Mk5 gti or Leon cupra?

[Tfsi_Mike]

I looked at a Cupra once. Couldn't walk properly after an 8 mile test drive. The ride is spine-crushing!

 

[homesqueeze]

GTI looks better inside and out IMO! End of the day it's just down to personal taste though, or how much you can afford to spend.

[RedRobin]

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I'm not sure if the Cupra like Mike's was available in 2005 when I bought my GTI but I like the Cupra a lot. Never got as far as test driving one but I like their styling - So much nicer than any Skoda IMO. I also checked out the Audi Sportback but no RS3 in those days and I find most Audi's a bit too bland for my taste.

My family have had a number of Volkswagens including a strange coloured Camper, white Mk1 GTI, red Mk2 Scirocco, and a red Mk4 Golf, and I like the long tradition of the brand. It's funny that my family didn't much like the Germans due to 4 years WW2 occupation and my uncle shot by a German firing squad for resistance work, but my father highly rated German vehicles. So I was kinda brought up with Volkswagens. I like the brand - It has history and status.

I was going to buy a Mk4 R32 but then Jeremy Clarkson presented the Mk5 GTI on Top Gear and the following day I arranged a test-drive which luckily was a whole morning (the salesman was an ex-karter and his brother races in the VW Cup, so fellow enthusiast etc). No looking back!

[Gazza747]

I test drove the cupra along with lots of other cars before buying the GTI. The biggest problem I found with the cupra was the seats. With the GTI you get lumber adjustment but with the cupra you don't. With the cupra i found the seats dug into my back so that was the end of that option. I did find it quicker than the GTI but not as enjoyable on the whole driving experience.

[simonp]

I looked at a Cupra once. Couldn't walk properly after an 8 mile test drive. The ride is spine-crushing!

I can't see why, suspension is the same as GTI 

I really can't see how that can be true? I drove over 100 miles in a cup chassis'd, Recaro seated Renaultsport Clio with no issues, got in the (2007) Leon drove it up a dual carriageway for 4 miles and then around a roundabout and back again. When I got back it took me 2 or 3 minutes before I could stand up straight again. I swear I'm now an inch shorter than before I got in that car!!

Even if this hadn't have happened there were the other issues of the foul gearknob, the weirdly shaped steering wheel and the high windowline that made the car feel like you were trapped in a postbox. Went alright, though!

[Kalpsn2000]

The main thing for me was I wanted DSG and the Cupra doesn't have that (as far as I could tell).

The other things were personal choices. I preferred the exterior and interior look of the GTI. Also have wanted to own a GTI since seeing the mk2 as a kid.

[RedRobin]

Also have wanted to own a GTI since seeing the mk2 as a kid.

....That's a big pull - The tradition of the GTI. You are buying into a whole culture - A dream!

[monte]

The main thing for me was I wanted DSG and the Cupra doesn't have that (as far as I could tell).

The other things were personal choices. I preferred the exterior and interior look of the GTI. Also have wanted to own a GTI since seeing the mk2 as a kid.

I don't know how old you are mate, but I was exactly the same. My brother in law in Italy had a 1990 Mk2 GTi 16v and It was my dream car 

I always wanted one, but when I could eventually afford one we were on the mk4 and I wasn't keen. 

I would have bought a mk2 but my OCD would have caused me to spend far to much on it. (main reason I won't buy an old camper)

When the mk5 came out I knew it would just be a matter of time before I had one.

Then in 2007 me and the misses (now ex-misses) bought a brand new Audi A3 2.0 TDi 170 Quattro S-line Sportback (what a mouthful) as she was doing quite a few motorway miles. So my GTi was once again a luxury we couldn't afford.

2008 me n the misses split = 2007 Golf GTi Ed30 for Me!!! 

[Kalpsn2000]

The main thing for me was I wanted DSG and the Cupra doesn't have that (as far as I could tell).

The other things were personal choices. I preferred the exterior and interior look of the GTI. Also have wanted to own a GTI since seeing the mk2 as a kid.

I don't know how old you are mate, but I was exactly the same. My brother in law in Italy had a 1990 Mk2 GTi 16v and It was my dream car  

I always wanted one, but when I could eventually afford one we were on the mk4 and I wasn't keen.  

I would have bought a mk2 but my OCD would have caused me to spend far to much on it. (main reason I won't buy an old camper)

When the mk5 came out I knew it would just be a matter of time before I had one.

Then in 2007 me and the misses (now ex-misses) bought a brand new Audi A3 2.0 TDi 170 Quattro S-line Sportback (what a mouthful) as she was doing quite a few motorway miles. So my GTi was once again a luxury we couldn't afford.

2008 me n the misses split = 2007 Golf GTi Ed30 for Me!!!  

I'm almost 29 now but was about 7 or 8 when I first remember seeing the Mk2 GTI (so would have been about 1990/91) and thinking I would love to drive that

When I got my license the Mk5 was soon to be released. The Mk3 /4 didn't take my fancy really but when I first saw the Mk5 GTI I knew I would be owning that at some point. I was in a position to go for it a couple of years ago and so picked up my GTI in Dec 2010.

Still get excited driving it now

[AndrewJB]

Not sure how many different Cupras are available?

I'm not too keen on them in standard clothes, but with the different spoilers, side skirts and bumpers they look amazing 

Pre-Facelift
Leon Cupra
Leon Cupra K1 -Fitted with the "Aero" Kit, Different wheels and Centre exit exhaust

Facelift
Leon Cupra
Leon Cupra R - 265bhp and a few other changes


You can fit the "Aero" kit to any of the above cars but IMHO its well overdone

[Gene Hunt]

ED30 for me. Does everything you could want from a car.

[Poverty]

If power is your think a k04 beats the ko3 all day. If its a rounded package you are after, and all out performance isnt top of the list get a GTI.

As for the Cupra suspension, yea it's crashy at times but it amuses me how people always complain about it so much. The TTRS is just as bad if not worse IMO and that subject never comes up for some reason. Must be something to do with the badge.

You will have to drive both and see what you prefer.

[Tfsi_Mike]

If power is your think a k04 beats the ko3 all day. If its a rounded package you are after, and all out performance isnt top of the list get a GTI.

As for the Cupra suspension, yea it's crashy at times but it amuses me how people always complain about it so much. The TTRS is just as bad if not worse IMO and that subject never comes up for some reason. Must be something to do with the badge.

You will have to drive both and see what you prefer.

The Cupra and the TTRS / RS3 share oem top mouts, I never found the oem suspension too harsh to be honest (not that it stayed oem for long  )

It's beyond me that people are saying the ride is spine crushing 

[Sug]

When I was younger (I'm 33) my best mates dad bought a brand new mk3 yellow gti, with part yellow seats if I remember? I loved it and that car started me off, wasn't impressed with the mk4 so when I had enough money (will be a year next week) I got my 2008 edition 30. It's just the full package. Looks, performance, build quality, tuning capabilities and of course it puts  a smile on my face every time I turn the key