first impressions looking at the cupra

Biggeege

Active Member
Mar 2, 2016
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So on sunday I went to seat warrington to see a few 280 cupra on the used forecourt, they had 2 used on site, first was a white 3door with bucket seats, DSG and sub 8 pack. Second was a red 5 door manual, so standard as they come.

Seats - The bucket seats are nice, but not £1k nice as I have recaros in my fiesta ST as standard. - I felt like I needed the seat lower but it wouldn't move, the standard seats seem quite supportive, and also go lower than the bucket seats so are more comfortable driving position for me being 6'4. i'm disappointed the buckets don't have the same adjustability.

Interior - HARD PLASTICS, Hard Plastic everywhere! only the top of the dash is soft touch finish, it feels solids but it may be that in my fiesta and captur the plastics are thinner/bendy but don't look as harsh. My wifes comments that the interior doesn't look as sleek as my fiesta! yeah, wow.

The manual gearshift also looks a bit awkward like its a bit high and the plastic squared off gear nooob is a bit ugly. the DSG looks much nicer in the centre console. like they made room for the DSG unit, and had to just fill in where the manual is so it just looks like wasted space at each side where the dsg has the shift pattern. Steering wheel also loos nicer than it feels, hard fake leather....

Maybe some good cleaning products could bring it back to life a bit.

Didn't have a test drive as they were soon closing, but when sat in them, I could see myself in one, but I wasn't sat edging to go out for a drive, the cockpit just doesn't feel like your in something special or exciting or even a 30k car. :think:

they look fantastic on the outside and on the sub 8 pack with the skirts , massive brakes and wheels, so that is a must for me now. Also the rear bench seat looks nice with the alcantara and the whole car fells spacious but with a good seating position.

I then went and sat in a spanker 290 in the showroom, nice car, but again, HARD PLASTIC everywhere. I need to go back for a drive and it might help me ignore the interior downfalls, however the dealer still hasn't called me back after I left my number on the way out. so that's the 3rd dealer now that just seem uninterested unless your sat over the desk signing there and then.:whistle:
 

page3

Active Member
Dec 25, 2015
112
1
Not sure what the problem with hard plastics is? Surely it is letting plastic be true unto itself. The Golf I tried had exactly the same, just in shiny black rather than matt grey.

Personally, I'd rather have no plastic at all in my car, hard or otherwise. Obviously this is only possible in more bespoke makes and I've accepted the SEAT is no TVR.
 

JACUPRA280

Active Member
Jun 18, 2015
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I had the opportunity to take an ST to Scotland a few months back, the interior was constructed from what I can only describe as wheelie bin plastic and the refinement was poor compared to my Cupra.

Each to their own mate, but for me the Fiesta feels shocking inside compared to the Leon. There's no contest whatsoever. The Fiesta feels like a very cheap car compared to the Leon.
 
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andrewpain

Active Member
Jul 5, 2014
1,852
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Meppershall Beds.
most reviews seem to feel that's why the Golf is £3k more across the range.
You get used to it - I went from a Merc E-class avantgarde (luxurious) to my ST FR and the driving pleasure is worth more than ruched leather on the door.
Inside, of course...
 

JDandCoke

Full Member
Apr 28, 2015
97
0
Colchester
A friend has a Fiesta ST and though they are a brilliant all round package for the money and fun to drive the interior, as Jacupra mentions, is not a patch on the Cupra's . The steering wheel is soft Nappa leather on the Cupra not fake leather.


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JACUPRA280

Active Member
Jun 18, 2015
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Somewhere
A friend has a Fiesta ST and though they are a brilliant all round package for the money and fun to drive the interior, as Jacupra mentions, is not a patch on the Cupra's . The steering wheel is soft Nappa leather on the Cupra not fake leather.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It's not just the steering wheel. The front door cards in the Cupra are soft touch at the top all the way down to the start of the door bin. Mine are leather in the middle because I have the winter pack but standard they are alcantara.

The whole of the top dashboard in the Cupra is soft touch while the Fiesta is horrible hard plastic - even my old Polo had a soft touch dashboard!

All of the plastics used from the gearbox up in the car are absolutely fine for a car in this class. I had a 14 plate Golf last year as a rental and it was no better than the Leon. I went down to BMW last weekend with the missus to look at some new Mini's and I sat in practically all the BMW models in the range and I wasn't blown away by any of them (except for the new 7-Series which is ridiculously lush inside) - and that's saying something.

I genuinely laughed when I read the OP because he must be blind if he thinks the Fiesta is anywhere near the Leon quality wise. The Fiesta is no better than an Ibiza inside full stop.
 
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JDandCoke

Full Member
Apr 28, 2015
97
0
Colchester
It's not just the steering wheel. The front door cards in the Cupra are soft touch at the top all the way down to the start of the door bin. Mine are leather in the middle because I have the winter pack but standard they are alcantara.

