Anyone see this months current issue of PVW??

[Willie]

It has a very interesting section comparing the S3, Edition 30 Golf and the MK2 Leon Cupra (looks like a K1).

This was carried out by the Performance VW team which included mostly Golf daily drivers. The were very loyal to the Audi badge and unfortuneately they decided that the S3 was the overal winner.
I knew this would be the out come BUT......
They had a huge amount of respect for the MK2 AND around their track the Cupra was only 0.1 secs slower than the 4WD S3, thats fekin awesome for a FWD car. There were even come stages the Cupra was faster than the S3. They did loads for rounds on the track and every lap was very very close to the S3.
They did 0-60's and 0-100's.
Cupra 0-60 came out about 6.38s and 0-100 was 15.08s.
S3 0-60 6.06 and 0-100 14.39
Ed 30 0-60 6.64 and 0-100 15.48

They didn't have anything good to say about the Edition 30 apart from the inside was quite nice compared to the Cupra but not as nice as the S3. They even went as far as saying that the GTI felt and went better than the Edition 30, thats a shocker for a supposedly uprated car that is about £3,000 more.

One thing that did piss me off was the Edition 30 had non standard Recaro seats (£1,600 extra) the S3 had loads of extras (list price for the model they tested was £33,500!!!!) and of course the Cupra was totally standard. The Cupra lost out quite a but due to the 'cheap' interior but was bigged up big time about handling and performance.
All the figure were supplied by a Racelogic GPS system

 

[RikH]

yeah i've read it
id never seen the "optional" skirts and splitters before though
and it aint a k1

 

[Willie]

Oh well, didn't think it looked like a standard Cupra, thought it might be a K1

 

[stokeballoon]

I have an ed 30, and i had a MK2 Leon (FR TDi), and in terms of the base car, the Golf is way ahead of the Seat, the little touches etc.

The visibility is great compared to the Leon, the Ride (don't get me started on the ride!) The Leon with 17's is ok, but with 18's is awful, i tested an Fr with 17's.

The Ed 30 Goes very well as well, lots of mid range punch, and pretty good on the fuel too around 35 MPG

Don't believe all you read, the Ed 30 is great, build quality is as it should be, i don't get wet windows on the inside, a rattly dash, but each to their own.

I tried the Cupra, but it felt too nervous to me, perhaps I had a bad one.

As I say each to their own.

 

[spikeydoo]

Very good timing, I'm booked in for a cupra & ed30 test drive today...I'm not surprised the s3 came out on top either....but i'm not sure that the price tag truly reflects the real world gains...

 

[Willie]

Thats your view and as you said each to their own.
These guys are independant, especially as they rate the Seat and the Audi above the VW.
A good read for owners of the Cupra but not so good for ED 30 and S3 owners

 

[UncleFester]

Just out of interest, would the lighter suspension components on the Cupra translate into a 'nervous' feel for someone that was used to a heavier less precise car? It would appear from the track times at least that the Cupra is not short on handling ability, albeit in the right hands?

 

[Willie]

I think a nervous feel in unexperienced hands would be a car being driven on the edge to an experienced driver.
But also nervous doesn't mean out of control, as you said could just feel lighter.

 

[stokeballoon]

Not sure I am an "inexperienced driver" 24 years driving and several different forms of motorsport later (both 2 and 4 wheels)

as you rightly say each to their own, i think the Golf looks better, far better wheels, and was the car that ticked all the boxes for ME, no-0one else but me!

I paid less than a Cupra, for a full Uk VW dealer supplied ed 30 3 door car. 1000 miles old and 3 months old (57 plate), with a nice list of spec.

So I paid my money and made my choice. The Cupra is a mighty fine car, but not for me. Traffic light grand prix's don't interest me, and in this country perhaps 0-60 times are not what the manufacturer should advertise, cars around the track not really, different world to the road.

I looked long anfd hard, the Golf 5 soon being phased out helped, because it dropped the price enough for me to step right in!

