Test drove a Cupra 280 SC this morning

[morini]

The drive was way too brief but it did confirm a few things for me

1. No way would I choose an auto in a car like this. I can see the attraction for people who live on motorways but I wouldn't buy a car like this if I lived on motorways. I know people rave about the VAG DSG but I was completely underwhelmed. Left me cold to be honest.
2. Ignoring the transmission, it's rapid and great to drive. Seemed well screwed together too aside from a whistling noise coming from drivers door seal. That would annoy the hell out of me, but I guess easily fixed.
3. The ride quality is unreal (truly, I exaggerate not). On 19's I was expecting it to be harsh on the badly surfaced roads around the dealer location. It was a revelation! Comfort mode and no jiggling / scuttle shake or general harshness as per our current MK2. In Cupra mode it was also very compliant where I was genuinely expecting it to be unforgiving.
4. I want one!
5. But not at list price (or from this dealer who was, quite frankly, useless and in cloud cuckoo land). It isn't the dealer we bought our mk2 from as he still has not got back to me despite my registering my interest. Todays dealer - we are not offering any discount on the Cupra sir and will offer you a crap figure on existing mk2 (£700 more than quoted on webuyanycar.com). No thanks, showed him the 12.9% DTD are offering and still wasn't interested. How do dealers like this shift any cars?

So, are DTD OK / safe top use? Even if I take the webuyanycar quote the cost to change is thousands less than todays muppet, who would not budge from list.

 

[ma9mwah]

Ive bought from DTD before and its perfectly safe. they just pass you through to a dealer

 

[robdf2]

The drive was way too brief but it did confirm a few things for me

1. No way would I choose an auto in a car like this. I can see the attraction for people who live on motorways but I wouldn't buy a car like this if I lived on motorways. I know people rave about the VAG DSG but I was completely underwhelmed. Left me cold to be honest.
2. Ignoring the transmission, it's rapid and great to drive. Seemed well screwed together too aside from a whistling noise coming from drivers door seal. That would annoy the hell out of me, but I guess easily fixed.
3. The ride quality is unreal (truly, I exaggerate not). On 19's I was expecting it to be harsh on the badly surfaced roads around the dealer location. It was a revelation! Comfort mode and no jiggling / scuttle shake or general harshness as per our current MK2. In Cupra mode it was also very compliant where I was genuinely expecting it to be unforgiving.
4. I want one!
5. But not at list price (or from this dealer who was, quite frankly, useless and in cloud cuckoo land). It isn't the dealer we bought our mk2 from as he still has not got back to me despite my registering my interest. Todays dealer - we are not offering any discount on the Cupra sir and will offer you a crap figure on existing mk2 (£700 more than quoted on webuyanycar.com). No thanks, showed him the 12.9% DTD are offering and still wasn't interested. How do dealers like this shift any cars?

So, are DTD OK / safe top use? Even if I take the webuyanycar quote the cost to change is thousands less than todays muppet, who would not budge from list.

Sounds like a positive review
Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get on with automatics what ever people want to say about DSG it's an automatic and if I wanted one I would have passed my driving test in an auto.
The dealer probably thought or has been instructed not to offer discounts because it's a new car on the market.
At the end of the day it's their loss.
Dtd works like this , they contact dealers for all brands and ask them to meet a discount for a car , you show interest in the car , and place an order with Dtd , they then put you in contact with the dealer , there may only be a couple of dealers nationwide willing to meet the discount so your car could come from a dealer in Scotland , but it's a brand new car and will be delivered to you as part of the deal.
But as you have a manufacturers warranty it shouldn't really matter , the only downside is if you want a relationship with a local dealer you probably won't (unless your really lucky) buy your car locally through dtd.

 

[morini]

Dtd works like this , they contact dealers for all brands and ask them to meet a discount for a car , you show interest in the car , and place an order with Dtd , they then put you in contact with the dealer , there may only be a couple of dealers nationwide willing to meet the discount so your car could come from a dealer in Scotland , but it's a brand new car and will be delivered to you as part of the deal.
But as you have a manufacturers warranty it shouldn't really matter , the only downside is if you want a relationship with a local dealer you probably won't (unless your really lucky) buy your car locally through dtd.

