Leon Cupra R ground clearance

[annihilate]

Hi everyone

I am thinking about going back to owning a Leon. Used to have a 1.6 which I sold a couple of years ago, and am now maybe looking for a Cupra R from around 2002-2003.

Can anyone let me know what the exact clearance is from the front bumper to the ground, on a standard Leon Cupra R. I currently have problems getting into my driveway, so before I start looking at Cupra Rs, it would be good to know if it stands any chance of getting in the driveway.

Many thanks
Colin

 

[stevegti6]

you should be fine untill you decide to drop it i slammed mine on kw varriant 3 coilovers gone far 2 low but hey i love it just have to be choosey where i go

 

[cap r 225]

13cm from splitter to floor i make it!

 

[annihilate]

13cm from splitter to floor i make it!

Many thanks for that. I think that is going to be too low unfortunately. I shall do some investigating tomorrow though just to make sure.

 

[cap r 225]

you can get away with things by having a good angle of approach. i wouldn't worry about catching the splitter to much either as it's suprisingly durable. sod being sensible mate, go on treat yourself

 

[nibbles]

13cm from splitter to floor i make it!

13 cm is ok until your car is on a tilt, which will shorten that gap by alot i used to have trouble getting in and out of car parks before i lowered the car.
Since lowered i havent been in one since

 

[b1nuzz]

My biggest problem with the LCR is that it has a very long nose. If you are coming down a hill, and then the road in front of you is flat, there is a good chance you will scrape the splitter along the tarmac.

It will also depend which way you park on your drive. If your drive has a steep pavement and then the driveway goes uphill, you will be better off driving on and reversing off, otherwise you will ground out when you drive off forward. you will ground out in the kurb area.

and if your drive goes downwards, everything is the other way around.

As other people have said, if you can take things at bit of an angle, then you cam get away with it a bit more. I have a really steep pavement to get over where i work, therefore i have to swing onto the other side of the road and come over the pavement at about 45 degrees to the road. Sounds extreme, but its the only way i can get out without scraping.

And it you do scrape a little, splitters are only £25 for the stealer, so you can change it quite happily.

When there is a will, theres a way. have fun. its a wicked car!

 

[DannyC87]

I scrape my splitter day in day out getting in and out of my drive. the pavement slopes down in a drain, and the road is heavily cambered, so there is no real option! My splitter takes all the brunt of it up front, and my tow bar takes the brunt at the rear (which only catches when loaded up).

 

[kegger]

I try and go over things diagonally to avoid this... if not just reverse and build a turning spot

 

[DannyC87]

i do reverse in and its still catches

 

[mrwookie]

Catch mine every single day sometimes not matter how hard I try. As said before splitter is a tough little bugger!

 

[annihilate]

Thanks for all your replies. I currently have a 300zx which I measured earlier today and its between 11 and 12cm ground clearance from the front bumper. This has absolutely no chance of getting in the drive unless I can drive in going across the pavement of the neighbours drive. Unfortunatley new neighbours have moved in who own 3 cars (previous owner had one), and so they park either across their drive or just past it. Either way, I can't get in my drive as the angle is cut off too much by the neighbours car. 13cm on the Cupra R has no chance. This wont just scrape, this will end up pulling the bumper off. There is a hugh tree on the grass verge outside the house and the roots have risen the pavement. My dads Rover has about 24cm clearance, and this is only just ok.

Is a Leon Cupra much higher than a Cupra R. I know it has a different front bumper and does not have splitter, so maybe this might be better. I am also going to try and speak to the local council to see if anything can be done about the pavement, although I doubt they will do anything.

 

[Cooper_81]

I also have a steep drive and find that you need to angle it to get up, I have lowered my LC 35mm (approx) and fitted the LCR splitter so its a tad close, it catches any stones on the drive and ye'd be lucky to slide a piece of papaer between the clearance!
Am always weary at car parks and such like, NCP's are a no-no!

Cheers Davie

 

[cupraslayer]

the answer is simple really. as im sure all leon lovers would do! move house! might take a little sweet talking to the mrs but the cars always worth it.

 

[DannyC87]

yep, or get a cupra r; then spent ~ £1500 on hydraulic suspension so you can jack it up to get in your drive

 

[JamJay]

Don't let your driveway put you off getting, IMO, a fantastic car. My prior car was a Honda Civic on coilovers, I kid you not it was an inch (inch and half at very vey most) from the floor but with some careful manoeuvring, I could negotiate the speed hump up to my drive way.

The council should be obligated to fix that pavement, it's dangerous, especially for pedestrians.

You could always "accidently" trip over it and sue them, they'll have it fixed pronto then, trust me.

 

[Lodgey180]

PFFT i catch mine all the time.. im to lazy to buy a new one even though i work at seat parts dept haha
i think il leave it till its haging off till i renew it

 

[b1nuzz]

had to buy a new splitter today. cost me £19.99.

Hardly not worth buying the car for!

 

[annihilate]

Apologies for bring up an old thread, but just to update everyone. Thanks for your comments everyone. You'll be pleased to know that whilst I didn't end up getting a Cupra R, I went for the 1.8T FR 2005 model. I measured the bumper height when I was there and I think it was either 18 or 19cm from the ground, so hopefully this wont scrape when going in the drive. Am collecting it on Thursday, so will try and put some pictures up over the weekend. Will also try and get a few of the pavement/road so you'll know why a Cupra R was not really appropriate.

Cheers
Colin