Have I done the right thing ordering an LCR?

[jonny disco]

Since putting down a deposit on a new LCR, I started looking into the car properly on this site.

I am now concered that I'll be taking it back to the dealers for..

Boot not opening

Water filling up the foot wells.

Creaky suspension.

Dodgy paint work.

All manor of weird and wonderful intermitent electrical probs that can't be detected by the dealer.

Brake problems.

And worst of all, loss of power/boost. Most of you with this problem have yours chipped (which I very much doubt I'll do myself) but there are still too many people with standard cars having this problem. As someone posted here, if you go to overtake in the face of on coming traffic and lose that much power, the results could be multiple fatalities. And the dealers have no amswer despite fault codes etc.

Should I cut my losses (deposit) and go for a CTR, even though they're ugly?
Warranty repairs are one thing, but I would have to take a day off work everytime, which is unexeptable, £18,000 is a lot of cash to me. I would be p1ssed off beyond believe.

 

[TonyS]

Not had any of these... Mind, got mine 2nd hand off the dealer owner. The only thing I think is wrong is the brake wear sensor not working. I am changing my pads soon anyway, and am going for the 'beeza cupra r pads without the sensor.

Go for it... You will be grinning for days

 

[Cran]

No problems at all with mine, done 9000 miles from new. (not chipped).

 

[ZBOYD]

If a percentage of happy R owners was taken you'd probably find they are the majority.

When your content, you rarely say so, maybe every day every one should say, car is great loving it today no problems, what a car

Its more common when you have a problem you tell people about it, and that in honesty is what this forum is for, as its people coming together to gain knowledge and see if people have experienced similar issues.

Im sure the CTR is not all sweetness and light either when it comes to the crunch, most cars will have issues at some point.

I've not experienced any of those except the creaky rear suspension, which went away and hasn't resurfaced, so ive come to the conclusion it was likely a stiff bush, though i will ask them at 1st service to take a look.

Im on my second Leon in 3 years and ive nothing but praise for them, the R is a great car, best ive owned so far, and a pleasure to drive, i tried a CTR as my mum has a Jazz, and the dealer offered, yep they are quick, but i was happier driving home in my old Leon Cupra, it had more usable day to day power to me, than screaming around the redline all the time.

 

[warren_cox]

Ditto, despite a few teething problems AmD are looking into my lack of turbo problem which happens once in a blue moon. Other than that its the most fun I've had in a 'VAG' (says a lot about me!) for some time. Read Platinum's R32 string if you want some confirmation!
Plus they're rare. Once you've got it you'll love it - trust me I'm a doctor (actually i'm not but trust me anyway)
:car:

 

[Madmcs]

Had my LCR now for three weeks and had some of the problems mentioned - Brake light sensor slow to react, creeky suspension, rattle from wiper mechanism (i think thats where it is - going to dealers on Wednesday).

I still cant help loving the car - you havent made a mistake, trust me!

One of lads here at work has a CTR and has been in and out of the dealers more times than a care to think. As i write this, it's at the dealers (and has been since yesterday) trying to fix a total of three rattles. Since getting the car he has a new drivers seat and a full suspension strut on the front passenger side. So in my opinion he is no better off than the rest of us.

You may get the odd problem, but you will always be left with a smile on your face when you drive it!

 

[edgary]

Nice going!

Jonny,

I still don't have a Leon Cupra with me, but I have been researching for the best car I could afford for about 6 months now. I saw a Leon at the dealership not long ago and I just loved the way it looks. Then I started doing some research on it and I found this forum which has been a true blessing since I had a lot of questions and concerns with things that I had been hearing about the Leon. But now I am confident that I made a smart choice with the Cupra and I hope you soon stop being worried about it.

Let us both truly enjoy these Leons

 

[jonny disco]

Thank you for all your comments.

I hadn't thought of that, people only write about problems they've had!

Creaks etc I can live with, I've currently a renault owner! Was more paint and turbo problems I was concered about, but I guess a dozen or two owners out of at least a 1000 in the UK isn't too bad (althought who knows how many S3/TT owners?).

Just hope I'm luckier with this car than I have been in the past.

 

[mark sheerin]

"Have I done the right thing ordering an LCR?"

No I'm afraid you have. not ..I've just seen the paperwork and apparently you are having it delivered somewhere in Bucks...

of course the delivery address should have been...

136 Ripon Road
Harrogate
Northern ENGLAND

Oh and don't forget to fill the boot with Stellla first..
a couple of tarts keeping the seats warm for me wouldn't go amis either..

 

[jonny disco]

LOL at the edit Martin!

Think I'm just being paranoid.

I think it's the nicest looking beast around for the money, it's quick enough and it seems bolted together well.

I should just stop worrying!

 

[mark sheerin]

I have a friend whos getting a new company car and a budget of 30k...he's looking at Audi's at the moment...

seriously in his position I would get an R..

