As is always the case with these debates, some people prefer the high revving Type Rs and some prefer the turbo power option. I know it's been said that for a few hundred quid you can get the Cupra chipped to produce 260bhp; again all well and good, but the Cupra has always been a bit too wallowy in the corners. Every comparison and review I've seen or read by independent journalists has stated this.
For the rev happy fans out there though there is hope! Pick up a lovely B Series engined CRX, Civic or Integra and spend your money adding a turbo or a supercharger. You can pick up a mint CRX or Civic VTi for between 2-4 grand, or an Integra for about 5 grand.. spend about 2/3 grand on it and you can run over 300bhp safely and reliably with a turbo or about 260 with a supercharger.
And before anyone says it, I know you can spend the same money on a Cupra and get more power too, but there's nothin like being in a turbo'd Honda (sleeper car, no big wings or bodykits) knowing you can pull away from Scoobys, Evo's, GTiR's, Skylines and Cossies and the like, as I regularly did in my turbo Type R. Absolutely priceless. Search youtube for turbo honda's ranging from 200/800 bhp.
CTR beats the Leon Cupra R on Top Gear and Fifth Gear tracks.
The Civic is faster around tracks, but has a very hard ride, and the Leon, although very lardy in feel, is a far comfier place to be on the roads!
It would be down to what you prefer, there is little between them on the road in performance terms.
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The Civic relies on its high revs for creating any decent power, it's all or nothing. A turbo engine has a much more user friendly and better power delivery. And power can be upped very easily with a turbo engine, a simple chip takes you to 260 BHP.
It's personal choice, the cam shift means that you almost have two engines at your disposal and can drive normally and get good mpg, or all out ballistic and have impressive power.
The flip side of the Leon is that the easy power of the turbo means it won't be as good on fuel as the nasp if both are driven for economy and the revs are less progressive.
It just depends which you prefer.
The Leon is just as much all or nothing power, as when it's off boost you've got nothing!
The Civic is no where near as bad as people say, as it pulls well below 5800rpm, and will pull from 30 mph in 6th.
If you've got to a lot of motorway driving, I'd get the Leon, but the Civic is a lot more fun car to drive, and my choice every time!
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