Anyone see Fifth gear?

[Snoopy]

Fifth Gear
TIFF
Golf R v Leon Cupra R
Discuss.

EDIT link added
http://fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear/videos/shoot-outs/shoot-out-vw-golf-r-vs-seat-leon-cupra-r

[JulesS3]

Obvious result 4wd>fwd every time 

[PenguinGTI]

I'm a bit surprised by that to be honest. I know Tiff is a great driver but some might call into question his distracting female assistant and also his apparent liking for spinning the wheels mid corner and on exit.

Obvious result 4wd>fwd every time 

Not always. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ILpBM8oVo

Sometimes the weight advantage and the transmission loss advantage can be enough to clutch it.

On balance though I think it was the golf's capabilities which one it. The Seat is also effectively a Rocco R some might add.

Hmm, I'm surprised. It is interesting one. I'll leave it at that.

[FroGTI]

They won't let me view their video here in France

So here's me getting my own back

So, what’s quickest – expensive four wheel drive Golf R, or cheaper, two wheel drive Leon Cupra R?

Should read "which is quicker".

[Exonian]

There are so many sporty VAG models available now that it really is a nightmare to decide which is the best car for your bucks.
Obviously if money is no object the Golf R is your destiny, but if you throw in a bit of 'value for money' into the pot and you have a real hard choice on your hands. The Leon FR petrol with the 2.0 EA888 is starting to look a real bargain compared to the rest of the range (if value for money can be used with present car prices which are rather extortionate).
I still reckon the Golf GTI is the best allrounder with it's broad scope of abilities combined with comfort/luxury/cachet, however if the Cupra R was around last year when I was buying I think I'd have plumped for that over the GTI just for the extra sportiness at the expense of the comfy motorway ride of the GTI. The standard Cupra in mk2 Leon guise has never quite done it for me but the Cupra R has again sort of provided us with a slightly unique proposition within VAG even if it doesn't have the killer looks of the mk1 Cupra R.
IMHO anyway, I'm certain most of you on here will disagree and so would the general public. VAG know this and thus the Cupra R will always be a niche car, which is quite nice and will suit the potential owners of them just fine!

All I can sum it up with is it's nice we've got the choice, back when I started drving GTIs the only choice was Golf GTI, Scirocco GTI/GTX or Jetta GLi/GT/GTI

[PenguinGTI]

There are so many sporty VAG models available now that it really is a nightmare to decide which is the best car for your bucks.
Obviously if money is no object the Golf R is your destiny, but if you throw in a bit of 'value for money' into the pot and you have a real hard choice on your hands. The Leon FR petrol with the 2.0 EA888 is starting to look a real bargain compared to the rest of the range (if value for money can be used with present car prices which are rather extortionate).
I still reckon the Golf GTI is the best allrounder with it's broad scope of abilities combined with comfort/luxury/cachet, however if the Cupra R was around last year when I was buying I think I'd have plumped for that over the GTI just for the extra sportiness at the expense of the comfy motorway ride of the GTI. The standard Cupra in mk2 Leon guise has never quite done it for me but the Cupra R has again sort of provided us with a slightly unique proposition within VAG even if it doesn't have the killer looks of the mk1 Cupra R.
IMHO anyway, I'm certain most of you on here will disagree and so would the general public. VAG know this and thus the Cupra R will always be a niche car, which is quite nice and will suit the potential owners of them just fine!

All I can sum it up with is it's nice we've got the choice, back when I started drving GTIs the only choice was Golf GTI, Scirocco GTI/GTX or Jetta GLi/GT/GTI

You are completely right. I think the Golf R is indeed the "money no object" car. But bringing value into the consideration, the R just isn't 5 or 6k more car for me.

I like the Cupra R - I think the styling is just right on it. I always thought the current Cupra was a little too subtle. I think the car it presents a bigger problem for however is the Roc R. Same engine and drive layout but more practical? And cheaper if not the same price?

But... I'm more than happy with my GTI 

[Snoopy]

I don't see the styling difference between the new cupra and cupra R  :embarassed:

For me money is not the deciding factor, so the Golf R is not the automatic money no object buy of the group for me. Feel, drive, ride, engineering quality to me are more important. Its why we owned two mk1 leons over the mk4 golfs at the time they to me simply had a better ride/handling ratio.

[PenguinGTI]

Standard Cupra http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3nX1_QpqgaTmu8amV1pS0VVeVqXPIHKjnNFcuzKucYFYr77Q&t=1&usg=__NerFzeL6_eMdzQ2Q2-RGfSYc6iU=

Cupra R http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWfDUXFa1UYyW_hIgkVeAj_wdBNBnblyhzBtetTlfDjAOh_14&t=1&usg=__JFe9EMnebccVYK5ea6P2rpbkh8w=

I don't see the styling difference between the new cupra and cupra R  :embarassed:

For me money is not the deciding factor, so the Golf R is not the automatic money no object buy of the group for me. Feel, drive, ride, engineering quality to me are more important. Its why we owned two mk1 leons over the mk4 golfs at the time they to me simply had a better ride/handling ratio.

I didn't mean the R is the ultimate because it's the most expensive.

I think the extra power and 4wd of the R make it a more usable car. As for driving feel I have no idea because I've never been in one. For me though the 4wd would be a fun benefit but that's really all the R has over the GTI in my eyes.

I wonder how long before Seat offer a Cupra 'D'. (I know they have the FR diesel but it's not quite the same)

[Exonian]

I think the Cupra will stay a petrol only model unless VW unleashes the twin turbo 4 pot TDI engine into an R model and SEAT manage to get the nod from VW HQ to use that motor. Unlikely but possible.
I think VAG will try anything to try and make SEAT profitable, so more niche models are a definate possibility.

Snoops, I too spent a good few years driving SEATs during their golden years in the late nineties and the first few years of this century while VW languished somewhat in their production of drivers cars.
In fact I still own one now 
The differences between the regular Cupra and the R are very subtle (apart from the massive 19'' wheels) but they are there in the background making the car just look a little different. The mechanical differences aren't huge either but again there's just that little extra there. As a package it just looks a bit more special and hopefully feels a bit more special too, otherwise the extra £3k over the standard Cupra really does look steep. For me, I've always felt the Cupra just lacks a little something to round it off, the R has that something and it ain't a lot, so it's a shame it's taken 5 years!

[dbcperformance]

"the video you are trying to watch can not be view from your country or location"