Thinking of buying 2.0 FR TDI - need advice please :)

[Gollum9]

Hi all,

Looking at buying an FR and test drove one today - loved it!!

I have a couple of questions though if you are able to help:

1) I have read a lot about people kerbing the 18" alloys. Do the 17" sit the same and have the same issue? (assuming you drive it into a kerb!).

2) Been reading a lot about the DPF issue (sorry - new and don't really know what this is!) and I only drive around 6 miles to work most days. Is this going to be an issue and should it steer me away from the Leon FR?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Gazza_24]

The DPF is the diesel particle filter, I'm new to this myself but from what I understand it can clog up if only used for short runs, I was told that giving it a blast every now and then should prevent it from clogging up though,

I'm sure if I'm wrong I will be put straight

 

[bizzaboy]

Hi all,

Looking at buying an FR and test drove one today - loved it!!

I have a couple of questions though if you are able to help:

1) I have read a lot about people kerbing the 18" alloys. Do the 17" sit the same and have the same issue? (assuming you drive it into a kerb!).

2) Been reading a lot about the DPF issue (sorry - new and don't really know what this is!) and I only drive around 6 miles to work most days. Is this going to be an issue and should it steer me away from the Leon FR?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Nice choice, for a car that can return 50+mpg on a journey yet still give you a big grin with it's performance, you cant go wrong with a TDi FR.

In answer to your Q's

1) I've heard here a good deal that that the FR Alloys is made from quite a soft Alloy, which can get kerbed / marked easily. However I run 18's on mine and have experienced no problems!

2) As highlighted by Gazza, it is particle filter. Holds back a bit of power from the diesel FR's, also can be a pain when you get the light flashing up on the dash and require it servicing (extra expense).

Again, driving regular short journeys appears to not help, blocking it quicker. Also cruising in 6th gear at 70 in some cases doesnt help either! Either way, a good blat up/down a motorway now and then will help keep it clear (from clogging)!

There are a few recent Threads on people actually having this Filter removed, with a custom exhaust fitting in it's place, with very positive results. Take a read..

 

[Gollum9]

Thanks for the info guys.

Anyone else with experience of the 17 or 18 alloys? Just wondering if the 17's kerb as easy as the 18's and also if you find the overall ride is the same?

 

[johnbev]

I think the kerbing is more down to the pirelli tyres that Seat put on most of the Leons. They have minimal tyre wall protection. Mine are 18" and came with Michelins with good wall protection. Some come with Bridgestones which also protect well.

 

[Nath.]

I have the optional 18's on my FR and the ride is very good. In fact the ride is the main reason for my upgrade from an Ibiza. The Ibiza FR and Cupra have a very hard ride.

It was bliss driving home after collecting my Leon, all I kept saying to my wafe was "OMG it's so much better with proper indipendant rear suspension" she was like

 

[Gollum9]

I have read quite a bit now about the DPF issue and although I travel along a fast A road every day, it is only a 10 minute drive max.

Looking at other potential options does the 140PS Stylance Sport also have the same DPF or is it different on this model? I realise I would get less in the way of power but if the difference is not too great and the reliability would be improved, this may be the better option for the amount of driving I do.

Not sure, what do you think?!?

 

[Alnitak]

I think the kerbing is more down to the pirelli tyres that Seat put on most of the Leons. They have minimal tyre wall protection. Mine are 18" and came with Michelins with good wall protection. Some come with Bridgestones which also protect well.

I got mine on Saturday with 18s and it has Pirellis on it.

With the light steering and tighter turning circle than my old car I've managed to kerb them already

 

[techno]

Hi all,

Looking at buying an FR and test drove one today - loved it!!

I have a couple of questions though if you are able to help:

1) I have read a lot about people kerbing the 18" alloys. Do the 17" sit the same and have the same issue? (assuming you drive it into a kerb!).

2) Been reading a lot about the DPF issue (sorry - new and don't really know what this is!) and I only drive around 6 miles to work most days. Is this going to be an issue and should it steer me away from the Leon FR?

Any help would be much appreciated.

I am selling my FR if you are interested

 

[eltawater]

I have read quite a bit now about the DPF issue and although I travel along a fast A road every day, it is only a 10 minute drive max.

Looking at other potential options does the 140PS Stylance Sport also have the same DPF or is it different on this model? I realise I would get less in the way of power but if the difference is not too great and the reliability would be improved, this may be the better option for the amount of driving I do.

Not sure, what do you think?!?

The DPF is only fitted to the 170PS FR.
Both the length of the journey and the type of driving are critical factors in allowing the DPF to do its work.
It doesn't matter if it's 1 hour of stop start jams or 1 hour of cruising along the motorway at just over tickover, both will be bad for the DPF if that's all you're doing every day.
I hope your journey is longer than the 10 minutes on the fast A road, as my FR TDi takes around 15 minutes to warm up....

Deev and I have done a comparison between his 140PS sport and my FR, and tbh there isn't really a huge amount in it powerwise. There's a little bit of an extra kick in the FR, and the gearing is better in the FR.

 

[Big_Mikey_G]

Deev and I have done a comparison between his 140PS sport and my FR, and tbh there isn't really a huge amount in it powerwise. There's a little bit of an extra kick in the FR, and the gearing is better in the FR.

Is this comparrison published anywhere? Id be very interested in reading it if it is.

I have a reference sport 140 and sometimes wish id bought the FR but my budget just couldnt stretch. Was thinking of remapping to the power and torque of the diesel FR but havent made up my mind yet. Do you think its worth it?

Also, the suspension on the sport can be somewhat spine shattering. I'd heard the FR was a little softer?

Also, arent the diesel sport and FR engines PD not PS?


Mike.

