Pondering thoughts and opinions on the Cupra. What will other Cupra owners get next?

[Al]

I am not a huge fan of the new Scirocco either although its not that bad either.

In some ways when I look at the Focus RS above, its Fords best attempt yet to grab back the limelight this had;

To be fair though, the spec of the RS is not that much greater than that of the ST as far as I can see. Its another borrowed Volvo engine and turbo, a body kit and a diff over the ST.

I dont think it will be the fastest hot hatch around for the money needed to buy one though as it is priced to compete with the Evo X and Subaru STi

 

[RCS2K4]

Ahhhhh, the Escort RS Cosworth. Those were good in their day. Unfortunatly, most chavs have bought a standard Escort and modded it to looks like the RS - They even have the balls to pass it off as an RS, ruining the image of what is a very good car.

Fords latest effort borrows some styling cues from that car (Bonnet vents anyone?), and while the new RS will use the same 2.5T from the ST, a lot of it has been re-worked. New fuel system, air intake, larger turbo, LSD, 30mm drop in ride height + stiffer suspension etc etc...

The LSD will make all the difference to it's handling. Probably will be the fastest FWD car by a mile (It's closest rival is probably the Megane R26). I would also expect a race between this and an Audi S3 to be pretty close too (Audi "cheats" with 4WD though!).

 

[warren_cox]

I would also expect a race between this and an Audi S3 to be pretty close too (Audi "cheats" with 4WD though!).

How rude!! (Only joking, I'm not precious!!!)

It takes quite a lot of effort on anything other than launch to get the rear wheels to do 'owt on the S3, and the rest of the time they are a burden of weight and transmission loss, so what they give with one hand they take with another (no pleasure without pain in this world!!).

The Focus RS will beat the S3 in anything other than horrendous conditions I would think, and will far better reward the skilled driver. Any idiot can make an S3 go quick so its not a rewarding car to grow with.

Funny how the cars that make a statement (vents / grilles / drama etc..) are the ones we remember, if not always for the right reason!

 

[Al]

Ahhhhh, the Escort RS Cosworth. Those were good in their day. Unfortunatly, most chavs have bought a standard Escort and modded it to looks like the RS - They even have the balls to pass it off as an RS, ruining the image of what is a very good car.

To be fair, the same thing will happen to the new Focus RS as it gets older. I have seen a few lookalikes of the MK1 Focus RS already.

When the Cossie was first designed, they gave it 270bhp out the box and toyed with the idea of closer to 300bhp as the T4 Turbo was not stretched even at that - 400bhp is possible with the standard turbo on the Cossie . Insurance dictated the 220bhp for the Escort, but a simple map would give it 300bhp, and I am willing to bet that with that power, it would give the forthcoming Focus RS a good old chase

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEymxBPgB4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FALNOrTKyoY

 

[warren_cox]

Car have been in the new Focus RS as passenger: Verdict

 

[Rampage]

I'm holding on to mine for 4 or 5 years at least, they have taken such a hit I might as well get my monies worth out of it, I do such low mileage anyway. In the meantime I will just keep putting my extra cash into savings to put toward whatever I choose next.

Not sure what i'll get next it's going to be a while off at least, but I've always wanted an Audi, so I'll seriously look at a good used S4, S5 or even RS4.

Pretty much the same as me.
I estimate that I've lost £8-900 per month while I have owned mine (8 months).
But as I have no plans to sell her, I'm not bothered.

I'd also love a medium sized Audi next.
The S5 is lovely, loads around in my area.

 

[Mr Cellotape]

VW dealers were being there usual pain, not returning phone calls when I enquired about specs of those coming into the dealership and they were pressuring for an order before release so before test drive as there would be a 10 month waiting list once released (yeah right!).

I had the same response from the VW dealers when I looked to change last time, they wouldn't let me drive a Golf GTI or the edition 30 as they said, "Our customers buy them with-out driving"

IMHO, anyone who buys a car with-out test driving the same model first needs their head read!!

 

[warren_cox]

I had the same response from the VW dealers when I looked to change last time, they wouldn't let me drive a Golf GTI or the edition 30 as they said, "Our customers buy them with-out driving"

Arrogant cnuts. When I went in to buy a VR6 they just ignored me so I went off and bought an LCR. A lot of assumptions are made in VW dealerships and hence why you now see less GTi's on the road as enthusiasts can vote with their feet / wallets.

 

[Mr Cellotape]

^^^^ My thougts were as I said to the dealer, If im not driving, I'm not buying!

I turned up at Audi/Honda/Seat and got the drives of the cars I wanted immediatly with no hassles.

 

[iSot]

SO....

The question is what will those with a Cupra go for next and when?

