Thanks lads.
On the new car, I love the RNS Unit with the phone, nav, SD slot, DAB etc, and the front and rear parking sensors are ace.
Overall, so far, I am really enjoying this car, moreso than the old one.
The differences on the facelift I like are;
Centre part of the dash is no longer a slab of plastic.
Issues with folding mirrors seem to have gone and so far no gremlins on the Xenons either.
Flat bottom steering wheel is quite cool.
Suits the diffuser very nicely.
Things I prefer on the pre facelift;
Front bumper and overall appearance with the fish fin spoiler and bigger skirts.
Numbers on the dials.
The centre part of the steering wheel looks better on the older model.
The cruise control works better on the pre facelift - one tap on the button moves speed 1mph.
Things not to believe about features on the facelift over the pre facelift:
The XDS electronic diff - don't even think of it as some sort of wonder mod. Being honest, its as much use as a fart in a space suit. Standard vs standard, the pre facelift will easily live with a facelift car in the bends.
My hand was forced in to selling the old car, so when I was looking around, I found a garage who offered a great deal on the old car so I literally drove the length of the country to trade it against this, which was the cheapest spanking new LC I could find anywhere. Shame no garages up this way are that competitive - I am not the only one willing to drive 500 miles twice to save several grand it seems.
Why a Cupra though, and not a Cupra R? Long story short, I would have bought an LCR as a natural progression, but as the Cupra and Cupra R are all but the same save for 19's and leather - neither of which I like - plus the spolier and diffuser I added anyway, I figured it would be best to save £5k and have the Cupra. £25k is S3/RS money - which I refuse to spend on something inferior (sorry but it is).
I would buy another MK2 Leon Cupra one if it came up cheap enough as I still have a huge stash of go faster bits sitting idle that came off the old car, and I would strip it and turn it in to a track car. I saw a MK2 Leon Cupra for under £5k with almost 100k on the clock just recently, so they are gettig to the price it could be done. Not sure I would do the whole big/hybrid turbo thing on it though as the achilles heel on these with high power is traction, especially on a wet day.
Not sure I want another SEAT as a daily after this - this is my fourth SEAT, the others being a 2000 Leon 1.6S (genuinely the best one of all as it almost never had/has problems), a 2004 Toledo 1.8T Sport and the previous car being a 2007 Leon Cupra. I guess it depends what SEAT dish up with the MK3 - however, I fancy more cc and more turbo's next :)
Cheers
Al
