Born LHD Preview for UK?

Chester

MPG racer
Mar 25, 2002
440
43
Peterborough
Hi everyone,

I'm guessing those who are interested have already received this email, but it's obviously not for a UK car and it's a remote preview! Er no thanks, I'd rather see a UK spec RHD car.

That made me think. Is it possible to organise a something with Cupra UK, maybe a Zoom call, maybe an in-person event in the Spring? We are enthusiasts and most likely going to ask questions that are different to the general motoring public. I'm personally interested in the Boost Mode and when UK cars will be available to order with this equipped. I also suspect that most of us will not buy this car sight unseen (my wife and I actually did that with a Honda e and don't regret it at all!) and will definitely want to poke and prod and test drive opening wallets.

Please present your thoughts. We have a good relationship with Seat and now Cupra, and this is a new chapter in motoring, well at least for Cupra! I'm sure we can organise an event that will bring us closer to the metal we really want to see, even if that is going to involve a longer period to wait.

Cheers :)
 
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Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
It is normal practice for Seat UK to shunt LHD cars around the dealer network in the pre order period. They did that with the Ateca back in 2016. We got to know the model colours going around. You can't test drive them but can sit in them. Seat / Cupra possibly do that to gauge market interest.

It's useful to try out the seating and legroom. The actual spec may well be different for the UK as far as upholstery, power unit etc. Good training for the dealers. I did attend a trade show back in 2016 way before the pre order LHD vehicles were doing the rounds. Had Seat UK business sector to myself for questioning 😉.

I guess the plan would be to get the reps down for whatever Seatcupra event is being planned where those models are available to see unless it's like the roving LHD vehicles doing the rounds at that time.
 
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CUPRATOM

Active Member
CUPRA Specialist
Gold sponsor
It is normal practice for Seat UK to shunt LHD cars around the dealer network in the pre order period. They did that with the Ateca back in 2016. We got to know the model colours going around. You can't test drive them but can sit in them. Seat / Cupra possibly do that to gauge market interest.

It's useful to try out the seating and legroom. The actual spec may well be different for the UK as far as upholstery, power unit etc. Good training for the dealers. I did attend a trade show back in 2016 way before the pre order LHD vehicles were doing the rounds. Had Seat UK business sector to myself for questioning 😉.

I guess the plan would be to get the reps down for whatever Seatcupra event is being planned where those models are available to see unless it's like the roving LHD vehicles doing the rounds at that time.

The closest we can offer you on this is a 'virtual viewing' as CUPRA UK have a car at head office that they can give you a live tour of. I know it's not the real thing but it's quite a fun way to see the car and ask us (CUPRA Specialists) and the live team questions about the car. Feel free to let me know if you'd like to arrange one.

Tom
 
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Chester

MPG racer
Mar 25, 2002
440
43
Peterborough
Hi Tom. Sounds interesting. Would it be possible to organise some sort of virtual group event? It’s no doubt more efficient and some questions some members hadn’t thought about may be asked, as well as avoiding some duplication. Does that seem feasible?
 

CUPRATOM

Active Member
CUPRA Specialist
Gold sponsor
Hi Tom. Sounds interesting. Would it be possible to organise some sort of virtual group event? It’s no doubt more efficient and some questions some members hadn’t thought about may be asked, as well as avoiding some duplication. Does that seem feasible?

A nice idea naturally a group of you are welcome to come to the dealership and we can do it that way :)
 

Chester

MPG racer
Mar 25, 2002
440
43
Peterborough
Sorry for the late response, work is a little crazy!
Sounds great. How long do you have the car for? Could we organise this for a weekend day? What capacity in numbers do you have?

I think it would be a good idea to start a thread to gauge interest once we know which days we can attend.

Thanks in advance…
 

CUPRATOM

Active Member
CUPRA Specialist
Gold sponsor
Sorry for the late response, work is a little crazy!
Sounds great. How long do you have the car for? Could we organise this for a weekend day? What capacity in numbers do you have?

I think it would be a good idea to start a thread to gauge interest once we know which days we can attend.

Thanks in advance…

We personally don't have the car it is located in a 'showroom' in MK and they have it for a few more weeks too :) so you would come to us and we dial into a video chat with them and they give us a nice walk round of the car and between us and them answer any questions you may have. So we can sure organise one if you would like.
 

Chester

MPG racer
Mar 25, 2002
440
43
Peterborough
We personally don't have the car it is located in a 'showroom' in MK and they have it for a few more weeks too :) so you would come to us and we dial into a video chat with them and they give us a nice walk round of the car and between us and them answer any questions you may have. So we can sure organise one if you would like.
Not sure why we would entertain a virtual tour if we could go direct to Milton Keynes, which is at least more convenient for me and possibly many others.
 

UnrepentantN00b

Active Member
Nov 4, 2015
15
12
I was at Preston Seat today and they've 2 which they are hoping to have registered for test drives over the next week.
Although they weren't fully open today and decided it would be best to speak to me outside in the wind...
 

daern

Active Member
Mar 1, 2022
14
10
UK
My local dealer will have two (one for the showroom, one for demos) - by sheer luck I happened to call in today to ask when they might get one in, and it was parked up getting its first charge:
1647605770637.png


Handsome thing in the flesh, IMHO. Apparently, none of the initial stock will be available to purchase and will all be reserved for showrooms and demos. First deliveries were to have been in June/July, but now pushed back an indeterminate period due (in part) to the Ukraine conflict causing parts supply issues.
 
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