Posted on Friday 10 November 2006
Volkswagen has an odd situation on its hands thanks to its subsidiary Seat, who has priced its new Leon Cupra hot hatch below that of the Golf GTI on which it shares the same platform. Seat has tweaked its Leon hatch using knowledge it gained from participating in World Touring Car Championships, and has managed to squeeze a little more juice from the familar 2.0L turbo that it shares with the Golf GTI. Now with 237bhp, the Leon has 30bhp more than a GTI, but the starting price tag of £19,595 undercuts its VW Group sibling by £400.
The Cupra is Seat’s most powerful car ever and the performance numbers are testament to that. Top speed is 153mph, and the 0-62mph time is 6.4 seconds. Nice additions include the standard 18″ alloy wheels, red brake callipers and a single oval exhaust tailpipe as well as an optional DSG transmission.
The car may be cheaper, better, more stylish and have more room inside, but which is going to hold the value better, a SEAT or a VW, whther it is a myth or just good PR people want to buy a VW - and Golfs in particular whereas only the cognoscenti would chose a Seat
VW may have more prestige, but it’s been my experience as a former GTi owner that it’s quality and customer service (at least for VW America) is woefully under developed. In my 3 years as a 2000 GTi owner, I had no less than 4 instrument clusters, 2 airbags, and 1 passenger-side window replaced. All of which were either covered by warrenty or recall. But, to get the dealer to fix it right was another story….
I’d take a chance with SEAT. Why not? Bring it here to the States!