In future, if I would like to change my cupra for faster or better, it would be M or RS series... For me there is no point at all to change example to. Audi S3 or next Focus RS. It has to be much more faster/better before I would change and that needs lot of money

Maybe I would change for the next RS4 Turbo/SC or the next M3 Turbo/SC

 

[phil3012]

^^^^ My thougts were as I said to the dealer, If im not driving, I'm not buying!

I turned up at Audi/Honda/Seat and got the drives of the cars I wanted immediatly with no hassles.

The first car I ever had hassle not being able to test drive was an Ibiza Cupra not sure what mark, but the 1.8 Turbo that was around in about 2001. The dealer reckoned they got so few in they sold straight away and never had one on demo.

I test drove a Golf GTi before buying the Cupra but the dealer expected me to order a Scirocco without even seeing one.

 

[warren_cox]

the dealer expected me to order a Scirocco without even seeing one.

I ordered the S3 before they were available to test

That will teach me to know better next time - do not get sucked in by the hype!!! I'll learn.

 

[phil3012]

When the current style Astra came out I had the previous style SRi that was only 2 years old and fancied the 2.0 Turbo SRi that was the top of the range at the time.

They didn't have one to test drive and nothing apart from a VX220 with the same engine. (which I could have a go of, but was pointless as a comparison).

The dealer as he knew me said I could pay a deposit wait 8 weeks for the car, drive it and if I didn't like it have my deposit refunded. Ordered my Celica about an hour later but was interesting that they were prepared to do that.

 

[Donnyboy]

I'm very happy with my Cupra, even with the engine in standard form. Its looks good, drives nice and has all I need really.

If I was to change then I might look at these when the 2.0 litre TSi is available - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/220176/volkswagen_passat.html

 

[Michael B]

Already decided to part with the Cupra, and will be picking up one of these for August/Sep delivery (Dam backlog - I want it sooner!!!):

Tis nice, but no 4 wheel drive would put me off it

 

[Al]

I ordered the S3 before they were available to test

That will teach me to know better next time - do not get sucked in by the hype!!! I'll learn.

I know you have had probs with your transmission, but I am surprised you dont think that much of your S3 in all honesty mate...

 

[warren_cox]

I know you have had probs with your transmission, but I am surprised you dont think that much of your S3 in all honesty mate...

DOn't get me wrong its a good car, but at Cupra money + a little bit. When I look at the purchase receipt of £32k I want to weep. Maybe £27k at a push, but not £32k, but when I ordered there was no discounts at dealers as they weren't launched and they had you over a barrel back then.

 

[phil3012]

DOn't get me wrong its a good car, but at Cupra money + a little bit. When I look at the purchase receipt of £32k I want to weep. Maybe £27k at a push, but not £32k, but when I ordered there was no discounts at dealers as they weren't launched and they had you over a barrel back then.

£32K that is a lot of money, you could get a TTS now for that sort of money with a bit of negotiation.

If as you say it is just a rebadged Golf / Leon that is a massive premium.

At least with the TT it is a bit different as two thirds of the car is aluminum.

Considering you can get a basic A3 for soemthing like £15K, £32K seems a big jump...

 

[warren_cox]

£32K that is a lot of money, you could get a TTS now for that sort of money with a bit of negotiation.

If as you say it is just a rebadged Golf / Leon that is a massive premium.

At least with the TT it is a bit different as two thirds of the car is aluminum.

Considering you can get a basic A3 for soemthing like £15K, £32K seems a big jump...

Basic price back then was £26995, BUT without the extras like flat bottomed steering wheel, Bose system, 6 disc, ipod, adaptive bi-xenons, dimming exterior / interior mirrors, convenience lighting / bluetooth / armrest / leccy lumbar etc... it almost felt like a £15k Audi A3.

So they have you by the crown jewels there, and then they say "If you don't spec it well it won't have as good a resale"!!! That did include GAP insurance and Autoglym lifeshine, but if we'd have had full colour sat nav and bucket seats it would have broken £35k

 

[phil3012]

Basic price back then was £26995, BUT without the extras like flat bottomed steering wheel, Bose system, 6 disc, ipod, adaptive bi-xenons, dimming exterior / interior mirrors, convenience lighting / bluetooth / armrest / leccy lumbar etc... it almost felt like a £15k Audi A3.

So they have you by the crown jewels there, and then they say "If you don't spec it well it won't have as good a resale"!!! That did include GAP insurance and Autoglym lifeshine, but if we'd have had full colour sat nav and bucket seats it would have broken £35k

I found the same although I didn't spend as much as that on options.

You think an Audi is an affordable car until you add on the options. My dealer reckons some people do order a basic TT though.

On the TT-Forum many people say the guides actually book them with alloy wheels upgrade and sat nav, I didn't opt for either. But others say any options add nothing to resale.