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The time has come to get a new car, and a after a fair bit of deliberation, I think I've narrowed it down to two.
Budget is 6-8k, and I am thinking of a golf or leon, probably in the 'blue motion' or 'ecomotive' variants.
For the same money, there's a slight premium (in terms of milage) for the golf (understandable), and I prefer the looks of the leon. I also also tend to keep my cars till I've run them into the ground, so I'm not sure if that should sway me one way or the other.
Thoughts/opinions welcomed!
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Have you driven either of them?
You'll get an idea fairly quickly if you like them or not, I reckon.
Seat tend to have a firmer ride than VW's. My Ibiza is quite crashy compared to it's Polo equivalent. From what I have seen, the Leon interior/dash isn't really in the same league as the Golf's, although it's by no means bad. It just depends where your priorities lie.
I originally wanted to get the Fabia vRS, but it was going to cost me £1k more for an equivalent age/mileage model compared to the Ibiza of the same spec and as you say, I suspect the same would be true for a Golf/Leon but perhaps even more so.
I have been very impressed with my Ibiza. It's on 180k miles and has had barely any problems. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one over a Golf equivalent but then I am not overly fussed by interiors & whether the plastic used feels nice or not. Obviously to a point you want a quality interior, but above that to me it is not that relevant.
Leon more fun to drive than the dull Golf, but the dashboard is awful.
I wouldn't buy a VW again as I don't think th premium price is warranted, and they certainly are not mega reliable.
Seat is pretty much all the same parts but your not paying the premium price.
I meant to say - check the boot opening of the Leon. It's quite a small hatch and might make getting things in and out of it a bit of a pain, if you intend to be sticking bikes in the back...
Leon if it were me (sounds like a golf ;), however as above it has the worst dashboard ever designed in the history of the motor car.
Felt completly let down with a recent Leon FR test drive, wanted to love it, but came away from the test drive, feeling cheated and dissapointed.
Styling is pretty awful when you get up close, the interior feels like its been overlooked and is cheap and tacky.
It handled well, but not noticable enough to overcome the interior and styling over a Golf for me TBH
The Golf just felt a much nicer place to be, not the best in its class either, but in a different league to the Leon.
Go drive both and you will see for yourself which you prefer.
i was looking for a golf of that age and price.
ended up with a mint, low mileage, a3 diesel quattro sport. much higher spec and much nicer place to be.