New Cupra Test

[slimtater]

It may just be me, but i don't understand blind 'impatience' when purchasing cars.

They are more often than not one of the largest consumer investments we make, and I personally would rather wait for what i want, than dither and then be overly impatient by settling for something that simply has greater availability!

I am inpatient because this car is around 3 months late arriving in the UK?

I have been preparing to buy a new car since the latter part of 2006 - knowing my LCR would be 3 years old in January 2007. I have been looking at options, prices, specs for months. A huge factor was knowing the new Cupra was due Decemebr/January time. But, as you well know, it didn't arrive. I will also be very p***ed off to wait for it only to find out that it wasn't as good as was hoped so I could of actually bought something that was (a) readily available and (b) a better purchase. Blind impatience would be getting to now and suddenly decided I want a new car, test drive/read reviews of those on the market then having a strop because the one I like has a long delivery time.
Not having a pop, but when I want to spend between 20 and 25k of my own money, then I can be demanding - it is a buyers market.

 

[ZBOYD]

Not really, the Cupra was always specified as being available in 2007, but was never officially announced as being available for January 2007.

Unfortunately SEAT have a very small slice of the UK car market, its grown tremendously over the past few years, but as a company they can't afford to flood the market with cars they might not be able to sell. Which in reflection also harms the residuals.

The large companies such as VW, Honda, Ford and Vauxhall all wield a larger stake and can afford to produce many more vehicles.

For example Honda have already churned out enough Civic Type R's to satisfy orders on over 500 UK customers, before March 1st.

 

[slimtater]

Perhaps considering the success of the previous sporting Leons and if SEAT had read this top notch forum, they may have realised that it was an economic gamble worth taking!! As I have said, perhaps after a drive on Saturday, I will feel happier to wait. Only problem is, I may also become more impatient!! How did it make you feel?

 

[ZBOYD]

Obviously its made it a bit harder. But i can wait for the car and options i want, i realise that isn't always the case for everyone, but its not the longest I have waited for a car.

However it is the only time since I was 17 i have gone without owning a car.

 

[sportbilly]

Slim,

I kind of agree with a lot of your points and like you I had the LCR without driving one - I did have the Cupra though. I have been put off with the look at first and it took some time to get used to it but after seeing it last Thursday in the flesh I though ..actually its not too bad, even though very similar to the FR that I took for the day!

Might see you around on Saturday, make sure its warmed up nicely for me

Like Z said, although annoyed at the wait etc I dont want to go out and get something else just because.. its not something I plan on swapping every year.

SEAT must expect this to be one of the first replacments for LCR owners though ...

 

[slimtater]

Slim,

I kind of agree with a lot of your points and like you I had the LCR without driving one - I did have the Cupra though. I have been put off with the look at first and it took some time to get used to it but after seeing it last Thursday in the flesh I though ..actually its not too bad, even though very similar to the FR that I took for the day!

Might see you around on Saturday, make sure its warmed up nicely for me

Like Z said, although annoyed at the wait etc I dont want to go out and get something else just because.. its not something I plan on swapping every year.

SEAT must expect this to be one of the first replacments for LCR owners though ...

0900hrs for me!!!

 

[BIGAR]

I've got one on it's way !

 

[sportbilly]

What do you reckon slim ?

I am very very tempted now. Although yes the plastic was a little on the cheap side hold that steering wheel and looking out the window you dont see it.

Power delivery was very smooth indeed which seems to come alive at 4500rpm. Not sure about the 'SEAT Sound' exhaust but it had only done 190miles. The LCR only started sounds decent after around 50k

Seats are awesome, gearknow I agreed with Mark, need changing a little oddly shaped.

Hadling I was impressed with, compared to the LCR is was better - more grip at the rear end. Ride was reasonably hard but its what you get with a setup like this, if it was smooth like a bmw then it would handle cr@p.

 

[Feel]

You don't sound blown away though mate

if it was smooth like a bmw then it would handle cr@p.

Oi!

