Which one gti or cupra

[damoegan]

Save a bit and get an ed30  

I was driving a leon today after mapping it, it just didnt feel like a quality car, after all the interior is one of the most important aspect of a car, its what you look at and use whilst driving it (something the french dont understand) and although the Seat is a very good car you will always look at that awfull dashboard and wish you had the VW.

Other than the interior, i would have the leon for the simple fact its cheaper for big power.

Thats what I did, save a little more and get a ED30 

[jhtrophy]

Save a bit and get an ed30  

I was driving a leon today after mapping it, it just didnt feel like a quality car, after all the interior is one of the most important aspect of a car, its what you look at and use whilst driving it (something the french dont understand) and although the Seat is a very good car you will always look at that awfull dashboard and wish you had the VW.

Other than the interior, i would have the leon for the simple fact its cheaper for big power.

if the interior is one of the most important aspects of a car, buy audi, bmw etc, not a golf! as for the french comment!!! there about driving, thats what they do, i will worry about dashboards when im 70, back on topic, would have the cupra any day over the golf, my opinion.

[Boothy]

Cupra would be my choice from your selected vehicles. Your clearly looking at a sports car so, buy the quickest. If they both handle the same then the golf wouldn't even enter the equation, unless you really can save for an ED30? Who gives a rats arse about the interior when your bombing down a B road or smoking off the line at a traffic light grand prix? The interior is better in the golf but once your used to it, its just an interior IMO.

[winrya]

Save a bit and get an ed30  

I was driving a leon today after mapping it, it just didnt feel like a quality car, after all the interior is one of the most important aspect of a car, its what you look at and use whilst driving it (something the french dont understand) and although the Seat is a very good car you will always look at that awfull dashboard and wish you had the VW.

Other than the interior, i would have the leon for the simple fact its cheaper for big power.

if the interior is one of the most important aspects of a car, buy audi, bmw etc, not a golf! as for the french comment!!! there about driving, thats what they do, i will worry about dashboards when im 70, back on topic, would have the cupra any day over the golf, my opinion.

I disagree, the s3 interior is very similar and no nicer imo and the 1 series doesn't compare.  Very bland and very cheap.  Different strokes for different folks but most of my driving time I just want a well built, nice interior and a car which eats up the miles.  The cupra (and french) cars just don't do that part well enough. I'm sure on a perfect Sunday on a perfect road they may well be brilliant but I haven't had chance of a fun drive for about 6 weeks so the balance just doesn't work for me.

Ref the comment about golfs looking the same, I have to say I can barely see a difference between any leons apart from the K1.  Wheels and exhaust, anything else different?  The cupra is cheaper for a reason, drive both, speak to your friends and see what you think.  Also, I'm sure you'll find the k03 more punchy that the k04 under normal conditions (without a remap of course)

[Saint Steve]

Would you decorate your living room in Black and white strips if you were a Sunderland fan??  

If you can live with it whilst sat inside it, buy a Cupra.


As been said zillions of times. If you dont mind what the inside looks like of a car, buy the Spanish made Leon.

If you want German build and a Badge, get the VW.

Residuals i disagree with the comment of Seat's being stronger. They aernt!!.Thats why you can buy a newer Seat car for the same as an older VW Golf GTi.

Do the maths.

[PDT]

Save a bit and get an ed30  

I was driving a leon today after mapping it, it just didnt feel like a quality car, after all the interior is one of the most important aspect of a car, its what you look at and use whilst driving it (something the french dont understand) and although the Seat is a very good car you will always look at that awfull dashboard and wish you had the VW.

Other than the interior, i would have the leon for the simple fact its cheaper for big power.

if the interior is one of the most important aspects of a car, buy audi, bmw etc, not a golf! as for the french comment!!! there about driving, thats what they do, i will worry about dashboards when im 70, back on topic, would have the cupra any day over the golf, my opinion.

I already have a BMW and agree, that interior is fantastic compared to most but the golf is a close match to most audis when it comes to interior quality.


Personally I wouldnt want to own a french car as build quality and reliability is important to me as are cars that hold their value, but if you can look past the downfalls and shortcomings of french car manufacture then yes, they do drive well but just not my thing personally.

[SteveTDCi]

I suppose i will be a little biased since i own a cupra but i'll give it a go,

current car Leon Cupra, so far lost £1500 in 15 months

previous A3 S Line TDi DSG lost £7500 in 24 months

and before that

Golf GT TDi with lots of toys inc leather lost £8250 in 36 months

Golf + A3 lost far more money and i would consider them not that stong on RV, the Leon is much better due to its lower cost price. I sold the Golf becuase it caused me back pain and the A3 was dull, dull dull and i hated DSG. The Cupra, i have no intention of selling it, its brilliant even the thirst for V power doesn't put me off. I did consider the GTi and amost got one, but for me it has to have cloth interior as the leather just looks cheap. Looks wise i prefer the leon, interior, well there are less squeeks in the leon compared to the golf and i actually prefer the dash in the leon, the door panels are a bit scratchy in the leon and genrelly the GOlf and A3 are finished slightly better, the A3 much better than the GOlf but the GOlf not much better than the Leon. If you were to compare the Mk6 Gti to the Leon then i would say its much nicer inside.

