This will be my first non-
Cupra SEAT, having had 4
Cupra SEAT's over the past 15 years or so. I considered waiting for the new
Cupra (expected sometime next year) but the cost of running and insuring one has got a bit steep in recent years. Plus with the rumours of an AWD
Cupra R likely to land in the next 3 years, I'm prepared to save up for a few years and wait out the market.
Having driven the 1.8TSI, its a really nippy and torquey engine, much better than the older 1.8T with similar horsepower. Despite coming from a 360hp Mk2
Cupra, I'm not that bothered about the loss in performance, because most of the time you rarely get to unleash that kind of power anyway. It's actually fun having something you can be more revvy with, you couldn't really rag about too much in a high power
Cupra, they tended to go to warp and prone to lots of power understeer.
The fact its £400 a year cheaper to insure, and over £100 cheaper a year to tax, not to mention more fuel efficient is all money in my pocket. I also think it won't suffer too harshly on residuals, its a quick, highly specced and affordable car so should remain a good used buy in the years to come. Where as
Cupra's will continue to suffer tough residuals because of the running costs involved.