an extreme!

Cupra_Chris

Active Member
Aug 1, 2015
104
25
West Sussex
Hi Guys,

So I am in the progress of building up a powerful Cupra (more than stock anyway!)
I have had a few problems with my Cupra since i bought it in June 2015.
These problems have set me back abit as far as Mods go but have helped with keeping the car in a good working order!

As far as work goes i've had:
New Engine Mounts
New Sachs Clutch Kit
New Sachs DMF
Refurbed Turbo
Refurbed Gearbox
New Drive Shaft's and CV's

All of this I hope will help keep the car in fighting order!

As far as Mods go so far:
Milltek Cat Back oval exhaust (resonated - Didnt want a huge amount of noise)
Forge Motorsport Dump Valve
K&N Panel Filter (Didnt want to remove or mod the cover just yet!)
Dash panels have been dip painted in carbon paint (Thought it worked quite well with the dash)
Android Headunit (I wanted to use the Torque App via the headunit and it works a dream!)

Plans for Future:
Go to a stage 2 remap - Undecided on which one, will likely require alot of research.
Turbo back Exhaust System
Was looking at a LSD - Once again will require a lot of research as unsure if would be beneficial or not!
Refurb the poor battered alloys from the prev owner!
Rear Diffuser - Like the look of the lester ones or maybe a triple R?
JE Design Skirts and Rear bumper flares

20160131_073049_zpsjaa5plzd.jpg


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I will take some pictures of my interior and post them.

Feel free to let me know some opinions and any advice with Mods etc would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading!
 
Last edited:

JJ-Griff

Active Member
Feb 13, 2013
24
0
Nice looking Cupra you've got there buddy!

I've always been a fan of the black on black look personally, so maybe gloss/satin alloys would work well if you're getting them refurbished anyway? Yours is Inferni Black I'm guessing but even so I think the purply black works really nicely tbh. Maybe wrap the 'CUPRA' badge black as well as the chrome bits so everything ties in as well? Also the honeycombe front grile is pretty cheap but freshen the front end up quite nicely as well!

Would be good to see some interior shots as well if you've got some! :)
 

Cupra_Chris

Active Member
Aug 1, 2015
104
25
West Sussex
Nice looking Cupra you've got there buddy!

I've always been a fan of the black on black look personally, so maybe gloss/satin alloys would work well if you're getting them refurbished anyway? Yours is Inferni Black I'm guessing but even so I think the purply black works really nicely tbh. Maybe wrap the 'CUPRA' badge black as well as the chrome bits so everything ties in as well? Also the honeycombe front grile is pretty cheap but freshen the front end up quite nicely as well!

Would be good to see some interior shots as well if you've got some! :)

Thanks for the reply!

I did think about the black alloys as it does look really nice - Would definitely have to be a nice gloss.

Yep its the Inferi Black! I wasnt sure about the cupra wrapping personally, I did like the stock look for the time being although i think it could look nice in red? or looking at the 2015 cupra's that orange does look good!

I never looked at the grills to be honest may be worth a browse!

I'll wait till the weathers a bit brighter for the pics as its hammering it down currently ;)
 

richicupra

Active Member
Jan 29, 2012
1,826
9
Lowering springs are a cheap mod, really improves the ride height. Unless you're going to take the car on track a lot I don't think the LSD is worth it.
 

Cupra_Chris

Active Member
Aug 1, 2015
104
25
West Sussex
Thats what I had heard about the lsd just didn't want to be spinning the wheels everywhere I go! I don't fancy lowering the car so is it going to be easy enough to replace the springs without lower or lowering it too much?
 

JJ-Griff

Active Member
Feb 13, 2013
24
0
Thanks for the reply!

I did think about the black alloys as it does look really nice - Would definitely have to be a nice gloss.

Yep its the Inferi Black! I wasnt sure about the cupra wrapping personally, I did like the stock look for the time being although i think it could look nice in red? or looking at the 2015 cupra's that orange does look good!

I never looked at the grills to be honest may be worth a browse!

I'll wait till the weathers a bit brighter for the pics as its hammering it down currently ;)

No worries buddy!

Fair one actually - red could work but think orange would work better tbh... for some reason I think red detailing doesn't always work as well but if you have red calipers that could work... I do love the orange details on the new Mk3 tbf!

