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true owner opinion on the leon cupra
- Thread starter BEOWULF
- Start date
I have never had nor driven a MK1 Leon Cupra / R but I do own a MK2 Facelift Cupra and have also owned a MK4 Ibiza FR 130 and a MK2 Leon FR TDI previously.
The Leon Cupra is a great all round car in my opinion. Grown up when needed (5 doors, excellent ride) and very sporty too.
The Interior is a bit boring to be honest and the plastic quality is poor too but that didn't stop me buying one or would it stop me buying another.
The grip is great and the performance in standard form feels slow until you look at the speedo, this is due to the smoothness of the power (compared to an Astra VXR which is quite agressive in its delivery). Coming from a DE-DPFd FR Leon it felt slow around low / mid range and was driving me crazy when coming to hills etc I had to keep changing down.
After around 3 weeks of this I bit the bullet (and REVO had an offer on too
) i got it remapped to stage 1.
This was much better, the mid range was back and the car just kept on pulling! (MAPPING is a must on this car in my opinion).
The ride in the car is firm but still comfortable (the Pre facelift FR was one of the worst rides I had ever been in to be honest, very crashy). The road noise is a little on the loud side compared to some of its rivals too, but nothing a little sound deadening couldn't sort out.
MPG is a bit of a worry some times, it can get low teens when driving swiftly and around town I am getting 25mpg. On a recent run it managed 34mpg running at 70-80mph. I only do around 7000 miles per year so fuel costs don't bother me too much.
Hope the above is a little bit of help.
I would deffo recommend a Leon Cupra
The Leon Cupra is a great all round car in my opinion. Grown up when needed (5 doors, excellent ride) and very sporty too.
The Interior is a bit boring to be honest and the plastic quality is poor too but that didn't stop me buying one or would it stop me buying another.
The grip is great and the performance in standard form feels slow until you look at the speedo, this is due to the smoothness of the power (compared to an Astra VXR which is quite agressive in its delivery). Coming from a DE-DPFd FR Leon it felt slow around low / mid range and was driving me crazy when coming to hills etc I had to keep changing down.
After around 3 weeks of this I bit the bullet (and REVO had an offer on too
) i got it remapped to stage 1.This was much better, the mid range was back and the car just kept on pulling! (MAPPING is a must on this car in my opinion).
The ride in the car is firm but still comfortable (the Pre facelift FR was one of the worst rides I had ever been in to be honest, very crashy). The road noise is a little on the loud side compared to some of its rivals too, but nothing a little sound deadening couldn't sort out.
MPG is a bit of a worry some times, it can get low teens when driving swiftly and around town I am getting 25mpg. On a recent run it managed 34mpg running at 70-80mph. I only do around 7000 miles per year so fuel costs don't bother me too much.
Hope the above is a little bit of help.
I would deffo recommend a Leon Cupra
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Thanks mate some food for thought there so a remap is the way forward every turbo i have had always had a remap done.I have never had nor driven a MK1 Leon Cupra / R but I do own a MK2 Facelift Cupra and have also owned a MK4 Ibiza FR 130 and a MK2 Leon FR TDI previously.
The Leon Cupra is a great all round car in my opinion. Grown up when needed (5 doors, excellent ride) and very sporty too.
The Interior is a bit boring to be honest and the plastic quality is poor too but that didn't stop me buying one or would it stop me buying another.
The grip is great and the performance in standard form feels slow until you look at the speedo, this is due to the smoothness of the power (compared to an Astra VXR which is quite agressive in its delivery). Coming from a DE-DPFd FR Leon it felt slow around low / mid range and was driving me crazy when coming to hills etc I had to keep changing down.
After around 3 weeks of this I bit the bullet (and REVO had an offer on too
This was much better, the mid range was back and the car just kept on pulling! (MAPPING is a must on this car in my opinion).
The ride in the car is firm but still comfortable (the Pre facelift FR was one of the worst rides I had ever been in to be honest, very crashy). The road noise is a little on the loud side compared to some of its rivals too, but nothing a little sound deadening couldn't sort out.
MPG is a bit of a worry some times, it can get low teens when driving swiftly and around town I am getting 25mpg. On a recent run it managed 34mpg running at 70-80mph. I only do around 7000 miles per year so fuel costs don't bother me too much.
Hope the above is a little bit of help.
