For the most part I have been quite chuffed with my Cupra with only the odd minor niggle/fault/design flaw letting it down.
Good things about the Cupra;
Quick
Accelarates well
Stops well
Corners well
Has quite a bit of space
The appearance with the skirts and spoiler and slightly lowered ride height.
The seats
The clock arrangement although I have to say it took a while to realise I was doing 70mph and not 40mph
.
The central rev counter is a great idea too
The fact that the full Aero kit is not bolted on as standard
One of the best things in my opinion are the OEM brakes - they are what stuck in my mind most when I test drove it. Awesome or savage are the words I use and anyone else who drives the car.
I guess what I like most about it however is that it is so underestimated and the drivers of VXR's and ST's just see themselves as so superior or so much quicker when in fact they are not.
Bad things about the Cupra;
Bland appearance as standard - skirts and spoiler should really have been added as standard to distinguish it more from the rest of the range. Better still, a bespoke and pretty kit most people would like should have been added as standard, just as they did on the LCR.
The Centre Part of the dash. What were they thinking? It is a cheap and nasty looking slab of the cheapest plastic with no real effort to make it look pretty, sporty, upmarket or ergonomic. The standard radio is not that great with regard to appearance or sound quality at higher volume either.
For being the top of the range model, it does not come fully loaded with equipment as standard with things like the bluetooth kit which really should be standard on the top of the range Cupra just as Xenons were before they dropped them as standard fit.
Options which are present on other models are not possible on the Cupra such as leather, parking sensors etc. Also the lack of manufacturer approved options like uprated suspension, diff, power upgrades is not handy either.
Traction & grip. Wet days and winter days are not fun with regard to traction/wheelspin. A diff or 4x4 would be handy.
The fact the FR is basically a Cupra with regard to appearance albeit with slightly less power, slightly woolier suspension and slightly less powerful brakes.
SO....
The question is what will those with a Cupra go for next and when?
With the facelift model coming, no doubt complete with a variant of the TSI engine, the value of the original MK2 Leon Cupras (and K1's for that matter) will take a knock although if some of the spy pictures are correct, it is probably not going to be as popular as the original MK2 Leon Cupra due to the chance it will look like the new Ibiza.
I saw a MK6 Golf in the metal last night and it is quite nice albeit quite similar to the MK5, but it is sure to be a winner with its classy interior.
Instant thought for me is the MK6 Golf GTi. Provided it is based on a K04 TSI engine like the S3 I dont think it will be able to do much wrong especially if they fit it with a diff to compete with the Focus RS.
What are others planning to do?
Good things about the Cupra;
Quick
Accelarates well
Stops well
Corners well
Has quite a bit of space
The appearance with the skirts and spoiler and slightly lowered ride height.
The seats
The clock arrangement although I have to say it took a while to realise I was doing 70mph and not 40mph
. The central rev counter is a great idea too
The fact that the full Aero kit is not bolted on as standard
One of the best things in my opinion are the OEM brakes - they are what stuck in my mind most when I test drove it. Awesome or savage are the words I use and anyone else who drives the car.
I guess what I like most about it however is that it is so underestimated and the drivers of VXR's and ST's just see themselves as so superior or so much quicker when in fact they are not.
Bad things about the Cupra;
Bland appearance as standard - skirts and spoiler should really have been added as standard to distinguish it more from the rest of the range. Better still, a bespoke and pretty kit most people would like should have been added as standard, just as they did on the LCR.
The Centre Part of the dash. What were they thinking? It is a cheap and nasty looking slab of the cheapest plastic with no real effort to make it look pretty, sporty, upmarket or ergonomic. The standard radio is not that great with regard to appearance or sound quality at higher volume either.
For being the top of the range model, it does not come fully loaded with equipment as standard with things like the bluetooth kit which really should be standard on the top of the range Cupra just as Xenons were before they dropped them as standard fit.
Options which are present on other models are not possible on the Cupra such as leather, parking sensors etc. Also the lack of manufacturer approved options like uprated suspension, diff, power upgrades is not handy either.
Traction & grip. Wet days and winter days are not fun with regard to traction/wheelspin. A diff or 4x4 would be handy.
The fact the FR is basically a Cupra with regard to appearance albeit with slightly less power, slightly woolier suspension and slightly less powerful brakes.
SO....
The question is what will those with a Cupra go for next and when?
With the facelift model coming, no doubt complete with a variant of the TSI engine, the value of the original MK2 Leon Cupras (and K1's for that matter) will take a knock although if some of the spy pictures are correct, it is probably not going to be as popular as the original MK2 Leon Cupra due to the chance it will look like the new Ibiza.
I saw a MK6 Golf in the metal last night and it is quite nice albeit quite similar to the MK5, but it is sure to be a winner with its classy interior.
Instant thought for me is the MK6 Golf GTi. Provided it is based on a K04 TSI engine like the S3 I dont think it will be able to do much wrong especially if they fit it with a diff to compete with the Focus RS.
What are others planning to do?
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