Potential return to the Cupra community! Leon Cupra ST 290 2WD...

[stevoibizacupra]

Hey guys,

I've been a member for many years having had my beloved mk3 ibiza cupra for a long time and then a red mk4 Ibiza cupra. Both great little cars and many good memories.
I moved to Czech republic from the UK a few years ago and ended up converting to VW, currently I have a Mk6 Golf GTI 5door with 19 inch Edition 35 alloys. Its a cracking car and still serves me very well.
However, yearning for something a little bigger and slightly more practical has brought me back to the Seat frey and I'm potentially going to buy a Leon ST 290 which is for sale here - see pics.

Looks like it has full seat dealer history, 74k km (45000 miles in old money I believe) and almost every conceivable option fitted - black package, black performance (had the Michelin tyres as new too but I'm sure they are long since gone), brembos and alcantara buckets, seat sound, pano roof, etc etc.

The brembos are in my mind a bit of a pain as we need to change tyres here for winter - on my golf i bought a nice second set of rims off a Golf R, but i know finding rims for brembos can be a pain, so thats something niggling in my mind.

I'm wondering if there is anything i need to look out for at this point? Any key troublesome things or red flags to avoid? Not sure if this engine is chain or belt driven, my golf is chain but i know the EA888 here is quite different.

Apologies also if there is also already a thread on this topic, please burn me if so

 

[Damo H]

Hey guys,

I've been a member for many years having had my beloved mk3 ibiza cupra for a long time and then a red mk4 Ibiza cupra. Both great little cars and many good memories.
I moved to Czech republic from the UK a few years ago and ended up converting to VW, currently I have a Mk6 Golf GTI 5door with 19 inch Edition 35 alloys. Its a cracking car and still serves me very well.
However, yearning for something a little bigger and slightly more practical has brought me back to the Seat frey and I'm potentially going to buy a Leon ST 290 which is for sale here - see pics.

Looks like it has full seat dealer history, 74k km (45000 miles in old money I believe) and almost every conceivable option fitted - black package, black performance (had the Michelin tyres as new too but I'm sure they are long since gone), brembos and alcantara buckets, seat sound, pano roof, etc etc.

The brembos are in my mind a bit of a pain as we need to change tyres here for winter - on my golf i bought a nice second set of rims off a Golf R, but i know finding rims for brembos can be a pain, so thats something niggling in my mind.

I'm wondering if there is anything i need to look out for at this point? Any key troublesome things or red flags to avoid? Not sure if this engine is chain or belt driven, my golf is chain but i know the EA888 here is quite different.

Apologies also if there is also already a thread on this topic, please burn me if so


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IMO Best colour, best model and best seats Very nice!

 

[stevoibizacupra]

IMO Best colour, best model and best seats Very nice!

Thanks Damo, seats seem incredible rare here. Are they comfortable for long trips? Much adjustment/ lumbar support?

 

[Damo H]

Thanks Damo, seats seem incredible rare here. Are they comfortable for long trips? Much adjustment/ lumbar support?

For me they're great. My 280 didn't have them and I have to say both standard seats and the buckets I have now where on a par over long journeys (2 day driving trip from north of England to South of France). Only seats that I feel have been better than these for long journeys where by Sparco buckets in my MINI. Not many people liked them as they hugged you. But on long journeys I didn't feel as tired compared to any other seats I've had.

But I also believe seats are very subjective. The buckets seats on the Mk3 are very more a visual thing as opposed to functional. They have the same bases as the standard seats, and although there is more shoulder support I'd say its marginal and not as impactful as the bolsters.

 

[Maypack]

One thing to note about the seats is that the white trim , especially on the base bolster and side bolster where you get into the car is prone to cracking and splitting.

Its a common problem that quite a few people have reported. Some have been lucky and dealer has repaired under warranty, some not so lucky and they had to pay for repairs themselves.

Otherwise great seats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Damo H]

One thing to note about the seats is that the white trim , especially on the base bolster and side bolster where you get into the car is prone to cracking and splitting.

Its a common problem that quite a few people have reported. Some have been lucky and dealer has repaired under warranty, some not so lucky and they had to pay for repairs themselves.

Otherwise great seats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah maypack makes a fair point. It seems to be more common on the Buckets too.

But 40,000+miles on the 280 and 20,000+ on the Carbon and no issues here (Crossed fingers).

 

[stevoibizacupra]

Thanks gents, this particular one has warranty until June , hopefully that's not why the guy is getting shot of it now.
He says interior is like that of a brand new car, so we'll see when I see it in the flesh. Assuming the white trim is some faux leather, sounds like it might be a good idea to use some leather conditional/moisturizer on it before it gets that bad?

 

[stevoibizacupra]

So, hijacking my own thread here - the car above fell through, missed a nice one there I dare say, and nothing else good has some up in Czech yet, so I've expanded my horizons to checking the German market.
I've had an import company go and view a car for me today. Price is pretty good, around 21000EU for a 2017 300 4drive in Mystery blue with almost all the toys bar the cameras.
Down side its done 100k kms in its short life, and been on long life service, although well maintained and just had big service with haldex, front and rear brakes, its had DSG done at 60k and all oil changes within timeframe. I would change to more regular oil changes if i buy it but I do not do anywhere near these miles.

The front end is riddled with stone chips, have done a bit of reading and i know its common , but doesn't half show up badly on the blue.
Mechanic who inspected it has been thorough and sent me literally hundreds of photos, including paint thickness testing all over it.

Main faults he has pointed out which concern me slightly,
'oil leaking on valve cover' (translation may be wrong, mechanic is Czech, but I attach photos here - is this a common /nothing to worry about fault?
Drivers seat bolster cracked and i think needs repairing before long - does this look to be potentially repairable?
The only other issues he has highlighted are kerbed alloys on one side and the pebbledashing of stone chips.

Any thoughts? Lemon? Good one? The cars are pretty rare here, certainly seems like more for sale on UK websites I've recently checked, and know that there probably wont be many more opportunities.

cheers!