I would deffo recommend a Leon Cupra
As for mpg i do about 7000 a year myself can not be any worse then what i have now
Having had a fairly modified MK1 Stage 2 LCR for a number of years and now a heavily modified MK2 Stage 2+ Cupra. You will not be disappointed. A few more toys, better interior, better brakes, nice engine, better chassis, great choice of mods, although this is the same for the MK1. I still prefer the looks of the MK1 but the MK2 slowly grows on you. Overall a better package and I'm sure anyone who has traded up for a facelift or pre-face lift model has not looked back. I know I haven't
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I came from a mk1 Cupra which was a brilliant car into the mk2 08 plate Cupra and first impressions were diss appointing I have to say , the mk1 had loads of nice touches and a lot of these went missing on the mk2 and were very noticeable.
The mk2 concentrates more on the engine and running gear and brakes ect than on the interior.
The brakes are very good with huge discs and give a lot of confidence , the handling can be a bit wooly , but the extra weight of the car keeps you planted.
Inside it's roomy and the front seats are great , the dash layout is nice , make sure you get a car with Bluetooth !
The centre console is soooooo bland and boring but a change of head unit brightens it up.
If its performance and modding you are after then there's no better value for money platform out there , once you go down this route you will soon forget about your mk1.
Would I buy another one? Yes and no , no only because the dealers are truly dog shite !
If Toyota had produced this car then I think owners would have been give a true peace of mind with dealer back up.
So would I recommend one ? Yes , but only. Ecause you know about the dealers already.
The mk2 concentrates more on the engine and running gear and brakes ect than on the interior.
The brakes are very good with huge discs and give a lot of confidence , the handling can be a bit wooly , but the extra weight of the car keeps you planted.
Inside it's roomy and the front seats are great , the dash layout is nice , make sure you get a car with Bluetooth !
The centre console is soooooo bland and boring but a change of head unit brightens it up.
If its performance and modding you are after then there's no better value for money platform out there , once you go down this route you will soon forget about your mk1.
Would I buy another one? Yes and no , no only because the dealers are truly dog shite !
If Toyota had produced this car then I think owners would have been give a true peace of mind with dealer back up.
So would I recommend one ? Yes , but only. Ecause you know about the dealers already.
Thanks for all your input guys much appreciated
What about the leon FR tfsi is there much difference compared to the cupra apart from the bhp and wheels
Been looking at both insurance wise they anit much diffidence in price but they seem a little cheaper to buy.
What about the leon FR tfsi is there much difference compared to the cupra apart from the bhp and wheels
Been looking at both insurance wise they anit much diffidence in price but they seem a little cheaper to buy.
Thanks for all your input guys much appreciated
What about the leon FR tfsi is there much difference compared to the cupra apart from the bhp and wheels
Been looking at both insurance wise they anit much diffidence in price but they seem a little cheaper to buy.
The fr this is also a very good car, but if you can afford the extra id go for the Cupra. Years ago I went for the Ibiza fr over the Cupra and ended up regretting it, every time I saw a Cupra I wished I had one.
I have a FL FR for the reason that the Cupra can't tow, which was a must
I must say I am not disappointed. There isn't much difference in looks at all, just the larger wheels and extra power which a remap would solve if i wanted it. Depends what you want from the car I guess. Theres a few £k difference in the two which you've got to factor..
I must say I am not disappointed. There isn't much difference in looks at all, just the larger wheels and extra power which a remap would solve if i wanted it. Depends what you want from the car I guess. Theres a few £k difference in the two which you've got to factor..
I have had a 2004 Toledo 20VT Sport (MK1 Leon Cupra Saloon), a 2007 pre facelift Leon Cupra and a 2010 facelift Leon Cupra.
The MK2 is better in nearly every way to the MK1. The issues found on the pre facelift MK2 Leon were the crappy centre console and gremlins on the mirrors, lights and other things. So far I have not seen any of these in my 2 years with the facelift car although the trim on the seats of the facelift is poorer than the trim on the pre facelift.
Things to realise - the Cupra K1 is nothing more than a Leon Cupra which with Aero bumpers central exhaust, bootlid spoiler and side skirts and a badge fitted by SEAT at the dock when it arrived at the UK. It was only available in pre facelift guise which means it has the same issues as any other pre facelift car and most if not all Cupra K1's will be out of warranty now. People tend to ask more money for them than the Cupra - smart money would go on a facelift 2009/2010 Leon Cupra with balance of warranty, nicer interior and less gremlins for the same money as a 2008/2009 Cupra K1. If you like the bumpers and kit, it can be added to the facelift car for less than the premium applied by owners to Cupra K1 cars. Early 2007 Leon Cupras are down at £6-£9k for higher milers now.
