I like it a lot. Much nicer than the rather slug-like Mk 2. I'm glad they have toned down the swooping front swage line on the side. I hated that from the first time I saw it. The interior looks like a big improvement over the Mk 2 as well. I can't see what's wrong with it looking a bit like an Ibiza. Surely a family resemblance between the models isn't a bad thing?
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Leon mk3?
- Thread starter Ryanoceros
- Start date
See thats what I find interesting. SEAT used to be the sporty brand of VAG and the MK2 Leon/Ibiza Cupra's basically disproved that theory. Aside from the 1.4TSi engine being shared with the Fabia, Polo and A1 with the same gear box, there is demand for each for different reasons. The inside of the SEAT is obviously a bit more nasty and it doesnt have the premium badge/price/snob value.
People would still spend £40k on an RS3 if there was a £30k Leon RR or similar with the same engine, drive configuration and DSG because it would still be the poor relative.
On the MK2 Leon, the 2.0T engine is shared between the Golf, Octavia, A3, S3, TT, TTS, Leon FR/Cupra/Cupra R in various guises but the Leon never got the best combo of the most powerful guise of engine, all wheel drive and DSG unlike the Golf R whereas its forebearer, the MK1 Leon Cupra R had an engine not found in the A3 or Golf and had nice brakes, bespoke body kit (not the woeful Aero kit that was thrown in with various models). Sure, the S3 had that engine with four wheel drive but the Golf had the R32 as a differentiator.
But surely you don't want the cars looking very similar/the same as each other, you might as well just bring out one car in that case.
Personally can't see too much of a difference interior wise, looks alright. Probably the only thing I like about it.
Personally can't see too much of a difference interior wise, looks alright. Probably the only thing I like about it.
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What about FRs? Is the best FR going to be 180hp? That's a bit week
Or is that released along with the Cupra?
Depends on side you look at front of the cupra needs sumthing extra to make it special IMO. Back end looks stunning tho and as all seats interior is poo.
This new one looks very sharp
I do agree. You do need the top of the range cars to have something different other than just the badge to tell it apart from the others.
Well the FR is now just a trim level as demonstrated by facelift Ibiza and the FR/FR+ stuff with the mk2 Leon.
So what might happen, or at least what i think should happen is that the Cupra brand should take over what the FR brand used to be and then they should launch a Cupra R.
To me the above would make the most sense, but this is SEAT/VAG we're talking about, and sometimes sense and logic goes out the window!
Or the could just release faster engines in FR time along with the Cupra, it's anyones guess at the moment
Who is going to wait 3 years for a Cupra R maybe to come out though, just as the MK3 starts to go out of vogue?
Loads of people would consider a Cupra if they thought there was no Cupra R and would be pretty pissed if they spent out loads and got hit with depreciation on a Cupra when the Cupra R comes along closely behind.
They really should let peoples know whats coming ahead of time. Regardless, its doubtful it will have much more than the 265bhp currently in the 2.0T's unless it is one of the first VAG models to sport a new K04 2.0T engine, maybe based on the K03s 2.0T EA888 found in the current MK2 Leon FR TSi/Golf GTi etc.
Loads of people would consider a Cupra if they thought there was no Cupra R and would be pretty pissed if they spent out loads and got hit with depreciation on a Cupra when the Cupra R comes along closely behind.
They really should let peoples know whats coming ahead of time. Regardless, its doubtful it will have much more than the 265bhp currently in the 2.0T's unless it is one of the first VAG models to sport a new K04 2.0T engine, maybe based on the K03s 2.0T EA888 found in the current MK2 Leon FR TSi/Golf GTi etc.
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From reading this and the other threads it proves Henry Ford's adage about all of the people all of the time. Some love the Mk1 and don't like the Mk2, and vice-versa. Same with this I suppose..