The whole of the top dashboard in the Cupra is soft touch while the Fiesta is horrible hard plastic - even my old Polo had a soft touch dashboard!

All of the plastics used from the gearbox up in the car are absolutely fine for a car in this class. I had a 14 plate Golf last year as a rental and it was no better than the Leon. I went down to BMW last weekend with the missus to look at some new Mini's and I sat in practically all the BMW models in the range and I wasn't blown away by any of them (except for the new 7-Series which is ridiculously lush inside) - and that's saying something.

I genuinely laughed when I read the OP because he must be blind if he thinks the Fiesta is anywhere near the Leon quality wise. The Fiesta is no better than an Ibiza inside full stop.


I have the winter pack and never knew or realised the middle part of the door card was leather lol!


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Madhatter

Active Member
Jul 4, 2014
141
12
Sat on arse
Let's face it, you don't buy a cupra for a luxurious interior. I frankly couldn't give a flying f#ck about the interior, given the performance this car has and I plan on doing 20k miles a year in it. I personally think the interior is fairly decent quality and very comfortable compared to other cars of this size. I wouldn't get another bmw again, the offset seating position is awful in their RHD cars.
 

Biggeege

Active Member
Mar 2, 2016
9
0
The fiesta is 10k cheaper, it rattles and is made of thin plastics. i didnt feel like the interior reflected a 10k price gap. Obviously you get the mechanical stuff, but just didnt give me the same go kart feeling the fez does sat in it. Probly due to the width. I think i would get used to it but wouldnt be shouting how much better it is inside. Granted it will be much more comfortable and probly solid.
 

Lentäjä

Full Member
Jan 19, 2006
503
2
Helsinki, Finland
Whoa...really?
Biggeege, seriously you claim a Fiesta ST is nicer from inside,
my next door neighbor has one and it might be fun car for ITS CLASS,
but far far away from Leon, you should compare it to Ibiza Cupra.
What i've spent time in Fiesta ST, it looks and feels cheap, fit and finish is not a match for any VAG.

To be honest i find it funny that you say Leon has a hard plastic and blaa blaa blaa and at the same time you mention Ford Fiesta and Renault Captur...yeah those brands are known for being quality feel cars.

And no i dont think Leon is luxurious at any way, it is very nice for its class and superb for its price.
Yes, i would like to have A, B and C-pillars to be cloth trim, but that is it.
Other than that it is a match to any car on its class, BMW 1-series, Merc A and Audi A3 included.

If you dont want plastic, you should look the price range 100k+
 
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Biker

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Oct 6, 2003
1,593
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Northumberland
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The fiesta is 10k cheaper, it rattles and is made of thin plastics. i didnt feel like the interior reflected a 10k price gap. Obviously you get the mechanical stuff, but just didnt give me the same go kart feeling the fez does sat in it. Probly due to the width. I think i would get used to it but wouldnt be shouting how much better it is inside. Granted it will be much more comfortable and probly solid.

If you can see so many issues at this stage you are never going to be happy in the Leon, move on and find something else!
 

Biggeege

Active Member
Mar 2, 2016
9
0
Im saying, the money spent on a fiesta i got awesome recaro seat standard that make the car standout, its by no means in the same quality class,, i think i just had high expectations.

The car ticks so many boxes its unbelieveable for aork and pleasure, i just want it to be the right car, i honestly think it is the next step for me, i just need to drive the thing. No one would buy a fiesta st based on the interior quality! Ha!
 

Madhatter

Active Member
Jul 4, 2014
141
12
Sat on arse
Try and organise an extended test drive in one, I'm pretty sure that will help make your mind up. A fiesta st doesn't come remotely close, having driven one, they handle well for what they are and are good fun. But not a touch on a 280/290. Plus I think ford interiors are very very tacky, perhaps apart from mondeo interiors which are a bit more classy and well laid out. Anyway, make sure you test one if serious. There are plenty of decent hot hatches out there now, but personally I found the cupra the most accomplished all rounder overall. Perhaps too understated from the outside for some but I like that.
 
Sep 29, 2009
1,188
1
norwich
This is a Seat web site do you think owners of a Cupra will say a ST is better.
I had a weekend test drive in a ST and a pug 208 GTI went for the GTI in the end as the quality of the Fiesta was shocking.
Had the GTI for about a year and upgraded to to a Cupra 280, miles ahead of the fiesta even at 10k more. (sorry)
Now if you got the money for a new cupra hold on and get a focus RS.
 
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sf04our

Active Member
Jan 17, 2016
25
0
Are we really comparing the Cupra to a Fiesta ST?? For me the cars are not even in the same league. I was looking at a Focus ST before the Cupra and was made to drive the Fiesta ST by the dealer as it was supposed to be such an amazing car. I wasn't at all impressed with the the fiesta or the focus for that matter, the feel of the interiors, equipment list and most importantly the power didn't even come close to the Cupra. I would recommend a proper test drive with a real opertunity to open the car up and see exactly what they have to offer and then make a judgement.
 
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