Can you recommend the Cupra ?

[Dazza1004]

Hi all,

Maybe a strange question to post on the cupra formus but I have been digging around here and it's seems a pretty honest place.

I am seriously considering buying an 05 cupra r. Problem is I am a bit concerned about the reliability & build quality. I had a new Ibiza diesel in 2000 and the build quality was very poor, bits fell off all the time, always mechanical problems. Plus, my mate here has a cupra and he has had water in the foot wells and an engine problem which Seat don’t seem to be able to sort out. So,

Can you hand on heart recommend the cupra’s, would you buy another, do you wish you had bought something different instead.

The nearest Seat garage is about 45 minutes drive from me which is inconvenient especially if the car is un-reliable.

Cheers

 

[Johnsey]

Welcome to SCN

For the money the LCR is a good car, it's quick, comfortable and easily tunable.

The water in the footwell will almost certainly be caused by the pollen filter. The other common faults are coil packs, MAF and dump valve.

Have a search about and see what you think.

 

[Reg]

I bought my wife a '54 Cupra R in October. Since then she has done 7000 miles. Nothing has fallen off, nothing rattles more than I would expect, it has behaved perfectly. Its fairly quick, comfortable, handles reasonably well and she loves her car!

I have dealt with Seat service Centre in Camberley over a brake light switch replaced under warranty, and they were simply excellent. I'm sure the same would go for Frost's Seat near Brighton where I bought it. However, Wiltshire & Sons in Farnham were appauling just getting a test drive, so wouldn't dream of going back there for anything. There will be good and bad just like any dealer network.

 

[sjtscott]

See the FAQs...
http://www.seatcupra.net/users/andyb/leonFAQ.htm

Door leak was older cars as I believe the pollen filter to be.. what year is your mates cupra?

Problems I've had in almost 3 years ownership....
Rev Counter back lighting flashed randomly.. fixed by new clocks circuit board under warranty.. don't think anyone else on here has had this as it wasn't dimmer wheel related.
Brake light switch failed.. a common problem again fixed under warranty.

 

[luke]

In the last year I have had problems with:

* Cooling fans
* A fuel leak
* Coilpacks
* Front driver side suspension turret

All of these problems are extremely common (except the weird suspension turret thing) but they are also extremely minor and can be fixed quickly under warranty. The only one of those problems that makes the car undrivable is coilpacks but then you can phone SEAT assistance (i.e. the AA) and they will fix it in no time (unless you're unlucky and they don't have the bits). The engine in general is bulletproof. I would definitely recommend the Cupra R, it's a great car.

 

[luke]

However, Wiltshire & Sons in Farnham were appauling just getting a test drive, so wouldn't dream of going back there for anything.

They have always been good for me!

 

[Ruddmeister]

Can you hand on heart recommend the cupra’s, would you buy another, do you wish you had bought something different instead.

Dependswhat you are comparing it to, if it's an Audi or BMW then maybe it's not so good on build quality etc, then again you talking about Mondeo or Focus money (for an LCR) and it that league it's pretty damn good.

No worse than my old Golf for certain.

I would recomend the Cupra R to anyone, for an 05 I expect you'll be paying around £13,500 to £14k and TBH at that price it's a performance bargain.

 

[Cupra_power]

WIll recommend the car unreservedly. in the 2 and 1/2 years I have had the car issues has been:

Water temp sensor
Water in front footwell - pollen filter problem
Water in back footwell - usual door seal issue.

Otherwise fast fun and relatively cheap to run.


Update : mine is a cupra not an R

 

[cordobabrendy]

having an 04 cupra ive never had the water problem even after having it parked up for a fortnight, coil packs are the main culprit and may be worth even buying a spare (which can be replaced under warranty if you bung it back on for the dealers to replace).

 

[Dazza1004]

thanks guys, seems like a resounding yes then. Good because I've really got my heart set on one. Just a shame the dealer isn't closer but it's not a deal breaker for me. I have 15k to spend but if I spend less then I've got more for extra bits if you know what i mean.

Seen some 05 plate cars with just over a 1k on the clock for 14.5k. Pity they are silver as I really want black or grey. Just need to sell my bike (promise to the wife) and then I am away. Hopefully got someone looking tommorow night.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Darren

 

[Dazza1004]

meant to ask, what exactly is a coil pack ?

 

[cordobabrendy]

instead of having a rotor arm the 20vt uses coil packs attached to each of the ht leads.

 

[Mewcenary]

thanks guys, seems like a resounding yes then. Good Just need to sell my bike (promise to the wife) and then I am away. Hopefully got someone looking tommorow night.

Amusingly, I am also looking to sell my bike in order to fund the purchase of a Leon!

Although in my case my budget is less than yours. About 9k. So I'm looking at the 1.8T Cupra, around a 2002 model I imagine. This wouldn't be the "R" but still nippy! Well, I hope so.

 

[Spanky]

Me and my mate (Turbobanana on here) have Cupra R's, I have only had mine for a few months so can't comment on problems (so far only had a worn ball joint). Turbobanana has had his for a long while now, he's had it APR'd too, the issues he's had is cooling fans and drop links, from what I remember. The build quality is very good, like said above when comparing to Fords, Vauxhalls etc, rather than BMW/AUDI etc.. and expect one or two creaks in a LCR, nothing major though.

 

[YerMother]

As already said for the money it's a great car! I think they look stunning too!

I had mine two years and only problem was a brake light switch replaced under warrenty*Touches big wooden forehead*! If you do alot of miles that it is costly on brakes and tyres (depending on your driving style )

 

[cordobabrendy]

mew you'd be surprised what 9k will get you, ive seen a couple of yellow cupra r's 210 version, recently. if you hold out of r a week or two im sure there will be more on autotrader.

 

[flashbsd]

not forgetting its not just the seat which gets these common failures, VW, Audi and Skoda all get them too.

Audi engine after all.

 

[ando]

im sure there will be more on autotrader.

know of any more car sites?

 

[Lee0204]

I paid £9000 for my 03 plate leon CR(black) with nat nav(slighty high millage though)

 

[Reg]

They have always been good for me!

Funny isn't it! I usually find that if there are going to be problems, its with after-sales. The sales team are more likely to be wonderful to get you in the door, then after that they don't care.

However, I will never get to try the after sales because the 2 sales people I dealt with were such utter w**kers. Barry (who I later found out is supposed to be in charge) I found to be an arrogant, ignorant tw*t, and some young lad who was in the car when we took one for a test drive was totally clueless. I asked if he knew how the car behaved on less than perfect surfaces (because he only wanted us to drive on a dual carriage way), and if it suffered much from torque steer. I wouldn't mind if he had just said he didn't know what that was and left it at that, but he said he didn't know then proceeded to tell me I was totally wrong when I explained it to him.

Left a deposit on a car that was due in (i.e. deposit was to get first refusal for when we saw it because we wanted a red one, but this one was silver). It was under the express agreement that it was refundable for whatever reason. Barry phoned me every day (the car wasn't eve in) chasing me for a decision, so in the end I just said give me my deposit back and forget it - I'd wait for a red one (which I then bought from Frost's). He made excuses for over a week as to why he couldn't refund the £250 back to my card before I went and stood in the show room and wouldn't leave until he sorted it (which took him nearly 30 minutes of pi$$ing about). Complete and utter morons.