DTD it is then. I am in South Wales, so I guess I could expect a charge to deliver? DTD says free delivery anywhere in England. To be honest, I wouldn't want them to deliver anyway. I would much prefer to travel to wherever the dealer is located and pick it up / drive it back myself. Unless it is trailer deliver I don't think I would be too happy letting any old random delivery bloke drive my car.

 

[jc_boc]

First test drive and it seems we're off to a good start. Been in the new Cupra myself and i was VERY impressed with it, also agree that it would HAVE to be a manual for me. tried 2 dealers too for quates and neither are budging on price. It would appear that DTD are going to have a good few sales through themselves if they can sort the discounts they are offering.

 

[phil_____]

Oops. I posted in the "what we know" thread without spotting this one. Should have posted here. Seems like my thoughts are pretty much the same as everyone else's. Really fancy one of these cars, but not too impressed by the price. And will definitely be buying the manual.
I wonder which dealers in Scotland would be offering the discount. I'm up there a fair bit.

 

[DeanC]

Good review. It worth noting that my car was delivered from a dealer 200 miles away and I have a great relationship with my local dealer who have been great in fixing all the stuff that was wrong with it.

 

[-=Rob=-]

I sat in one last Saturday, straight off the delivery lorry so didn't get a drive, it wasn't prepped or anything. But really like the subtle looks. Itching to get a drive of one

Regarding DTD, they do deliver free but it is driven on road and not on a wagon. So I expect most people on here would like to collect. Looks like dealers could be missing on a few sales!

 

[morini]

I guess I will find out first hand what the online buying experience is like as I just placed my order with DTD.

 

[Gooday]

would be good to find out what dealer DTD are putting the order to?

 

[morini]

would be good to find out what dealer DTD are putting the order to?

There is a clause in the T&C's preventing that.

I quote :-

VII. Confidentiality
1. Once payment of the deposit has been effected the dealer will contact you to introduce themselves. The supplying dealers identity is confidential and you agree as a condition of this agreement that you will not disclose it to any third party.

Kind of understandable really. DTD would go out of business pretty quickly if people knew the dealers willing to supply at the discount. I guess you could ring round every dealer in the country, but life's too short. I wouldn't have the patience. that's for certain (bad enough talking to one dealer let alone lots of them).

 

[DeanC]

If it's any help arval use Sytner Huddersfield and get 20% off.

 

[morini]

If it's any help arval use Sytner Huddersfield and get 20% off.

But I would guess they are a fleet buyer? Think 20% for a private individual on a newly released model might be a bit of a challenge.

 

[robdf2]

There is a clause in the T&C's preventing that.

I quote :-

VII. Confidentiality
1. Once payment of the deposit has been effected the dealer will contact you to introduce themselves. The supplying dealers identity is confidential and you agree as a condition of this agreement that you will not disclose it to any third party.

Kind of understandable really. DTD would go out of business pretty quickly if people knew the dealers willing to supply at the discount. I guess you could ring round every dealer in the country, but life's too short. I wouldn't have the patience. that's for certain (bad enough talking to one dealer let alone lots of them).

I think if you approached that dealer as an independent enquiry you still would not get the deal that dtd would get , I am sure they will have a gentlemans agreement of discounts offered.

And to be honest I would rather use dtd and give them the kick back , the longer they are in business and offer discounts that other dealers can't match the better.

 

[Amir_dan]

Do or don't I get the new cupra ???? Hmmmmm

 

[morini]

So, the trigger is well and truly pulled! Drivethedeal just phoned, confirmed a few things and took a deposit. No backing out now

 

[lc_allan]

Well how much did you save then?

 

[Chris P]

Do or don't I get the new cupra ???? Hmmmmm

Do it...

 

[morini]

Well how much did you save then?

12.5% discount on OTR price (12 months tax inclusive). Be aware that the quotes on the DTD site include 6 month tax by default and you need to add £78 to upgrade it to a year.

Not a massive discount, but not too shabby on a newly released model. Better than paying list anyway! Also get 0% interest finance over 36 months with that price.

Need to sell our MK2 now.

 

[lc_allan]

Thats a decent saving. Dealer I spoke today said I'd be lucky to get a few hundred. With little no movement.