Fountain of Youth

[MikeShaw100]

I am approaching 40 years old and have been fortunate enough reach a senior management role in a large organisation. However, having moved away from dull BMW and SAAB cars into my Leon FR170 (which, by the way, is the best car I have ever owned), I find myself getting looks of distain, snobery and critical comments from some of my peers.

There is clearly a view that the Seat Leon is geared towards younger drivers and I now find myself on occasion questioning whether I should act my age..... The Leon experience definitely makes me (and probably all of you) feel more youthful and have now resorted to sending a 'single finger' message to those who have personally criticised my choice of automotive entertainment.

"Lifes too short to drive dull cars"

"A smart persons choice of car" Quoted by Jace

"Thank god he made us all different"

"10 Reasons why the Seat Leon FR Pi on expensive 'executive' cars"

At the free Seat track day last year, I got to meet a good bunch of guys 'n' girls, noting that the average age of attendees was between 35 and 40. Therefore, I thought it might make an interesting survey to establish the average age of all Leon drivers on seatcupra.net.

Make me feel better and spill the beans, How old are you really?

PS - I think the poll allows anonimity for those who take part

Mike
57FR170, Crono, BT, 18", Alu Trim, Armrest, Muddies, Mats (08 Cupra Grill on order)

 

[Tam]

Have to be honest, its probably the colour rather than the vehicle that is getting you the (un)wanted attention.

Either that or they are all secretly jealous

 

[BeezerDiesel]

Agreed: It's probably more due to the colour than the choice of car per se as senior management types do tend to be bores in general. My question is why you didn't buy a Cupra if you are a senior management you can obviously afford one LOL!
I didn't vote in the poll though despite being of a similar age and mindset to you because a) I don't have a mk2 Leon (yet) and b) my soul is not for sale to my company and my peers still greet my choices of car with a bit of respect (to my face anyway, they probably still think I'm an arsehole in private!!) as I'm still 'blue collar'.

 

[MikeShaw100]

Agreed: It's probably more due to the colour than the choice of car per se as senior management types do tend to be bores in general. My question is why you didn't buy a Cupra if you are a senior management you can obviously afford one LOL!
I didn't vote in the poll though despite being of a similar age and mindset to you because a) I don't have a mk2 Leon (yet) and b) my soul is not for sale to my company and my peers still greet my choices of car with a bit of respect (to my face anyway, they probably still think I'm an arsehole in private!!) as I'm still 'blue collar'.

Thanks - Am sure its a combination of all the above.

As for the Cupra - would have loved one, but the 20+k miles per year and three daughters (two leaving school shortly) put pay to that idea - Mabye in 4-5 years, in my early 40's...

Mike

 

[Watchin FC]

Interesting to read a post from someone who has owned BMW's and SAAB's (supposedly aspirational cars) and who thinks his FR is the best car he's ever owned.

Recently had a trip up to Leeds for a night out and got a lift in my mates Audi A4 1.8T convertable and came back (via the BMW dealership in Wakefield) in another mates BMW Z4 2.0 se roadster.

Both of these are obviously nice cars and I spent my time in them checking out the quality of the interior, ride and performance.

I've always been slightly critical of the dash on my FR (tdi), I think it looks overly simplified and perhaps a little on the cheap side. Another thing I've criticised is the storage space or lack of it. So I was surprised when I was in the Audi at how similar the main parts of the dash and storage areas were to my FR. The Audi costs about 15 grand or so more than the leon and comparing the quality of the interiors in two cars (FR & Audi) I think the FR holds up fairly well pound for pound.

The interior on the Z4 roadster is even more simplified than the FR which is to be expected in a 2 seater roadster I suppose.

Anyway, after getting back to Manchester and back behind the wheel of the FR I really appreciated what a good car it really is. It easily out performs both of the above mentioned cars and puts a smile on my face each time I drive it. It doesn't have any of the badge snobbery of the Audi's/BMW's out there but its more than capable of sticking two fingers up to them whilst flying past.

I get constant stick off a mate who is a 2.0 tdi Jag X Type driver about the alleged poor quality and ride of my FR but he can keep his Mondeo in disguise. For the money, the FR has got to be one of the best if not the best cars out there at the moment.

Let the snobs wallow in their ignorance eh!