Personally, having come from a mark 2 Tolly I thought the Leon 1P (mk2) was a stunning looking car, and still do. I think the Mazda 3 might have just beaten the Altea/Leon to the side window profile, which was soon copied by others (Ford Kuga, Kia Ceed, Hyundai i30) and more recently by some who should know better (Ford Fiesta and Focus). As for this looking like an Astra, I think the new Astra is a carbon copy of the F/L Leon 1p. So if they keep some of the mk2 style, no wonder it looks like the competition..
I much prefer the look of the pre-facelift Mk2 than the post F/L, I guess I just like the purer lines. (FR and Cupra excepted..) There were hints of the mk2 styling to come in the last Mk1s, just look at the revised mk1 door mirrors for the Salsa/Mk2/Altea french curves. Likewise the facelift mk2 mirrors and LED lights that are all this edgy straight line stuff, and this car is full of it.
As others, I'm not sure about this one but I have to say it appears to be growing on me. I can also see the influences of both the Mk1 and more so the Mk2 in this. I like the front, not so sure on the rear. Will wait to see one in the flesh to be sure. Having just got a 2010 FR, I guess I'm slightly relieved that they didn't turn out another stunner as I won't likely be changing for at least 3 years. (The 1P came out at the right time, I only had a year to wait...) Also happy for the brand that they didn't turn out another Nissan Joke, sorry, Juke...
To be honest though, I'll probably be just as interested, if not more so, in an Exeo or new Toledo (depending on price and spec) as I will in this.
BTW, am I the only one who thinks the new Hyundai i40 estate is a good looking car?
Personally, having come from a mark 2 Tolly I thought the Leon 1P (mk2) was a stunning looking car, and still do. I think the Mazda 3 might have just beaten the Altea/Leon to the side window profile, which was soon copied by others (Ford Kuga, Kia Ceed, Hyundai i30) and more recently by some who should know better (Ford Fiesta and Focus). As for this looking like an Astra, I think the new Astra is a carbon copy of the F/L Leon 1p. So if they keep some of the mk2 style, no wonder it looks like the competition..
I much prefer the look of the pre-facelift Mk2 than the post F/L, I guess I just like the purer lines. (FR and Cupra excepted..) There were hints of the mk2 styling to come in the last Mk1s, just look at the revised mk1 door mirrors for the Salsa/Mk2/Altea french curves. Likewise the facelift mk2 mirrors and LED lights that are all this edgy straight line stuff, and this car is full of it.
As others, I'm not sure about this one but I have to say it appears to be growing on me. I can also see the influences of both the Mk1 and more so the Mk2 in this. I like the front, not so sure on the rear. Will wait to see one in the flesh to be sure. Having just got a 2010 FR, I guess I'm slightly relieved that they didn't turn out another stunner as I won't likely be changing for at least 3 years. (The 1P came out at the right time, I only had a year to wait...) Also happy for the brand that they didn't turn out another Nissan Joke, sorry, Juke...
To be honest though, I'll probably be just as interested, if not more so, in an Exeo or new Toledo (depending on price and spec) as I will in this.
BTW, am I the only one who thinks the new Hyundai i40 estate is a good looking car?
Nope, I'm there too - but I tell you they have some balls to ask what they are asking for them!
My 2 favourite features of the MKII have both been dropped:
1. Hidden rear handles
2. Upright wiper 'park' position
Boooo
+1.
I think it looks like a Hyundai I30.
Maybe it'll grow on me. I've yet to be impressed by any of the exterior features other than the DRLs though.
I'll definitely be getting 3 door as a result of this, less people messing up my rear seats the better anyway.
But if its anything like the new a3 its got plenty of cool tech im looking forward to, but defo staying with the Leon, spec'd an A3 earlier, came to £32k lol
I'll have my Mk2 for a good 5 years anyway, then I'll have a 2012/2013 LCR, then I'll decide what to do... Maybe I'll like the Mk3 by then!
I have to admit, you can't beat SEAT's value. When you think that everything that comes as an extra on VW's and Audi's comes as standard on the FR for example... they're brilliant!
gonna keep this one till 2014, by then the decent ones should be out with a fair bit of kit, but only if there is a fast tdi model, or depends how efficient the petrol fr model will be. Staying loyal though.
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