TopGear New CTR Vs ST Vs New LC

[Ol' Timer]

what did the LCR get in the hot hatch test before? was it around 1:32.9 or something?

Yes. The lap times are here:

http://www.tv.com/top-gear/series-1-episode-9/episode/407247/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;8

Edit. Not sure those lap times mean too much. It depends on the conditions at the time of the test and is it the same Stig anyway?

 

[Hairy]

Just thought id add another quote from their high prase (not)...

"The interior feels cheap and looks infantile. Maybe it's a cost thing, or some sort of hierarchical oppression from on high in VW Group, because we can't see how else SEAT could repackage the Golf so badly. And it rides and handles less well too, plus it's not even significantly cheaper."

All in all not a good day for the new Cupra.

 

[carlt69]

Hey! It's only someones opion and at the end of the day everyone is different

All I know is that I really want a Petrol FR and I would almost Kill for a Cupra in black Now all I need is CASH and lots of it

 

[Hairy]

Hey! It's only someones opion and at the end of the day everyone is different

All I know is that I really want a Petrol FR and I would almost Kill for a Cupra in black Now all I need is CASH and lots of it

Have to admit you are right, if you like it and it's what you want then who cares what any one else thinks. I'm almost sure all that buy one will have a smile on there face when driving it. Personally it's not for me and just doesn't have the same effect on me that the old LCR did. (I was about to buy a CTR but thought I'd pop into SEAT before I signed on the line, I never went back to Honda)

 

[LeoNine]

if you like it and it's what you want then who cares what any one else thinks.

No more car mags for you then......

 

[Hairy]

No more car mags for you then......

Actually it just backed up exactly what I felt about the new Cupra, ever since I first saw it at the motor show I was disappointed with it, but as carl69 points out that's just my point of view and not necessarily correct, every one has their own point of view, expectations and requirements of a car, if it's what you want don’t let any one else tell you you're wrong. I would have loved TG to have said it's the best car in the world, but in my heart I never expected as much and I will be keeping my LCR for some time before looking else where.

 

[Syphon]

Just noticed the Cupra's advertised on the back.

Scott

 

[Jamin Berry]

By the way, the full line up of car's that the Stig tested was, (laptimes in brackets)
New CTR (1:34.3)
Golf GTI Edition 30 (1:32.6)
New LEON Cupra (1:33.5)
Focus ST (1:33.5)
Megane Reenaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 (1:30.6)
Astra VXR (1:32.0)
Mazda 3 MPS (1:32.0)

The Evo Lap times with stability control ON:
Megane: 1.36.15
Astra: 1.40.65
Leon (FR): 1.41.35
Golf: 1.41.45
Civic: 1.42.1
Focus: 1.43.30

So the Megane again was the clear winner here. But looking at this, one would have thought that the cupra is infact slower than the FR, with the FR beating the ST by 3 seconds. Wtf is going on!

 

[Tam]

So the Megane again was the clear winner here. But looking at this, one would have thought that the cupra is infact slower than the FR, with the FR beating the ST by 3 seconds. Wtf is going on!

Over active traction control / ABS i'd guess.

 

[VectraSRi]

with TC on the Focus loses 15 BHP apparently or so i was informed when I took ot out for a test drive. The car handles well and has everything that I want in a car except its not the LCR, only reason I went looking is I had only seen the LCR with 4 seats and was misinformed by the person selling it that they only came wth 4 seats, now I know better and will defo be having one on my return from Sandy climbs.

 

[badtastebear]

What a cr*p right up..really disappointing but then again it's Top Gear for you unless its a supercar no car stands a chance plus its just one magazine's review, if it was all of them then we'd have to worry..We're still looking forward to getting ours (even tho its bloody ages away)

 

[WeeJase]

i don't subscribe to these mags so forgive me but.
what track are they testing them on?
how many times over the last few years have we been saying" ooh thruxton,the leon will be **** here"different tracks suit different cars.
out on the open road/through town/all day on a motroway is where a car should be gauged.
my octavia would be uncomfortable around curborough compared to my old valvers,and almost certainly slower.
my 2p
i'd like a cupra

 

[Syphon]

Indeed. It's all down to what people want from a car.

If I wanted to thrash a car all the time to get power from it and spent 99% of my time on a race track I'd probably be interested in the Civic.

However, the car will be spending 99% of the time (probably 100%) on the road. Nice smooth power that's there whenever I need it is what I'm after. I don't want to be exhausted after every journey trying to keep the revs up high enough to get any enjoyment from a car.

Plus - to quote someone from these forums. "The civic looks like it's from the set of Battle Star Galactica".

Anyway - if everyone goes with the top gear review - there will be civic R's on every corner again. It will be nice to be in the exclusive club again snugly supported in my comfy seats

Scott

 

[slimtater]

Has anyone read the brief review of the Cupra in the freebie supplement with the Top Gear magazine? It completely contradicts the content of the main magazine!!!!

 

[m0rk]

ha ha

excellent

More proof that journo's are good writers, but not interested in cars

 

[ZBOYD]

Anyway - if everyone goes with the top gear review - there will be civic R's on every corner again.

According to Honda, there already will be. They have taken orders for over 500 cars in the UK, so far!! They claim. Common as muck.

 

[badtastebear]

Richard Hammond did a very short piece on the Cupra and look what he said
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/motori...objectid=18110167&siteid=89520-name_page.html

 

[ZBOYD]

Richard Hammond did a very short piece on the Cupra and look what he said
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/motori...objectid=18110167&siteid=89520-name_page.html

I think he wrote that from his hospital bed. Or more likely someone else typed it, and then put his name under it.

 

[warren_cox]

Audi owner magazine ran an article in October that people who had pre-ordered Audi S3's were cancelling orders based on the substandard reviews in the press. They did a full 4 page article to offer some level of comparison of their thoughts against some of the thoughts of the journo's. Now whilst I openly admit that an Audi specific magazine isn't going to be overly scathing of an Audi product, it was a fair and balanced opinion based on over 1000 miles of road travel between Germany to France and back again (for a variety of road types). The report was tangiable, and because the journalist wasn't trying to get the arse end out on every corner the review didn't diminish into a summation of 'as this car wont gets its arse end out it must be crap'.

Journalists have forgotten that they are supposed to provide impartial and independent opinions based on real world examples of day to day driving.

The A3, is the Leon, is the Golf just basically wrapped up in a different suit of armour. There can't be night and day difference between the lot so if the Golf is SO good, they must all at least be fair.

I was talking to Mark at the weekend about it and concluded much of the same that they are writers, not drivers. Maybe they should employee drivers to driver, and the journo's just write up the stories. Wouldn't wash though as they love the perks too much.

When you're spending £20k+ we all deserve a little more transparancy of judgement.

 

[ZBOYD]

AutoCar S3 review on their webby today. A positive one for change

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Audi-A3-S3/224171/

I bet they slate the Cupra now.