Should the Cupra/Cupra R have been rear/4 wheel drive?

[TheSultanofPing]

When I was looking for a replacement for my mk1 Cupra I looked at BMW 120d's, mainly from a running costs point of view but also because of rwd. I started wondering if the Cupra/Cupra R would have been better ie a more rewarding drive as either 4wd or Rwd (assuming VAG 4wd platform was converted to Rwd). Would this have suited the Leon better and made the range more appealing? Will it happen in future maybe (like the VW Golf R)?

 

[m0rk]

It would have been made even less of an involving drive had it been 4WD had it been crippled with the slow acting haldex & extra weight.

RWD? If you've driven any modern cooking model BMW over the last few years you'll see that the ESP is so utterly 'on' that you cannot even have the slightest fun unless you totally disable it.

Converting the Mk5 platform to RWD is not viable either - the engine will poke out the bonnet!

 

[markgb]

TBH can't see the mk2 handling very good at all being rwd. What with the design of the car, 4WD yes but as m0rk has said the VAG haldex needs to be better. But atleast if it was 4wd it would make better use of the power the 2.0T can produce.

 

[Al]

Perhaps or perhaps not 4 wheel drive, but it should have had DSG option. I would have paid extra for an LCR over the second LC I bought if it had at least DSG.

 

[Poverty]

fwd at the 240-300 bhp level is more involving.

The latest gen haldex is pretty good though lads, very responsive, I can push the arse out sideways powering out of bends etc

 

[TheSultanofPing]

It would have been made even less of an involving drive had it been 4WD had it been crippled with the slow acting haldex & extra weight.

RWD? If you've driven any modern cooking model BMW over the last few years you'll see that the ESP is so utterly 'on' that you cannot even have the slightest fun unless you totally disable it.

Converting the Mk5 platform to RWD is not viable either - the engine will poke out the bonnet!

A mate has a 330ci BMW which is easy to provoke into a slide, even a full blown tank slapper on a private road. I think the power to weight for that would be similar to an LCR but thats the only modern rwd with reasonable power I've experienced that in really. I prefer FWD but thought the high powered Leon models would have benefitted from uncorrupted steering (I'm not sure if SEAT is still the sporting arm of the VAG group though). however if its technically too difficult then I suppose costs wouldn't allow it anyway.

Sounds like with the new 4wd system it might make more sense though?

 

[wesrev87]

When I was looking for a replacement for my mk1 Cupra I looked at BMW 120d's, mainly from a running costs point of view but also because of rwd. I started wondering if the Cupra/Cupra R would have been better ie a more rewarding drive as either 4wd or Rwd (assuming VAG 4wd platform was converted to Rwd). Would this have suited the Leon better and made the range more appealing? Will it happen in future maybe (like the VW Golf R)?

As a fan of bm's have to say that running costs is not a good reason for getting one. Just got rid of a 316i that i thought would be cheap to run after the 540i I used to have and service and repair costs are just stupid. Rwd cars are great fun but only for a second car. Got sick of being pushed out of car parks in the snow.

 

[ZBOYD]

I believe the phrase 'Sporting arm of VAG' was coined probably around a decade ago just as they were stopping the rallying and looking at moving into motorsport.

10 years on, now with no factory motorsport program, I don't believe SEAT can or do describe themselves as the sporty brand in VAG anymore.

The more modern description, would probably be youthful, dynamic, vibrant and stylish maybe, by their own measure. I think SEAT as a sporty, motorsport brand has gone for now at least. They still hang onto it with sporty models like the Cupra, Cupra R and FR models because they are popular with enthusiasts like ourselves, but generally I'm not sure where I would currently put SEAT and nothing in the current portfolio sets my heart a flutter.

They still have some of that Mediterranean flair about them, the new Ibiza for example I still believe is one of the most exciting looking supermini's around at the moment. I liked the Mk1 Leon and I like the Mk2 Leon and both have stood the test of time to a certain extent and have influenced other marques.

But generally I think the other 3 VAG groups are putting out more interesting products at the moment. But with a new boss at the helm at SEAT i still think they are in a transition of sorts and over the next 18 months it might be more clear as new products start to surface.

 

[TheSultanofPing]

I'd like to see SEAT back in Rallying with the new regs (maybe the Bocanegra, or even a 4wd Cupra R ) but I guess it would be Skoda first out of the VAG group. On another note, does the Cupra/R have an electronic LSD? I seem to remember that the Golf GTI does.

 

[ZBOYD]

I'd like to see SEAT back in Rallying with the new regs (maybe the Bocanegra, or even a 4wd Cupra R ) but I guess it would be Skoda first out of the VAG group. On another note, does the Cupra/R have an electronic LSD? I seem to remember that the Golf GTI does.

Yup, the XDS diff is on the latest Cupra / Cupra R etc

Not really a limited slip diff in the real world sense though, but its not too bad.

 

[Bignod00]

Perhaps or perhaps not 4 wheel drive, but it should have had DSG option. I would have paid extra for an LCR over the second LC I bought if it had at least DSG.

I'm with Al 100% on this, DSG would be a god send!

 

[Mr Cellotape]

perhaps you should take a MKII Cupra down some back roads and drive it like you stole it, you may then see what all the fuss is all about.

 

[sportbilly]

FR now has XDS too.

If the Cupra was available in DSG I would have had one when they were released instead of a MK5 Golf GTI - and we would have gone for one just, instead of the FR

 

[ZBOYD]

Its a real shame the DSG option has been over looked on the Cupra and Cupra R as it would sway me towards another.

 

[TheSultanofPing]

Is DSG available on the Golf R? And I thought it was available on the FR (and the Sport, I saw some ads when I was looking which said DSG but they looked like auto's, and no paddleshifters). How much power can the twin clutch handle? Sorry for all the questions

 

[ZBOYD]

Is DSG available on the Golf R? And I thought it was available on the FR (and the Sport, I saw some ads when I was looking which said DSG but they looked like auto's, and no paddleshifters). How much power can the twin clutch handle? Sorry for all the questions

If memory serves, its available on the Golf R, Scirocco R and S3.

Available on the 2.0 TSI engine (210hp) on FR, Golf GTI, various other Audis and VW's and Octavia vRS

 

[rllmuk]

Nothing to do with power DSG can handle and everything to do with commercial decisions.

If you really want a petrol Leon with DSG get the FR. Spec is near enough the same and power can be upgraded as required. If you want more power with warranty do what VAG want you to do and buy VW or Audi.

 

[sportbilly]

The new RS3 is only available in DSG so power is not really the problem.

Yes its available on the Golf R but when spec'd with a couple of toys your closer to £40k than £30k !

I can see the only reason is to keep the choice down, one style of cupra available - not sure why they would do this though.

 

[TheSultanofPing]

Maybe VAG was holding DSG back from the Cupras while it was thinking about buying Alfa Romeo? Maybe now thats off it will happen...

 

[Poverty]

VW buying alfa is far from off. Knowing the Egos of the VW board once they set their sights on something they usually get it. Right now they are squeezing everyone else with a price war