Seat Leon FR - things to look for?

EddScott

EddScott

EddScott

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Going to have a look at this at the weekend

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-SEAT-LEO...1862037?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c5901f715

It will be our main car and used for all long trips. I'm pretty sure diesel is the better option for us but not sure how to work it out.

The car linked has a few blemishes but nothing that can't be sorted and it seems quite low mileage. However, I know nothing about Seat cars - we have an old model Leon but its been rather neglected as the family wagon but has probably been the best car we've had.

I've looked at others and theres a red TDI on PH and the guy said its had a new turbo from Seat as its a "common" problem according to the advert - the advert says its had a re-map so I suspect its more like its had the bejesus ragged out of it and killed the turbo.
 
Ah, apologies, I don't think it is.

My daughters teacher has a red Leon and it says FR on the back and it looks the same as the car in the link (other than colour) but I think hers is petrol.
 
Reference is rubbish spec and that's an obscene amount to pay for a Leon.

Really don't rate these, horrible inside.

You can get a Jetta for this sort of money, a much better car.
 
Yes, one of those. It's not ugly just a bit dull but its far better than the awful Leon.

As you can see the Jetta is much newer, better inside and generally less like a cheap car than the Leon but has the same mechanicals.
 
2.0 TDI in Jetta is only 140 BHP though. I think they did do a 2.0 FSI sport which was 200bhp?

Nice car but just a bit dull looking, as are most VWs.
 
The Leon Reference Sport is 140bhp as well - despite the topic it isnt an FR.

I think the Jetta looks quite good but I can see how some would say its dull. Thing it, it's a sub £10k reasonably new economical diesel. You wont be buying anything thats genuinelly good looking. The Leon is horrible - as standard it looks like mini people carrier, with the bodykit on it it looks like a mini people carrier that has had an accident involving the Demon Tweeks catalouge.

I hate the current shape Leon. It's just a cheap and nasty car but.. it isnt even cheap!

The Jetta, meanwhile, is reasonably nice.
 
Having owned a current shape Leon I sort of agree with fox....
The interior is horrible, really.. but coming from a little Yaris into a Leon FR I soon forgot to care, but then once you start to notice you really notice how horribly hard the plastics are, and how low quality they are.

I'd go for a Jetta over a Leon... Although I quite liked the exterior of the Leon... If I had to sit in one again, I probably would refuse.
 
There was never a PD150, at a guess this is a PD140 engine (due to reference). The PD series are pretty strong and love to be thrashed from my experience. Not many things break on them from what I remember (have owned 2 PD130s and never had an engine issue bar one blown turbo). The only strange thing to be is it's done <4k a year.

Check the back footwells - lift the mats and check for damp. If it's present you need to repair the door carrier, not a huge job (DIY guides on seatcupra.net) but something to haggle with.

The jack points do fall off, that's nothing to worry about. It's a common problem with the kit (got one of these in yellow, don't kick me). the interior could be better in the older ones but this is going to be down to personal preference really.

As to the whole FR/Reference/Sport issue - The engines in the FR are faster but the bodykit can be applied to any of them. If it's an FR (which this is not) the FR will be on the right side of the tailgate.
 
Thanks Myshra. As much as I agree the jetta has better spec, when I said its a bit ugly, it's just horrible IMO.

I think the miles will be genuine, its a local car.
 
Genuinelly amazed you can describe the Jetta as 'horrible'. There is nothing horrible about it, it's too bland to be a 'horrible' looking car. To be horrible looking you need standout features of which the Jetta has none.

The Leon is a pile of rubbish - if you buy that Leon over something newer and better from the VW stable simply because you think it looks 'horrible' you are bonkers.

Is it a family hack for long drives or a drive ornament?

Because if its a family hack for long drives what its like inside is far more important.

And if its a drive ornament, why buy a cheap and nasty Leon?
 
Just been looking at the Jettas for sale on autotrader. I am impressed with how much further money stretches than with a Leon; I would have thought it would have been the other way round.

I take it that the 2.0 TDI Jetta is the one to go for over the 1.9 TDI, both PD engines? Both 6 speed?

Front on the Jetta looks V nice IMO just the rear looks a bit disjointed with the rest of the car.

I am tempted to add the Jetta to my list for when I start looking for a car after Xmas.
 
Agree on the plasticy dash in the Leon, my dad has a Cupra K1 and the dash really lets the car down.
 
EddScott said:
Ah, apologies, I don't think it is.

My daughters teacher has a red Leon and it says FR on the back and it looks the same as the car in the link (other than colour) but I think hers is petrol.
Click to expand...

That Reference Sport has the Aero bodykit on, most FRs don't have that kit on anyway but have a similar bumper to the Cupra instead.

EddScott said:
Whats the difference between reference and FR?

The seats are the same as in the teachers FR I'm sure.
Click to expand...

The FR has a PD170 engine instead of the PD140, slightly different interior (FR badges on seats, steering wheel etc), bigger brakes, its lower, stiffer suspension. Different front and rear bumper.

I've had an FR for the last couple years and its a good little car, never caused me any hassle and fairly cheap to run.

One thing to note is that it might not be the most comfortable ride for long journeys. I changed the stock springs as they were too firm but people still complain about the ride when they are in it! They remap reasonably well too, mine is now at just over 200BHP.

Fair point about the centre console, but how often are you staring at that when you're driving! :)

Edit:
This is what an FR looks like..
leon1small.jpg
 
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Street said:
Edit:
This is what an FR looks like..
Click to expand...
Nah that's a Cupra :) FR has silver wing mirrors (/pedant) and probably not Bi-Xenons and associated washer jets. (/extra pedant) - although they were a (Very nice) option.

Edit: Maybe it IS an FR... a new one... it has FR wheels... hmm.

Edit 2: It doesn't have Xenons... but has washers... it's not an 80's Volvo... so why?

Yeah, it's an FR. Sorry.
 
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The new Seats look nice on the outside but the interior is absolutely shocking for the price imo. It was on my list of cars to buy but very quickly fell off that list after I sat in an FR and compared it to a Civic SE.
 
Yeh, its my FR, I changed the wing covers because the silver ones stuck out like a sore thumb! :)

It has light washer jets but they are a bit pointless I find.. They shoot out every third time when the lights are on and end up just shooting all over the place!
 
[TW]Fox;17864835 said:
The Leon is a pile of rubbish - if you buy that Leon over something newer and better from the VW stable simply because you think it looks 'horrible' you are bonkers.
Click to expand...

You know that the way a car looks for most people is the main driver towards purchasing a car - if you found your 5 truly ugly, would you still have bought it?

I like the look of the Leon, I dislike the look of the Jetta.

No more derailment please Fox.
 
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