A newbie seeking advice

[rpmleon]

Hi everyone,

A Newbie seeking advice/opinion.

I am looking at replacing my beloved 53 plate Seat Leon 150 TDi PD Cupra with........... Well thats the question?

I have the chance of a 07 plate Leon Cupra with 3.5k on the clock. Sunroof and Bluetooth at £19k. IS THIS A GOOD PRICE? It is an ex demo car so it has probably been hard driven since new (I know I did!)

Over the last 3 weeks I have had extended test drives in the 2.0 TDi DPF and both the manual and DSG versions of the 2.0 T FSI petrol versions. I must admit the one that really impressed was the DSG which I could afford new. In fact if the Cupra had DSG I don't think I would be asking the question. Even though I have never owned an automatic car before can only re-iterate that the performance of the FR really did impress.

I would appreciate any opinions on this topic.

RPM

 

[beachboy]

rpmleon,
I have just had the Leon FR 2.0T DSG on 24 hour test.
It was just brilliant in every department- performance, comfort, handling and roadholding, 4/5 adults carrying capacity (and all this on poorly-surfaced B-roads which show up the slightest flaw in suspension design).
The Leon FR tdi was ruled out after a few minutes for its very harsh suspension. The diesel engine is heavier than the petrol but I do think that SEAT could have come up with a more comfortable solution without compromising roadholding etc.

I would strongly recommend going for the manual (£900 cheaper than DSG) or DSG Leon FR petrol, whichever you prefer.
I think you will find that the Leon Cupra has a much firmer ride and, in my opinion, it is not good value for money.

Run the standard FR for a few months and enjoy it. If you simply must have extra performance get a remap from APR, Revo, AmD or whoever. It is far more cost-effective.

As regards the initial purchase price I would investigate:

Direct SEAT http://www.directseat.co.uk/index.php

The Deal Negotiator http://www.thedealnegotiator.co.uk/index.htm

Carfile http://www.carfile.net/

Car Price Checker http://www.carpricechecker.co.uk/

Armed with your best price visit your local SEAT dealer and try to get him to match that price. Most car dealers are very keen to do business in the present economic climate.
Good luck and let me know how you get on.

 

[P0LKR]

On the contrary, the Cupra suspension is slightly softer than the FR. I test drove the FR dsg and can confirm it is excellent but I bought the cupra.

The FR will remap to 260bhp however the Cupra will remap to 310bhp.

 

[NeilW]

£19K is way too expensive. There are several 07 plate Cupras (with 3K - 7K miles) round our way at £17,995. And that's before haggling.

I reckon you could get a brand new one for £19K easy.

 

[Rampage]

rpmleon,
I think you will find that the Leon Cupra has a much firmer ride and, in my opinion, it is not good value for money.

I think it's a bargain compaired to the FR!

Extra's AFAIK:
Black interior
Different bumpers
Aluminium suspension
Bigger turbo
Uprated engine
Bigger disks and calipers
18" as standard
HID headlights (£900 option for the FR)
Different seats

Probably loads more.


Edit, just read the second post and thought it was the first!
I agree £19k is well over priced. You should be able to get a NEW one with sunroof and bluetooth for £18,400-18,800

 

[P0LKR]

I paid £19100 including bluetooth and I thought that was a good deal. MOst dealers wont budge on retail though.

 

[phil3012]

I paid over £20,000 for mine (spec below)

I paid retail but got the Autoglym Lifeshine (£250) and some mats thrown in which I wanted anyway. The amount given for my part ex was not bad either.

I found that dealers tended to make out the Cupra was really rare and impossible to get hold of, until they knew you were a serious buyer and if flexible on spec they could source one without doing a build to order.

 

[beachboy]

Current prices on Carfile are:

Leon FR petrol (manual): £15720

Ditto (DSG) : £16630

Leon Cupra : £17945

My point about tuning the standard car was as follows.
By spending a relatively small amount on an APR/ Revo/AmD remap it would bring the standard Leon's bhp up to at least that of the Cupra. The balance (approx. £1700) of the £2200 difference between the Leon manual and the Leon Cupra could either be saved or spent elsewhere.

It is essential to give reasonably long test drives to whichever cars are on your shortlist so that you can fully appreciate the differences, especially in suspension set-up.

It is your money you are spending so make sure you take the time to make the right decision.

 

[rpmleon]

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

Finance in place with decision to make. That will be tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will let you know

RPM

 

[MikeShaw100]

I had the same struggle making a decision between Cupra and TDI.

Went for the FR Tdi in the end, as the running costs over 3 years added to the initial cost saving (lets face it - many of the extras you can live without and both models look equally stunning from outside) equates to more than six grand, based on 15000 miles a year.

