advice on a cupra r

[booboo32]

hi
im in the process of selling my subaru,
i need a change and something more practicle, for the kids
so it is either a s3 or a cupra r
honestly i want the s3 but what puts me off is only 3 doors
going from my subaru id like another 4 wheel drive,
also the s3 with the elecric heated seats etc is appealing.

i would like some more information on the cupra r
to make my mind up for sure.

1 what to look out for when buying?
2 what comes with the car the , interior, gadgets heated seats electric etc etc.
after having a subaru, dont get me wrong i love it, but they are not exactly made for a family or comfort ,
this is really what im looking for, but speed to go with that.


any tips on buying and also what spec comes with the cupra r would be appriciated,
BTW if anyone is looking for a subaru feel free to pm me
i would be up for a deal and cash your way.

 

[M14KCY]

How you doing mate, they do a 4 door version of the new S3 if its in your price range.

As for the Cupra R, you dont get heated seats.

But as far as i am aware the Mk 4 Golf/ R32 seats etc fit the Cupra R. You can sell the Cupra R ones for good money and pay a little extra for heated leather.

 

[JamJay]

Hi mate, what Subaru do you have? I am assuming the common Impreza over the less popular Foresters & Legacy's?

4wd traction is good, can't argue with that but you need to factor in transmission losses so a 4wd isn't necessarily going to be faster. A remapped Cupra R is well documented to keep up with the later Bug-eye & Blob-eye STi's when rolling and with a few choice traction mods, from stand still also.

Anyway, the Cupra R is the same car virtually as the S3, so when looking for bad points on either, your are essentially looking for the same. The chassis and engines are the same in both and came in 210bhp and 222bhp variants which, on the road, are no different. The Cupra R is FWD where as the S3 is 4wd but the Cupra R has Brembo brakes where the S3 doesn't so there's your trade off really.

Coilpacks are the most common fault on these engines but are easily replaced, also check if the carpets are wet as the door seals car perish over time. Other than that, it's common sense when buying and you should be able to spot a 'dog' pretty easily.

 

[jcborden]

I made a similar move - from a classic uk turbo to leon cupra r. Some days I regret the change (I do miss 4 wheel drive), but mostly now I am enjoying the leon and definitely appreciate the improved build quality and solid thunk of the doors, excellent breaks and very good performance.

It is of course very different to the scooby and you do feel the torque steer, but for me it also feels a bit quicker especially on the move. I purchased some second hand electric leather seats of ebay as I wanted a bit more comfort and child friendlyness - easy to fit and look nice. As for being more of a family car, well it has a bit less space than my scoob, boot is taller but not as deep or wide, but doors open nice and wide so easy to get child seats in and out.

Whilst it is built more solidly I think there are many more things to watch out for that on the scoob, in fact since having brought the leon I just keep finding more things that are "common/know problems" which was never the case with the scooby:

1. Cooling fans - make sure that they work on slow speed when the A/C is operating - can be fixed with add on regulator for £80 ish or fans replaced for £200-400 depending of one of both need doing (only the smaller one needed to be replaced for me).

2. Door seals often degrade and can leak letting rain water in over the sills and into the footwells

3. Pollen fitler cover can let water in and into footwell

4. Poor radio reception with aftermarket radios - can be improved with signal booster

5. Rattles - dashboard can be quite rattly although is easily improved with felt between pillars and dash

6. Not a fault, but it is very easy to catch wheels on the curbs with the low profile tyres

7. Climate control display can often have parts missing from the digits (just a display fault as it works fine).

8. Water pump is weak and must be replaced with cambelt.

Having said all that, it really is still a very good car, just need to check the above when buying. Good level of standard equipment and comfortable (especially with my new seats that have lumbar adjustment). Hope that helps a little?

Cheers,
James

 

[booboo32]

hi guys
i have a classic import sti
thanks for the advice some really usefull stuff
yer sadly the new s3 is way out of my price range
max i have is around 5500

jcborden
im very intrested to know how you fit the seats ?
how does the electic wire up?
were they also out of the golf like M14KCY suggested
thanks

 

[jcborden]

Booboo32, here is a link to a post I made a while ago details the how to. They were a set of electrically adjustable (not heated) seats from a slightly older leon cupra. Was actually very easy to fit even though I'm rubbish at wielding a spanner!

Seats from a Mk 4 golf will fit straight in, but I just happened to come across a leon set.

 

[Danthechippy]

something else to take into account and it may seem like a small thing but seeing as you are buying for practicality is that due to the 4wd the S3 boot floor is noticably higher than the cupra r. If you have pushchairs or that kind of thing it's perhaps something to think about. Good luck with whatever you choose

 

[Phillc]

The heated electric seats from the S3 fit in the leon as well.

 

[Bobs_cupra_r]

Hi Mate,

iv just sold my subaru impreza and bought a seat leon cupra r due to baby due next month and think iv made the right descion pick it up middle of the week

(cant wait )

 

[M14KCY]

Nice one good luck mate

 

[Rich23 UK]

Well I used to have a classic sti impreza and although I did miss it when I had to get rid a couple of years ago now I have the LCR I am more than impressed with it when compared to the scoob.
Performance is great. Not as thump you in the back quick more of a surge in power. And with the Revo mapping activated I'm sure it will improve it further.

I also have a young family and wanted something that suits the kids and gives me a grin at the same time.

The build quality on it is superb. If feels more solid than the scoob. And yes you will get little niggles, but so do most cars tbh.

Plus there not as common as the scoob. It spoilt the experience for me when they appeared from everywhere.

Overall I don't think you will be dissapponted with it. And once you add things to it that meet your taste i.e. seats etc... you won't look back.

Do it you know you want to