GTI v. Cupra

[RobS23GTI]

The reviews of the new Leon Cupra are now out and it looks a serious rival to the GTI (not Golf R as they are talking about a Cupra R 4wd in the near future).

Nice bit of extra power with added options on the Cupra 280, at a comparable price to the GTI. I'm not too sure on the interior, and I guess residuals will be worse, but it looks a quick machine especially with the mechanical diff.

What are peoples thoughts on the SEAT?

[Gingernick]

the 3 door looks nice

still not taken with the dash though, but its miles better than the old one which was a hideous slab

it well equipped, its fast..its an attractive proposition

its certainly better then the last one that had a very harsh ride

you pays your money and you takes your choice...I suspect residuals wont be as good as the golfs which may either impact pcp costs or make it a better used buy.

[Gingernick]

the Golf gti hits the sweet spot for me when it comes to overall running costs
its cheap to tax, its cheap (for me) to insure and its reasonable on fuel

as much as I would like and extra 50 horses...could I use them...and how much extra would it cost me


unknown at the moment...but in three years time my mortgage will be gone and then I might fancy a golf R or a cupra R.

or they might do another anniversary edition golf just in time when I come to change..who knows!

[corgi]

This seems to offer a reasonable perspective:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Seat-Leon-Cupra-280-2014-CAR-review/

It certainly makes the PP on the GTI seem a bit mean when, for about the same money, Seat gives you the adaptive chassis and a proper brake upgrade as well as the funky diff...

I guess the Leon interior will not be as good as the Golf (that's been my experience over the years)... If I were buying then it would be a tough choice, even taking into account the better residuals on the Golf...

[Poached]

Interior looks the same as the Golf, Aldi and so on...

[monkeyhanger]

It’s very much plainer around the dash than the Golf – cheap flat black plastic in abundance – needs something to bring it out a bit like the Golf’s carbon-fibre effect glossy bits. MK4 is the best looking Leon yet, but I always find myself liking the external look of a SEAT for a year, then thinking it looks a bit stale. They don’t seem to age well IMO. A MK5 Golf is still a nice (if unremarkable) looking car, I couldn’t say that about the MK3 Leon, which I liked when it was new.

It’s a beast for the money though. Going on past Leons, residuals will probably be around 47% (we’ll have to wait for the GFV figs to make a proper call on that score), so what you save upfront against an R might be lost later, making you no better off.

[CraigW]

It may have more power but your sacrificing quailty imo. Badge snobbery at its finest here - Seat's are not in the same league as VW. Simple

[Poached]

Last generation differences were more visible. I thought the Leon looked like an MPV or Seat Altea.

This MQB platform looks more uniform than ever. Looks better value on paper than a pp GTI.

[corgi]

Last generation differences were more visible. I thought the Leon looked like an MPV or Seat Altea.

This MQB platform looks more uniform than ever. Looks better value on paper than a pp GTI.

As monkeyhanger points out, from a value perspective it is about the TCO which is not, in this case, so clear cut.

That said, some might decide to go with the Seat on the basis of its greater performance...

[dippy_x]

Let's focus guys...

Importantly the colour mfd seems to have a lot more colour!