LCR or CTR?

[paulr602]

Ive got a 1.8se leon which is fine although lacking in pace.

Had it 2 yrs and was looking to buy a CTR which i wanted prior to getting the leon. Didnt have the money at the time and the Leon looked nice. Wasnt aware of the cupra variants and only when i bought it did i find this site and more about the car.

Anyway, had a drive of a CTR and wasnt as impressed in the speed as I thought i would be. Fast yes, but didnt get as much of a kick in the back as I thought i would, salesman took me out after to prove its pace and he floored it, hit the redline in a few gears, but do I really want to have a car that has to be revved so much, i have my bike for that.

Anyway, whats this go to do with a LCR, well Im considering an LCR over the CTR, never thought id buy another leon as I tended to think Id go for something different but im struggling to find something that has the pace, looks and great spec that it has. Not only that it so much more individual.

Can someone please answer a few questions for me please?

Suspension, my 1.8se has sports suspension as standard which can be a little harsh.....is the cupra or cupra r the same sport suspension? or is it harder?

Understeer - mine feels like it understeers a lot, are the cupra and cupra r the same?

Gearbox, I know the LCR has a six speed out of the TT, is the standard cupra just the same as my 1.8se box?

Im thinking of a silver one, i read something about silver track cars being sold at dealers! whats that all about?

Can anyone give me any other thoughts to sell an LCR over a CTR to me?

cheers

 

[honeyman]

LCR is better specced, can be remmapped, more comfortable I believe. CTR probably will out handle an LCR but in a straight line an LCR should have no problem. cupra's and LCR have 6 speed box. suspension wise there probably isn't much difference.

 

[CupraSteve]

i doubt theres much in handling unless your gonna push it like a professional track driver

 

[honeyman]

Also the LCR has Brembo 4 pots which are fantastic for stopping, downside though pads are expensive,

 

[paulr602]

would the suspension be the same as my 1.8se?

 

[honeyman]

No the springs are shorter I believe (only slightly) IIRC the LCR have what Seat called agile chassis technology, basicly soft springs coupled to uprated dampers ( abit crashy over bumpy roads if i'm honest)

 

[honeyman]

off topic, I just had a tussle with a CTR and to be honest it was easy (okay mines been remapped) CTR are hyped up a bit if you ask me.

 

[paulr602]

quite like the look of the CTR but interior wise its not great, seats in red are nice and the gear position is good but the feel of plastics etc isnt great. Design of dash isnt that great either. I do llike the leon for the interior as well as exterior. It has a feel of a quality product over the ctr, I had a civic yrs ago and the interior then wasnt great although it did work fine.

 

[The Cupra Kid]

DONT GET SILVER!!!!! I found out the hard way that most of them have been ragged to bits...then Seat sell them to punters like me...and then you find out the hidden history when you clean n polish it for the first time! BASTAR*S

Back to the topic tho...I've also driven both, I too was also going to the Honda side, but wasnt that impresssed with the CTR, ok its built well and goes well, it will drive totally different than a LCR cos its non-turbo and you have to work it harder, but get the revs up and its a great moto...oh and its a Honda, I will last forever!!!! It cost much more to insure and running costs could well be higher too!

The LCR is a stable beast, until you put your right foot down. where as the CTR is a pure racer, the LCR is easier to live with...much easier! The ride is hard, but better than the CTR, but the Civic seats are much, much better...if you can get the Recaro option on the LCR get them!

Cant report much oversteer, sticks to road like glue. My lbiza was all over place, understeer city...LCR is much better...CTR is like a go-kart tho, it will perform much better on the twisty bits...although the ride is as hard as nails!

Just for info...I've managed 38mpg out the LCR, dealer told me 30mpg was the best he had out the CTR.

I plumped for the Leon...it was better for me, might not be better for you...more grown up, but push it and your in for a real treat

 

[225]

ahh the old ctr vs lcr debate...
LCR is better equiped, more comfortable, easy low down power delivery, can remap to 270 odd bhp for £500, has lots of safety features, brembos, bit rarer than ctr plus will be quite a lot different to your current leon I would say.
CTR will handle better and theres nothing in it performance wise with a std lcr and a remaped one will be faster but wont leave it for dead, they do have to be driven properly mind. CTR is a bit more rawer so depends on what you want.

 

[jonathanp]

think people worry too much about the handling of the LCR, its not the kinda car you can jump in and be a track day legend you have to know what your doing, if you do then you'll probably realise its better than people give it credit for.

topgear did the hot hatch test on their track between the LCR, new golf GTI, new CTR, cooper s works and meganne 225 cup, CTR was first and LCR 2nd with 0.1 sec difference (1min 32.9 IIRC) others were a second or so behind

EVO have done similar tests and found the LCR to be quicker than other hot hatches as well, even cars like the focus RS, astra vxr and focus ST. Chances are on another day it could be slower I think the cars are all within a 10th of a second of each other

not saying the LCR is the best handling hot hatch out there because it isn't but I'd say its just as good as some of the new fwd hot hatches on the market

 

[The Cupra Kid]

did i mention DONT GET SILVER? If you do (and to be honest, i thinks is the best colour) make sure you go over EVERY panel....just a word of warning!

 

[The Cupra Kid]

topgear did the hot hatch test on their track between the LCR, new golf GTI, new CTR, cooper s works and meganne 225 cup, CTR was first and LCR 2nd with 0.1 sec difference (1min 32.9 IIRC) others were a second or so behind

And that was a 210bhp model

 

[The Cupra Kid]

or was that 5th gear????

 

[225]

Bit of a generalisation about the silver ones I would say, anyhoo true the LCR isnt a bad handling car but the ctr is a fair bit lighter and does handle very well. When I was in the same boat a couple of years ago I opted for the LCr as it was far more comfortable, was a lot rarer, had lots of toys, easy power delivery, felt a lot higher quality inside and as I discovered was fantastic once remaped!

 

[jonathanp]

And that was a 210bhp model

its was an 05 reg or higher so would have been 225

 

[The Cupra Kid]

Ok...be careful about buying a Silver LCR thats done around 5k and is about a year old, most by the sound of it have been used as Track day cars by Seat UK....I have first had experience about buying on of these hidden history cars!!! Mines going back!

 

[The Cupra Kid]

its was an 05 reg or higher so would have been 225

Im getting my Top Gear and 5th Gear mixed up...sorry, hey, its got "Gear" in the title

 

[jonathanp]

yeah I know the one you mean they had the CTR and focus RS, LCR (210) was just over half a sec slower I think

 

[The Cupra Kid]

Thats the kitty!

Yeah, buy a LCR