Looking to buy a cupra ST 4drive

[Azza_]

Evening All,

Long time since i logged into here after selling my old mk1 cupra in 2014..

Looking to possibly come back to the fold and im looking at a 69 plate cupra 4drive, its going to be my work car / toy on the weekend along with my bike. Currently driving a 67 320d.

My main questions really are

whats real world economy like?
Any common issues / what should i look out for.
Spec anything i should be trying to get? (BMW everything was an option)
Coding? coming from BMW i done a lot of subtle changes with bimmercode and esys(i know vag use vagcom is that still worth it?)

Still debating wether its a good idea to get something daft like this or stick with old faithfull

Cheets

 

[SuperV8]

I find real MPG (honest john) has matched up well with all my previous cars for MPG estimates.

Cupra's seems to be between 25 - 35 mpg

 

[adambolus]

i went from a mapped B7 passat estate to the 2018 (68) Cupra 4drive ST. Best choice i made!
Comfortable on long trips, fits the dogs in, managed to fit a tow bar for the small camping trailer.

I drive 13 miles to work and average around 33MPG, but obviously drops fast when booting it.
Think my overall average for the last couple thousand miles is sat around 27-28 MPG.

I have the LUX model so keyless, pan roof, carbon trim heated buckets and wireless charger etc but it has a few extras fitted after like coilovers all round, alcantara steering wheel from an R

 

[Black300ST]

I bought my 2018 300ST 4 Drive back in November. Superb car. SO impressed with it.

I actually made the change from a 15 plate Audi SQ5 3.0 Bi-TDi. So I was used to the 30+mpg and up to 50 on a run and it was stage 1 mapped to 365bhp and 600lbsft so it had plenty of grunt.

I'm actually glad I made the swap. The Cupra gets nowhere near the MPG (I get around 23-26 knocking about fairly briskly and I've had up to 40 on a long motorway run) but it's bags more fun than the Audi but just as practical. The 300ST 4drive is the ultimate sleeper too. Nobody even gives it a second glance. You can leave it anywhere and not worry. It's rapid even in standard trim (catches so many by surprise) and it's fantastically practical. I don't think there's anything around to match it for the money.

One thing I would say in hindsight is that I wish I'd gone for a slightly earlier model like a 2017 without the OPF filter as it makes it harder to tune. I do like the fact the OPF cars don't pop and bang and are quieter (I'm too old for all that nonsense) but from a tuneability point nobody wants to touch them. If I'd have got a car a year older it would have been a lot less hassle.

I also wish I'd got one with heated seats (mine hasn't) and I do miss that from the SQ5, but I don't miss paying £800 for front discs, which is one of the reasons I sold it.

Not really had mine long enough to talk about issues (not had any yet) but the technology/features and driver info on the car is amazing. One thing I have done is take out the packet of silica gel in the expansion tank, as they are prone to splitting and that can screw up your heater matrix which can be pricey to fix. Literally takes 2 mins with a pair of longnose pliers.

One thing I would also say is if you do get one, get some sound proof adhesive matting for the rear wheel well. It's only about 30 quid. Did mine and it makes the extra in-vehicle noise you get from the open boot of the estate WAY better. Makes the car feel much higher quality and more refined.

 

[Azza_]

Cheers gents, its a 2019 plate ive looked at so im assuming from my reading thats an OPF car. so may look at 18plates.

Ive seen some lux cars but again from my reading that pack was stopped at some point, i did see the keyed ignition and think for a 20k+ car thats a bit old school, but also probably that bit safer than keyless.

going to try and get across to look at the below car in the next few days, would be happy to hear any thoughts on it.

Used Seat cars for sale. Seat Dealer Newcastle Upon Tyne | Redgate Lodge

Redgate Lodge is a leading car dealer with superb offers on a wide range of used SEAT models for sale in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Book your test drive today.

www.redgatelodge.co.uk

Done some quotes on insurance and the 300bhp cupra is 50quid a year cheaper to insure than my 190bhp 320d, got to love insurance companies.

 

[black_sheep]

Cheers gents, its a 2019 plate ive looked at so im assuming from my reading thats an OPF car. so may look at 18plates.

Ive seen some lux cars but again from my reading that pack was stopped at some point, i did see the keyed ignition and think for a 20k+ car thats a bit old school, but also probably that bit safer than keyless.

going to try and get across to look at the below car in the next few days, would be happy to hear any thoughts on it.

Used Seat cars for sale. Seat Dealer Newcastle Upon Tyne | Redgate Lodge

Redgate Lodge is a leading car dealer with superb offers on a wide range of used SEAT models for sale in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Book your test drive today.

www.redgatelodge.co.uk

Done some quotes on insurance and the 300bhp cupra is 50quid a year cheaper to insure than my 190bhp 320d, got to love insurance companies.

There are hardly any 18 plates available. They stopped production in preparation for the WLTP cars, which were then significantly delayed until late September 2018.

I ordered my Cupra in March 2018, and it arrived in November 2018. I was fortunate that SEAT honoured all of the options.

Post WLTP cars include EZ, EZ Lux or R models.

In terms of tuning have a look at the Revo or Racing Line sites for more info - my independent VAG specialist has been running his Golf R Estate with Stage 1+ since new with the same engine/running gear with no issues.

Another option is F31 335d xdrive shadow edition - similar performance/price.

