1st impressions
Hi All,
I just wanted to post up my first impressions of the Leon because I’m so chuffed with the thing
Got the car last Thursday, it’s a Black x-demo FR TDI with 18s. The car has taken over the mantel of “main car” from my Civic Type-r which as I’m sure you all know is a great hot hatch and one which takes some living up to in the performance stakes.
We chose the diesel for two reasons really. Firstly, as we’ve still got the type-r, having another car with out and out performance wasn’t really necessary and secondly I really like the lazy drive the diesel’s torque gives you, which is a nice change after driving a VTEC! Oh, and it’s economical too!
So far, the Leon has exceeded my expectations. Firstly, I’d never seen a black one with 18s before the day I picked her up and when the dealer reversed the car out of a garage on the compound, all shiny I was SO happy - it looked gorgeous!
Having had the car now since Thursday and having not driven the Civic until today I feel it’s a good time to compare the two cars.
Well, I have to say that in probably every area the Leon is a step up from the Civic. This is of course bearing in mind that I’ve not had the Leon any where near the limit yet in terms of handling.
But it’s the refinement and cabin environment which are one of the main things. Everything is so well damped, with no rattles and no crashes and bangs. The Driving position too is perfect, a steering wheel which is adjustable for reach is something that I’ve always wanted – I no longer need to have the seat bolt up right to have a comfortable hold of the steering wheel. The seat too, is adjustable for height so I can put it right down which for me, makes the drive feel more sporty.
I’m not used to luxuries so things like cruise and remote stereo are real novelties. But there are some features which I never knew about like the total closure, and opening! Brilliant, especially when it also folds the mirrors. This was an extra (along with virtually everything else!) on the A3, which we also considered.
Performance wise, it’s an interesting one. I’m still getting to know how to best extract the performance but I’ve found it varies from feeling really rapid, to just quite nippy. I know what it is though. Accelerating from a stand still, though the gears isn’t the cars best feature. After all, this is the kind of driving which exposes the cars 8 second 0-60 and of course this is going to feel slower than the 6.5 I’m used too.
However, in most situations, the in gear grunt really impresses me, especially in third which is long enough to get a good increase in speed, and short enough to give you a kick. Originally I was going to change my civic for an ST (this is before we’d decided to dump my G/Fs Saxo) and at that time I was worried that if I didn’t go for another sub 7 second car I’d be disappointed – I made the mistake of going from a fast car to a slower on before and I regretted it.
Having the Leon though has almost convinced me that if I could never drive the Civic again I probably wouldn’t be left wanting.
I’m still not totally used to the car though, I keep getting caught out with sub 2K revs and finding the car is struggling. Also, I’ve stalled it a couple of times in slow traffic whilst in second – I’m learning that I need to use 1st a lot more than in the Honda. The Lack of pull sub 2K is probably my only complaint ( although totally understandable), but I know that it just requires me to modify the way I drive and it will be ok. Of course there is an advantage to this, and that’s that when the torque comes in you really feel it…. And that I like a lot!
Now I’ve got a diesel and an MPG readout I’ve enjoyed playing round with different gears and speeds to see which is the most economical. The cruise control is useful for this. I’ve found that at 30mph, 5th gear is the most economical (assuming a flat road) and is about 10mpg better than 4th at the same speed. I do however have a really bad memory, and that could actually be the other way round! Still, I do find it quite interesting, although I do know it’s very very sad (before anyone says!).
Something else I love is that when cruising on the motorway, the car revs so low, almost half the number of revs than the Civic – It’s very relaxing and I’m looking forward to doing my first long trip in it.
Ride wise, I think that possibly the civic is a little better. It’s not as stiff but I do find the Leon giggles about a bit on bumpy roads – but, it doesn’t tram line at all so what it takes away with one had, it gives with the other. Nothing is perfect.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings
Great forum guys
Hi All,
I just wanted to post up my first impressions of the Leon because I’m so chuffed with the thing
Got the car last Thursday, it’s a Black x-demo FR TDI with 18s. The car has taken over the mantel of “main car” from my Civic Type-r which as I’m sure you all know is a great hot hatch and one which takes some living up to in the performance stakes.
We chose the diesel for two reasons really. Firstly, as we’ve still got the type-r, having another car with out and out performance wasn’t really necessary and secondly I really like the lazy drive the diesel’s torque gives you, which is a nice change after driving a VTEC! Oh, and it’s economical too!
So far, the Leon has exceeded my expectations. Firstly, I’d never seen a black one with 18s before the day I picked her up and when the dealer reversed the car out of a garage on the compound, all shiny I was SO happy - it looked gorgeous!
Having had the car now since Thursday and having not driven the Civic until today I feel it’s a good time to compare the two cars.
Well, I have to say that in probably every area the Leon is a step up from the Civic. This is of course bearing in mind that I’ve not had the Leon any where near the limit yet in terms of handling.
But it’s the refinement and cabin environment which are one of the main things. Everything is so well damped, with no rattles and no crashes and bangs. The Driving position too is perfect, a steering wheel which is adjustable for reach is something that I’ve always wanted – I no longer need to have the seat bolt up right to have a comfortable hold of the steering wheel. The seat too, is adjustable for height so I can put it right down which for me, makes the drive feel more sporty.
I’m not used to luxuries so things like cruise and remote stereo are real novelties. But there are some features which I never knew about like the total closure, and opening! Brilliant, especially when it also folds the mirrors. This was an extra (along with virtually everything else!) on the A3, which we also considered.
Performance wise, it’s an interesting one. I’m still getting to know how to best extract the performance but I’ve found it varies from feeling really rapid, to just quite nippy. I know what it is though. Accelerating from a stand still, though the gears isn’t the cars best feature. After all, this is the kind of driving which exposes the cars 8 second 0-60 and of course this is going to feel slower than the 6.5 I’m used too.
However, in most situations, the in gear grunt really impresses me, especially in third which is long enough to get a good increase in speed, and short enough to give you a kick. Originally I was going to change my civic for an ST (this is before we’d decided to dump my G/Fs Saxo) and at that time I was worried that if I didn’t go for another sub 7 second car I’d be disappointed – I made the mistake of going from a fast car to a slower on before and I regretted it.
Having the Leon though has almost convinced me that if I could never drive the Civic again I probably wouldn’t be left wanting.
I’m still not totally used to the car though, I keep getting caught out with sub 2K revs and finding the car is struggling. Also, I’ve stalled it a couple of times in slow traffic whilst in second – I’m learning that I need to use 1st a lot more than in the Honda. The Lack of pull sub 2K is probably my only complaint ( although totally understandable), but I know that it just requires me to modify the way I drive and it will be ok. Of course there is an advantage to this, and that’s that when the torque comes in you really feel it…. And that I like a lot!
Now I’ve got a diesel and an MPG readout I’ve enjoyed playing round with different gears and speeds to see which is the most economical. The cruise control is useful for this. I’ve found that at 30mph, 5th gear is the most economical (assuming a flat road) and is about 10mpg better than 4th at the same speed. I do however have a really bad memory, and that could actually be the other way round! Still, I do find it quite interesting, although I do know it’s very very sad (before anyone says!).
Something else I love is that when cruising on the motorway, the car revs so low, almost half the number of revs than the Civic – It’s very relaxing and I’m looking forward to doing my first long trip in it.
Ride wise, I think that possibly the civic is a little better. It’s not as stiff but I do find the Leon giggles about a bit on bumpy roads – but, it doesn’t tram line at all so what it takes away with one had, it gives with the other. Nothing is perfect.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings
Great forum guys
![[B)]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/shades.gif "Cool [B)]")
