Hello all. A long time since I posted, but thought I'd share a few thoughts, having recently moved from a '64 FR TDi 150 to a '67 1.4 TSi. With the Mk4 here imminently, the Mk3 is a bargain right now, so hopefully this might help anyone considering a plunge into the used market.
I've always liked Seats - having owned a Toledo V5 and an Exeo in the past - and really enjoyed the diesel Leon. But it was coming up to five years old and 48k miles and although nothing - and I mean nothing - has ever gone wrong on any of the Seats I've had, I decided I'd had enough of diesel, and wanted to go back to petrol power. Plus, the ride on the 18s, which I'd initially thought OK, wasn't doing much for my ageing back.
I'd have been prepared to move away from VAG - but the more I researched the opposition, the only thing that really fitted the bill (decent performance, comfort, room, economy, looks, price) was....another Leon. A 1.5 Evo was just out of reach - but the 1.4 was such good value and got such positive reports that it was the one I decided to go for. I found a '67 reg with 9k miles on it (!) in lovely Mystery Blue, with the pretty 17-inch wheels for not very much money at all, and got a surprisingly good p/x deal on the diesel (I'd looked after it). I'd also wanted Seat Sound but very few seem to option it. The basic stereo is very poor in my opinion - so much so that I had sound proofing put in on the diesel, which boosted the bass and cured the rattly doors too. Well worth the outlay - but shouldn't be necessary on a modern system.
So - am I happy with the swap? Mostly - yes. It's a great drive - common to all Leons, I guess - and the engine is fantastic, and the one I should have plumped for in the first place. Smooth and punchy - although cylinder de-activation is a bit clumsy at times - I'm getting an indicated 48-50mpg. That's within a gnat's whisker of the diesel on a daily basis, although l used to get 60mpg-plus in that on longer trips. The interior certainly looks nicer than before but on closer inspection some of the new shiny bits are a bit hollow and creaky. There's something going on again in the front passenger door - a zizz on bassy music that irritates the **** out of me (why can't they cure this?) - a rattle from the glovebox lid (well, I do put stuff in it, after all) and I suspect the nasty, cheapo boot floor needs velcro to secure it in place, because something back there is wobbling like mad on poor roads. As the stereo is, once again, pants and there's more road noise than I remember, it looks like another trip to Mr Dynamat is in the offing.
The ride is still too firm for the roads around where I live, there's a bit more roll and less grip (although better tyres will help) especially in the wet. I can't seem to get the tyre pressures right - it's always too hard at the back, but then it is a beam axle. The upside is cheaper tyres and more steering feel (yay!), although the Sport setting is a bit artificial, so I leave it in Normal. The engine's always left in Sport, though. No idea about the Economy setting - used it once on the diesel and it was like driving a bowl of porridge.
The infotainment is annoying. The colourful look and bigger screen really lift the interior, but what's this fad for removing buttons from cockpits? There were only two on the stereo before anyway, now there's just one - and the one that's vanished was for scrolling through music, making a previously relatively simple operation a dangerous fishing expedition on the move. I notice the new Leon has a similar one-button system. Mind you, my daughter's Citroen C3 has everything on the touch screen - even the heating controls - so maybe we should be grateful for small mercies. While we're on it, why no front parking sensors when there's one telling me I'm too close to the car in front on the motorway?
Carping aside, I really like the Leon and would recommend one to anybody - but I liked the diesel for exactly the same reasons. It's easy to live with and a brilliant steer on smooth roads. That said, if I was looking for one now, I'd probably go for a petrol Excellence (did they do that in a 1.8 with the better suspension?) if only for the softer ride. Obviously, I'd love a Cupra...
I like the look of the new Leon, and the tests say it's a good car, but I wish they hadn't made it bigger than the current model. Might just be in the market for the 1.5 hybrid in a few years, though...
I've always liked Seats - having owned a Toledo V5 and an Exeo in the past - and really enjoyed the diesel Leon. But it was coming up to five years old and 48k miles and although nothing - and I mean nothing - has ever gone wrong on any of the Seats I've had, I decided I'd had enough of diesel, and wanted to go back to petrol power. Plus, the ride on the 18s, which I'd initially thought OK, wasn't doing much for my ageing back.
I'd have been prepared to move away from VAG - but the more I researched the opposition, the only thing that really fitted the bill (decent performance, comfort, room, economy, looks, price) was....another Leon. A 1.5 Evo was just out of reach - but the 1.4 was such good value and got such positive reports that it was the one I decided to go for. I found a '67 reg with 9k miles on it (!) in lovely Mystery Blue, with the pretty 17-inch wheels for not very much money at all, and got a surprisingly good p/x deal on the diesel (I'd looked after it). I'd also wanted Seat Sound but very few seem to option it. The basic stereo is very poor in my opinion - so much so that I had sound proofing put in on the diesel, which boosted the bass and cured the rattly doors too. Well worth the outlay - but shouldn't be necessary on a modern system.
So - am I happy with the swap? Mostly - yes. It's a great drive - common to all Leons, I guess - and the engine is fantastic, and the one I should have plumped for in the first place. Smooth and punchy - although cylinder de-activation is a bit clumsy at times - I'm getting an indicated 48-50mpg. That's within a gnat's whisker of the diesel on a daily basis, although l used to get 60mpg-plus in that on longer trips. The interior certainly looks nicer than before but on closer inspection some of the new shiny bits are a bit hollow and creaky. There's something going on again in the front passenger door - a zizz on bassy music that irritates the **** out of me (why can't they cure this?) - a rattle from the glovebox lid (well, I do put stuff in it, after all) and I suspect the nasty, cheapo boot floor needs velcro to secure it in place, because something back there is wobbling like mad on poor roads. As the stereo is, once again, pants and there's more road noise than I remember, it looks like another trip to Mr Dynamat is in the offing.
The ride is still too firm for the roads around where I live, there's a bit more roll and less grip (although better tyres will help) especially in the wet. I can't seem to get the tyre pressures right - it's always too hard at the back, but then it is a beam axle. The upside is cheaper tyres and more steering feel (yay!), although the Sport setting is a bit artificial, so I leave it in Normal. The engine's always left in Sport, though. No idea about the Economy setting - used it once on the diesel and it was like driving a bowl of porridge.
The infotainment is annoying. The colourful look and bigger screen really lift the interior, but what's this fad for removing buttons from cockpits? There were only two on the stereo before anyway, now there's just one - and the one that's vanished was for scrolling through music, making a previously relatively simple operation a dangerous fishing expedition on the move. I notice the new Leon has a similar one-button system. Mind you, my daughter's Citroen C3 has everything on the touch screen - even the heating controls - so maybe we should be grateful for small mercies. While we're on it, why no front parking sensors when there's one telling me I'm too close to the car in front on the motorway?
Carping aside, I really like the Leon and would recommend one to anybody - but I liked the diesel for exactly the same reasons. It's easy to live with and a brilliant steer on smooth roads. That said, if I was looking for one now, I'd probably go for a petrol Excellence (did they do that in a 1.8 with the better suspension?) if only for the softer ride. Obviously, I'd love a Cupra...
I like the look of the new Leon, and the tests say it's a good car, but I wish they hadn't made it bigger than the current model. Might just be in the market for the 1.5 hybrid in a few years, though...
