Come from an Audi A3 to a Leon... bit disappointed!

[WilkoT]

Hi folk,

Picked my Leon Stylance TSi up a couple of months ago. Ive come from a 57 A3 Sport, and thought that with them both being VAG cars, the only real difference would be the shell.

When I picked it up, I was rather happy with it, I felt like it was a bargain compared to a new A3, but now I can see why. The A3 was solid in every respect, the doors felt solid and the interior was bomb proof. However, in the Leon, everything just feels second rate, the interior plastics seem cheap, and mis-aligned. The metal on the doors feels thin, and the roof caves in if you're scrubbing hard to get some bird sh*t off. My girlfriend still has an A3 1.6 Technik, and admittedly, a lower spec than the A3 I had although with the same engine, it feels solid compared to the Leon.

Following this, I have a leak on the back n/s door. Whenever I clean it, or its driven in the rain, it pisses water in. So its still under warranty and I took it to the SEAT dealership. I told them my concerns that it wasn't as solid or anywhere as well built as an A3, and he just looked at me and said 'mate, its not an A3'.

Im going to keep hold of it until summer at least, as the finance runs out on my girlfriends A3 then, and I might have that off her. Im hoping that the Leon grows on me though, Im thinking of having it remapped soon, so will see if that improves things much.

Wilks

 

[/dev/null]

Unfortunately as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. The Leon is a fair bit cheaper than a VW or Audi for a reason.

 

[DanGB]

When I bought my Seat New, the equivliant Audi was around 4000-5000 extra for the same spec, and the Golf was around 3000 extra.
I agree the interior plastics are rubbish, but yes, its a great saving.

The relaiblilty of the car should be the same as the mechanicals are identical. My car has never had a problem with water caming in, so you obviously have a fault with the car there, that can happen to any car, which SEAT should sort for you.

 

[silver surfer]

And you also pay less to have your servicing and repaires carried out compared to audis

 

[vincent5525]

Ive just come from a brand new BMW M5 to an L reg escort diesel.....Im a little disapointed. Even though the BMW was far more expensive I just thought with them both being cars, they would be the same? I really cant understand why the quality is so different. But seriously is this an april fools joke or what?

 

[sniperftw]

Seriously????????

i used to drive a ferrari now i drive a polo.....im a bit dissapointed
Cant believe this is a serious thread!!!

 

[SteveTDCi]

I used to have an a3 and while I agree it's not built out of the same quality parts inside, the seat is a much nicer car an I wouldn't go back

 

[Poverty]

I had a a3 courtesy car and hated it. Much preferred my k1 tbh.

 

[GREG_R84]

Ive just come from a brand new BMW M5 to an L reg escort diesel.....Im a little disapointed. Even though the BMW was far more expensive I just thought with them both being cars, they would be the same? I really cant understand why the quality is so different. But seriously is this an april fools joke or what?

Im not even sure what a car is, or if i even have one. What colour are they?

 

[FR_Kris]

Ive just come from a brand new BMW M5 to an L reg escort diesel.....Im a little disapointed. Even though the BMW was far more expensive I just thought with them both being cars, they would be the same? I really cant understand why the quality is so different. But seriously is this an april fools joke or what?

PMSL

 

[tonto]

i now walk in adidas trainers...since the old bill too my license.

 

[vincent5525]

I might post this on the Audi forum and see what abuse they give me.

"Hi guys Ive just sold my C63 AMG and bought an audi A3, and Im a bit disappointed. The audi feels really poorly built, cheap and slow. But this has nothing to do with me comparing it to other cars which are completely out of its league and price range. I just thought all german cars, no matter the cost were all the same, but this audi is plain old crap. Perhaps if I wasnt so retarded I might have actually road tested it/ viewed it before buying such poo. Vorsprung Durch Technik my ass"

 

[invisiblekid]

OP - Didn't the "It's like a Golf, but not a Golf" adverts teach you anything?

I think the dealer's reply was priceless and 100% accurate.

If I wanted comfort and luxury I wouldn't have picked a SEAT. I picked a SEAT for what I wanted - a fast hatch with tonnes of tuning potential. Granted not everyone wants that, but if you can afford an A3, why pay much less and get a clearly inferior product - when you consider interior & after sales support etc...?

WUM much?

 

[Deleted member 74601]

For me, I don't even think there's hell of much between them. My mum has an A3, but whilst the build quality inside is better, my new Leon still feels a really nice place to be in.

