View Full Version : Hmm... What to do?
Hi.
I am sure that you all going to hate me after reading my daily thought...
I went to test drive a Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v and off course, I loved it.
After reading a lot of post here, I got a better idea on what my options are.
1/ Buy a new Leon in UK and pay top price for it. I managed to get a small discount and the final price for the car with leather seat is £15800.00
Good point: Less then 4% APR for the loan + 3 years warranty.
Bad point: Price and high insurrance for me (-3 pts off - SP50)
2/ Get an import Leon. http://www.seat-imports.co.uk/ for example, is offering the same car with the same option for £13700.00
Good point: Price!
Bad point: Warranty and still price a bit high +++ High APR on car loan.
HMM... What to do..... ¬_¬;;
I also went to my local Renault dealer...
They are offering me a good deal on a 1.8 Megane 5dr Hatchback - £10000.00 with ALL the options! (APR 4.5% - 48mths)
Now, they is more then £5000.00 difference. Okay, I know it's not the same car & the same performance. BUT STILL! I am seriously considering this option.
Okay, you can now shoot me.
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BANG http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/biggrin.gif
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Mark
Chips are nicer in Engines than with Fish.
*Click* *Click*
Is he dead yet?
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Lee Shand
www.seatcupra.net (http://www.seatcupra.net)
I think as you may have noticed we tried to answer your question as well as we could http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/smile.gif
1. DO NOT BUY THAT FRENCH SHITE, Its a birds car anyhoos
2. For your SEAT Options, Importing is not a bad thing, very cheap cars and SEAT-Imports will take care of you.
3. SEAT on the other hand, if you choose your dealer carefully will also look after you.
Choose you weopan.
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Lee Shand
www.seatcupra.net (http://www.seatcupra.net)
Dear Lee,
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
>1. DO NOT BUY THAT FRENCH SHITE, Its a birds car anyhoos
Huh huh... Insurrance is like half time cheaper. Performance are like 0-60 8.9s, 124mph. You can also tune it nicely, and I bet chip it too.
>2. For your SEAT Options, Importing is not a bad thing, very cheap cars and SEAT-Imports will take care of you.
They have already e-mailed me back. Looks like they are a serious company.
But...
Who is going to finance an import car as cheap as a local dealer? Please, let me know if you happen to know a good car finance website.
>3. SEAT on the other hand, if you choose your dealer carefully will also look after you.
I am sure that this is very true but I have a feeling that SEAT UK is ripping me off some how. Here is a e-mail I got from Gordon Sutcliffe.
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We are of course delighted with your interest in the SEAT Leon Cupra.
However don't go to Belgium for the sake of leather and francs!
Whilst the leather seats are now optional, we did reduce the price of the
SEAT Leon Cupra by £3,000 from £17,995. The leather seats are only £1,395
extra and come complete with electric adjustments. The memory unit is now
no longer an option fitting at the factory. So the price of the SEAT Leon
Cupra is £16,390 on the road and you get three years warranty including SEAT
(Roadside) Assistance not only in the UK but also in most Western Europe
(including all the EU states). If you buy your SEAT Leon in Belgium you
will only have the manufacturer warranty in the first year.
We trust we have convinced you!
Yours sincerely
rs
for Gordon Sutcliffe
Customer Care Controller
SEAT UK
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Of course, if I had plenty money, I will probably not be posting on this board and just buy the damn car and shut up. But we all know now that's not the case... I have a wife + a baby coming up soon so yeah, money is important right now. Have to take some kind of wise decision about this (whatever that is) & it's quite hard...
Thanks for listening.
To be honest i think your answering your own questions so why bother asking our advice.
Wherever you get the car from its a good choice, depends if you do want the extra peace of mind you get with a 3 year warranty over a 1 year warranty, but most importers will offer you an extra cover warranty anyway, if they are a good one, and it usually still works out cheaper, than buying a UK car.
As for the Renault Megane dont even kid yourself it has anywhere nr the performance or the tuning potential of a Leon Cupra, they aint in the same league.
The only thing they share is 5 doors and not much else. The 1.8 Turbo engine in the Leon is Audi designed, 4 cylinder 5 valve per cylinder bomb proof design, which has been taken to over 350bhp in race conditions, is easily able to achieve 200 plus bhp with simple modifications, is capable of sub 6 sec 0-60's with this kind of modification.
As standard they do 0-60 a whole sec quicker, they handle better, the design and chasis are far superior and newer.
Insurance is a bug bear we all have to put up with, i think as you say you do have a wife and kid on the way you are already quetioning your choice, maybe a Megane will work out better, but how about trying a Leon 20V (non turbo) instead or a TDi, i know oil burners dont appeal, but the VW TDi engine is pretty unrivalled and has Cupra like Torque performance, as its a diesel it'll cost you less to fuel it and the insurance will be a damn site cheaper.
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Mark
Chips are nicer in Engines than with Fish.
[This message has been edited by ZBOYD (edited 04 August 2001).]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> 0-60 8.9s, 124mph <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The leon 7.7, 142mph
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Insurrance is like half time cheaper <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thats Cos it dont compare in anyway to the Leon
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> You can also tune it nicely, and I bet chip it too <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
ZBOYD answered this one really, but just to reiterate, with the Leon you will be Tunning an Audi 1.8 Turbo engine of the TT and S3 fame.
And as for the Megane (sorry could not resisit this) One of the first reviews I read after performing a search quoted "Renault Megane
Wishy - washy stoopid looking car with no personality at all"
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Lee Shand
www.seatcupra.net (http://www.seatcupra.net)
Buy an import if you wish.
