Seat Leon

SCO

Was looking at the Leon FR or FR+, 2.0 TDI, 2011 or 2012 models, like the look of them and get a good spec.

Does anyone have any tips on what to look for with regard to faults etc?

Whats the MPG is like in reality?

Are Seats good as never had one before.

Thank you.

DUTR

Prolly better asking on a dedicated Seat forum, they are part of the VAG group, so depending on which side of the fence you sit, it will be a good buy but not the cheapest.

jenniemiller177

Had a Seat Leon for many years. It was very reliable until it got to about the 100K miles and then I had a few problems all at once. I chose to exchange it at this point, however I hear from others they can go on for miles.

Johnmcl7

As those are later models they will have the newer common rail version of the 2.0 TDI 170bhp engine rather than the older Pumpe Duse version. The reason I mention this is you'll likely find a lot of negative comments about the older engine (usually referred to as PD or PD170) due to having a DPF bolted onto the back of an existing design which didn't tend to work well. The newer common rail version of the engine (CR or CR170) was designed with the DPF as an integral part so has far less DPF issues, so far anyway.

http://www.seatcupra.net is the forum I use for Seat, http://www.briskoda.net the one I use for Skoda. Just a word of warning though, any forum is going to highlight problems with the cars which can give a very negative impression. I almost cancelled my Skoda order after I'd been reading through the Skoda forums but aside from an issue with a couple of sensors, it's been fine.

The Leon FR is much the same underneath as the Golf GTI TDi and the Skoda Octavia VRS so they also share much the same issues as well if you're doing any reading around. I find some of the plastics in the Leon feel a bit cheap and the boot is an odd shape which isn't very practical, the Seats tend to ride harder than its VW stablemates but I preferred that.

I had a Seat Toledo from the previous generation which I really liked, its ride was very stiff and it wasn't a very practical car but I liked the way it drove compared to its Golf MK IV siblings and generally worked around the lack of practicality.

If the Leon had been a decent hatch or estate version (I see there's an ST version finally coming out) I would have gone for that but as I needed a decent boot I went with an Octavia VRS instead. Was very tempted by an Exeo earlier this year (the old Audi A4 basically but a lot of spec for the price) but decided to hold on as I don't use the car much these days, fancy a Leon ST in a bit if they're any good.

John

SCO

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

As those are later models they will have the newer common rail version of the 2.0 TDI 170bhp engine rather than the older Pumpe Duse version. The reason I mention this is you'll likely find a lot of negative comments about the older engine (usually referred to as PD or PD170) due to having a DPF bolted onto the back of an existing design which didn't tend to work well. The newer common rail version of the engine (CR or CR170) was designed with the DPF as an integral part so has far less DPF issues, so far anyway.

http://www.seatcupra.net is the forum I use for Seat, http://www.briskoda.net the one I use for Skoda. Just a word of warning though, any forum is going to highlight problems with the cars which can give a very negative impression. I almost cancelled my Skoda order after I'd been reading through the Skoda forums but aside from an issue with a couple of sensors, it's been fine.

The Leon FR is much the same underneath as the Golf GTI TDi and the Skoda Octavia VRS so they also share much the same issues as well if you're doing any reading around. I find some of the plastics in the Leon feel a bit cheap and the boot is an odd shape which isn't very practical, the Seats tend to ride harder than its VW stablemates but I preferred that.

I had a Seat Toledo from the previous generation which I really liked, its ride was very stiff and it wasn't a very practical car but I liked the way it drove compared to its Golf MK IV siblings and generally worked around the lack of practicality.

If the Leon had been a decent hatch or estate version (I see there's an ST version finally coming out) I would have gone for that but as I needed a decent boot I went with an Octavia VRS instead. Was very tempted by an Exeo earlier this year (the old Audi A4 basically but a lot of spec for the price) but decided to hold on as I don't use the car much these days, fancy a Leon ST in a bit if they're any good.

John

Thats the way i was looking at it as well that the leon is a cheap golf.

Like the spec xenon lights, sat nav, bluetooth etc that vauxhall never give as standard.

sniperpenguin

This is EXACTLY the car Im looking at to buy at this moment (haggling with 2 dealers and DriveTheDeal for a new one).

You are essentially buying a Golf without the badge. I test drove a 1.6 SE (Golf) up to the SEAT dealer and sat them side-by-side.

The golf will give you:
- More storage spaces / cubbys
- Flat-folding rear seats (1 inch lip on the Leon)
- Electric handbrake (Manual on the SEAT, which I prefer)
- Marginally better trim / interior (Old SEAT was woeful, this has caught up), and a nicer steering wheel.
- Adaptive Cruise control which maintains a distance from the car in front. (LEON can only get standard cruise)

They share:
- gearboxes, engines, drivetrains
- The new VAG multiplatform chassis
Audio systems and in-car computers (just coloured differently)
- Front suspension (To get the same rear suspension, you need to get the Leon FR)

SEAT are also doing an offer at the moment for £1K deposit contribution and Free tech pack (Sat Nav, LED Lights, DAB Radio), and be willing to haggle. I've currently got my dealer down to £340 / mth (36mths) for a new Leon FR 5DR with a grand deposit of my own and 18,000 miles a year.

wymondham

I have one of these new FR's - very nice and can recommend them - the technology in them is amazing!

Ultrasonic

SCO wrote: »

Whats the MPG is like in reality

As no one has answered this bit, have a look here:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/seat/leon-2005

DUTR

SCO wrote: »

Thats the way i was looking at it as well that the leon is a cheap golf.

Like the spec xenon lights, sat nav, bluetooth etc that vauxhall never give as standard.

I have on order a GTI PP with DSG sunroof and some other options, when I spec'd a similar Leon SC, there was not much difference in price.

Leon SC

TradePro

sniperpenguin wrote: »

You are essentially buying a Golf without the badge

Which isn't quite as good a thing as it might first appear...

DUTR

TradePro wrote: »

Which isn't quite as good a thing as it might first appear...

Please do explain, after all not everyone wants to buy/drive a Mondeo.