Cupra 280 ST Test Drive

[Count Drunkula]

Hi peeps first post after a week of being a lurker.

Currently drive a stage 2 mk6 Golf R with DSG and just went for a test drive in a 15 plate 280 cupra estate as I need something with a bigger boot . Didn't get to really wring it's neck so to speak as had my missus and sales woman in the car. But was really surprised at the lack of traction . I've had powerful fwd cars with a diff before so knew what to expect or at least thought I did.

Seen it was on Continental sport contact 5 rubber up front which is a tyre I really like from use on previous cars but didn't notice the tread condition.

Is it normal to have T/C cutting it's nose in under moderate throttle in the wet or is it possible the front rubber was seriously worn?

 

[Jay280]

I had a similar transition from an S3 8p to cupra 280 and yes the one big downside is all weather traction! But obviously going from awd to any 300bhp fwd car is going to be the same. It just takes a change of driving style from just being able to plant your foot down rain or shine to being more progressive with the throttle. However in the dry the cupra handling is so much better/involving than the mk6 R/s3.

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[Count Drunkula]

Dunno if we get enough dry days in Scotland to warrant the change lol

 

[AndrewJB]

Think the problem is.. you are so used to AWD. even though you have had FWD cars in the past.

I went from Stage2+ LCR to Stage 2 Cupra 280 and MK3 is a lot better than MK2.

 

[Count Drunkula]

Think the problem is.. you are so used to AWD. even though you have had FWD cars in the past.

I went from Stage2+ LCR to Stage 2 Cupra 280 and MK3 is a lot better than MK2.

Nail on the head.

I can be stupid with throttle application in all conditions in the golf and it just digs in and goes. Need to get my FWD mentality back

 

[CUPRAB]

Or just get the 300 ST!

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[Count Drunkula]

They had a mystery blue DSG Cupra ST in the dealership , perfect colour for the car but even with discount it was 29k

Bit much for what is going to be my dog transportation device

 

[SteA]

I'm going to buck the trend and say with PS4S tyres and the powerflex torque arm insert there are no real traction issues, even in the wet, just plant the throttle and go. For reference, we also have an 8P S3 wearing F1 Assymetricals and even in the wet the Cupra has better traction. In fact, even my wife, who has always loved the S3 because of its all weather ability prefers to take the Cupra whatever the weather...

 

[matthab]

I'm going to buck the trend and say with PS4S tyres and the powerflex torque arm insert there are no real traction issues, even in the wet, just plant the throttle and go. For reference, we also have an 8P S3 wearing F1 Assymetricals and even in the wet the Cupra has better traction. In fact, even my wife, who has always loved the S3 because of its all weather ability prefers to take the Cupra whatever the weather...

With PS4S on mine its planted, I have to be a real idiot to make it break traction.

 

[Count Drunkula]

Just been back and put deposit down for it and had a quick nosey at the tyres , rears are original continental . Front are a mix of worn continental and slightly less worn Pirelli so hopefully some of the traction issues can be put down to mixed rubber across front axle

 

[Sonofzelda]

Are you happy to take the risk that the worn/mixed tyres might not be the ONLY reason for poor traction.
I'd also be wary of unmatching tyres as it suggests uneven wear and penny-pinching.

 

[Count Drunkula]

I'd say it's more likely to be the case of car got a puncture and previous owner took it to Kwik fit and got fleeced. And a Pirelli PZero Corsa costs more than a continental sport contact 5 so doesn't suggest penny pinching

 

[kiddo]

Or he / she bought part worn to save cash and p zero was only available

 

[SteA]

Or he / she bought part worn to save cash and p zero was only available

It doesn't really matter at this point, he has bought a fantastic car and has the perfect excuse to swap the fronts for a pair of PS4S tyres

Worth getting the torque arm insert too, a cheap no-brainer really...


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[Sonofzelda]

I'd say it's more likely to be the case of car got a puncture and previous owner took it to Kwik fit and got fleeced. And a Pirelli PZero Corsa costs more than a continental sport contact 5 so doesn't suggest penny pinching

Yes I agree a puncture is much more likely, l should have thought of that. However I still wonder why the owner chose to upgrade one tyre and not the other. I'm open to correction but isn't it preferable to have both front wheels with the same characteristics?

 

[kiddo]

Yes best to have same tyre on axle. Good excuse to get some better rubber and even things up

 

[Count Drunkula]

Yes I agree a puncture is much more likely, l should have thought of that. However I still wonder why the owner chose to upgrade one tyre and not the other. I'm open to correction but isn't it preferable to have both front wheels with the same characteristics?

Absolutely yes it's preferable to have matching rubber across the axle. Unfortunately not everyone knows or cares about this . Given the low mileage of the car I am more prone to go with the idea of previous owner (michelle I'm guessing as car was constantly trying to connect to michelles iPhone on test drive) getting a puncture and just getting it replaced with whatever was in stock at local tyre place .

As others have said it gives me an excuse to test the characteristics of the diff on some roundabouts and slow speed corners then change both front boots

 

[R4CK5]

Ive picked picked up cars before in the past that have had different rubber on each corner, some people who aren't car or mechanically orientated simply won't understand and blissfully plough on in ignorance which is fair enough, not everyone can be a car person.

 

[Count Drunkula]

Picked the car up today and bringing it home managed to trigger traction control in the dry from a rolling start at about 40mph in second gear. Got home and thought "I'll check the front tyre pressures "

OSF 44.5psi NSF 46psi

Well played Arnold Clark good job on the pdi. Also the Pirelli is a mercedes specific tyre ��

 

[SteA]

Picked the car up today and bringing it home managed to trigger traction control in the dry from a rolling start at about 40mph in second gear. Got home and thought "I'll check the front tyre pressures "

OSF 44.5psi NSF

Well played Arnold Clark good job on the pdi. Also the Pirelli is a mercedes specific tyre

The Lookers VW main dealer I got mine from was no better, they ticked boxes on their check sheet that clearly hadn't been checked and excepting the lovely saleswoman (who was brilliant!), didn't appear to care at all. I just got everything rectified at a Seat Main dealer and got the VW dealer to pay for it. The Seat dealer was excellent. I am guessing somewhere in Arnold Clarks checklists they should state that tyres on the same axle should not be different? I know that was the case for lookers, so they would have had to rectify that at their expense... worth checking?


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