Thanks for your reply! Nice to see you got 160K+ on the clock! Also I didn't know about the water pump so I'll be sure to check that out.
Not sure I can link adverts from other sites on here without getting into trouble, otherwise id ask for your opinion , but it's the 2002 facelift model. I just been looking through it's old MOT reports and noticed advisories of corrosion, leaking exhaust and unsecure pipe in the past (not on current). Are these of major concern or generally quite common?
My only compliant is the leather seats, either cold in the winter or I have to face the backs of my thighs sticking to them in the summer!
engines are good.
clutch, steering etc are more of a potentially expensive issue
+1 The engines are strong enough. They’ll last the life of the car if they’re not modd’ed too much and given some fresh oil once in awhile.
But the mk1 is getting old and it’s all the other bits that start failing. I budget at least £500 a year for unexpected repairs.
I Agree,
I had a Mk1 cupra for 15 years. gulp...
after 14 years it started talking to me... all the time the engine and gearbox were fine, brakes good, - NEVER had to replace any coil packs, (original bolt downs..) in fact the engine bay even when it went was spotless, no oil leaks, nothing. I cannot believe the state of some engine bays I've seen on here recently.
But other parts of the car were calling time, electric windows, steering column, then clutch and slave called time. It was time to put it to rest.
overall, for 15 years motoring it was very reliable and so cheap transport also, (only once did it let me down before it died, - a clutch pedal failure, - not uncommon) cheap £15 fix but PITA to replace if your not flexible or happy upside-down.
Think I was lucky in that it was a very early leon cupra and so was very much audi/vw parts before seat looked into reducing cost...