Remember when you eant to trade it in at a later date with a uk dealer you will have to declare it and then watch the part exchange price fall away so in reality there is no long term saving.
We have UK cars and all the benefits inc cheap finance.
Graham
Amethyst
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Cupramax
04-08-2001, 23:37
Renault Megane.....
Excuse me while I fall off my chair laughing. I had the misfortune to hire one of these on holiday in Tenerife last year and can honest say it was the most horrible plasticy cheap and nasty pile of kack I've ever driven. If you must consider a Renault get a Clio sport 172 which is even more of a girlies car but at least manages the 0 - 60 faster than a Leon......
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Well standard ones at least http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/biggrin.gif
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Mark
Chips are nicer in Engines than with Fish.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SWINNY:
Buy an import if you wish.
Remember when you eant to trade it in at a later date with a uk dealer you will have to declare it and then watch the part exchange price fall away so in reality there is no long term saving.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is my feeling too, i bought a UK car and i very much hope the dealers do stick to this action, cause you cant start importing cars and expecting to get the same resale value come selling time.
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Mark
Chips are nicer in Engines than with Fish.
Cupramax
04-08-2001, 23:52
I think it'd be pretty close even with your engine mods. The only problem with the Leon is all the clobber its got to carry around with it. 138bhp per ton isn't much good against the Clio's 169!!! even if you've got another 25bhp or so by chipping it. Anyway you'd need another turbo to drag that bass bin about...., he he!
Performance as you well know is all about power to weight ratios. Anyway I dont want to go of on one about that as I have no wish to praise frog mobiles!!
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Cupramax
05-08-2001, 00:03
Excuse the sarcasm but to prove a point why dont we create a web site called RenaultMegane1.8rxe.net and see how many hits that doesn't get. That should answer our friends question. The fact that this site is here and the amount of input should tell you that the Leon is a great car...
nuff said!
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Good point http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/biggrin.gif
I'll have to get myself a dustbin sized turbo http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/smile.gif
When Topgear magazine first reviewed the Clio and the Leon together last year, they said the Clio had the Leon all day on the Track.
But on the way home from the track on the windy B roads, the Clio couldn't come close to the Leons stability.
But your right they are French which ultimately ruins them, and what the fook is VaVaVoom http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/tongue.gif
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Mark
Chips are nicer in Engines than with Fish.
Cupramax
05-08-2001, 00:11
My other half has a Clio 172 and I really wouldn't want to mess about with it in my very standard (but not for long) Leon. As you say its lacking in torque which isn;t surpising as you cant compare a normally aspirated engine with a turbo but it really is a seriously quick motor. I couldn't believe how quick it was the first time I drove it. URRGGGGHHHHH !!!
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>Buy an import if you wish.
Remember when you eant to trade it in at a later date with a uk dealer you will have to declare it and then watch the part exchange price fall away so in reality there is no long term saving.
>We have UK cars and all the benefits inc cheap finance.
>Graham
Dear Graham (& all!)
Hope you guys had a good weekend! I went myself, to try the Leon Cupra (again...).
I've managed to get the price down a bit on the UK' one (£14180.00).
Graham, can you actually make me a better offer on a UK Leon??
Do you know if "http://www.eacdirect.com/" is a good & serious company? They're offering an import Leon Cupra for £12K. Is £2000 worst it?
The Clio 172 Sport is NOT an option for me. I need 4 doors + a big boot (no coupé at all).
I was playing with the back seat of the Megane and the Leon this weekend and yes, there is more space with the Leon. The back seats get down much lower. Which is good for me when I make deliveries ^_^
JONSPOPE
06-08-2001, 13:27
If you want to import your Leon go to WWW.MICRONETSHOWROOM.CO.UK (http://WWW.MICRONETSHOWROOM.CO.UK) who will sell you one for a whisker over 12k. I brought mine through them, excellent service. With the 3k saved you could buy the best aftermarket warranty there is (see Autotrader for links) have the leather interior, have the bodywork and interior protected by Jewelultra and still have change for a chip job at AMD (+ 25BHP & 50LBS OF TORQUE!!) As for resale probs I sold my imported Ford Puma for a good price with no problems. Remmember to have your import 'registered'at your Local (ha ha) Seat Dealer.
PS GO FOR RED, LOOKS BRILL
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Okay, just a quick note to let you know what decision I've made.
I DIDN'T BUY A LEON!!! http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/frown.gif
So, I guess this is my last post on this msg board.
I shall always keep a close look at this car. I might be able to afford a Leon Cupra R or a V6 one day!
Thanks for your help. You've been great! http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/cool.gif
Comedy Si
18-08-2001, 17:56
The information on imports resale is slightly misleading ...
1. Who trades in their car anyway? Anyone who does is giving money away as you will always get more for selling it privately
2. Selling an import privately will never be worth the same less as what you have saved by importing it (eg, 3k saving typical on most SEATs, come seeling time it'll be worth about 500 pounds less)
3. You DO NOT have to declare it is an import to a dealer. IF IF IF he asks, then you are legally bound to tell him the source of the car. If he doesn't ask, you DO NOT have to tell him. That is the law.
So, if you do decide to take it to a dealer for trade in, he doesn't ask, and you manage to get a UK trade in price for it, good on you, you're taking him for a ride as much as they have been taking us for one for the last several decades...
AND i've never had a dealer do any favours from a dealer for any of the 6 cars i've bought in my life...
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Comedy Si