 

[Alnitak]

Also, arent the diesel sport and FR engines PD not PS?

The brand new diesel FR is Common Rail, not PD.

 

[eltawater]

Is this comparrison published anywhere? Id be very interested in reading it if it is.

I have a reference sport 140 and sometimes wish id bought the FR but my budget just couldnt stretch. Was thinking of remapping to the power and torque of the diesel FR but havent made up my mind yet. Do you think its worth it?

Also, the suspension on the sport can be somewhat spine shattering. I'd heard the FR was a little softer?

Also, arent the diesel sport and FR engines PD not PS?


Mike.

This was a purely subjective "drive one car after the other", so not scientific at all

The suspension on the FR is the same as the sport as AFAIK, and still so bad that I swapped out the shocks for Koni FSDs instead.

And when I talk about 170PS, I mean 170PS/167BHP, not Pump etc

 

[bellkevin]

Nice choice, for a car that can return 50+mpg on a journey yet still give you a big grin with it's performance, you cant go wrong with a TDi FR.

Unfortunitly you have to do 55mph to 60mph to get 50mpg... Who in their right mind would do that driving a performance diesel???

 

[Jace]

Tyre choice is the key to not kerbing, the p-zero's that come fitted offer no protection to the rim face, I now have Goodyear F1's on & they are superb. 40profile tyres arent for bouncing up kerbs.

DPF, not a major concern IMO, I've done 52k in 2yrs & only had it come on once when it went in to regen in the city center, once on the open roads it went off.

The ride is firm, but not harsh.

MPG wise, real world see's around 43mpg on average, but I do use it as it should be used.


I had a 140tdi try it on the other day, I let him get in front, & then i pulled away with ease

 

[DjDuncan]

2) Been reading a lot about the DPF issue (sorry - new and don't really know what this is!) and I only drive around 6 miles to work most days. Is this going to be an issue and should it steer me away from the Leon FR?

As far as I know, the new Leon FR TDI with the common-rail engine doesn't have the DPF anymore. That was only for PD engines. But you might want to check this with the dealer, I could be wrong.

I have a FR TDI and posted some impression on the DPF issue in another thread, so, to quote myself (cause I can't post a link yet):

Got an FR TDI myself, I've done about 26k km and never had the DPF light come on (knock on wood ). My engine is remapped, running on REVO soft since about 7k km ago. I don't know if it's luck or just the type of fuel you use on the FR, to keep the DPF from lighting up. I just know that before I got the car I read a lot on this issue, on a vw forum in my country, and there where a lot of people having this problem, mostly on Skoda RS TDI (which has the same engine)...so they were trying to figure out a solution and some of them claimed that using just one type of fuel from one specific brand of petrol station (Rompetrol, probably found just in .ro) stopped the DPF problem. So I remembered that when I got the car and have only fueled it from this specific petrol brand station (well, probably 95% of the time, when I was out of time I fueled it from other petrol stations if I couldn't find this one, obviously).

And it worked for me this far...hopefully it will keep the car out of DPF trouble in the future too. On the other hand my job is located only 3 km from my home and I always get there by car, in terrible traffic (side by side cars all the way), sometimes it takes me 45 minutes for this "trip". The consumption...well, let's say that I "managed" to get 40 l/100km once (I don't know how to "translate" that in mpg) on average from home to work. Usually get about 15 - 20 l/100km on this trip to job. So I am doing just the thing Seat are saying "don't", that is driving it small distances on a regular basis. Of course, I do drive out of time occasionaly, but most of the time only in the city.

I don't really know what the "magic recipe" is here, but I must be doing something right, since the DPF is ok.

 

[Leigh15]

I think the bigger question is why on earth would you consider buying a diesel if you're only travelling a round trip of 12 miles a day?

With that little mileage you'll never recoup the extra outlay for the diesel model.

 

[neo265]

I think the bigger question is why on earth would you consider buying a diesel if you're only travelling a round trip of 12 miles a day?

With that little mileage you'll never recoup the extra outlay for the diesel model.

I disagree, you'll get it back when you resell. Diesels sell for more than petrols. Plus you save on tax and fuel.

Im with you though, wish I had the petrol now I only do 20miles a day.

 

[Datapro0]

Hi all,

Looking at buying an FR and test drove one today - loved it!!

I have a couple of questions though if you are able to help:

1) I have read a lot about people kerbing the 18" alloys. Do the 17" sit the same and have the same issue? (assuming you drive it into a kerb!).

2) Been reading a lot about the DPF issue (sorry - new and don't really know what this is!) and I only drive around 6 miles to work most days. Is this going to be an issue and should it steer me away from the Leon FR?

Any help would be much appreciated.

I bought a brand new Leon FR 2.0 TDI Cany White with 18" Orion Black Alloy Wheels on the 28th September. As someone else commented the Pirellis offer no protection so you will have to be very careful to not kerb the wheels. I tilt the mirrors down and that is a big help.

You won't regret buying the FR I'm waiting to have plastic surgery to take the silly grin off my face.

All the best
John

 

[dannychapman10]

I have the FR550 alloys on mine which were 18's and all were kerbed from the dealer as it was ex-demo, I've just had them refurbed and are now gloss black so if I kerb them now, it will show up more
I do 10 miles to work there and 10 miles back but I have a blast of motorway driving, the key is to drive at around 2,000rpm. If I'm crawling on the motorway after the car is warm when there is traffic I will leave it in first doing about 2,000rpm. I can't see how driving at 70mph in 5th will help as much as there is more cold air passing underneath the car and higher speeds so 40mph in 4th would be better and can heat the exhaust up quicker and to the temp needed to burn off the soot.
As other posts suggest, 50mpg+ and that grin on your face when a chav in a corsa tries to race you is the best feeling in the world

Danny.