 

[kingkongsfinger]

Ive had my Cupra two days now, had several "thumbs up" from over drivers inc a Honda Type R.

Also had lots of admiring looks.

Im lucky cause its a company car also, saying that just done 200 miles and the mpg is 20.8 FFS!!!


But the people in the office took the pi55 when I pulled up in it.

Is it a Supra (Cupra) ?? Looks like the pink panther car !! Wait till you go past a "cockometer" it will go of the scale!!!

Any way I dont care what people thing, it looks blingtastic and im 38!!!!!

 

[Freewheelin']

For me the issue is how the car drives. I sold a Leon Cupra TDI (modified with Koni coilovers) last year and replaced it with a Mondeo ST TDCI (needed a bigger car). Big mistake....so I'm picking up a new Leon FR TDI next Sunday A test drive showed the FR was much a much sharper drive....I should have bought one in the first place I'm 58 BTW

 

[Rampage]

Interesting thread.
I was thinking of doing something similiar.
I was thinking also of seeing what sort of jobs people haveb(non-company cars), as I have found out how hard it is to pay for something like this. So I don't really know how people can afford decent BMW's and the like.

I'm 28 and thought I'd be at the higher end of the age scale!

 

[Watchin FC]

But the people in the office took the pi55 when I pulled up in it.

You'll have the last laugh though mate.

As we say at FC...

FCUM.

 

[Al]

I just turned 32.

The lads in my office know the car is quick, but its known as the poor mans golf, spanish crap and all that. Good job I dont care, and even better that the Cupra would run rings round their A6's, X5's, CRV's etc. One of the lads that works with me needs £100 to fill his X5 with diesel FFS! Balls to that!

 

[alx_chung]

I am 30 and have had some comments about my car, but I don't really care. Its my car and its my money
Not in middle management at all as I am just a code monkey but its amazing the amount of people who look down at you when you turn up in the Leon. Again comments about poor man's Golf etc but hey I have driven the MK5 Golf a lot of the past year and still think that the Leon is a better car. The only thing that would tempt me away from the Leon is an A4 but financially that is out of reach.
Our car park is just full of cars like C Classes, X5, Lexus 4x4s belonging to the management but everyone else has what I term 'normal' cars like Focus, Vectras and so on but yet even from them I get comments about my car. Pity really. You can't be a VAG Derv.
Alex

 

[MikeShaw100]

Interesting to read a post from someone who has owned BMW's and SAAB's (supposedly aspirational cars) and who thinks his FR is the best car he's ever owned.

Watchin

Found the BMW to be 'one of many hundreds' on my daily commute, then found the SAAB ( 2004 93 2.0t) to be unresponsive, slow, expensive and unreliable.

My message to friends is clear. As mooted on this site, the Leon FR is a well kept secret, namely :-

- A reasonable price at £15800 + a few bits for mine
- Stunning looks - Designed by the guy who did the Lambo. Gallardo i hear?
- More rear legroom inside than the BMW 3 series, Lexus 250 or the SAAB 93 - PERIOD.
- Blistering pace
- Top residuals
- Entertaining (particularly in 3rd and 4th)
- Economic when desired.
- Build is good (much is VAG remember)
- No gimmics to pay for as std
- Fewer on the road - particularly Crono (Audi, VW and BMW badges as far as the eye can see)
- Its not an ST or Type R (respect to both though of course, its a personal choice)
- Seat drivers are friendly - had a few chats with other Seat fans on the road
- Most importantly, very few on the roads and car parks

Nuff Said and feel free to add other benefits.

Mike
(chuffed at the responce to this thread - happy driving)

 

[P0LKR]

A lot of people love the look of my car and respect its crazy pace (remapped cupra) however they still wouldn't buy one cos it's a SEAT.

I think people just laugh at me for buying a "cheapo" car.

If I had a BMW 318i with a **** engine they would respect me more.

Badge snobbery is just ridiculous.

 

[Jace]

I think a lot of people are missing a trick, I went to visit my parents today, & thats a 46mile ea way drive, on that I saw 3 Leons, but I also saw about 5,000mk5 gti's

The Leon stands out, I drove through Cliffton in Notts (shaDY) M3 cab 3 cars up, & we passed a couple of chavs walking towards the traffics flow, guess which the pointed to, not the M3

So, my friends, let the rest keep their germanic boxes, whilst we enjoy the life of the spaniards.....

