Seat Leon Cupra R 1.8 20V Biturbo Review

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Seat Leon Cupra R 1.8 20V Biturbo
4.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.2 out of 5

From 17 ratings and 19 reviews

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warden's Review of Seat Leon Cupra R 1.8 20V Biturbo

24th Oct 2004

Overall Rating

4.5 stars
  • Value for money
    4 stars
  • Length of ownership
    8 Months
  • Practicality
    5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    2003
  • Performance
    5 stars
  • Reliability
    2 stars
Good Points

Power, modification potential, mid range torque


Bad Points

RELIABILITY!!!!


General Comments

I have a Seat Leon Cupra R 1.8 20V Biturbo Sports Car and have modified it to 269 BHP.
Now, to be honest, it does break down more often because of the mods, but this is because I cant afford to upgrade the intercoolers yet.
Now modded it is an absolute animal.
I have raced a lot of different cars from lights up to about 60 or 70 Mph. The cupra has killed off a Golf VR6, Focus RS, M3, Escort RS, Clio 172, Celica GT4 and the best feeling of all - beating a Civic Type R - the car I nearly bought instead.
The only two cars I have been beaten by are Impreza WRX STI and a Mitsubishi Evo 6.
If you like speed - get one, if you like cosmetic build quality - dont!

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Members' Comments onwarden's Review

  • Scoobz Rank: Staff Sergeant on 9th Feb 2005

    Where did you attach the second turbo?

    SEAT only made a Leon Cupra R with a single turbo (KKK K04 hybrid turbo) and standard would either be 210bhp or 225bhp, depending upon when you bought it.
    ECU remap will indeed push power up to around 260-280bhp (dependent upon boost level) and this shouldn't cause increased 'breakdowns', if it does then take it back to the place who modified it as the remap is dodgy.
    The original coil packs installed under the bonnet were known to be prone to failure (as on most of the VAG range) and this was recognised and rectified by warranty replacement of all coils with a new type that doesn't fail quite so often, if you haven't had your old ones replaced, this could be the reason for your breakdowns.

    If you are having problems of the car resorting to 'limp mode' (5psi), then the ECU remap is overboosting and needs to be sorted by reducing the boost spike.
    Improving intercooling is indeed beneficial but standard equipment will not make the car breakdown.

    If you have fitted a second turbo (you quote 'biturbo'), I would be interested to know 'where' and 'how'. I would also suggest that you would be getting better performance figures than you suggest if you are running a remapped ECU and biturbo.

    The Leon Cupra R is a very nice vehicle and indeed quick. I personally own a modified Ibiza Cupra, pushing 215bhp and it is very rapid due to its power:weight ratio.

  • killjoybutts on 3rd Jun 2005

    You don't specify which generation of M3, but if it was an E36 (newest one) that you beat then he wasn't trying! 400BHP through the rear wheels beat 268BHP through the front!!!