Yeah pretty sure it's less than £100 to buy and DIY job to fit so wpould recommend it! Haha I don't blame you - we just about got our Supercopa done in the dry today but had to stop half way through because of a hailstorm! :(
 
Jun 25, 2012
920
1
Gateshead
Nice car,and in the best colour:)

Getting an LSD will be money well spent, something I want todo eventually. Probably a wavetrac one

Eagle f1's are a good tyre,but you don't get much feedback or sharp turn in as they've got soft side walls, but the ride is good on them and there not noisey

Upgrading your brakes would be another good upgrade to utilize the extra power from a planned remap,most over look this.

Dan
 
Jun 25, 2012
920
1
Gateshead
Lsd on stage 2+ yes anything below I wouldn't bother, H&R springs and anti roll bars would do the job handling

You'd be impressed with an LSD on a standard Cupra,I was very impressed with the one Honda fitted to my old fn2. I know my car would benefit from it
 

richicupra

Active Member
Jan 29, 2012
1,826
9
Thats what I had heard about the lsd just didn't want to be spinning the wheels everywhere I go! I don't fancy lowering the car so is it going to be easy enough to replace the springs without lower or lowering it too much?

The LSD doesn't defy physics, you still have to put all the power through the front wheels.

Springs lower by around 30 mm, improve handling and IMO look better.
 

Cupra_Chris

Active Member
Aug 1, 2015
104
25
West Sussex
No worries buddy!

Fair one actually - red could work but think orange would work better tbh... for some reason I think red detailing doesn't always work as well but if you have red calipers that could work... I do love the orange details on the new Mk3 tbf!

Yeah pretty sure it's less than £100 to buy and DIY job to fit so wpould recommend it! Haha I don't blame you - we just about got our Supercopa done in the dry today but had to stop half way through because of a hailstorm! :(

Lovely weather wasn't it! I do love the new cupra's was tempted to get a new one! The prices are crazy though would rather a nissan GTR haha!

I'll have a look at the grill. How's the supercopa? Doing much to it?
 

Cupra_Chris

Active Member
Aug 1, 2015
104
25
West Sussex
The LSD doesn't defy physics, you still have to put all the power through the front wheels.

Springs lower by around 30 mm, improve handling and IMO look better.

Don't get me wrong I would love to crack on with the awd conversion but that's a pipe dream haha!

Ive never done any suspension mods so may begin to look into that!
 

JJ-Griff

Active Member
Feb 13, 2013
24
0
Lovely weather wasn't it! I do love the new cupra's was tempted to get a new one! The prices are crazy though would rather a nissan GTR haha!

I'll have a look at the grill. How's the supercopa? Doing much to it?

Haha absolutely! Yeah I would matey - just a nice little touch IMO.

Heh Supercopa is going back in the next few weeks as the old boy is picking up his Cupra 290 to be honest! I'm in the trade so managed to get him a good price on one :) We were looking into a stage 1 remap on the Supercopa but it never came to anything really. She's served us well but time to move on!

We were torn between the Nevada White and Midnight Black but gone for the latter as its' just a bit more stealthy and low key. If I had the balls I'd have one in white with the orange line kit on it but I'd be worried it'd attract the wrong attention or I'd get bored with it - or both! :p

Spec we've gone for is: Manual 290, Black paint, 19" Multi Spokes and SEAT sound system. VERY excited! :D
 
Don't see the point in paying X amount of money for a lsd and fitting on say a stage 1 cupra when for a small amount decent rubber anti roll bars and springs would do the job, yes it's impressive but better in big power and more beneficial
 
Jun 25, 2012
920
1
Gateshead
Don't see the point in paying X amount of money for a lsd and fitting on say a stage 1 cupra when for a small amount decent rubber anti roll bars and springs would do the job, yes it's impressive but better in big power and more beneficial

Tyres £500-£600,ARBS £300,springs £150 what would fitting be for the arbs n springs another £200-£300 so between £1150-£1350

LSD £500-£600 fiting another £500-£700 so £1000-£1300

As a handling modification it's hands down out performs anything, you can make the car stiffer n lower which will effect the balance of the car in other ways ,an LSD will simply get you round a corner faster. Renault Meganes have them as standard and there widely regarded as the best handling fast hatches
The new Cupra 280/290 is highly praised for its electronically controlled mechanical LSD and goes around corners faster than the the golf R
The new type R has a mechanical slip diff with 310hp.
Manufacturers who spend millions on R&D seem to think its worth while, there all around the 300bhp mark which a remapped Cupra will be,



There's so much more to handling upgrades than arbs n springs, TTRS lower arms will give you up to -2.5deg camber,TTRS brembos will not only stop the car quicker more consistently and have more feel,they reduce your unsparing weight by around 15kg
 
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