They have a Carbon Edition for sale at Stoneacre Doncaster currently. She's a beauty.
Leon Cupra ST Carbon Edition Anyone...
- Thread starter Maypack
- Start date
I really like Evo magazine and trust their reviews more than most others. However at the risk of sounding like a fan boy of the carbon, now I'm buying one haha, there are a couple of issues on the comparison with the Golf R.
One the Golf R estate is lets be honest fugly
the rear end for sure.But seriously, a similar spec'd golf (19's, heated seats leather seats, Dynamic Chassis Control) actually comes to £39,150 and still doesn't include the Big Brake Kit, or the bucket seats. If you spec the performance pack its even more expensive (£40,455, you still don't get the 4 pot brembos, just the Clubsport sliding calipers and slightly larger discs and the naf 19's (not the sexy looking Pretoria ones).
On another note, I wonder if the Golfs handling comes not just from its tyres, but from that they've driven one with out the DCC and just standard suspension. Wonder if that impacts on its handling in an improved way when driving fast.
However I'm already expecting the 4drive not to be as exciting at the limit as my current FWD 280, however 99% of the time its not being driven at its limit anyway. Nothing a few tweeks in the future won't sort I'm sure haha. Better tyres being one!!
I really like Evo magazine and trust their reviews more than most others. However at the risk of sounding like a fan boy of the carbon, now I'm buying one haha, there are a couple of issues on the comparison with the Golf R.
One the Golf R estate is lets be honest fugly
But seriously, a similar spec'd golf (19's, heated seats leather seats, Dynamic Chassis Control) actually comes to £39,150 and still doesn't include the Big Brake Kit, or the bucket seats. If you spec the performance pack its even more expensive (£40,455, you still don't get the 4 pot brembos, just the Clubsport sliding calipers and slightly larger discs and the naf 19's (not the sexy looking Pretoria ones).
On another note, I wonder if the Golfs handling comes not just from its tyres, but from that they've driven one with out the DCC and just standard suspension. Wonder if that impacts on its handling in an improved way when driving fast.
However I'm already expecting the 4drive not to be as exciting at the limit as my current FWD 280, however 99% of the time its not being driven at its limit anyway. Nothing a few tweeks in the future won't sort I'm sure haha. Better tyres being one!!
I thought much along the same lines as you. The rear end of the R estate is awful, the Leon looks more aggressive, sharper lines etc.
I thought it was quite a weak review to be honest. I mean what have they told us there.
The Leon is not as refined as the golf - we know, the raw angry edgeyness is some of the appeal surely? it was for me when I bought my 280
The Carbon is a bit pricey - we know, we also know you don't have to pay that amount if you're willing to wait a few weeks
The Carbon is not as quick as the Cupra R at the top end when traction isn't an issue - obviously, it's smaller, lighter and has more power
I really like Evo magazine and trust their reviews more than most others. However at the risk of sounding like a fan boy of the carbon, now I'm buying one haha, there are a couple of issues on the comparison with the Golf R.
One the Golf R estate is lets be honest fugly
But seriously, a similar spec'd golf (19's, heated seats leather seats, Dynamic Chassis Control) actually comes to £39,150 and still doesn't include the Big Brake Kit, or the bucket seats. If you spec the performance pack its even more expensive (£40,455, you still don't get the 4 pot brembos, just the Clubsport sliding calipers and slightly larger discs and the naf 19's (not the sexy looking Pretoria ones).
On another note, I wonder if the Golfs handling comes not just from its tyres, but from that they've driven one with out the DCC and just standard suspension. Wonder if that impacts on its handling in an improved way when driving fast.
However I'm already expecting the 4drive not to be as exciting at the limit as my current FWD 280, however 99% of the time its not being driven at its limit anyway. Nothing a few tweeks in the future won't sort I'm sure haha. Better tyres being one!!
All good points there.
That Evo review falls into the usual mag trap of not knowing real world prices and the legitimate attitudes of buyers like me.
The reviewer will no doubt be comparing the Carbon to the last R estate press car he drove...a totally loaded £40k+ car probably.
I've paid a deposit and have an invoice to buy my Carbon for £29k.If the Evo man could have found me a specced up zero miles 68 plate R estate for the same price then I would have been happy to try it and perhaps buy...if I could get over its bread van looks.
(These prices are what matter to me,because I don't lease/pcp vehicles)
I don't doubt the Golf will have more sound deadening or whatever applied,that's what VW and Audi do compared to SEAT/Skoda to try to justify the higher prices.
I also don't doubt there may be some subtle handling improvements in the VW...but since I don't drive flat out on the public road,or even do trackdays,they are unlikely to matter much to me.
I remain more than happy with my choice.
So, casually scrolling through Autotrader last night (like you do) I was looking at the Carbon Editions for sale on there. Decided that it's just too nice not to try and get one. I can't afford it right now but who knows what might happen in the new year and one might be for sale.
Anyway... my 280 has ACC and I use it a lot! and the Carbon doesn't have it but it got me thinking on how hard it would be to retrofit? A quick google search got me some threads from VW/ Audi and a Dutch Seat forum but they were all stating from scratch, i.e. no radar, no front assist.
The Carbon has the radar and windscreen sensor for the front assist and I am assuming that the two systems kind of work the same as the ACC option on the 280 also got you front assist and therefore the wiring already exists? So all you would need is the steering column stalks and some coding to tell the car it's installed?
