Contemplating a Leon Cupra-R...

[jb7_uk]

Hi all,

I'm currently driving a '99 Audi S4 (2.7 V6 Bi-Turbo) and whilst it is awsome i'm thinking about downsizing slightly to something a little more wallet friendly. Whilst i do want to downsize, i dont really wanna give up having a fun car, so, as i've always liked the look of them, i'm thinking about a Leon Cupra-R!

Could you clever types tell me more about the LCR please? i.e.

- What's it like to live with day-to-day (it would be a daily driver for me, prob 10-14k a year mileage)
- What's it like on the wallet front, running costs, service/maintenance costs etc?
- What are the typical weak points of the car, anything particularly prone to failure,
- Anything else i should know about the Cupra-R?

Cheers in advance for your helps guys'n'gals,

JB

 

[richybigman]

Good choice

I've had mine since new in July 2005 and the only stuff i've had to pay out for is Tyres and Brakes apart from modifications.
Day to day driving is great, i do about the same milage as you and have no bad things to say about the car.
Servicing isn't very expensive, i think about £180 for a normal service.
Depending on how you drive the MPG can be quite bad, i think i get about 24MPG.
You can get through tyres pretty quick as well depending on what brand you have fitted, the original set of pirelli's i had on it i got through in 6k miles.
Coil packs and MAF's are the normal think to break but i haven't had them go in mine yet...

The Cupra R is a great car and if you get one you won't be dissapointed.

Rich

 

[Leigh15]

This thread is a good starting point -

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=124052

 

[jb7_uk]

Cheers for the replies people, very much apreciated

Richy... 24mpg? i can get that from my gas guzzling S4! is that roughly what other's are finding?

Leigh... good call, I have now had a good read of that thread and there's some good stuff in there.

Cheers for the info thus far, keep the thought's on what it's like to live with coming.

JB.

 

[richybigman]

Well i get between 260 & 280 miles out of a tank which on a MPG calculator works out at roughly 22-24MPG b ut you have to bear in mind i don't travel on motorways very often.

 

[YerMother]

If you cruise at 70 you'll easily get 32-35mpg. If you drive carefully you can manage 400 miles to a tank which I believe is 55 litre capacity

 

[richybigman]

400 Miles can that actually happen?

 

[Andy3004]

400 Miles can that actually happen?

Apparently has been done....my personal record is 385 from my LC.... but I average around 330

 

[richybigman]

I think i have only got over 300 miles to a tank about 3 times, and got a maximum of about 330miles which is when i gave my brother a lift to grimsby to get a car.

 

[richybigman]

YerMother - was that in a LCR?

 

[chubbs]

i've never had better then 32 - mpg and thats been on a really long run.

 

[karlosR]

400 Miles can that actually happen?

its a myth surely? i average 22mpg but as soon as its up to temperature my right foot gets heavy!

 

[YerMother]

400 miles is only 33.3 mpg! Its not that amazing!

55 litres = approx 12 gallons

Check your tyre pressures and get cruise control fitted so you don't have the heavy right foot stomping on the gas!

 

[Feel]

I used to get 26-27mpg, but that's with a fair amount of Motorway work (but not most economical motorway driving style )

Pads and Front Tyres every 10-15k, Discs, Pads and rears every 20-30k, 280miles ish a tankful, 27mpg (someone want to work out if those figures match? Edit: 280 is 23mpg ).

Can't really comment on servicing.

There's a few "common" failures - I mean common in that if you mention the symptoms someone will say "I had that, and it was the..." not as in you'll definitely HAVE to get a shopping list of parts:

Coilpacks,
Three beeps (coolant level sensor in header tank),
Fans,
Coolant temperature Sensor,
Coolant gauge sender,
LCRs don't seem to eat MAFs like other VAG motors, but it's not unknow,
Right hand front indicator goes dickie,
Rear wash wipe can leak onto boot lock and knacker it,
God awful rattle from inside boot when clips break off,
Silly screaching/giggling from driver's seat...

 

[GREY 225]

Really good practical fast cars that look good but not over the top like some makes out there.
Not had too many problems with mine,needed new rear wiper motor and boot trim clips.I take mine to independant specialist for servicing,i dont rate the dealers,costs about £150 for 10k and £180 for 20k which is good i think.
Tyres can be expensive,but then what trye isnt in 18" size and im averaging around 30 mpg over last few months,this takes into account motorway,A type roads,and town driving,although if i go out on my own at night and drive it hard it easily drops to an average of around 15-18mpg,but i wouldnt say fuel consumption is too bad really for a car putting out high power.

 

[speedinsaxo]

I always get about 350 miles to a tank, mostly motorway at 70-75 mph using v-power.
Trip computer says between 37 and 40mpg on most long runs at 70mph on GPS (just under 75 on speedo)
Had just under 500 miles once on two long trips from a brimmed/vented tank.

For the performance it's very reasonable on the wallet I think, serviced at an independent garage is around £100 for the basic.

Owned from new, looked after it, and had nothing go wrong with it in two years/33K miles.

Trouble is where to look next for a similar car for the practicality / performance / value ...

 

[Phil K]

Thought I was going to have to part with mine recently but had another job offer which will continue to accomodate the LCR!

Bought mine in Jan this year and promptly got rid of my weekend toy (Corrado) as there was no point keeping something that didn't quite give me the same grin factor!

I seem to average 27mpg on normal day to day driving which is a mix of motorway and A/B roads... comfort is very good and even after 11 months it still feels quick - although Mays bonus will probably go towards a remap and some new disks on the front!

Only problem so far has been a faulty brake light switch (well documented on here) and the on going expense of tyres, brake pads and of course super unleaded at £1.stupid a litre!

I doubt very much you'd regret the down size although can't say I've had the pleasure of driving an S4! LCR does seem to be the better choice out of the other 225 VAG cars (S3/TT) though...

Be sure to let us know if/when you get one and how you feel it compares - oh, and welcome to the forum btw

 

[jb7_uk]

Nice one folks, just the kind of replies i was after, many thanks for your input

Cheers for the welcome Phil - if i do end up going down the LCR route then i will be sure to let you all know how it compares. The S4 is an amazing car, proper stealth mobile, the amount of scooby's and M3's that have been dispatched and the look on the faces of those behind the wheels is priceless but it's just the expense of the motion lotion and the cost of services and work when it needs doing is making it increasingly hard to justify. LCR looks to be ticking all the right boxes so i reckon i'll have to try and find one for a test drive and see how we get on.

Any one interested in swapping a black or grey LCR for an Ebony Black Pearl Audi S4 ??

 

[Blelock]

I get 32mpg on average (according to trip). I had a MK4 R32 Golf before and prefer the LCR.

 

[Havok316]

I managed to get 403 miles to a tank driving on the motorway. I average at about 300-350 driving around the town on a full tank using Tesco 99