Thinking of buying an LCR - help?!

[cuprakel]

Hi guys,

I currently drive a Mk5 R32 but i'm buying a house in the near future and to reduce my monthly expenditure i'm considering selling it and buying an LCR. Before the R32 i had a Mk4 ibiza cupra so i know the LCR will be just as good.

Looking to spend around 6k, with a max of 50k miles. Preferably standard and must be in good condition - does this seem a realistic budget or am i way off the mark?

what options did they come with as standard?

any tips or anything i should look out for when buying?

thanks in advance

 

[AntneeUK]

I think as standard you're looking at something like:

• 18" wheels
• Brembo brake callipers
• Twin intercooler
• CD multichanger
• Climate control
• More aggressive styling
• Electric tilting, adjustable, heated mirrors

I think the turbo is different to the standard Cupra but someone else will confirm (I think LCR is KO4 and LC is KO3).

There are some options like Recaro seats (LCR210: Front and Rear/LCR225: Front only) and sat nav/double-din head unit. I don't think that cruise control, heated windscreen or heated seats were available.

 

[warren_cox]

I think as standard you're looking at something like:

• 18" wheels
• Brembo brake callipers
• Twin intercooler
• CD multichanger
• Climate control
• More aggressive styling
• Electric tilting, adjustable, heated mirrors

I think the turbo is different to the standard Cupra but someone else will confirm (I think LCR is KO4 and LC is KO3).

There are some options like Recaro seats (LCR210: Front and Rear/LCR225: Front only) and sat nav/double-din head unit. I don't think that cruise control, heated windscreen or heated seats were available.

Heated windscreen was a standard item! I think it may have had heated mirrors too.

Other options depending on when you bought the car (between 2003-6) were Tracker Retrieve, SmartNav, 6 disc CD changer (in glove box)

The LCR was the only one (I believe) to have a black cloth rooflining, steering wheel with R logo and red top tab, ESP & EBA, 4 pot Brembo's.

Age will determine whether you get a 210 or a 225, the 225 BAM engine codes seemed to appear from 53 plate onwards, but DON'T use teardrop mirrors to identify 225's as it didn't seem an exact science (many 210's had oblong shaped mirrors).

Not a huge difference in real world terms between 210/225.

If your buying a higher miler check for the usuals such as even tyre wear, scuffed alloys, straight panels, but see if the water pump has been done (plastic impellors give up), and for warped discs/pinking brembos as they are expensive and show signs of a very hard life!

 

[J0N]

Mine has'nt got a heated windscreen.

 

[AntneeUK]

No, mine neither. What I mean by heated windscreen is with heating elements in it, rather than blowers. One of the things I really wish we had.

Had forgotten about the black interior, as opposed to the beige of the rest of the range. The black is much nicer IMHO.

Also, the 210 doesn't have an "R" on the steering wheel, it's just a leather wheel. The 225's wheel is much nicer to look at (never driven one so don't know how it really is) and does have the R on the bottom of it

 

[J0N]

What I mean by heated windscreen is with heating elements in it, rather than blowers. One of the things I really wish we had.

Like in Ford's, Henry's best invention?

 

[warren_cox]

Like in Ford's, Henry's best invention?

ahhh, I see! I always used the up arrow on the air con system as the heated windscreen clearer.

I always found the lines in Mk1 Ford Focus windscreens gave me eye craze as they were so thick. Maybe the newer ones are better.

 

[AntneeUK]

Yeah, my mate has them in his Racing Puma and it does blur your vision a little, especially street lights, which start to twinkle

 

[J0N]

I know we're going way off topic here, (sorry, I'll stop in a minute) but Ford have been doing these for years and I'm suprised it has'nt caught on with other manufacturers.

 

[cuprakel]

Thanks for the help guys.

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of upgrades that i'd be interested in anyway, maybe the recaros. Shame they didn't have heated seat upgrade as its one of the best things about my golf, especially with the recent climate.

Unfortunately i'm already familiar with the waterpump shattering, the warped discs and the fading calipers from when i had the ibiza cupra!

Did the 210 and 225 have different front bumpers?

As for the heated front windscreen, i think ford patented the technology and thats why it's exclusive to them.

 

[Jerry*]

Bumpers on the Cupra R 210 and 225 are identical.

Both cars look identical externally except that that the 225 has red "R" badges whereas the 210 had black ones.

Some LCRs have the HID headlamp conversion which is well worth having.

The later model teardrop door mirrors look nicer IMO.

Depending on the body colour, some models have dark silver alloys while others have dark grey alloys (mine is silver with very dark grey alloys).

Mine is a 2004/54 model and doesn't have the 6-disc changer but does have the Tracker Retrieve fitted. I've not noticed the heated screen elements in the glass but maybe I'm overlooking that. It has the teardrop door mirrors, HID headlamps and the Recaro front seats and I think its great.

I paid £7,995 for mine in late summer 2009 and it had 41k on the clock. I think if you buy privately £6k should secure you something similar nowadays, but if buying from a dealer you may get a 2003/53 with 50k for that kind of money. As ever though, there are some absolute sheds about that people try and sell as straight cars.

Not sure it sounds as good as an V6 R32 but it goes well enough and will be just as quick when I get it remapped

J

 

[AntneeUK]

Both cars look identical externally except that that the 225 has red "R" badges whereas the 210 had black ones.

Wrong, the R badge is the same, it's the Cupra logo that is different. Externally they're almost impossible to tell apart, with the exception of the tear drop mirrors. Some 210 owners say theirs have the tear drops but I'm not convinced that they're not upgrades fitted by previous owners TBH.

As for heated seats; the Recaros (which are worth seeking out IMHO) are textile and don't need heating. IMHO you only need heated seats on leather, but as I say, that's my opinion only.

 

[wayne lcr]

the mirrors must be options when you bought it cos mine a 210 and its got teardrop mirrors and i bought it from a woman and she defo want the type to mod anything

 

[AntneeUK]

Was she the first owner? What plate is it on? I'm 99.9% sure that it was never an option, it was either square or teardrop, you got what you got. My 52-plate 210 has the square mirrors on, though I have considered putting tear-drops on

 

[wayne lcr]

yea iam 2nd owner she bought it brand new i got the papers and mine a 03 but dont quote me on this i think they changed on a 03 to the teardrops

 

[AntneeUK]

Gah! A discussion that's come up plenty of times in fairness. Lets just say that my 52-plate (registered in Jan 03) has square mirrors, but some 03s have tear-drops, even though they're still 210s

 

[wayne lcr]

sounds that way and if yours is registered on jan 03 then it should be a 03 not a 52

 

[wayne lcr]

unless it fell b4 the brackets i carnt remember when it changes

 

[AntneeUK]

Number plates change on March and September 1st, so a 52 plate is registered between September 1st 2002 and February 28th 2003

 

[wayne lcr]

yea just add a look and mine was reg 20/05/03