 

[Slickric21]

I think you’ll enjoy the car, 2019 is a good age and although it has the GPF it will have the superior 7 speed DSG and the latest revision Virtual cockpit with the full range of layouts.

The GPF isn’t a problem in regards tuning (someone said above somewhere that no one wants to touch them for that, never heard that one before !?!? ) if that’s the road you want to take but it may make a few hp less than a non-GPF car.

Only thing that lets these cars down imo is the interiors can be a bit squeaky and rattly, so you may spend some time chasing down and fixing those from time to time.

 

[Azza_]

Yeah, a friend has a 2021 M5 comp and hes had the GPF gutted and leib sensors put on to fool the ECU, but to be fair 300bhp or there abouts would be fine for now being that its still technically going to be my work horse.

My BMW has a couple of squeeks in the warm weather (door seals rubbing on the gloss trim) that send me nuts, so if interior build quality is that bad i might loose my mind, any threads on squeeks and rattles would be the first thing i look for

 

[Black300ST]

Cheers gents, its a 2019 plate ive looked at so im assuming from my reading thats an OPF car. so may look at 18plates.

Ive seen some lux cars but again from my reading that pack was stopped at some point, i did see the keyed ignition and think for a 20k+ car thats a bit old school, but also probably that bit safer than keyless.

going to try and get across to look at the below car in the next few days, would be happy to hear any thoughts on it.

Used Seat cars for sale. Seat Dealer Newcastle Upon Tyne | Redgate Lodge

Redgate Lodge is a leading car dealer with superb offers on a wide range of used SEAT models for sale in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Book your test drive today.

www.redgatelodge.co.uk

Done some quotes on insurance and the 300bhp cupra is 50quid a year cheaper to insure than my 190bhp 320d, got to love insurance companies.

That looks nice. They do look good in white. One thing I forgot to mention is check the water level as they are prone to water pump issues and it's not a cheap job cos virtually the whole front end has to come off.. Mine started losing water slowly and ended up needing a new water pump. it had been leaking a while because there were coolant marks dried on the sump.

Regarding the OPF and tuning, which somebody doubted, here's an extract of an email I got from Awesome (probably the biggest northern VAG tuner) when I tried to get my car tuned there to Stage 2:

"With regards to OPF deletes, it’s not something we are all to happy to deal with, and we certainly wouldn’t recommend it due to this making the vehicle no longer road legal.
Your vehicle will instantly fail an MOT if the OPF has been deleted; and we have heard in the past of some customers running OPF deletes and cat deletes having had their cars taken from them after roadside MOT’s.

We can supply the part; but we won’t offer any advice on how to get around any of the laws or mot tests unfortunately"

I got a similar answer from VRS. They were somewhat reluctant.

So I've actually had it done anyway at a private garage but now I'm wondering what's going to happen come MOT time. It took 7 hours to swap my downpipe over so that's going to be a pain every year if I have to revert back unless I can find a friendly MOT place.

 

[Slickric21]

That’s all about removing an OPF.
Completely different to what you said.

You said “harder to tune” or from a tune ability point nobody wants to touch them.
Just just nonsense.

They are tuned by ALL the main VAG tuners (Unicorn/Rtech/MRC) too many to mention, all the local guys and ALL the off the shelf companies Revo/APR/Racingline/TVS

There is NO problem going to a stage 1 tune with GPF in place.
Higher levels of tune, yes it needs removing, but loads of places will do this for you also.

 

[Azza_]

So another question, what are the standard hatch 300's like?, im talking mainly about grip / torque steer the 4drive arent as plenty as the standard cars (although i do prefer the bus look of the 4drive) just hedging my bets incase i cant spot something in bus form i like

 

[Black300ST]

That’s all about removing an OPF.
Completely different to what you said.

You said “harder to tune” or from a tune ability point nobody wants to touch them.
Just just nonsense.

They are tuned by ALL the main VAG tuners (Unicorn/Rtech/MRC) too many to mention, all the local guys and ALL the off the shelf companies Revo/APR/Racingline/TVS

There is NO problem going to a stage 1 tune with GPF in place.
Higher levels of tune, yes it needs removing, but loads of places will do this for you also.

Well I struggled to get people to do it as you can see (if you've read it) from the email from Awesome. And I got the same response from VRS. Neither wanted me to remove the GPF because of MOT issues. I've eventually got it done, yes, But now, I have the potential issue of problems come MOT time.
So in hindsight, I wish I'd gone for a pre GPF car. It would have been a lot less hassle, that's all I was trying to say.

No need to be arsey.

 

[Slickric21]

So another question, what are the standard hatch 300's like?, im talking mainly about grip / torque steer the 4drive arent as plenty as the standard cars (although i do prefer the bus look of the 4drive) just hedging my bets incase i cant spot something in bus form i like

Most owners will say they handle better and are much more fun to drive.
They lose traction from a standing start to wheel spin/hop, but once moving from a drivers point of view would probably be superior in every way, faster too.

 

[Azza_]

is there a definitive cut off for non-gpf cars?.

Most owners will say they handle better and are much more fun to drive.
They lose traction from a standing start to wheel spin/hop, but once moving from a drivers point of view would probably be superior in every way, faster too.

Yeah ive read that they have a limited slip diff as standard and wheel hop like my old cupra might be solved / lessened with an uprated dog mount.