Disappointed in Seat Leon FR

Ryan-3 · 14 Dec 2018 at 18:38

Trappi$t said:
I would like to know from someone with the ACTUAL knowledge, would they purposely leave off a certain amount of sound deadening between the like for like model for instance say between the Golf and the Seat equivalent (leon), or would it arguably be cheaper to have all the same quality of sound deadening applied to all the range across different brands?

I believe they'll use the same stuff across the brands, but SEAT definitely use less than VW and Audi.

ahenners · 14 Dec 2018 at 19:54

Jonnycoupe said:
I assume it’s multi link rear rather than torsion beam? Otherwise that could be a reason.

180ps gets Multi link, 150 and below get Torsion.

matthab · 14 Dec 2018 at 19:54

My Leon Cupra is noisy on the motorway, it doesnt help that it runs 19" wheels and continental tyres on the back. Michelin PS4s make a massive difference on the front. Seat is the value brand so something has to give somewhere. Ive had golfs for hire cars and they are not much better. Im in the process of putting sound deadening in the back round the wheel well and arches, which has helped massively and also made the sub more noticeable. I suspect when I change the rear tyres it will be even better.

Rule of thumb with the Leon any engine over 150bhp gets multi-link rear suspension. I would say if you looking for the 1.8 I would go for the 1.4 as its a little less power but more economical. Ive always thought the 1.8 is in a strange place in the range. Its a lot more expensive that the 1.4 for very little gain.

ahenners · 14 Dec 2018 at 20:03

matthab said:
My Leon Cupra is noisy on the motorway, it doesnt help that it runs 19" wheels and continental tyres on the back. Michelin PS4s make a massive difference on the front. Seat is the value brand so something has to give somewhere. Ive had golfs for hire cars and they are not much better. Im in the process of putting sound deadening in the back round the wheel well and arches, which has helped massively and also made the sub more noticeable. I suspect when I change the rear tyres it will be even better.

Rule of thumb with the Leon any engine over 150bhp gets multi-link rear suspension.

Potentially off topic, but what deadening have you used? Have the same gripe with my Octavia VRS on the same platform and have considered adding some if its worthwhile.

matthab · 14 Dec 2018 at 20:06

ahenners said:
Potentially off topic, but what deadening have you used? Have the same gripe with my Octavia VRS on the same platform and have considered adding some if its worthwhile.

This is the stuff I have applied, and will apply more to the wheels arches next year. Adds some weight so trying not to add to much.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NVF9OIA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Duke · 14 Dec 2018 at 20:28

As others have mentioned I think you're expecting a bit much from a Seat. I wouldn't really put it any higher than Renault.

matthab · 14 Dec 2018 at 20:35

Duke said:
As others have mentioned I think you're expecting a bit much from a Seat. I wouldn't really put it any higher than Renault.

Agreed, there is a reason you pay less compared to VW/Audi. I compare Seat with Skoda but with a more sportier image.

VincentHanna · 14 Dec 2018 at 20:58

Speaking of tyre noise, I very nearly got a Cupra 300 ST recently on contract hire, and then got an E Class Estate instead.

It's coming on Thursday and the VIN decoder says it comes with some sort of noise optimised tyre with foam absorber

Anyone have any clue what tyres brand I could expect?

ahenners · 14 Dec 2018 at 21:07

matthab said:
This is the stuff I have applied, and will apply more to the wheels arches next year. Adds some weight so trying not to add to much.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NVF9OIA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks, that's exactly the stuff I'd looked at but wasn't sure it would be enough on its own to make a difference. Cheers.

matthab · 14 Dec 2018 at 21:30

ahenners said:
Thanks, that's exactly the stuff I'd looked at but wasn't sure it would be enough on its own to make a difference. Cheers.

Picture of it in the boot of my Leon - http://imgur.com/gallery/2cC9paC

Not sure if I will be keeping the car for much longer next year, so dont want to spend to much on it. New member to the family may need an estate.

jpaul · 14 Dec 2018 at 22:10

matthab said:
Picture of it in the boot of my Leon

I can understand they may reduce reverberation from the area surrounding the sub , don't you have the fuel tank in that vicinity too, to stop noise transmission ...
but the wheel arches, floorpan and engine firewall (maybe door panels) are probably where it really counts and is there room to do anything ?
BM 3's seem to have a bitumous covering above floorpan and then a 2" underlay/carpet combo

edit - and can those materials really be so different between ibiza, skoda, vag, audi

Joe T · 15 Dec 2018 at 08:15

Dont forget that manufacturers also de-content during a model's lifecycle, so it's possible that early cars have more sound insulation than later cars (I have seen this actually happen on other brands).

LiE · 15 Dec 2018 at 09:25

Just put the radio on

lordrobs · 15 Dec 2018 at 10:44

VincentHanna said:
Speaking of tyre noise, I very nearly got a Cupra 300 ST recently on contract hire, and then got an E Class Estate instead.

I love what leasing does to car buying decisions

Haze · 15 Dec 2018 at 11:36

Get a mk3 megane rs

robfosters · 15 Dec 2018 at 11:39

What’s a VAG?

Kenai · 15 Dec 2018 at 12:11

robfosters said:
What’s a VAG?

Not sure if serious?

Volkswagen AG

robfosters · 15 Dec 2018 at 12:23

Kenai said:
Not sure if serious?

Volkswagen AG

Thanks, genuinely didn't know.

Brookert · 15 Dec 2018 at 18:37

Seat are the entry level vehicles in the VAG range. Road noise in my wife's Ibiza is terrible.

wesley · 15 Dec 2018 at 18:54

Mostly from the angular-shaped wing mirrors on Ibiza and leon. Many reviewers reported the noise