Passed my practical -Car shopping time Seat Leon 1.2L TSI? First car shopping tips?

KillBoY_UK

KillBoY_UK

KillBoY_UK

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I passed my driving test on Monday which was a pleasant surprise (did not do well on my mocs) anyways I've been looking at cars on and off for a while now but have stepped it up.

Currently looking at a couple of Mrk3 Seat Leon's as they tick all the boxes (not to powerful, frugal, low tax, "low" insurance, got most the bits I would like etc) and looking to test drive tomorrow and at the weekend.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904267338822
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201902024545620.

I'm taking colleagues to check them out with me and I've been doing some research on what to look out for.

Is there any advice you give for a first time buy/noob driver etc ?
 
I'd want to know what history both of those cars have along with number of owners which I can't see from a very quick glance at the adverts.

The 1.2 TSI has some chain issues, though I'm not sure of the variant/age your looking at would be impacted so have a Google. Typically you'd hear a rattle from cold start for a few seconds of there was a tensioner issue so it's easy to do a quick check.

The Leon's are pretty decent cars in all honesty and the little 1.2 turbo is a nice enough unit
 
KillBoY_UK said:
I passed my driving test on Monday which was a pleasant surprise
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Big congrats! No easy task; test is very different from day to day driving.

A really good 1st car is the 2013 onwards fiesta - the 1L Ecoboost in particular, and if possible, the 125 PS version. It's very rapid, about 9.5s to 62, and one of the cheaper cars to insure. For me, it was 1K, vs 1.4 for the 1.6L 2012 model, and 1.3K for a 1.4 Golf.

Very nice, easy car to drive, and no road tax.
 
KillBoY_UK said:
I passed my driving test on Monday which was a pleasant surprise (did not do well on my mocs) anyways I've been looking at cars on and off for a while now but have stepped it up.

Currently looking at a couple of Mrk3 Seat Leon's as they tick all the boxes (not to powerful, frugal, low tax, "low" insurance, got most the bits I would like etc) and looking to test drive tomorrow and at the weekend.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904267338822
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201902024545620.

I'm taking colleagues to check them out with me and I've been doing some research on what to look out for.

Is there any advice you give for a first time buy/noob driver etc ?
Click to expand...

imo those cars are well overpriced, I'd keep looking.


EDIT Not to mention the reviews of "Car Store Milton Keynes" seems like they don't know what they're doing at all.
 
MrRockliffe said:
Big congrats! No easy task; test is very different from day to day driving.

A really good 1st car is the 2013 onwards fiesta - the 1L Ecoboost in particular, and if possible, the 125 PS version. It's very rapid, about 9.5s to 62, and one of the cheaper cars to insure. For me, it was 1K, vs 1.4 for the 1.6L 2012 model, and 1.3K for a 1.4 Golf.

Very nice, easy car to drive, and no road tax.
Click to expand...


I learned and passed in the 125ps version in fact my instructor said prob not a good idea to get it as that little 1L engine is tuned to the max
 
rodenal said:
I'd want to know what history both of those cars have along with number of owners which I can't see from a very quick glance at the adverts.

The 1.2 TSI has some chain issues, though I'm not sure of the variant/age your looking at would be impacted so have a Google. Typically you'd hear a rattle from cold start for a few seconds of there was a tensioner issue so it's easy to do a quick check.

The Leon's are pretty decent cars in all honesty and the little 1.2 turbo is a nice enough unit
Click to expand...

The 1.2L Leons look to cost me about £950 ish on the insurance , they are not as wide as the Fiesta as well I think, I can get the Fiesta in a garage but be near impossible to get myself out of the car.

Also "tensioner"?
 
KillBoY_UK said:
I learned and passed in the 125ps version in fact my instructor said prob not a good idea to get it as that little 1L engine is tuned to the max
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say it's tuned to the max - it's a 4 cylinder engine, capable of 180+ PS. The new one I'd be more cautious about as it's a 3 cylinder.

You have the added benefit of them holding value quite well (Zetec S) as they're a very common first/second car
 
If you are concerned about being able to get out of the car in a garage you want to be looking at 5 door versions, not 3 door.
 
KillBoY_UK said:
Is that a general thing 3 doors being "fatter" than 5? I wouldn't of thought it make much difference, I'm curious
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The car isn't any wider but the doors themselves will be longer (to allow rear passengers room to get in) so generally you need more space to get out of a 3-door than you do a 5-door.

Also the reason that I don't park next to 3 door cars in car parks :o :p
 
Heavier too so harder to control of you're trying to squeeze out in a garage - though I'd expect most people will have some padding/matting on the wall
 
KillBoY_UK said:
the door it self ? Well this is the kinda info and tips I was looking out for
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Yeah, on a 3 door, they have to accommodate the fact people need to get out of the back, so they're generally a little longer. This throws you off the first few times you open your door in a car park - the panic of it swinging out into another car :D
 
MrRockliffe said:
I wouldn't say it's tuned to the max - it's a 4 cylinder engine, capable of 180+ PS. The new one I'd be more cautious about as it's a 3 cylinder.

You have the added benefit of them holding value quite well (Zetec S) as they're a very common first/second car
Click to expand...

the 1L ecoboost, is actually a 3 cylinder engine, even in the Focus
 
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