[Closed] Seat leon FR

A bit plasticky (is that even a word) inside compared to the golf but other than that they are nice cars.

We've just bought an Ibiza FR. It's got some revolutionary new technology called 'petrol'. I don't really understand it myself, but it's brilliant!

Jokes aside, after years of running only VAG diesels, I was really surprised at how good the petrol engine is. It's only a 1.4 turbo, but goes brilliantly. It [i]feels[/i] pretty much as quick as the Octavia VRS it replaced (although objectively, I realise it's not). Also, when you're cruising it shuts down two cylinders so will do 60+ mpg.

I would carefully concider whether the Leon is big enough for your needs. We found the Leon to be very similar in interior size to the Ibiza, and miles smaller than the Octavia. We went out looking for a small car, so the Ibiza is great for us. Otherwise we'd have got another Octavia.

I had a new model Leon FR 2.0 TDI (150) for nearly 18 months covering around 30K miles. I'd highly recommend it - nice diesel engine, great drive, styling & loads of technology including full LED lights. SEAT dealers were good with reasonable servicing costs. The only real downside was a plain and boring interior with some cheap looking plastics.

Moved onto a mk 7 Golf GTi which is a brilliant car with a great interior, but cost loads more....

Thanks all, useful to know your experiences.
You're right Sludge judge, the mk7 Golf is a fine car and would def have another but as you say, lots of £'s!
I considered the 1.4tsi as Duffer says, clever cylinder cut out keeps it economical but still not as good as the diesel but arguably a nicer 'revvy' petrol engine.

Looked at one a while back, although didn't get the point of a test drive.

Not as nice inside as a Skoda Octavia, which isn't as nice as the Golf.

However I did drive the Skoda and it was dull. The FR should drive best of the 3.

I ended up getting a BMW 3 series.

Thanks all, useful to know your experiences.
You're right Sludge judge, the mk7 Golf is a fine car and would def have another but as you say, lots of £'s!
I considered the 1.4tsi as Duffer says, clever cylinder cut out keeps it economical but still not as good as the diesel but arguably a nicer 'revvy' petrol engine.

Have an estate FR 150 at the moment and have to say it is poor.
The ride is harsh on 18's but you could forgive it if it handles - it rolls like a galleon!!!
5K in and it does 45 mpg yet does not pull especially hard.
Various quirky electric issues.
Heating would be poor if it had not got electric seats
DAB is good speakers poor.
Seats do not fit me and are very uncomfy.
Road noise is loud.
Wish I had gone for an Octavia

I've recently purchased the 170 version from the auctions. It is a bit plasticy inside but its a cracking car. Bucket seats, nice steering wheel puts a smile on your face when driving.
Its as noisy as f*** from the fancy low profile tyres and fairly stiff on the suspension.
At the mo I would recommend as a fun car but as yet not been far so dont know how much you will get shaken to bits on a long run.

Forgot to add its does about 60mpg

I have a Focus ST estate and whole or is petrol and doesn't do 45+mpg I do drive around 20k a year and the Leon FR is a similar sort of car. For the mileage you do a car with much more comfortable suspension would make thing nicer. My focus its great when your in the mood for fun but very tiring on bad surfaces or just want to relax.

Do you want a drivers car or a frugal oil burner? If you want frugal, as I assume you do because your looking at the diesel, don't get the chassis of a drivers car. IMHO the two don't go together.

I've got a MY13 FR 5dr and have to say it's great.

Good value for money, it's not as nicely finished as a golf I.e lined door pockets, bonnet struts, nicer plastics but fundamentally it works the same and I think looks better.

Mine was just under £21k with options and a bit of discount. The equivalent Golf Gt is just over £27k with similar spec. That a big gap and come resale will be worth £2k more so was a no brainer.

Ride is firm but being a sportier model and with 18's it's what I expected.

handling is good copes fine in the bends and probably as good as my old Bmw M Sport but being as it's an FR being a warm hatch is what I expected.

Dab is great, seat sound system is good and probably a must as with sub woofer the actual speakers sound clearer.

Bluetooth is good and Bluetooth audio is good but track display is intermittent with Android phones.

MPG is approx 55-60mpg for me doing 100 miles a day.

Best was 70mpg but lots of 50 zones over 150 miles.

Upto 5000 miles it was approx 45-50 MPG but increased/got better as the miles increased.

Mines on 37,000 @ 20 months old no faults and servicing is reasonable.

The equivalent Golf Gt is just over £27k with similar spec.

If you want frugal, as I assume you do because your looking at the diesel, don't get the chassis of a drivers car. IMHO the two don't go together.

You can get a 3 series for that kind of money that offers 65+mpg, is very rapid, and goes round corners extremely well, but can then be a luxury cruiser.

Definitely consider the 1.4 petrol - I have driven a Polo Blue GT and a Mk7 Golf with that engine and I thought it's great. Quite, pretty refined but reasonably brisk too. The economy was pretty good to (high 40's on a shortish test drive). The cylinder shut down was unnoticable other than a little message on the dash.

The new small petrol engines are pretty clever and very good. The Leon is a potential on my car list just because I can get more car for my monthly budget than I can for the Golf (which was a surprisingly good car). Downside is that there aren't any local dealers for servicing etc.

I do about 25k per year and my next company car will be a petrol. My current diesel scrapes about 51mpgt driven pretty sedately so I reckon if I can get high 40's worst case, it won't cost any more to run.