upping your bhp/torque.

[black04ctdi]

I've come from owning a '96 RX-7 RZ for the last 6 years to my '04 Cupra TDI 150, and it's really winding me up getting used to FWD again!
The RX had no tricks or toys, it was pure RWD FR layout fun. No TC, stability control, (not even airbags!) it was great!
Had to get something a bit more sensible, and am loving the torque and economy of the Leon (and getting used to not being noticed in the street anymore!) but the traction from a standstill sucks (have rubbish no name tyres - so that will be fixed) and I'm not finding the handling easy to get used to either. I know its a case of adding ARBs etc but it is strange driving a 'normal' car! I guess I shouldn't expect it to be something its not....

 

[warren_cox]

Although my car is majoritively FWD, I still find that the electronics and the Haldex mean it will be very difficult to upset the balance. You'd have to drive like an utter c0ck to throw it off the road as it is so forgiving.

Having come from 2 Leon R's I would say that I love the urgency of 4wd (neo 4wd) off the line. They grip like glue. Also I find the newer platforms much more tractable than the Mk1 Leon. I adore the Leon Cupra (R), but at times felt that I didn't trust it completely particularly with respect to the back end braking free. It wasn't a progressive brake away that you could easily recapture if you lost it. I very much like a car you can read, and to me the LCR was a bit understeery (I had dogbone and brace, but no LSD), and the back end was at times unreadable. The Mk2 Leon will be far improved I guess, and the S3 just a lazyboy tool. You can drive it at 99% even if your a clown, straight out of the box, but you can't grow with it like you can a RWD / FWD.

That said it is totally dependable so I shouldn't knock it. It has got me out of a few tight fixes one of which I think saved the life of a motorcyclist who was following me on the A43 from Northants. He came flying up behind me at 3 figure speeds just as an old codger in a Volvo pulled straight out of the inside lane infront of me. I had to stamp on the brakes and as I did I looked in the rear view mirror to see a very much out of control bike coming straight at my ar$e end. I swerved dangerously into the space the Volvo had originally been in and the bike just managed to wipe off enough speed to not hit the Volvo, but using my original road space. If I hadn't had the confidence to take that evasive action this would be a very different paragraph. I'm not sure the Leon could have done what the S3 did that day.

So it's swings and roundabouts for me really, whilst I want a driving tool, I do like the thought there are some Jedi mind tricks acting as a safety net in case things get really unpredictable. It's not always 'you' you have to worry about, it's others!

 

[GREY 225]

When you over come the limits of the tyres,ie cornering hard, then i dont think 4wd is going to do much to help you.It is at that point that things like ESP take over and help you out.4wd gives you great traction off the line and with getting on the power out of corners on a damp/wet road easily.If i had a choice id prefer to have a lsd instead.Its interesting that the new ford rs doesnt have 4wd even though they had access to it.Tyres,suspension technology,and esp systems have all moved on now to cope with power better.

 

[rickyjones1209]

well for me my lcr is a million times the car my old wrx was. Granted the scoob was good at standin starts the cupra wud nail it in second third forth and fifth! And for me i enjoy the bit more of a hand full off the line and tryin to control the understeer and lift off oversteer, great fun!

 

[Faisal]

yeah i hate standing starts on my cupra..im still a novice but rolling starts are great,put the foot down and feel the torque humping the road!

 

[cupra.rich]

feel the torque humping the road!

hahahahahahahaha i like that!