Pluses - the engine is very good, brakes are very good, handling is pretty good, seats are comfortable. Easily tunable and once tuned, it is a bit of an animal.
Minuses Fuel economy is poor-ish, interior quality is not up with even Skoda, dealers are indeed Dog **** as pointed out above, no DSG option on the Cupra. Clutch on facelift cars is nowhere near as robust as the clutch on pre facelift cars.
The MK2 is better in nearly every way to the MK1. The issues found on the pre facelift MK2 Leon were the crappy centre console and gremlins on the mirrors, lights and other things. So far I have not seen any of these in my 2 years with the facelift car although the trim on the seats of the facelift is poorer than the trim on the pre facelift.
Things to realise - the Cupra K1 is nothing more than a Leon Cupra which with Aero bumpers central exhaust, bootlid spoiler and side skirts and a badge fitted by SEAT at the dock when it arrived at the UK. It was only available in pre facelift guise which means it has the same issues as any other pre facelift car and most if not all Cupra K1's will be out of warranty now. People tend to ask more money for them than the Cupra - smart money would go on a facelift 2009/2010 Leon Cupra with balance of warranty, nicer interior and less gremlins for the same money as a 2008/2009 Cupra K1. If you like the bumpers and kit, it can be added to the facelift car for less than the premium applied by owners to Cupra K1 cars. Early 2007 Leon Cupras are down at £6-£9k for higher milers now.
Pluses - the engine is very good, brakes are very good, handling is pretty good, seats are comfortable. Easily tunable and once tuned, it is a bit of an animal.
Minuses Fuel economy is poor-ish, interior quality is not up with even Skoda, dealers are indeed Dog **** as pointed out above, no DSG option on the Cupra. Clutch on facelift cars is nowhere near as robust as the clutch on pre facelift cars.
I've just recently gone from a 2010 Ibiza FR to a brand new Leon Cupra R and I'd pretty much agree with what has been said above - the interior lets it down quite a bit in my opinion. I love the look of seats (as in the things you sit on, not the car manufacturer's name lol) but everything else inside was nicer looking and better laid out in the Ibiza.
Performance wise, as others have said it is a pretty fast car once you've had it remapped (and its not exactly slow beforehand) but to me it sounds like you are not too bothered about having the fastest car you can get, so personally I'd say go for an FR if you've got the choice as the extra money for the Cupra R doesn't really get you anything more other than engine performance. I'm not keen on the steering on mine, much preferred the feel of the Ibiza, but not sure which the Leon FR would be more similar to.
Performance wise, as others have said it is a pretty fast car once you've had it remapped (and its not exactly slow beforehand) but to me it sounds like you are not too bothered about having the fastest car you can get, so personally I'd say go for an FR if you've got the choice as the extra money for the Cupra R doesn't really get you anything more other than engine performance. I'm not keen on the steering on mine, much preferred the feel of the Ibiza, but not sure which the Leon FR would be more similar to.
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Yeah they reckon 1000 miles to break it in, so I got it remapped at 1200 lol
Although actually I spoke to Revo (or it might have been Superchips) before I bought the car and they said there's no technical reason why you can't remap it with just a couple of miles on the clock. Obviously you'd still have to try and take it steady for the first 1000 miles as recommended, but the remap on its own won't do any harm - its only you thrashing it during the first few hundred miles that could cause problems but that's the same regardless of whether or not its remapped
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Get one its simple as that had mine since January and not chucked more than a grand at it and its now running 350bhp leaves quite a lot standing, compared to the old Leon I think its a lot better as the 1.8t's make just over 300 with loads of mods but the tfsi's are so much more tuneable first thing on list get a remap.
And if you can get the cupra over the fr as the turbo is the main difference.
And if you can get the cupra over the fr as the turbo is the main difference.
I will have mine for sale around end of October 08 with 40k on the clock.
On topic, coming from a Mk1 cupra to a nearly new mk2 the difference is night and day IMO.
The Mk2 is light years ahead - especially when stage 2+ ;o)
On topic, coming from a Mk1 cupra to a nearly new mk2 the difference is night and day IMO.
The Mk2 is light years ahead - especially when stage 2+ ;o)
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