Leon 20VT vs Passat PD130

DRZ · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:15

daveski said:
Can anyone tell me anything about the PD130 engine?

It runs on the wrong fuel and sounds like a bag of spanners.

Firestar_3x · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:15

daveski said:
Thanks for the advice. I do know the cars are different and generally wouldnt be looked at by the same person but there are reasons for that.

The Leon idea comes from needed to cart family around but also wanting something that will go when I put my foot down and the Passat was a (potentially) more sensible option.

Can anyone tell me anything about the PD130 engine?

I wouldn't go for the Passat, they have high running costs (for that sort of car) and have lots of complex things which can go wrong and could cost 1/2 the amount of cars worth to fix (each).

Front suspension / DMF being the two biggest ones.

daveski · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:17

I've heard about the front suspension being complicated, didnt realise it cost that much though.

Firestar_3x · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:18

Mine cost me around £370+vat for a top quality kit, then god knows how much for someone to fit it, total pig of a job for a garage to do and even worse to do yourself at home.

daveski · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:21

I'm going to look at the Passat later so will have a read through the service history to see if any of the suspension components and or DMF have been changed at any point.

DRZ · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:24

Even with replaced suspension you are still left with the most boring car ever designed.

An ostrich is a genuinely better choice.

Lashout_UK · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:46

Corvette.

Firestar_3x · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:48

Well that was inevitable!

daveski · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:52

Ostrich Corvette?

Myshra · 28 Oct 2011 at 14:55

I can't see the ad for the passat but as far as the engine goes, check the water pump was changed with each belt and it's been done every 60k/4 years. They notoriously sound rough as hell and are pretty loud but they are pretty hard to kill overall. There's a hesitance at ~1800RPM if the restrictor mod hasn't been done (details) but otherwise I can't think of any really big issues with them.

daveski · 28 Oct 2011 at 15:33

I dont think that is anything to worry about on this Passat as its an 02 car. Thanks for the link though.

Vince · 28 Oct 2011 at 16:00

#Chri5# said:
Do you have to SORN an ostrich?

No they also run on green bio fuel and are conjestion charge free... so win win.

khare · 28 Oct 2011 at 20:29

Depending on what year/model then the engine in the Leon will be either a BAM (cupra R) or AGU most likely. BAM will map to about 270hp easy. AGU and any other 150hp 1.8t engine in the vag range will map to about 200hp, and could achieve 220hp with a forge 007p valve and turbo back exhaust.

The PD130 will map to about 170hp, and with decat, turbo back exhaust and a decent recirc dump valve as well as a nice intercooler (front mount better, but a forge side mount will work well) you should see about 190hp-200hp and a hell of a lot of torque (350ftlb +) as well as great economy. In any car/engine a remap will give better economy when driven like a granny, obviously using more fuel when pressing on.

Relentless81 · 29 Oct 2011 at 09:24

khare said:
Depending on what year/model then the engine in the Leon will be either a BAM (cupra R) or AGU most likely. BAM will map to about 270hp easy. AGU and any other 150hp 1.8t engine in the vag range will map to about 200hp, and could achieve 220hp with a forge 007p valve and turbo back exhaust.

I'm not sure if thats right, I cant remember the engine code but the Cupra (non-r) is the 180BHP 1.8 20VT with K03S turbo and remaps to around 215BHP, its definitely not a BAM engine they have K04 turbos and the AGUs have K03. Its the one inbetween.

danza · 29 Oct 2011 at 09:42

I'm off to look at a black Leon Cupra up for £1950 (seller will go to £1850) with black electric leather and all the usual bits. Hopefully it's a good'un. I really wanted an orange/copper one like in the OP, but it's going to be the wife's car, and she prefers black (which I'm sure she'll regret as soon as it rains on it).

HamZilla · 29 Oct 2011 at 10:44

My Cupra is an AUQ with K03S.

danza · 29 Oct 2011 at 23:53

How whistly should the turbo sound on these? The car I looked at today was a bit whistly (though not bad), and I could hear it in the cabin with the windows up.

The sump also appeared slightly oily underneath - what are common leakage points on these cars?

daveski · 30 Oct 2011 at 09:36

There is some stuff to look at listed here http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=241298

The orange one in my OP had a bodged headlight and broken bumper, looked like it had been driven into a post or something. The diesel Passat I was going to look at had sold by the time I got to the garage.

Relentless81 · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:04

HamZilla said:
My Cupra is an AUQ with K03S.

Thats the one, same engine in my old A4.

As standard they shouldnt make any noise, if it has a TIP you'll be able to hear it, maybe it was previously modded

danza · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:21

I'm looking at a one owner low miler today (X plate on 53K). I'm pretty sure the black-with-leather car I looked at yesterday is a no.

The leather seats in the car we viewed yesterday were very nice though, and aside needing a good clean, the car was in generally good nick. Needed new discs (and therefore pads) all round. The whistly turbo was probably a bad sign as the guy hasn't done anything with the car, hasn't owned it long, and the owner before him was a lady in her 50s (since new), so I doubt she'd revo'd it or similar.

We tried a silver car very local to us last weekend, and it was a total shed. The cam belt had snapped at 90K (was on 115K when we saw it), dented bonnet, scuffs, interior nasty and it ran out of fuel one mile before we got back to the garage.

We didn't go with the intention to buy, just to see if my wife liked driving the Leon.