Any Seat Leon experts on here?

[Cristian]

I could be completely wrong about what I about to say so forgive me if I'm wrong but I assumed that a diesel engine would give me better results over short journeys like those above?!?

The "torquey nature" of the TDI was also a pleasant change from the high revving NA engines I've had in the past.

On short trips your diesel engine would have the same economy issues as your petrol. + short trips are not good at all for your DPF, which is not particularly cheap to replace.
Then you add the rest of potential diesel problems - DMF/EGR/turbo/injectors all of which don't like short trips.

I for one hate petrol engines that you have to rag to bits to get anywhere - clio 172, civics etc, but the solution is not diesel.

The solution is a decent petrol - either something with a bit of displacement or one of those small turbo petrols that you can find everywhere. The later won't be as reliable as the first, but should be better than a diesel without the tractor noise. Have a look at something like the 1.4 tsi.

 

[.Griff.]

Thanks for all the comments. Really appreciated.

So what would you recommend in the 10k - 12k bracket and only a few years old? I don't want another high revving NA engine and would prefer something with a bit of torque. A nice interior with some toys would be a bonus.

 

[Tute]

How fast do you want to go?

That budget will get you into a Mk.2 Cupra (non-R) with the 240bhp 2.0 turbocharged engine. But if you don't want that much power, you could save money by dropping back to the standard FR (200bhp), the 2.0 TFSI (170bhp) or even all the way back to a standard 2.0 (150bhp).

 

[Greebo]

The 1.4TSI in the Seat Leon are gems. Very torque and reasoble bhp.

The Seat Leon finally gets the 1.4 TSI engine that has been rather coolly received in its other VW Group applications, most notably the Golf. This is not the supercharged and turbocharged version either. This version of the engine gets only a small turbo strapped to the 1390cc four-cylinder unit. Slotting into the Leon’s range of petrol engines between the humble 101bhp 1.6 Reference and the pokey 197bhp FR, the 1.4 TSI delivers 123bhp at 5600rpm and produces a significant 148 lb ft of torque from 1750rpm.

This one’s well equipped too. In Stylance trim you can expect dual-zone climate control, cruise and traction control, ESP, EBD and six airbags.

What’s it like?
With 30 per cent more torque than the old Golf 1.6 FSI, you’re getting a little more poke than you’d expect from a regular 1.6-litre petrol, but not turbodiesel-rivalling shove. The result is a linear power delivery that’s enough to get you to 62mph in a respectable but hardly fire-breathing 9.8sec.

The engine does it’s best work below 4800rpm and although it will rev well beyond 5,600rpm this is where the power peaks and the linearity beyond makes extending it a bit pointless.

Combined fuel economy, at 44.1mpg is some way short of the 56.5 you’ll achieve in the turbodiesel Leon, but significantly better than the 37.2mpg 101bhp 1.6 Reference.

 

[Greebo]

£12k will get you a 2011 1.4TSI in FR spec with 16,000 miles on or SE spec with less than 3,000 miles.

£8,000 will bag you many a car with 40k from 2010.

And then everything in between those price ranges for spec and mileage.

Might as well get the best trim, sport is higher than stylance in the older cars but think FR is the highest trim in the newer ones???

Also the punchy 1.4 engine does 50 to 75 mpg in 5th gear in 10 secs which isn't bad.

Go take a test drive but iot will be much easier to drive than your current car and a better choice than the diesel 1.6

 

[.Griff.]

How fast do you want to go?

Coming from a history of 172's I don't want something a milk float would pass but I'm also not that bothered about breaking any speed records either.

The 1.4TSI in the Seat Leon are gems. Very torque and reasoble bhp.

The Leon 1.4 TSI FR seems to meet all my requirements in that case but unless I'm looking in all the wrong places I can see many at all for sale second hand.

 

[Greebo]

Hmm bit thin on the ground round where you live, I had initially checked pricing for round where I live.

Autotrader only has a 2010 FR with 40k for £8k or a 2011 with 6k for £13k at a main dealer (although they will always negotiate)

You could always look at the sport model, not much difference between that and the FR from memory.

 

[.Griff.]

Thanks for all your help Greebo. Much appreciated. I'm not in a position to buy anything just yet but when I am ready at least I've got the information at hand to make an informed decision.

 

[nichorob]

I have a 2012 FR 1.4 TSI, it really is a fantastic little car, the engine is a treat, torquey, responsive and efficient. The FR has a 6 speed box so it will sit at under 2.5k revs doing 80mph on the motorway returning diesel mpg. A lot of people (on here) go on about the interior which was awful admittedly preface lift. The facelift is a big improvement, not quite as refined as the Golf but ten times better than the chrome/plastic spaceship cockpit that is the new Focus which I see recommended above. Roomy inside as well, I'm 6ft 3 and me and my family have no problems in it.

I think the FR got a mini facelift in 2011 as well meaning 18" Iberia alloys as standard, Golf GTI rear LED's and comes with all your standard toys, climate, cruise, Bluetooth etc.

Would thoroughly recommend.

 

[.Griff.]

Thanks for the positive comments nichorob. I'd love to see some pics, the interior especially, if you don't mind.

 

[nichorob]

I plan on giving it a clean at the weekend, will post some up then. Not had it long so have none to hand.

 

[.Griff.]

Cheers mate.

 

[Matt82]

That looks spookily like a 1.9pd, they still sell cars with those??

 

[andrewdodd13]

That looks spookily like a 1.9pd, they still sell cars with those??

It's not a 1.9PD as those have dual-pipe exhausts, even in the lowest HP variants (my Ibiza, for example); single pipe suggests 1.6L as said above.

I think -- although I may be wrong, especially in non-domestic markets as -- the 1.9PD was retired in 2009/10, Audi were the last people to use it (in the A3).

 

[G|mp]

The 1.4TSI in the Seat Leon are gems. Very torque and reasoble bhp.

If I remember right, you also have a red one?

What plate is it dude?

 

[Tute]

That looks spookily like a 1.9pd, they still sell cars with those??

It's all Common Rail now, Pump Duse has been abandoned - and with it, the 1.9TDI models. All new(ish) VAG TDIs are 2.0 units, with 140 or 170bhp I believe.

 

[Greebo]

If I remember right, you also have a red one?

What plate is it dude?

61, done 12,000 miles in 6 months now........

 

[G|mp]

Do you know what the paint code is Greebo?

 

[nichorob]

I spent £50 in Halfords on cleaning products yesterday but still didn't get round to cleaning her!

Can do some dirty pics if you want?

Anything in particular?

 

[.Griff.]

Nothing specific tbh.. Just keen to see what the interior is like and find out a bit more about the Seat media system.

Am I correct in thinking that the MK2's got an updated interior half way through 2009? I.e a late 2009/2010 onwards Leon has a different steering wheel, dash and media system?