Faults:

Car was not properly PDI'ed by the supplying dealer eg. tyres were set at 45PSI, the centre console had a damaged trim piece (replaced), etc.

Car was delivered with a faulty rear centre passenger headrest which can't be removed.

Front passenger side main speaker has started to crackle.

Centre console illumination keeps disappearing for short spells and then coming back again! Probably a loose connection somewhere...

General Comments:

Basically what you are getting is an A3 1.8T Quattro without the 4WD, but with more equipment and at two-thirds of the price! A veritable bargain since it has the same high build quality!

The engine is starting to loosen up, and when it's fully run-in with traction control switched off, a sub-7 second 0-60 time won't be out of the question. I recently drove a facelifted BMW 325 and the Leon is comfortably faster. In addition to very fine ride and handling, what surprises most people about this car is it's long distance refinement. Although not everyone likes the styling, I have to say that I personally prefer it to it's sister cars - the Golf and the A3. The only weakness of the car is the poor sound quality from the cassette deck (although the autochanger is fine).

Despite a few niggles I've had with the car, whether you want a family car, a sports car, a removal van, or long distance cruiser, this car does it all!

Also it's predicted that this car will have very good residuals too.

Faults:

The cassette player runs a bit slow, but I've got tons of CD's to put in the 6 CD changer so who cares... That's about it. Not so much as a rattle or a squeak anywhere.

Dealer couldn't be any nicer if he tried.

Engine is very tight at the moment so can't comment really on the performance, but feels like it'll go like a rocket when its run in.

I'll add more comments when I've got a few more miles under its belt.

General Comments:

It reminds me of an Alfasud I had quite a few years ago. Best car I've ever had. Lets hope it doesn't fall apart with rust like the Alfa. Not much chance of that though as its got a 12 year (!!) anti corrosion warranty.

Faults:

Electric seats were not set correctly. I could not call back a preset seat position. Dealer reset the seats, and all is now fine.

General Comments:

Well, what a nice change from the cars I have driven previously. Fast, comfortable, good looking, and all for a great price.

It's a company car, so I was not forced to buying it through price. I did look at the Audi S3, but to be honest for the small performance gain on the S3, the price did not warrant it.

The Cupra is great. The one I have has electric seats with memory, auto windscreen wipers, auto dimming mirror, 6 CD changer, leather seats, the wing mirrors fold away, EDS, traction control, etc etc, the list is endless.

It's just starting to get run in now at around 2000 miles, it does however seem to perform better on super unleaded, and I find in first gear you do have to let it know who's boss.

As for the other 5 gears it's great. Acceleration on demand, almost no lag (even thinking of getting it chipped up to 210BHP).

The ride is "solid", but I like this in a car, especially going round corners on a bumpy surface, you really get to feel the true road conditions (I drove a Golf V6 4motion and the suspension in that was too soft).

The seats are comfy, it's just as at home doing city driving or taking it for a thrashing.

Talking of thrashing, be careful when you drive this sucker, I have gone out and spent £400 on a radar detector. Why? Well you do 90MPH at around 3500 revs, get to a hundred without knowing it in 6th, until you come to a tight motorway corner, you look down and OOPS.

I love the car, in fact I love the car so much I bought the domain name www.seatcupra.net. If you Cupra owners, Leon or Ibiza want to get your car seen, how about sending me your details and when the site is ready for launch I will contact you, get some reviews, post your pictures, you can even have your own email address whatever@seatcupra.net

Great car, great price. Get one.

Cheers,

Lee.