Anyone who is more technical than me feel free to dash my dreams
Anyway... my 280 has ACC and I use it a lot! and the Carbon doesn't have it but it got me thinking on how hard it would be to retrofit? A quick google search got me some threads from VW/ Audi and a Dutch Seat forum but they were all stating from scratch, i.e. no radar, no front assist.
The Carbon has the radar and windscreen sensor for the front assist and I am assuming that the two systems kind of work the same as the ACC option on the 280 also got you front assist and therefore the wiring already exists? So all you would need is the steering column stalks and some coding to tell the car it's installed?
Anyone who is more technical than me feel free to dash my dreams
I believe the ACC needs the windscreen camera that comes with lane assist. I could be wrong though.So, casually scrolling through Autotrader last night (like you do) I was looking at the Carbon Editions for sale on there. Decided that it's just too nice not to try and get one. I can't afford it right now but who knows what might happen in the new year and one might be for sale.
Anyway... my 280 has ACC and I use it a lot! and the Carbon doesn't have it but it got me thinking on how hard it would be to retrofit? A quick google search got me some threads from VW/ Audi and a Dutch Seat forum but they were all stating from scratch, i.e. no radar, no front assist.
The Carbon has the radar and windscreen sensor for the front assist and I am assuming that the two systems kind of work the same as the ACC option on the 280 also got you front assist and therefore the wiring already exists? So all you would need is the steering column stalks and some coding to tell the car it's installed?
Anyone who is more technical than me feel free to dash my dreams
So, casually scrolling through Autotrader last night (like you do) I was looking at the Carbon Editions for sale on there. Decided that it's just too nice not to try and get one. I can't afford it right now but who knows what might happen in the new year and one might be for sale.
Anyway... my 280 has ACC and I use it a lot! and the Carbon doesn't have it but it got me thinking on how hard it would be to retrofit? A quick google search got me some threads from VW/ Audi and a Dutch Seat forum but they were all stating from scratch, i.e. no radar, no front assist.
The Carbon has the radar and windscreen sensor for the front assist and I am assuming that the two systems kind of work the same as the ACC option on the 280 also got you front assist and therefore the wiring already exists? So all you would need is the steering column stalks and some coding to tell the car it's installed?
Anyone who is more technical than me feel free to dash my dreams
From what I can tell it doesn’t have the camera in the windscreen. However this isn’t required for acc. As the the manual cupra r has acc but no camera.
I’ve been doing the same as you looking at cupras seeing they don’t have acc puts me off them, as I have a feeling it’s not easy to retrofit.
Hopefully I’m wrong.
However if it can be fitted it does bring up the question of insurance and safety. Say the system failed (default should be it stops working) and you ploughed into the back of a car (worst case you killed someone).... you wouldn’t be able to go after SEAT, it would be you liable for manslaughter. This is an extreme case but puts into perspective.
I’m up for modding the car but I’m not sure where you stand legally. Which is really boring TBF.
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The dutch forum showed lane assist too when it was all completed but my 280 doesn't have that system.
Ahh. I never really liked the ACC if I’m honest, I’d always brake before it did. I will be happy to go to normal cruise control. But would of loved the lane assist camera if only to to turn on the automatic traffic sign recognition.
That’s a new windscreen jobbie though...
The dutch guy did a hell of a job fitting the radar and wiring etc! seemed like a right arse ache starting from scratch!
I never considered the legalities of it but I think of how my ACC works now. It's not perfect, the position of the radar means it suffers line of sight issues occasionally (which I think is why many VW cars now have the radar integrated into the badge on the grill) and you get to know when it would normally start to slow down, if it doesn't then I intervene with the brakes.
I only use it on motorways really and I'd like to say that people don't walk down them but unfortunately some people do!
I was always sceptical of those kind of systems until my wife bought a Kadjar and the lane assist, high beam assist and traffic sign recognition work seamlessly. She turns them all off though
I think this is where the camera comes in, it can see/detect brake lights further ahead.
I had an Audi A4 with pre sense but it had the camera and no radar. Every time it saw brake lights it would put the car back into gear (from coasting) and wouldn’t go back until the lights went out.
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A carbon? Afraid so. I’m sucking it up at losing Seat Sound and High Beam AssistSo essentially if I want one then I need to suck it up and get over the lack of ACC
Seat Sound I can fix though...
However just think.
Buckets seats.
Brembos.
Boring Grey Paint.
And lot and lots of Carbon...
I like grey paint :-D... I always tell myself I'll buy a grey car next then a black one ends up on my drive and I spend the next 3 years moaning that it never looks clean enough
To be fair it looks well with the Carbon.
But the blue car looked better...
...and the white European press car looks better still....
However mine will look the best by Christmas
Did a bit more research and it's a massive arse ache on MQB cars. The radar being there is just the start, could need new ABS modules and all sorts. SWAP codes etc etc. and VAG don't recommend it as an upgrade kit and therefore you wouldn't find any garage capable of doing it to code it for you and it goes beyond the capabilities VCDS.
Pretty much VAG don't like retrofits and do their upmost to stop them or make them really difficult!
Pretty much VAG don't like retrofits and do their upmost to stop them or make them really difficult!
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