More popular? Leon Cupra or TDI

[caribe]

Hi, quick question.

What would you say is more popular?

The Leon Cupra or the Cupra TDI?

The only reason I am asking is I was trying for a while to swap my car for 20VT or an R and had zero interest at all.

Do the petrols have a better following?

Would have thought the diesels in this day and age would be more popular.

 

[BenG]

Don't see that many Mk 1 Leons on the road around me, but it seems the petrol Cupras are more popular among petrolheads as peformance cars.

I can see why, as I regard my FR TDI as more of a motorway cruiser than a hot hatch. The engine is too laggy and unresponsive for 'point and squirt' type driving and also pretty rough and vibey under hard acceleration.

Diesels have moved on quite a bit since the VW 1.9 TDI...

 

[caribe]

Oh yeah the PD is a dinosaur compared to modern day 1.9 engines.

This engine is an age away from my old 320d

Just was surprised that seeing how the TDI keeps its value better that there was no interest in a deal with a petrol.

I like the 20vt cars a lot and since I am only ever on the motorway then I thought I could get away with having a petrol... although 600 + miles easily from my TDI would be hard to give up lol

 

[Brettyboy]

I think the tdi is a good engine & stronger than modern diesel,tuned up right the tdi can be high performance with great mpg

 

[Seal_LCR]

What's the spec of your cupra tdi as I'm after one.

Mileage, year, engine etc

 

[caribe]

73k FSH
2004
MOT/TAX 2013
Black
Standard apart from coilovers.
New brakes, tyres, cambelt, clutch, dmf and service done in last 5k

 

[caribe]

I think they are decent engines as well for what they are, but they aint the last word in refinement by a long way lol.

Was just using a new alfa diesel recently and my god its smooth....

The good thing like you say about the PD is it is easy to tune and get good power from.

 

[M20FES]

With a decent clutch, hybrid and a map you can take the 1.9 over 200BHP, that should compete with the modern BMW diesels.

 

[Seal_LCR]

Post some pictures and a price mate ;-)

 

[caribe]

PM sent

 

[Brettyboy]

Post some pictures and a price mate ;-)

Keep it off the forum mate,this sort of thing should be done by pm or email

 

[Seal_LCR]

Post some pictures and a price mate ;-)

PM sent

Keep it off the forum mate,this sort of thing should be done by pm or email

Errrrrr

 

[caribe]

Sorry. I took it to pm.

I like the tdi as I think it's a great all round car. I just want ideally a cupra R or similar. I just thought the diesels would be gaining in popularity as fuel prices rise.

 

[Brettyboy]

Diesels are built for high mileage unless you do 10k + not worth having 1,they're built for the motorway,i do a least 12k & my daily commute is via motorway,have had diesels for 8yrs now & wouldnt go back to petrol for a daily driver

 

[caribe]

I do about 10k a year on average I would say. Mainly had petrols. I just don't like the power delivery of diesels. I prefer exiting a corner and having tgeb power there.

 

[ozzymyster]

I do about 10k a year on average I would say. Mainly had petrols. I just don't like the power delivery of diesels. I prefer exiting a corner and having tgeb power there.

Diesels have more lower end grunt so if it's power out of a corner ul have more with the diesel

 

[Brettyboy]

A tdi needs 2 be driven differently to a petrol,quicker gear changes as the power is at the bottom of the rev range

 

[caribe]

It's not about the grunt as such. Coming off a corner a d flooring a diesel, there is always a hesitation before the power comes in. I prefer a tuned n/a petrol engine all day long for fast road/track use.

 

[Proff_86]

Can't agree with that, I think having the low down torque makes exiting corners quite rapid, it's all about the right gear and the right rpm, and compared to my old 2005 Ibiza cupra 180, the Leon isn't that far away in terms of real world performance, and that's after owning the Ibiza for 3 years and the current cupra Tdi for 2 years, so I've lived with both for a while.
Recently thought about changing to something else, but I can't find anything with the blend of performance, economy and practicality that comes close to the Leon for similar
Money. In my eyes the Cupra TDi is a cracking car.

 

[Muttley]

The Cupra is far more popular and was produced for longer; it's a sports hatch in the same area as the Golf GTI. The main selling-point of diesels used to be running costs (as the fuel was much cheaper). The combination of diesel + sporty doesn't seem to connect with many drivers in the UK.

Suits me fine. I'm very happy with my Toledo TDI 150 Sport which ticks all the boxes for me - subtle (only a tiny little red TDI badge), well-sorted suspension, economical when driven quietly, power when I need it.

Caribe, you should be setting yourself up for a fast exit before entering the corner. Revs above 2K and keep a little power on all the way through, modulating carefully with the right foot. I notice in your other posts that you've lowered your car by, what, 60mm at the front? That's a very long way down for a diesel, and apart from putting your sump in very real danger, you're probably losing traction on the inside wheel. Is the ESP cutting in?

Brettyboy, there is power all through the rev range, it's just that the range is narrow, 2K-4K.