Loving it.......!

Mike
Leon FR TDI, Crono, 18", Armrest, Chrome Trim, Muddies and Mats.......

 

[col71]

My cupra was ex demo and i bought that for just over £18,000

 

[Pummy]

I have to say that the lights on the Cupra are stunning, esp the follow the road feature.

 

[s3quence]

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

Finance in place with decision to make. That will be tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will let you know

RPM

I test drove a Leon Cupra ex demo in M1 motors that was on for £16,995 with 3,000 miles on the clock. I would have bought had the guy who took me on the test drive not said that it was the bosses car and he was on hols so they had been having "fun" with it all week!

They must have sold it as they have ordered a new one
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501685991

Here is some more just on the seat site...
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501479863
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501707161

 

[rpmleon]

Hi everyone

Once again thanks for the replys.

I finally went for the 2.0 TFSI FR DSG and hope to pick up my new wheels next week!

The 3 month wait on a new Cupra currently puts the dealers in a good position, even on the ex demo models, especially if you are specific on colour. I would have loved to have gone with the Cupra but finances dictated otherwise.

I was well impressed with the new TFSI FR DSG and at least this car will not be tied into a Dealer Finance Package. A new Cupra maybe in a year or two??????

RPM

 

[beachboy]

RPM,
Well done, you will not regret it.
The FR petrol with DSG is a quick beastie and has excellent road manners on a compliant suspension.
Did you manage to get a good matched deal from your local SEAT dealer or did you use one of the brokers?

 

[rpmleon]

RPM,
Well done, you will not regret it.
The FR petrol with DSG is a quick beastie and has excellent road manners on a compliant suspension.
Did you manage to get a good matched deal from your local SEAT dealer or did you use one of the brokers?

Cheers

Went with my local SEAT dealer, trading in my current motor (end of finance deal etc) against the new car. Arranged my own finance this time so no dealer finance offset etc to queer things next up next time. (New Cupra maybe?)

PS
Sorry Beachboy. You were the one who gave loads of good info the other day. Thankyou!!!

 

[SEATcarsdirect.co.uk]

I test drove a Leon Cupra ex demo in M1 motors that was on for £16,995 with 3,000 miles on the clock. I would have bought had the guy who took me on the test drive not said that it was the bosses car and he was on hols so they had been having "fun" with it all week!

They must have sold it as they have ordered a new one
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501685991

Here is some more just on the seat site...
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501479863
http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501707161

s3quence
Im am the boss and it was my car and im sorry my staff who by the way are no longer here had "fun" in my car. In there defence in my opinion you cant not have fun in a LEON CUPRA i love them to bits but maybe not the same fun they were implying. I appologise again if you fancy popping down then i will be more than happy to see what i can do for you discount wise on a brand new one. alternativly if you have bought one else where id like to offer you a deal on your next service as a way of showing you how my dealership SHOULD work.

Charley
DP
M1 Autos

 

[lc_allan]

s3quence
Im am the boss and it was my car and im sorry my staff who by the way are no longer here had "fun" in my car. In there defence in my opinion you cant not have fun in a LEON CUPRA i love them to bits but maybe not the same fun they were implying. I appologise again if you fancy popping down then i will be more than happy to see what i can do for you discount wise on a brand new one. alternativly if you have bought one else where id like to offer you a deal on your next service as a way of showing you how my dealership SHOULD work.

Charley
DP
M1 Autos

lol PWNED

 

[s3quence]

s3quence
Im am the boss and it was my car and im sorry my staff who by the way are no longer here had "fun" in my car. In there defence in my opinion you cant not have fun in a LEON CUPRA i love them to bits but maybe not the same fun they were implying. I appologise again if you fancy popping down then i will be more than happy to see what i can do for you discount wise on a brand new one. alternativly if you have bought one else where id like to offer you a deal on your next service as a way of showing you how my dealership SHOULD work.

Charley
DP
M1 Autos

Thanks Charley for your post, I appreciate the post and the goodwill gesture. I did not mean to name and shame my point was that there was a cupra available for £16,995 (3k miles) and one currently for sale from yourselves at £17,495 (1.5k miles) beating what rpmleon was quoted for on the leon on the original post. I have in fact bought...well ordered a new cupra for delivery in Dec so i might be down for the service in about 8-12 months time

http://www.seat.net.r66.co.uk/Search/car_view.aspx?carId=501685991

 

[mel_parqua]

Hi everyone,
I came across this website http://www.mycarquotes.co.uk/ which is a company that gives quotes on the cheapest car price dealers around the UK. I used this personally to buy my car and it helps save a lot of time and money in looking for that cheap and reliable dealer. have a look at it if anyone is interested.

Mel.