I had a mate over yesterday to machine polish his car, its a Meganne 225F1 thingy, with the cup pack, it's RS tuning mapped up to 260bhp, so its quite a machine, so we went to the pizza place whilst the wax was curing, let me tell you, he was well impressed with the pace the cornering & the sound it makes

I've even had a work mate of her's remark how cool the FR looks, he even admitted to putting his face/hand up to the glass to have a look in side when left it at her work, & he said the inside looks good...........He's a CTR Driver


Oh yea, 38 this summer, no kids & missus of 28

 

[AndyGrey]

I collected my new Cupra (Inferi Black) on Saturday. Only done 200 miles so far but I love it already. Some of my mates at work (Impreza, MR2-Turbo and VRX owners) looking forward to having a look at it tomorrow, or so they say? I think they respect it.

PS. I'm 40

 

[mrsixstring]

Interesting one this...one of the many reasons I chose the Leon was because I'd noticed how few of them there are around against the usual ST / Type R / Mk5 Gti etc as I wanted something a little more unique.

Generally (admittedly after only 10 weeks ownership) I've noticed that people who know about cars give it respect and those who don't really know about cars just look puzzled and go back to their 'follow the crowd' motors.

After bringing mine to the office, I was prepared to have to defend my choice some-what...but quickly realised that I didn't have to as I got nothing but praise for it..and after a few burns with them in the passenger seat some even wanted to buy one! A close friend of mine (who wouldn't drive anything without an Audi badge on it) summed it up really as "a clever mans purchase"...I'd have to agree!

Before I got mine I noticed an article in Top Gear magazine about buying a second hand Leon Mk1. As well as saying that Seats were bought by savvy drivers, it had a quote against the Seat badge saying "...those who can't see past the badge are missing out on a great car"....I'd sum it up by saying that whether you are 20 or 50...most can't see past the badge because we're usually in front of 'em

 

[neilandbob]

swapped my mk1 leon cupra tdi for a bmw coupe couple yrs back ... what a waste of money !! had issues with the car went back so many times to the dealer with no joy ended up they gave me the leon back ... sold that again and this dealer gave me £2500 grand more for the leon !!! happy to announce now seat fr is back and there is nothing on the market i would swap it for .. after owning 4 seat's dont think u can go wrong ... im 44

 

[jazzmonst]

I first saw the Leon close up when i was waiting at the traffic lights and an FR Tdi pulled up next to me and i saw how cool it looked and relatively sparse on the roads (it certainly made my head turn).

I've already got a 350z and i wanted a car that could fit 4 adults and luggage as well, looked good, was sporty and was good value for money and the Leon for me was the best choice over cars like Mini Cooper S Clubman, BMW 120d , Civic Type R / S etc.

I got my Leon FR TDi for less than the RRP with 18", metallic paint, Bluetooth, Convenience Pack and Winter Pack and then you get great seats, climate control, heated wing mirrors ...

Oh and i've just turned 30 too and i thought that i would be 'old' in owning the car.

 

[Igor23]

I took advice from a well-respected VAG specialist months before the Cupra was even mooted, when the spec was published, I made my decision and put a deposit down, back in October 06...
The only sarcastic remark I've had was from my Sister and her partner (both beemer drivers), this soon vanished after a test drive round tight twisty Kent country lanes, which left them both suitably gobsmacked....

As for age, I'll be 51 in 3 weeks time, and I'm between jobs atm...

 

[saintelise]

Interesting thread this - I'll be getting my Leon Cupra in a couple of weeks to replace my Lotus Elise.

The only friend I have told so far is abosolutely horrified - already had lots of jokes regarding wearing baseball caps, reading max power magazine, stereo blasting out etc.

I am a 41 year old married man with 2 kids (that sounds boring!!) I've been lucky enough to have a few nice cars over the years including a few BMW's before the Lotus - now I am NOT a badge snob at all and have always bought my cars based on the fact that they are good to drive, handle well and I can get out of after a drive with a grin on my face.

I can see now 'most' people will see it as a downward step - they are entitled to their opinion and be left with thinking about it as I accelerate briskly down the road