After a random offer for my car I sold it and find myself looking for something different. I'm looking at a seat Leon Cupra but know nothing about them anyone any experience with them? I had a list of cars in my head but tend to be leaning towards the Leon at the moment.

The list

Bmw 330 ci
Volvo t5
Clio 182
Saab 9-3 turbo
Seat Leon Cupra
Focus st 170

Space isn't an issue as anything big I can get in my van if needed I want something fun to drive but comfortable for the odd long trip any input will be great fully received I'm not rushing out to buy just want to know anyone's opinions experience with above cars cheers

 

the bmw hands down

 

Cupra. BMW are shit. Volvo are great but a bit juicy. Rainhaults are ____. The Saab...Yeah why not, although the 2.0 is ok you will always want the 2.3 which puts you back in the Volvo.

The Focus? Why is this not top of the list (we are Ford fans)?

 

Any vag with the 180bhp 1.8 turbo engine is always good fun, but need a remap imo otherwise there abit bland.

The clio 182 is a bloody fun car to throw around, i had a phase 1 172 clio and sold it because i was worried id get banned, just wanted you to drive it like a hooligan!

 

I'd be looking for a DC2 Integra Type R.


Cheers,
Grant

 

List was random the Leon I was looking at has had big mods and has a print out for 280 bhp not seen it yet though as I'm trying to find out a bit about them first and I get the cash for my car tomorrow so no point looking till I have the cash in my hand

 

T5 or Saab for me.
330 is a lovely motor though but a lot have fallen into the wrong hands over the years and unless really well looked after will give problems.
Seats are nice too,focus st 170 are way too juicy for the minimal performance they offer.
Everyone raves about the Clio but their not for me,weak plasticky French crap.

 

Only thing I ever hear bad about the 20vt engine is a couple of mates have had issues with sensors and electrical parts


BUT they swear by them and wouldn't touch a ford lol

What budget have you got as we could maybe come up with alternatives if we knew

As above the integra tyre r should be on the list, bloody good fun

 

I'd go for the Cupra for the simple reason I had a play with one in my Stage 2 ST and although he couldn't pull away from me, I couldn't make up the gap but this was only 3rd and 4th gear I think from memory. No idea what he was running but a wild guess would be decatted exhaust, definitely mapped and most probably an intercooler. Don't know what would've happened if we carried on but I was quite impressed with it. Certainly the most fun you'll have in that list when fettled aside from a T5 volvo which is essentially the same engine the Focus ST uses.

 

If you want cheap fun, the Clio 182, ideally a cup if your budget can stretch. handle and nippy little cars.

drawbacks, noisy, check dephaser pulley is ok, correct fuel, plugs. I didn't buy mine for the luxuries just a nippy hot hatch.

 

Go and road test a few and see what you think.

 

If you're serious about a Leon eliminate the ST170 from the list straight away! Long story short we were getting one transferred between dealers within a group, through a series of fuck ups(like losing it, then finding it round the back before transferring it to being told it wasn't for sale and was being moved - for us FFS!) it got sold over a weekend, then we found the ST170 we've got with lower miles and one owner. We test drove a Cupra R before though and while it didn't feel as lively on a back road it definitely got down the road better, unfortunately it was about 2k out of our budget, all the other Cupra's were too high mileage, too old, wrong colour etc..

My choice would be a very tidy leon, remap and subtle drop, given your shortlist. Personally i think the leon has aged better against the focus.

 

I have 2.5k but hoping to keep it to 2k if possible

 

Another nail in the coffin for the Focus with that budget and its age, DMF! We've just done ours at 75k so most in your budget will be coming due for it. £600+ job,

 

Hence I want to keep a bit a side incase of any nasty surprises hopefully there won't be any but want to air on the side of caution

 

At that money I wouldn't touch any of the cars mentioned and I'd opt for 172 instead, you'll get a good one for £2k - the performance diff between a 182/172 is negligible.

The rest of those cars is bottom money.

ST170 will just disappoint unless you ring the ass off it - then the petrol bills will kill you.

 

bmw's are shit? Bit of a bold statement would you care to expand on the reasons that a bmw is a shit car? Build quality? Reliability? Economy?

 

I had a 330 convertible and it was boring as hell!!!

 

I've got a 2001 Leon Cupra, its a tidy motor which has never been any issue and has a Revo map and a cat back system on it. Its never gonna win any speed awards but its really quite good fun out on the twisties and I gave £800 for it. My mates E46 M3 cant get away from me up to 85 mph.

 

I'm not surprised there just over 200bhp and weigh in at around 45,000 tonnes lol

 

im back in a skoda octavia vrs with a stage 2 map nice interior dont look dated less common then leons under estimated imo

 

you cant go wrong with the whole vag range for cheap and cheerful tbh. I have had a mk4 gold gti for 3 years now and its never missed a beat. Had to replace the odd suspension part and clutch but its still going strong and cheap to run and maintain.

I'll probably keep it till the engine falls out tbh cause it does everything you would want it to do

 

The Leon sounds like fun Ian.

 

Nice to hear from someone with experience of one did you get it re mapped or was it done and did you notice a lot of difference I think I'd get one done previously if I can find a good one

Have looked at theses didn't think I'd get a good one with my budget though

 

but that's because you've got used to 57 million hp cars

it's got to be quick enough to get him into trouble and have some fun, but not quick enough to cost loads if it goes wrong

the 330 seems to fit the bill seeing as you can pick a ratty one up for a grand and if you've got 4 doors it's a bit more sleeper if you take the badge off the back

 

My friend has got a Cupra R, running c280bhp and he kept my completely standard E46 M3 honest from ~20mph until about ~75mph when I started to pull him in... so I would have thought a healthy M3, driven properly, should have the edge over a c220bhp Cupra.


Cheers,
Grant