More importantly it's mechanically the same as a Golf and gets better MPG (I was going to buy a Golf before I decided on a Leon), and considering the £2000 price difference, and the fact I got sat nav, bluetooth, parking sensors and 20,000 less miles, it was a no brainer.

 

[Jarre]

Haha, this gave me a good laugh!

 

[TomH01]

Haha, this gave me a good laugh!

+1

 

[/dev/null]

Ive just come from a brand new BMW M5 to an L reg escort diesel.....Im a little disapointed. Even though the BMW was far more expensive I just thought with them both being cars, they would be the same? I really cant understand why the quality is so different. But seriously is this an april fools joke or what?

Whilst I don't agree with it, you can kind of see the reason why the guy is asking - they are built on the same chassis, have the same engines and share many other things. So mechanically they are pretty identical, however with the premium brands comes premium build quality.

 

[WilkoT]

Okay guys, for the first few people who replied sensibly, thankyou. It goes to show that people arent complete morons!

Well, let me tell you a little bit more about the situation. My A3 was on a 57 plate, it was a Sport spec, in Akoya Silver (I think it was called). It had done nudging 70k when I got rid of it, and my girlfriends parents wanted it, so I decided it might be time to swap to something else. Anyway, I had to decide fast, and wouldnt have bought another A3, as the new shape is coming out soon and I saw a 59 plate Leon with 8k miles on it, it was immaculate, and was hard to turn down. I had a test drive in it, with four people in the car, I thought it needed more power, but shrugged it off, as there were four people in the car - its normally just myself. On the test drive I noticed that the plastics were not upto Audi standard, but I thought 'Hey, Audis are well known for their interiors', and thought its probably just as well built, but not finished off quite the same and to be honest, felt as though I was being a little picky. The driving position on the Leon is nice though.

Anyway, as time got on, I begun to notice that there was a vast difference in the build quality, and if Im completely honest, the interior is probably built on the same standard as my girlfriends sisters Fiat Bravo. I used to think that the Seats, VW's, Skodas and Audis were basically the same cars with a different badge, Ive now realised that Audis are actually the premium brand, not just the same car with a flash badge.

To the comedians stating that an Audi is basically a Ferrari, and a Seat is a VW Polo, that's fair enough, I dont think the difference is quite the same, nor is the comparison, so please if you can comprehend, please keep the answers sensible. The A3 is such a nice place to be, the mechanics may be the same, and I have no problem with the mechanical reliability of the Leon, but everything else in my opinion, is second rate. I was originally going to buy something cheap as a run-around until I bought the girlfriends A3, but decided that the Leon would be a better buy, then I could keep it for a couple of years, but now I have decided that in my opinion, an Audi costs Audi money for a reason. The fact that the back door is pissing water in, says it all... there may well be a water shortage at the moment - its all in my rear footwell!

Whilst I don't agree with it, you can kind of see the reason why the guy is asking - they are built on the same chassis, have the same engines and share many other things. So mechanically they are pretty identical, however with the premium brands comes premium build quality.

This is exactly my point, I feel as though you pay 70% of the price for 50% of the car. I admit I may be sounding a bit rude, but Im just wound up with the thing at the moment and feel as though Ive dropped a bollock buying a Leon. Understandably, you all like them, but Im just as entitled to raise my own personal opinion. I signed upto the forum with the intent to get involved with the banter on here, and value each others cars, but I just feel as though Ive downgraded.

Tim

 

[Jarre]

I can see why youre a little dissapointed, but if there was no quality difference between SEAT, VW AND audi, who would but an audi or vw?!

Id you could get the same mechanics and build quality for £5k cheaper no one would buy the other brands, hence the quality difference between the prices.

I'm not too fussed on plastics quality, i dont tend to feel my cars dashboard and doors when i'm inside it... As long as the seat is comfy, plastics look alright and the car drives well, who cares?!

Oh and i do hage experience of luxury cars, my mum has a bmw x5 on a 60 plate, my dad has a bmw 330d on an 11 plate and a porsche boxter on a 52 plate. And i think they waste far too much money on their cars! I can safely say that the leons stereo is far superior to any of the ones in their cars!

 

[/dev/null]

The problem is that to be 5k cheaper the Leon has to skimp somewhere. Be it the cheaper plastics, that light in the glovebox etc. But it's still a nice car and looks better than the Audi (IMO anyway) so don't be disappointed.