 

[slimtater]

sportbilly - yes the same view as me really. It only had 168 miles when I had it!! Only gave it a bit once and it was only just coming "on song" at 4000rpm. I agree, when it is run in it would feel awesome. It just feels so much better than a three year old LCR.

Feel - its wierd, you don't get that blown away feeling. You do get out thinking that it would be a great car to use day in day out though - like the LCR.

 

[sportbilly]

It made me smile when giving it some which I suppose tells me something, but so did the GTI.

As slim said comparing a new car to a 3yr old car is not really too fair. I have no doubt about the handling though it was so much better, didnt get that solid back end feel, more like it looked after itself. Felt like a bigger car and much taller which it is. The doors are a lot lighter which is something you first notice!

I think its the look of the car I am not 100% on, doesnt really compare to the LCR look which I think was just right - doesnt mean I wont get one though ...

One thing I will say if they go and change the look next year I will be p1ssed.

 

[coopra R]

My pennies worth !

A'right guys......

Been a while since I've been on this site....revisiting has reminded me of what a cracking site it is !

Moved on from my Cupra R a while ago...having since had a MK 4 R32, Focus ST3 and now a very impressive MK5 R32 with DSG & all the trimmings . (each one to the current a cracking car !)

Having loved my modded Cupra R greatly, I've been waiting to see what Seat turned out in it's place. I got my chance to see it in the flesh a few days ago.

Wasn't totally blown away by the MK2 Leon TBH, kinda still prefer the looks of the MK1...but however...kept an open mind for the Cupra.

Now...First impressions.....

Still not absolutely convinced by the new shape.....but it is different...and cool from some angles....But doesn't shout CUPRA in the way that the Cupra R had swagger !...nice wheels though !

Getting inside.....felt a little let down with the dash....doen't look as good as I would have expected and certainly nowhere near the quality of the R32 interior ! (I know what you are going to say regard the difference in cost etc - all true...but...)
Comparing it to the LCR...I felt quality had deteriorated here rather than got better....I thought the LCR's dash was solid and well screwed together...basically the A3 interior and just as good !...the new Cupra just doen't quite get there....sort of lets the car down IMO.
Seats though are cracking and look ace with the 'Cupra logo'.

I really wanted this car to succeed though...to impress me...(I was thinking about the amount of money I could save on the R32 if this Cupra turned out to be a performance bargain like the LCR !)

Taking the car out for a spin, I found that some of that LCR magic hadn't been totally lost....It really did put a smile on my face in a way only FWD's can do !
Acceleration is cracking....coupled with the exhuast growl. Road holdiing has actually improved over it's predecessor...the back end doesn't wander quite so much.....Torque steer....What torque steer ?
As a driving machine It's quite accomplished !

Doesn't get near the R32(or I would imagine GTI) in any of the above....but is a decent proposition on the driving experience alone..

I could own a nice red Cupra tomorrow if i fancy....but it just hasn't blown me away in the manner I would have liked....I kinda felt underwhelmed by the 'visual experience'.

A few tweeks from SEAT could easily change all that !

C'mon Seat...beef it out a bit !

Having said all that....it would still cost me a lot less than my R32 is doing....sooooooooooooo......you just never know....maybe It'll grow on me !

TTFN

 

[sportbilly]

Sound opinion, similar views from many, including myself.

 

[BIGAR]

done 700 miles in mine now, but I must say it sticks to the road like sh*t to a blanket, I had 237 bhp beeza before with CC phase 2 full milltek forge DV green air and the Leon beets that to 120 after that my beeza was a bit quicker.

My first impressions on the looks where not great but it has grown on me I like the looks more than the old MK1 cupra r when you see them both side by side you see what I mean. Just cant wait to mod this one going straight for full milltek and cc phase 2 and forge DV in 3 weeks time ( Let the moding begin)

 

[G!zmond0]

Dave it may sound well but it choked on my CUPRA R diesel cloud I had a race with one ,no competition
Those of you who alredy have Leon CUPRA,can you share something about the petrol consuption and the noise inside the car?
One more thing.There won't be "brembo" calipers.It's just big red ones like MB's and AUDI's