Yet another hot hatch comparison

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
All fwd and manual.


Not an exact science as driver skill is a big factor, but it's a harmless bit of fun.

A lot of these comparisons now only really consider the R it seems. Don't see many with the 300 anymore.


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Daire92

Cupra 290 DSG
Jan 6, 2016
288
199
Ireland
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Carwow are doing some great videos lately. Would have made more sense to have the Performance Pack Golf GTI in this line up over the Pug GTI. I always find it interesting that people agree the Cupra is a great driving car but the interior lets it down, its not a bad place to be but whenever I get into a modern S Line Audi or M Sport BWM the quality of the interior is always lovely and I feel jealous when I get back into my 290. You get what you pay for I suppose and I'll take power over leather any day.
 

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I agree 100%, I buy a car to drive, toys are fun and have some benefits but a lot are just distrcations from driving the car.

But we are all different so thats why we have all these different cars at different price levels.

I guess untill the MK4 (Which I expect to be 4wd) in drag racing the Cupra will always loose.
But as I can confirm on the road its a different matter.
 
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AndrewJB

Friend to SEAT UK & Cupra Racing
Aug 16, 2007
11,211
484
Maranello
I agree 100%, I buy a car to drive, toys are fun and have some benefits but a lot are just distrcations from driving the car.

But we are all different so thats why we have all these different cars at different price levels.

I guess untill the MK4 (Which I expect to be 4wd) in drag racing the Cupra will always loose.
But as I can confirm on the road its a different matter.

off the line the Cupra will loose out to 4wd but a rolling start at say 30mph is a different matter.
 

xyz

Full Member
Feb 28, 2004
565
204
oxford
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As an all round, everyday car, the Cupra R would be my choice but overall for me, the Hyundai gets my vote. Considering it’s their first attempt, it’s brilliant and I think once it has its facelift/update, the shortcomings will be addressed and the other manufacturers will have to watch out- it also looks better in black than that blue colour. As for the Renault, just what I thought - rubbish. They’re really off the boil over the last few years.
598d669a00c41fbab95f05aec683638b.jpeg



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Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
Carwow are doing some great videos lately. Would have made more sense to have the Performance Pack Golf GTI in this line up over the Pug GTI. I always find it interesting that people agree the Cupra is a great driving car but the interior lets it down, its not a bad place to be but whenever I get into a modern S Line Audi or M Sport BWM the quality of the interior is always lovely and I feel jealous when I get back into my 290. You get what you pay for I suppose and I'll take power over leather any day.


Yeah I've started to enjoy their posts a lot more.

MK3 interior is decent, the facelift is definitely a step up. To me though there's very little to distinguish the CUPRA cabin from the FR. Doesn't feel like you're driving the hot version.

I was in M140 yesterday and it felt miles apart inside. I think the Cockpit feel that both the Audi and BMW have add a lot to it feeling sporty.



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Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
I guess untill the MK4 (Which I expect to be 4wd) in drag racing the Cupra will always loose.
But as I can confirm on the road its a different matter.

From what I've been led to believe the MK4 interior will be a major upgrade.

Not sure where they'll take the performance, some suggest hybrid technology.

If 4x drive will be added too, these things aren't going to be the bargain they once were.

A lot may have to look elsewhere



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zedlor

Active Member
Aug 24, 2017
298
123
Warrington
Don't know why but Mat Watson seems to have something against Seat. In every review he always finds things to criticise that he never does in any other cars. He doesn't even mention half of the tech the Cupra comes with, but mentions it on the others. And comparing the price between the limited edition R and the other standard ones seems a bit unfair...

Other than that I always watch their videos. Just an observation I've made.
 
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FRMike

Active Member
Jun 18, 2018
58
44
Yeah I've started to enjoy their posts a lot more.

MK3 interior is decent, the facelift is definitely a step up. To me though there's very little to distinguish the CUPRA cabin from the FR. Doesn't feel like you're driving the hot version.

I was in M140 yesterday and it felt miles apart inside. I think the Cockpit feel that both the Audi and BMW have add a lot to it feeling sporty.



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BMW interior is lovely but M140i is the same as the cupra in that it doesn’t actually look/feel any different to a regular 1 series just as the cupra isn’t much different to other Leon’s.


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Trout

Active Member
Feb 28, 2018
56
18
But we are all different so thats why we have all these different cars at different price levels.
Very wise words, indeed and needed to be said.
We all have different requirements, opinions, priorities, expectations and preferences in cars and even similar divergence in the same model of car.

The look of the Type R is certainly not to my personal taste. However, each to their own and all that.
 

Blowski

Cupra 280 DSG
Mar 23, 2018
420
200
Next time I have to try and explain to a person what I mean by ‘it just keeps pulling at the top end’ when talking about my Cupra I’ll point them in the direction of this video so they can see how the R claws back at the ‘faster’ Civic Type R.

The EA888 is a gem!


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LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
Carwows "tests" are about as credible as a Trumpean promise.
Having different drivers line up across a runway and race in a line is a nonsense. It's clear some of those guys can't launch a car quickly, that's why the Cupra did the same time as the pirate car but was a metre behind at the line, the Cupra was powering past the Honda at the end. The same thing showed in the roll on. The Honda might have a chance if it lost the 150 kg's of fake aero aids.
Then there's their bike tester, they picked the fattest bike rider in the world and every start he makes, he bogs the bike down. Over 3 secs to 60 on a Panegale V4 is stupidly slow.
Still, it is funny to watch him giggle like a school girl when he wins. Better than Clarkson.
 

Damo H

Remind me, what's an indicator?
Staff member
Moderator
Oct 3, 2012
4,710
2,804
Car Length In Front
As an all round, everyday car, the Cupra R would be my choice but overall for me, the Hyundai gets my vote. Considering it’s their first attempt, it’s brilliant and I think once it has its facelift/update, the shortcomings will be addressed and the other manufacturers will have to watch out- it also looks better in black than that blue colour. As for the Renault, just what I thought - rubbish. They’re really off the boil over the last few years.
598d669a00c41fbab95f05aec683638b.jpeg



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I do like the Hyundai, pity they don’t do an Estate! But then it wouldn’t really be a hot hatch...
 
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Copra68

Active Member
Jun 10, 2013
549
306
The civic is fugly. I fancied the i30n myself but its impossible to get a decent PCP or lease deal as the residual value is expected to plummet, so a good second hand purchase but not worth buying brand new.
 
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