He's going to be paying extra in company car tax just to drive an Audi when he could have more fun in a SEAT and save himself about £50 a week on his tax bill.

Am I the only person now who doesn't actually care wether I have a Merc or BMW or Audi etc

I used to drive Mercs .. I had three brand new ones but when I look at them now and the prices I just think what poor value for money they are.

 

[Diamond Dave]

I've had mine about 8 months now and it's only been back for a dodgy speaker connection ( although they NEVER listened to me when I told them what it was on the first visit ) and needs to go back for the paint has come off the rear badge so it now reads UPRA R.

Other than that no probs at all, before that I had a 01 Ibiza Cupra and had no problems AT ALL in 2 years of driving it. oh, apart from a dodgy CD select button, very minor IMHO.

You'll be fine and don't worry about it!

 

[warren_cox]

And if you didnt get the coop and went CTR you wouldnt have the benefit of all this top notch knowledge / forum info (+ all the wit and my cars faster than yours type stuff). We may all have had the odd niggle but we're all still here and not defected elsewhere.

 

[ronnie939]

Mate, mine has done 7k and not one of these problems. :devil:

 

[dangel]

You're asking the wrong question. Why not ask if anyone here wants rid of their LCR?
I've had plenty of niggles with my car, but i still love every drive

 

[platinum]

Done the right thing - I would say so

Most people start to wonder if they have done the right thing - especially spending towards £20k. I have a friend who is car saleman. Worked at Renault, Ford, Audi, Jaguar, BMW and now Mercedes. Every model of each manufacturer has had problems. But so what.

Apart from w**king, which is of course free, I have never had so much enjoyment out of something. Well maybe the misses when she is up for it!

The R is a top car, but I would definately advise the performance upgrade as it takes it to another planet.

 

[Crafty]

You have to remember that car sites such as this only get posted to when there is a problem - something described as a common fault may exist in half a dozen cars or so.
About 7/8 months ago it was reckoned there was 1500 Rs in this country, at the time I guess there might of been 150 R owners on here, thats 10% and of that 10% how many reported a problem ?
You are talking about very small percentages here.

You also get posts that say "Ive noticed xyz on my car, its going back to the dealers", only to scroll down to find that "xyz" is perfectly normal and there is no problem - ticking from the engine bay is a favourite for this ( its the boost solenoid ).

I picked my car up in July, had to take it back because the rear bumper didnt clip into its carrier properly and a door needed adjusting on the striker, easily sorted out and havent had a single thing go wrong since then, and I've done just over 5k. I think the problems should of been picked up at PDI, but no-ones perfect and the dealer sorted everything out quickly, so no big deal.

Far as I can work out on the water leak scenario is that it was older ones that did that ( before Rs were added to the lineup), the new ones have different door seals to fix this.

Boost/Running problems - Dont have a problem with modifying cars, far from it but I am not a fan of generic chips, I think they are the wrong way to go and from what I've seen of 1.8T engines ( inc. non SEAT ) I reckon they are partly to blame in some cases, especially when other mods have been carried out.
One of the reasons I went for a 1.8T engine ( was looking at S3s originally ) is its potential, +50-60lb/ft for a chip is bloody good in anyones gbook, you will be hard pressed to get that out of the 2.0 vauxhall engine in astras! and it'd cost you *thousands* to get that out of a Civic TypeR ( if its even possible.. ).
The other thing to bear in mind that the 1.8T MAF is a rather delicate thing, and sticking induction filters etc on can damage them thanks to oil on the filter / increased dirt getting up the intake.

Forget the problems that you read about and look forwards to getting the car. And remember, you're driving an Audi/VW at half the cost!!

Edited to say: Mines black, allegedly the worst colour for soft paint, I've got one tiny stone chip thats not even visible from 5/6 feet away from the car... No expensive protection stuff, just meguiars ( sp?! ) 3 stage polishes.. might try some zymol etc soon..

 

[jonny disco]

Thanks again for putting my mind at ease guys.

It took me a year to make my mind up on a new motor, started looking at the Clio Cup, then the CTR, I am pretty damn sure I've made the right choice, I honestly believe there isn't anything that is [arguably] the better of all worlds. I'm not bothered if the clio is faster round a track, it fails in most other areas.

Excuse my ignorance, what the hell's a MAF, see it mention quite a bit.

 

[Fl@pper]

Im sure the CTR is not all sweetness and light either when it comes to the crunch, most cars will have issues at some point.

*cough* engines*ahem*


mind you there is good and bad in all cars - if they were all perfect then warranty wouldnt be such a selling point

 

[edgary]

Originally posted by Fl@pper
*cough* engines*ahem*


mind you there is good and bad in all cars - if they were all perfect then warranty wouldnt be such a selling point

And about warranty. How much time do you think it's necessary for all the factory problems to arise?