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Jon89

Active Member
Sep 27, 2020
19
16
Kent
Good find.

Yes, thankfully the ride height appears to have been fixed on the petrol hatch.

1. Look steering wheel buttons (none for the UK)
2. Decent wheels (not available in the UK)
3. No Brembos on that one though

Am I super shallow that I have been holding out for this car for a couple of years now, but the lack of those wheels and the steering wheel buttons are a deal breaker for me :(

I totally agree. I will only be getting one if I get a pretty exceptional deal but if I do, I will be changing the wheels. Ridiculous that I would have to though. Looking at the pricelist I am wondering whether they are holding back on the steering wheel with the start/stop and mode buttons for the 310 estate, as it says the other steering wheels are not available on that car. I don't really understand the logic of how Cupra and Seat in general are speccing their cars at the moment. Presumably they are just trying to push people into the trim level above.
 
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Syphon

Site Owner
Staff member
Feb 28, 2002
9,433
2,169
South West
www.seatcupra.net
Very confused - the CUPRA Official UK site is showing the Aerodynamic wheels like this - not like the one in the press release (link at the top) or the configurator which has the plastic bits (which originally seemed to be for the PHEV), these are a bit better at least. Will try and double check.

1615239918801.png
 

Jon89

Active Member
Sep 27, 2020
19
16
Kent
Very confused - the CUPRA Official UK site is showing the Aerodynamic wheels like this - not like the one in the press release (link at the top) or the configurator which has the plastic bits (which originally seemed to be for the PHEV), these are a bit better at least. Will try and double check.

View attachment 22646

I think they are the 18" wheels that will be on the VZ1 and they've just got the pictures wrong.
 

BigJase88

Jase
Apr 20, 2008
3,767
1,076
Good find.

Yes, thankfully the ride height appears to have been fixed on the petrol hatch.

1. Look steering wheel buttons (none for the UK)
2. Decent wheels (not available in the UK)
3. No Brembos on that one though

Am I super shallow that I have been holding out for this car for a couple of years now, but the lack of those wheels and the steering wheel buttons are a deal breaker for me :(
Yeah but it’s that cheap you could get a BBK for it.... wait it’s not cheap.

i can already see a 1.5tsi cupra leon on the horizon because this one isn’t going to sell, similar to the formentor, now the 1.5 tsi seems to have flooded the market.
 

Syphon

Site Owner
Staff member
Feb 28, 2002
9,433
2,169
South West
www.seatcupra.net
Some updates,

1. The Aero wheels on the VZ3 are the fugly ones confirmed

1615415407938.png


2. Side skirts are not standard – these are on the First Editions, but not the VZ1, VZ2 or VZ3 standard spec

3. Steering wheel buttons are standard on the 310PS 4WD Estate, but not standard on 5DR

Scott
 
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Seriously?

Active Member
Apr 20, 2018
1,321
903
I realise logic and the Cupra brand don't always go hand in hand, but I don't understand the rationale of putting a different steering wheel on the estate to that on the hatch. Or am I missing the bigger picture?
And your description of those wheels is spot on 🤮
 

Jon89

Active Member
Sep 27, 2020
19
16
Kent
I realise logic and the Cupra brand don't always go hand in hand, but I don't understand the rationale of putting a different steering wheel on the estate to that on the hatch. Or am I missing the bigger picture?
And your description of those wheels is spot on 🤮
While I don't like it, I imagine offering trim levels rather than options is a way of Seat/Cupra UK pushing people into the trim level above and making more money. With that logic though you'd have thought that the steering wheel would just be included in the VZ3 trim.

I've spoken to a lot of dealers recently and I get the impression that a lot of people have been frustrated not being able to get the spec they want across the Seat range. As @Syphon said in reply to that video I posted, it's even more annoying that in every other country you can spec the car how you want it. The wheels are the main problem for me, so I'd have to get quite an amazing deal on the car as I'd be changing the wheels.
 

Damo H

Remind me, what's an indicator?
Staff member
Moderator
Oct 3, 2012
4,715
2,820
Car Length In Front
While I don't like it, I imagine offering trim levels rather than options is a way of Seat/Cupra UK pushing people into the trim level above and making more money. With that logic though you'd have thought that the steering wheel would just be included in the VZ3 trim.

I've spoken to a lot of dealers recently and I get the impression that a lot of people have been frustrated not being able to get the spec they want across the Seat range. As @Syphon said in reply to that video I posted, it's even more annoying that in every other country you can spec the car how you want it. The wheels are the main problem for me, so I'd have to get quite an amazing deal on the car as I'd be changing the wheels.
I believe the issue around trim levels, is that car manufacturers now have to do an emissions test on any different spec of car that is produced as the extra weight will change its emissions potentially.

So only feasible way of doing is the trim levels with a couple of other options. So 3 trim levels and 2 options gives you a minimum of 9 cars to test 12 ie:

Trim 1 - No Options
Trim 1 - Option 1
Trim 1 - Option 2
Trim 1 - Option 1 and 2

And repeat for each trim level.
 

Wings988

Active Member
Oct 27, 2011
509
60
Derbyshire
But what they'll take from that is that people want SUVs rather than hatchbacks.
If they've got any sense they'll look at Hot Hatch sales across other brands too not just within Cupra. Some people may want to swap to a SUV but I and I'd image many others don't want or need an SUV so a HH is preferable. The current pricing and specs of the Cupra Leon count me out, when you can get a Civic Type R, I30N, Focus ST, Megane 300 for less than a Leon Cupra 300 petrol then SEAT UK need to ask themselves serious questions on where they think this model sits price wise in the market, especially when the specs offered are sub optimum, even amongst the SEAT community on here not many convinced. I'm sure they'd like to get conquest sales from fans of other marques but I just don't see how with the current offering.
Maybe in a years time if sales targets are not met the discounts and cheap lease deals will appear to shift some stock?
 

UTCIAD

Dorset
May 6, 2014
75
0
Bournemouth
I loved the Mk 3, had a 280 & 290 manual and a 300 DSG and thought I would naturally follow that when the full fat Mk 4 was available but looking at this I don't think so. I am now regretting not buying the 300 off the leasing company last year, especially as it had winter pack and seat sound - I just can't reconcile the 37K asking price for a VZ3, (also those wheels are pretty grim), even if in real terms this will will be somewhere nearer £30k. As others have pointed out the approach from Seat/Cupra to the UK market right now doesn't seem that appealing, which is a real shame as I generally like the brand - we even have a Mii as a second car.
 
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