Hello from North Yorkshire

[Famandy1]

Hello Seat Enthusiasts

What a great site!

Currently drive a 2008 Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TSFI S-Tronic Quattro and in the process of choosing a new car - shortlist is as follows:

Audi S3 S-Tronic - expensive, a little boring and more of the same, but I could live with it no doubt!

VW Golf R DSG - ditto the Audi S3 but less pretty, a little better value and a long waiting list for a factory order - 6 months

Seat Leon Sport Tourer Cupra 280 DSG - wow, what a beautiful looking car and great value particularly if you source via Drive the Deal where there are incredible discounts, even though the car is not technically for sale until next month - off to Geneva in a week or so's time, so hope to see one in the flesh then and probably drool!

So, my fav spec at the moment is a Emocion Red ST Cupra 280 DSG with pan roof and plaiin black leather, though wish the alcantara was available in plain black, as do many other forum contributors if I'm reading right? Also fancy the new navigation system high with the hard drive and Seat Sound System, given the moans about the standard nav, but it is a mega pricey upgrade!

Also hear there is a 6 month waiting list too, due to the shortage of the standard titanium wheels - the £500 black pack has to be he biggest con which appears to change the alloy highlight from titanium to black and paint the rear badge in black - no thanks!

Also fancy the brembo brake upgrade but not as part of the £2k+ sub pack - would prefer the brakes on their own without the side skirts etc.

Anyway, hope to confirm order and final spec for the ST Cupra by end of this week and look forward to being part of the board - incidentally has anyone gone from a quattro 4 wheel drive to Cupra 280 front wheel drive with LSD and have they missed the quattro traction, or is the LSD trickery really that good - mind you I look forward to finding out?

Cheers for now

Famandy

 

[Seastormer]

Welcome to SCN, get the 280 it's a great car.

 

[Famandy1]

Thanks Seastormer

Yes I am very tempted to get the ST Cupra 280 - yours looks the business - how do you find the traction away from a standstill when the road is damp - my current A3 Quattro just sticks to the road and I think I may miss that level of traction?

Cheers

 

[Seastormer]

With the standard 19 tyres as long as you are a bit careful they are ok, some on here have swapped to 18 with different tyres and say they are better.

 

[andrewpain]

there are some on here who say that the Cupra can't handle that power through the fronts, especially in the wet, but most of the owners on here disagree. Especially Seastormer. Must be a biker thing....
But a 4WD sports hatch WILL get the power down better from standstill, especially in the wet. Rubber makes a difference too.
you have to drive one first.
And then decide what's most important?
Because a 4WD option like the Audi or Golf R will cost a lot more to match the spec.
they won't look as pretty, and will be much more common.
try before you buy....or you could end up bitter, disappointed, and out of pocket.
alternatively you may be delighted
good luck...

 

[Famandy1]

Many thanks Andrew for your helpful advice - the Cupra 280 looks so entertaining mind, especially with that trick LSD. Plus factor in the massive discounts and 0% credit, I think it's a no brainer and of course the Sport Tourer is such a good looking car, so I think I'm sold!
Cheers
Famandy

 

[perkman1969]

Go for it mate!
I've been a long time VW and Audi driver and wanted something less boring and common for my next car - drove all the competition and when I came to choose, the Cupra won hands down. It has an unavoidable "grin factor" - cue silly smile every time you get behind the wheel. (Add smug look to that too actually when you factor in the kit you get as standard over your other shortlisted cars)

 

[Famandy1]

Cheers Perkman and I think for the moment the Sport Tourer is kinda unique in it's class, though realise the Golf R Estate is imminent, but it's bound to be mega-bucks more.

 

[andrewpain]

that Golf estate looks like - an estate car. Based on a Golf. Boring.
whereas the ST doesn't....far prettier than the Golf/Octavia variants.
Better equipped, sharp steering and handling, great interior. Especially with the panoramic sunroof letting loads of light in.

 

[Famandy1]

Yes totally agree, it was the looks that attracted me to the Sport Tourer in the first place, especially in Emocion Read with the Pan roof and 19" wheels, so about to do the finance proposal and get it ordered this afternoon, quite excited now!!

 

[andrewpain]

great!
you won't see too many about. I've seen two round here in the last 9 months.
One was black like mine, too. "There's a bloke with some taste", I thought....

 

[Famandy1]

Yeah your're right, I don't think I've seen a current SC/5 dr mk3 Cupra on the road, never mind an ST likes yours.

Anyway 0% finance has just been accepted and the dealer is about to place the order this pm so I now begin the wait - will make another posting on the "what have you ordered" thread in a minute - no idea on delivery, but believe it will be 6 months because of the shortage of standard titanium finish 19" wheels

 

[stephenbelfast]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[perkman1969]

Yeah your're right, I don't think I've seen a current SC/5 dr mk3 Cupra on the road, never mind an ST likes yours.

Anyway 0% finance has just been accepted and the dealer is about to place the order this pm so I now begin the wait - will make another posting on the "what have you ordered" thread in a minute - no idea on delivery, but believe it will be 6 months because of the shortage of standard titanium finish 19" wheels

Well done mate, you won't be sorry. The wait is the worst bit - mine took long enough to come but it was worth it. My dealer gave me the name of the ship the car was transported to the UK on and I followed it via a live tracking website as she sailed up from Spain - sad I know but added to the excitement and I got to text my dealer contact to tell him my car was waiting for someone to collect it from South Shields the morning she berthed We'll look forward to some pics of your new ride when it arrives - going to be an awesome car!

 

[Famandy1]

Cheers Perkman, yes really looking forward to the ST Cupra arriving, which isn't likely to be until August ! How long did you have to wait for your Cupra in Emocion Red to arrive from ordering it?

 

[Bakersfr170]

Welcome

 

[perkman1969]

Cheers Perkman, yes really looking forward to the ST Cupra arriving, which isn't likely to be until August ! How long did you have to wait for your Cupra in Emocion Red to arrive from ordering it?

It was 3 months Famandy - the wheels (hand finished apparently!) and a Summer holiday at the factory delayed things slightly as I'd originally been estimated about 8 weeks but the dealer pulled out all the stops to get it to me as soon as it landed on UK soil which I appreciated as by then the wait was eating me alive!! But I haven't regretted my decision to buy a Cupra once since and it gets more enjoyable with every drive. August will soon be here....

 

[Famandy1]

Thanks, let's hope the 6 month wait does reduce. Anyway off to Geneva next weekend, so hopefully will get to sit in an ST Cupra for the first time!

 

[perkman1969]

Awesome. Always wanted to do one of the big shows over there so it would be great to hear of your experience/impressions when you get back. Enjoy your taster of the ST Cupra too - the show will have added interest for you this year.
You've probably seen this already but in case you haven't, here's some light viewing for you (watch first, then read the subtitles if you want the info he's giving )
Look up the test on the Cupra ST on Youtube by Auto Week (can't embed a link here as not enough posts yet, sorry)

 

[Famandy1]

Many thanks Perkman - that vid is brilliant especially as it's a Red ST - hopefully there might be a red ST at Geneva - will take some pics and hopefully try and post them!