Hello folks.
After a brief spell in a diesel Skoda, I have returned to the Cupra following. I previously had a Cupra Ateca, and two weeks ago picked up my new Leon - it's the VZ1 trim in Desire red, no extra options as it was a pipeline order which just happened to be ready at port.
I've seen lots and lots of people mention that this particular configuration is rare thus far, and I absolutely agree. Couldn't really find one for love nor money. I thought I would write down my initial impressions, thoughts and also answer a lot of the questions I've seen asked around the forums as well as compare to a 300/310. Bare in mind that my comparisons are against a 4Drive - not a Leon FWD.
Engine - Is it strong? - Yes. It's not as relentless as a 310 4Drive, obviously, but then again I haven't pushed it very far with still only 350 on the clock. I am fortunate to have often access to a Formentor VZ2 310, as luck goes I actually took this away for a week in the Isle of Wight literally the day after picking my Leon up. The engines are very similar. You don't get the "Whoosh" of the turbo like in the Formentor, whether that is real or fake I don't know. The engine itself in the Leon, in my opinion, is actually a bit more versatile for some reason at lower revs. The Formentor can be a bit slow to pick up, but the Leon 245 doesn't have that trait. It does certainly pull well in higher revs. Again, it's not 310 relentless, but it IS rapid.
MPG - Interesting topic. I was expecting 30 or less. On the day I picked it up from Sheffield, it covered around 80 miles including getting through the city centre at rush hour, returning 38MPG. I have sinced used it for a handful of trips to work and a few short trips, and with my first full fill up it has returned a calculated 34MPG. It did 311 Miles to a full tank. In general, most trips are returning that, so 34 seems the standard with 38 easily achievable on the longer jaunts. The Formentor definitely wouldn't return that and I do drive them very similarly, however the range to a tank is quite similar as the 4Drive models have 5 more litres to a tank. Formentor is around 30MPG or less.
Traction - does it struggle? - Respect the fact that it is FWD, and your answer will be no. Of course it doesn't have 4Drive traction. I have spun the wheels at a sprightly launch once - even that was controlled. What I will say is that the limited slip e-Diff really DOES do its job. For instance, pulling out of a junction or tight corner, if you really give it some you will feel the diff sending power to the correct wheel. It is a sensation I've not had before because my last two cars were 4x4 and previous to that, diesel FWD with no diff trickery from what I know. It's almost surprising when it does it, but I'll get used to that.
Exhaust - Sound? - Pretty good actually. I'm quite sure it doesn't have a soundaktor, so this should be across the board. On startup it has a cool burble to itself. During driving, you can really hear a deep tone from it up to around about 2.5k revs then it goes away and the engine sound becomes more prominent. I haven't heard it with the windows down, and I haven't heard any pops or bangs but with that said, I haven't been pushing it hard and haven't been necessarily listening. The geabox/exhaust however does do its little "fart" on a high-rev change up.
Please, if you have any questions about this particular configuration or the car in general please do ask and I will reply with the answer. I know a lot of people are in the process of waiting for an order or looking to snap one up, so I'm happy to help.
After a brief spell in a diesel Skoda, I have returned to the Cupra following. I previously had a Cupra Ateca, and two weeks ago picked up my new Leon - it's the VZ1 trim in Desire red, no extra options as it was a pipeline order which just happened to be ready at port.
I've seen lots and lots of people mention that this particular configuration is rare thus far, and I absolutely agree. Couldn't really find one for love nor money. I thought I would write down my initial impressions, thoughts and also answer a lot of the questions I've seen asked around the forums as well as compare to a 300/310. Bare in mind that my comparisons are against a 4Drive - not a Leon FWD.
Engine - Is it strong? - Yes. It's not as relentless as a 310 4Drive, obviously, but then again I haven't pushed it very far with still only 350 on the clock. I am fortunate to have often access to a Formentor VZ2 310, as luck goes I actually took this away for a week in the Isle of Wight literally the day after picking my Leon up. The engines are very similar. You don't get the "Whoosh" of the turbo like in the Formentor, whether that is real or fake I don't know. The engine itself in the Leon, in my opinion, is actually a bit more versatile for some reason at lower revs. The Formentor can be a bit slow to pick up, but the Leon 245 doesn't have that trait. It does certainly pull well in higher revs. Again, it's not 310 relentless, but it IS rapid.
MPG - Interesting topic. I was expecting 30 or less. On the day I picked it up from Sheffield, it covered around 80 miles including getting through the city centre at rush hour, returning 38MPG. I have sinced used it for a handful of trips to work and a few short trips, and with my first full fill up it has returned a calculated 34MPG. It did 311 Miles to a full tank. In general, most trips are returning that, so 34 seems the standard with 38 easily achievable on the longer jaunts. The Formentor definitely wouldn't return that and I do drive them very similarly, however the range to a tank is quite similar as the 4Drive models have 5 more litres to a tank. Formentor is around 30MPG or less.
Traction - does it struggle? - Respect the fact that it is FWD, and your answer will be no. Of course it doesn't have 4Drive traction. I have spun the wheels at a sprightly launch once - even that was controlled. What I will say is that the limited slip e-Diff really DOES do its job. For instance, pulling out of a junction or tight corner, if you really give it some you will feel the diff sending power to the correct wheel. It is a sensation I've not had before because my last two cars were 4x4 and previous to that, diesel FWD with no diff trickery from what I know. It's almost surprising when it does it, but I'll get used to that.
Exhaust - Sound? - Pretty good actually. I'm quite sure it doesn't have a soundaktor, so this should be across the board. On startup it has a cool burble to itself. During driving, you can really hear a deep tone from it up to around about 2.5k revs then it goes away and the engine sound becomes more prominent. I haven't heard it with the windows down, and I haven't heard any pops or bangs but with that said, I haven't been pushing it hard and haven't been necessarily listening. The geabox/exhaust however does do its little "fart" on a high-rev change up.
Please, if you have any questions about this particular configuration or the car in general please do ask and I will reply with the answer. I know a lot of people are in the process of waiting for an order or looking to snap one up, so I'm happy to help.
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