S3 to Cupra R...
Well the time came to move on from the S3. 3 doors needed to become 5 doors.
The early maths wasnât good and looking at the classifieds I just couldnât stretch to a decent enough low mileage S3 Sportback, so the painful decision to change was sealed.
Now I love 4wd, but the options werenât good. The Subaru STI was cheap enough £20k for a delivery mileage 10 reg was tempting, but the boot is tiny and rear space is pretty tight. At the other end of the scale an Insignia VXR looked like a bargain, plenty big enough but a 2.8L and the way road tax and petrol is going seemed like a bad idea. That also ruled out a late R32.
My missus has a Leon FR and itâs always made the S3 feel very plain. The seats hug you, the steering wheel is meaty and the exhaust sounds like it has a pulse. I couldnât get anything much slower than an S3 so the Cupra R seemed like a good option.
It has the same engine as the S3 but clearly failed on 4WD. But then they have become a bit of a bargain. £27k new with all the options ticked, one of these today on a 60 reg can be yours for £18k or less if you drop some spec. Found myself a fully optioned low mileage Speed Blue one.
Comparison-
+âs
· Sounds great, but thatâs a speaker in the cockpit rather than the real deal.
· Seats actually feel like they belong in a hot hatch- much better than standard option in the S3.
· 19â is a manufacturer option and therefore rides much better than my S3 did on 19â wheels and standard suspension.
· Lack of Bose isnât as bad as I thought, hardly notice the difference.
· Exhausts look the business.
-âs
· Wheelspin, had forgot about this, but it rained solid for a week after picking it up- 3rd gear wheelspins all the way...
· When Seat face lifted the car- they changed the steering wheel design and you canât see the speedo below 40mph....doh
· No heated seat option.
A great compromise, but not a brilliant one.
Thank you for all the help over the past 3 years....i'm sure i'll keep stopping by.....maybe you'll let me into Audi International...
Well the time came to move on from the S3. 3 doors needed to become 5 doors.
The early maths wasnât good and looking at the classifieds I just couldnât stretch to a decent enough low mileage S3 Sportback, so the painful decision to change was sealed.
Now I love 4wd, but the options werenât good. The Subaru STI was cheap enough £20k for a delivery mileage 10 reg was tempting, but the boot is tiny and rear space is pretty tight. At the other end of the scale an Insignia VXR looked like a bargain, plenty big enough but a 2.8L and the way road tax and petrol is going seemed like a bad idea. That also ruled out a late R32.
My missus has a Leon FR and itâs always made the S3 feel very plain. The seats hug you, the steering wheel is meaty and the exhaust sounds like it has a pulse. I couldnât get anything much slower than an S3 so the Cupra R seemed like a good option.
It has the same engine as the S3 but clearly failed on 4WD. But then they have become a bit of a bargain. £27k new with all the options ticked, one of these today on a 60 reg can be yours for £18k or less if you drop some spec. Found myself a fully optioned low mileage Speed Blue one.
Comparison-
+âs
· Sounds great, but thatâs a speaker in the cockpit rather than the real deal.
· Seats actually feel like they belong in a hot hatch- much better than standard option in the S3.
· 19â is a manufacturer option and therefore rides much better than my S3 did on 19â wheels and standard suspension.
· Lack of Bose isnât as bad as I thought, hardly notice the difference.
· Exhausts look the business.
-âs
· Wheelspin, had forgot about this, but it rained solid for a week after picking it up- 3rd gear wheelspins all the way...
· When Seat face lifted the car- they changed the steering wheel design and you canât see the speedo below 40mph....doh
· No heated seat option.
A great compromise, but not a brilliant one.
Thank you for all the help over the past 3 years....i'm sure i'll keep stopping by.....maybe you'll let me into Audi International...