Given the coice all over again then i would pick the Leon again, I find it very comfortable, i like the looks and the dash and don't find the build quality that bad. The leon has had 1 fault and thats a broken CD, oh and its much better equipped, the Golf had the wheels replaced, a dash vent replaced and the convienience module replaced, the A3 had to have the door handle refixed twice and the BBS split rims went really mankey.

[jhtrophy]

there you go then, have to say, dont think a polo is any better built than a clio ( infact their naff) or a golf a megane, a golfs dash is nicer to look at yeah, as for residuals, good golfs hold their money, mk1, 2 and 5s, 3 and 4s no. passats,no, nothing to do with the badge. and having owned 10 french cars, one was a wrong en, mith mate, boring one at that.

[roamer1711]

have to say having had a Mk1 1.6 Golf GTi on 80(yes Iam that old it was mint at 5 years with abarth wheels) plate the Mk5 is nothing to shout about and I have a new Mk5 GTi its nice but it does not give the same feeling against ( back in time Mk4/5cortina's) normal cars

[G60s GO]

This is why posting questions like this on forums are so great, plenty of honest opinions some might be a touch biased, but a good mix all the same.

Like I said and like many others have, there are definate Pro's & Cons for Both and depending on what ticks the right boxes for you, will ultimately decide your choice. You're clearly unsure, so the best thing to do will be to drive both cars as many times as you can and work out what you want to spend your hard earned on?

Difficult decision I know, easy if your a Vw Golf fan or a Seat Leon fan. All I would say is definately dont listern to any advice from anyone who drives a French car!!!!!! The worst built, worst designed and cheaply made cars on the planet for years...........IMO

People that say they drive French cars for the driving experience confuse me, as surely the driving experince is the whole package?? Performance, Handling, Feel, Erganomics, etc etc???

[markc]

French cars can give you a bit of bother yes, electric windows, MAF issues, etc etc.   But !!!  (slightly off subject, sorry)..........  I owned a Megane 2.0 DCI (M9R engine) Diesel, superb mpg and amazing performance even at stock.  I had a remap (Pendle Performance) took it to just sub 200bhp/301lb/ft  still getting 48mpg combined !  Yes the gearbox was a bit loose, yes it had the odd rattle (so does my ED30),  it wasnt perfect by any means but it was a great car, one of my favs' and I've had over 20 cars.

On topic......  I drove a Cupra (57 plate, 16k) last week (stock car).  After my Staged ED30 if felt gutless (expected).  The brakes are superb mind and front end feels lighter though the twisties, prob due to to lighter ally arms.  Seats are comfortable and VERY supportive (better support than my ED seats), dash/interior is ok, not as nice as a Golf but no worries there. 

Against a GTI (not ED30) and considering the mileage, ......... I would get the Cupra !   

[simonp]

Drive both and see what you think. Personally I found the Cupra awful. The high windowline made it feel claustrophobic, every interface you have with the car is uncomfortable (seats, steering wheel and gearknob), the ride was back-breaking and the dash was just hideous. The steering wheel has a bizarre profile, where it's round at the top and bottom and square at the sides, making it feel weird as you feed it through your hands on bends. The ride was the deal breaker for me, though. The Cupra I drove made a cupped Renaultsport Clio feel like a Rolls Royce in comparison!

[jhtrophy]

This is why posting questions like this on forums are so great, plenty of honest opinions some might be a touch biased, but a good mix all the same.

Like I said and like many others have, there are definate Pro's & Cons for Both and depending on what ticks the right boxes for you, will ultimately decide your choice. You're clearly unsure, so the best thing to do will be to drive both cars as many times as you can and work out what you want to spend your hard earned on?

Difficult decision I know, easy if your a Vw Golf fan or a Seat Leon fan. All I would say is definately dont listern to any advice from anyone who drives a French car!!!!!! The worst built, worst designed and cheaply made cars on the planet for years...........IMO

People that say they drive French cars for the driving experience confuse me, as surely the driving experince is the whole package?? Performance, Handling, Feel, Erganomics, etc etc???
thats a classic, performance, handling and feel? not gonna lie mate, none are the golfs strong points! you talking about standard cars here? if so you have no idea what you are talking about. off topic now, so gonna end this. agree to disagree. again to original post, cupra for me is the better car, one has a badge that beastie boys used to wear.

[MAT ED30]

Ok I am no lover of French tat but after owning my Clio 182 for the last few months I have to say it's such a fun car to drive  I have had the thing airborn a few times now and have never laught so much in a car,yes the thing is not the best built thing on the road but it's not bad at all and comes with lots of options from stock but for a fun back road blast it's such a funny car. Go look and see how much you can get a newish Clio cup 200 for 8k  go drive one then make your mind up and as for the cupra well too many fr and other Leon models around me with the full k1 kit on so spoils it a little

[jhtrophy]

Mat I don't believe for minute you would have a ko3 golf which is older over cupra. Agree though, I don't really like the cupra, but over the two he has asked about, no brainer.