Tell me about Leon FR's

tommytinkle

tommytinkle

tommytinkle

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Hey,

Am fed up of my little french car now and whilst it returns good mpg, is only 30 quid a year tax and has a whole 100 ponies I want something bigger, more comfy and a nicer place to be!

I'm interested in changing to a Leon FR purely because I like the size of them, like the look of them (ish) and with 150hp they should be a vast improvement over the little french bucket! Can anyone tell me what to be looking for on one thats circa five years old? I'm trying to get lowish mileage, have seen a few around 50-55k miles.

Thanks :)
 
Are you talking about the petrol or diesel? I ask as the MkI had a TDI with 150bhp or petrol with 180bhp. The MkII had a TDI with 170bhp and a petrol with 200bhp.
 
I have a Mk1 TDI Fr 150.

Apart from some issues with the gearbox which took a while to get sorted with the dealer, I'm very happy with it, I switched from a petrol 1.8T cupra last year to the oil burner and didn't notice a significant drop in performance although it sounds like a tractor - 47 mpg average is excellent though, a full tank reads 520 miles :)

FR spec means you will have the Aura CD head unit with a 6 disk changer in the glovebox, trip computer, teardrop folding mirrors and the funky white dials.

As with all Leon Mk1's you need to check for water leaks in the footwells - damp smelly / musty interiors are a dead giveaway. Make sure the clutch and gearbox are spot on - tdi's are great for REVO tuning but this tends to kill the standard clutch so watch out for this.
 
Skii said:
I switched from a petrol 1.8T cupra last year to the oil burner
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We have been considering going the other way. I'm not sure what the point at which having a diesel becomes more expensive but we do so little miles having a petrol car isn't such a big issue. It was before because my wife was a carer. Its a lowly bottom of the barrel 90HP TDI but its been magic.

We would both like a MK1 Cupra R Leon. Theres a black 54 plate Leon very close to us at a decent price but its done 100K. Not sure about selling a 100K diesel Leon for a 100K petrol Leon :)
 
Very strong unit, but very agricultural.
However, they're (relatively) powerful and economical.

Weak points are the crappy clips that Seat use to hold the boost pipes together and the pipes themselves.
Like Skii said, look for leaks. Water loves to stay on the door sills, running in when you open the door. This is a right PITA.

If I was in the market for a £5k diesel hatchback, this is what I'd get, no question.
I really liked my old Cupra 4.
 
Hey,

Thanks for the comments guys :)

I'm just after any general problem areas with them, how reliable they've been etc really! Just want to know what i'm getting myself into! I wouldn't have another Renault if someone paid me to now.
 
tommytinkle said:
Hey,

Thanks for the comments guys :)

I'm just after any general problem areas with them, how reliable they've been etc really! Just want to know what i'm getting myself into! I wouldn't have another Renault if someone paid me to now.
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You know they make the best FWD cars going right? :D
 
My 1.8T Leon (mk1) FR, ran it for a year and a half, only mod was a forge record valve. Eminently reliable and great all rounder IMHO. I did suffer from the wet footwell issue, traced to front passenger door, removed door card, re-sealed it up and cleared drainage holes. Job done and no further issues with it. Again, smart cars, and decent lookers in FR and cupra-r guises.
 
RSClio said:
You know they make the best FWD cars going right? :D
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Sorry but I disagree. Its just turned 70k miles and here is my list of replacement parts and annoyances

2 x new front springs
2x driveshafts
2x rear calipers
100000x suspension bushes and bits and pieces

The interior rattles, its cheap, and nasty and I'm sorry but I had a 620ti - I'd have it back ten times over this thing and its a rover.....
 
Witor said:
My 1.8T Leon (mk1) FR, ran it for a year and a half, only mod was a forge record valve. Eminently reliable and great all rounder IMHO. I did suffer from the wet footwell issue, traced to front passenger door, removed door card, re-sealed it up and cleared drainage holes. Job done and no further issues with it. Again, smart cars, and decent lookers in FR and cupra-r guises.
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Hey,

You had the petrol from what you've posted, do any of you guys have any experience of the diesel lumps? Are they particularly noisy compared to say a Renault diesel?

Thanks :)
 
Tute said:
Mine is very "agricultural". Depends on if that kind of thing bothers you really.
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The early PD units are very agricultural, especially when they're putting out 150bhp.
However, they're also very strong, very reliable and economical.

I think it's worth the trade-off. All 4-pot diesels sound like **** :p
 
tommytinkle said:
Sorry but I disagree. Its just turned 70k miles and here is my list of replacement parts and annoyances

2 x new front springs
2x driveshafts
2x rear calipers
100000x suspension bushes and bits and pieces

The interior rattles, its cheap, and nasty and I'm sorry but I had a 620ti - I'd have it back ten times over this thing and its a rover.....
Click to expand...

You disaagree because you bought a lemon? What car was it?

What to say the next car you buy wont have those issues?
 
Have a mk1 cupra tdi (150) (name replaced by FR).

Remapped to just under 200bhp and 320lbs. Returns on average 45mpg with lots of fun being had.

Noise wise, yeah, its a diesel but it gets smoother once warmed up and isnt noisy inside imo. Having owned it for 3 years (bought at 60K) and added another 60k on top the only reliability issues ive had is the washer jet hose popping off in the cold snap recently.

As has been said, passenger footwell can have water pooled from an incorrectly fitted pollen filter or from door seals which are both fixable without much of an issue. Boot can tend to get wet from rear washer pipe coming off but again, its an easy fix. Dont let these issues put you off!
 
RSClio said:
You disaagree because you bought a lemon? What car was it?

What to say the next car you buy wont have those issues?
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Hi,
Sorry but I'm actually trying to find out about Leons in here but I shall say this much - A few family members and friends have Renault and all have had problems with them. Yes You're still in love with an old school clio judging by the name but this isn't what I'm asking about. My renault is god awful its as simple as that. Once bitten twice shy - which is why I'd never own another one.

My local garage man says he can't stand renault, the AA man said he's seen many of the failures I've had and guess what - Warranty Direct put renault as pretty much THE most unreliable car.
 
Have a good look on seatcupra.net . For what it's worth, Mk2 FR's are very reliable and there are very few 'common issues' with the petrols. The TFSI 2 litre turbo has been a very solid I engine for the VAG group, and has not long been replaced
 
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