A very happy Golf owner, and I hope that you are happy with your Cupra.

Incidentally any Mods planned?

 

[Willie]

Not trying to diss your driving experience, more pointing toward the point that you only had a test drive therefore you were 'inexperienced' at how the Cupra handles. Where a 'experienced' Cupra driver might know that the car is no where near losing traction. On a track as we all know is the only real way to tell how a car will perform, this is where the PVW guys tested these cars so would hold more respect to their thoughts than someone who has had a quick test drive.
With these results there will always be guys that don't believe the results. I don't have any of the cars and was happy to see that the Seat held its head high even though VAG saw it fit to fit the car with 'cheap' plastics

 

[Ben CTR]

One thing that did piss me off was the Edition 30 had non standard Recaro seats (£1,600 extra) and of course the Cupra was totally standard. The Cupra lost out quite a but due to the 'cheap' interior but was bigged up big time about handling and performance.

Eh????
They are standard seats in the Ed0 mate.. S3 has the added Recaros..
Plus look at the added bits on the Cupra.. Different wheels, spoiler, sideskirts and splitter.. Looks the nuts though, have to say..

 

[chrisboyle999]

I looked long anfd hard, the Golf 5 soon being phased out helped, because it dropped the price enough for me to step right in!

the golf mk5 is being dropped early because it is too expensive and time consuming to build. the mk 6 in comparison will have a cheeper feel. this means the consumer is getting good value for the current model. like you, if anyone wants a golf, get one now.

 

[honeyman]

I must admit the Cupra can seem nervous (shite pirrelli's don't help) but you get used to it, Grab it by the scruff off the neck then you really see everything click into place. It's like you have to push it that little bit further to reassure yourself, but it not like you can drive like that all the time.

 

[stokeballoon]

It says in the PVW issue that Cupra's get Brembo's, is this true? The pics seemed to show R32 brakes painted red!

Anyone shed any light on this!

 

[m0rk]

It says in the PVW issue that Cupra's get Brembo's, is this true? The pics seemed to show R32 brakes painted red!

Anyone shed any light on this!

it just proves that useless journo's are still employed by chav mags

 

[GREY 225]

S3 is overpriced even in basic spec.Add a couple of extras and you are at 30k for a hatchback.To be fair looking at performance times there is nothing in it really,0.5 of a second, in the real world world on the road with equal drivers there would be nowt in it.I think i would rather spend 20k on the cupra and with some of the cash left over modify it.But each to there own.I am starting to like the cupra more now,like the look of candy white with black wheels and side skirts the more i look at it.

 

[Syphon]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=164281

 

[jamie paton]

not keen on the "aero" wheels in black but i would say that with a really good set of black alloys and lowering that that white cupra would be my next purchase.

 

[stokeballoon]

I paid less than £19.3K for my 3 month old Ed30 (1000miles on the clock) Bit of a Bargain.

The Mag slates the Cupra interior, is it as bad as they say? I had a FR TDi and found it to be a bit of a claustrophobic place. only helped by the factory option sunroof I had specced. Has the Cupra a black headlining?

As with most choices in life, we are all different, I don't drive at 10/10 ths all the time, I really like the refinement of the ed 30, but at the same time, i find it very pleasing to see that VAG has several "hot hatches" to cater for all tastes in their stable.

Still can't quite believe that over 300 horses is available with only a remap

Must be a real animal to drive with only 2 wheel drive.

 

[Paulki]

the golf mk5 is being dropped early because it is too expensive and time consuming to build. the mk 6 in comparison will have a cheeper feel. this means the consumer is getting good value for the current model. like you, if anyone wants a golf, get one now.

Interesting: I remember reading reviews of the MK5 when it first came out and one of the criticisms was that the quality of the interior had gone down compared to the MK4, with more cheap plastics appearing.

It seems that while Ford and Vauxhall etc, are improving the quality of their interiors, VW are going the other way to cut costs!