Well I collected my Leon last week and so I thought it was time to report in on how it is to live with 
A quick recap for you. I owned a Ford Focus Titanium 1.6TDCi for 4 months. In that time it spent more time in the garage than on the road. Horrible experience. Horrible driving position, heavy steering, prone to roll on cornering, horrible oversteer. Considering this it is supposed to be "best in class", it more like the problem child. Changed it for a Leon FR TDI. Bought an ex-demo 56 plate with convenience pack, IPOD connection and bluetooth.
I had a good two hours test drive before buying it and loved it when driving it away. Do I still love it?
Yes. Yes. Yes!! I cannot wait to get into the car. Suddenly my dull drive to work is too short. I need to move 10-15 miles away from work so I can have a proper drive in the morning! (I live 10 minutes away at the moment). Hell I will drive to my local Tesco for the sake of getting a 20 minute round trip.
I love how easy everything is with this car. I get in, it's perfect driving position & seats makes me comfy. A turn of the key and I hear a gentle purr once the oil pressure is up. 3 seconds later, my mobile is hooked into the bluetooth. It all just works. Ready to roll. No fuss, no effort.
Once you get used to the ride (which can seem a bit tough at first), you realise that the springier ride actually helps keep you feel connected to the road. You learn to love it and that sportier, meatier "on rails" feeling. You know where you are when you corner. The awesome exhaust note when you do push hard roars. Clear road ahead? Rev off the lights, drop into 2nd.. floor it and leave everyone wondering where the hell you just went.
The Leon is so understated. It looks serious when it appears looming in your rear view mirror. Drive it gently, it's smooth and refined. Hit it hard and it gives you all the thrills you need.
My friend drives a BMW 3-Series M Sport 320d. He scoffed at me when I told him I had bought a Seat. "Won't touch my BMW, cheap Golf knockoff". Had two goes in mine, seen the bluetooth in action, the IPOD connection and has a test drive booked on Saturday. Funny how peoples opinions change? He is astounded to just how good the car is. He is a picky one (shopped an Alfa GT in for the BMW!) and he is raving about the Leon.
So a week in, I am absolutely stoked with this car. I can't help but look outside the house every now and then just to admire it. Once you get used to the car and in tune with it, it just keeps getting better. I can't wait to do a proper long drive in it. Cruise control .. forgot that as well, just makes it even sweeter.
The Leon shows the Focus to be a thrown together, bland dull example of safe engineering. The Leon? A different class and utterly addictive.
A quick recap for you. I owned a Ford Focus Titanium 1.6TDCi for 4 months. In that time it spent more time in the garage than on the road. Horrible experience. Horrible driving position, heavy steering, prone to roll on cornering, horrible oversteer. Considering this it is supposed to be "best in class", it more like the problem child. Changed it for a Leon FR TDI. Bought an ex-demo 56 plate with convenience pack, IPOD connection and bluetooth.
I had a good two hours test drive before buying it and loved it when driving it away. Do I still love it?
Yes. Yes. Yes!! I cannot wait to get into the car. Suddenly my dull drive to work is too short. I need to move 10-15 miles away from work so I can have a proper drive in the morning! (I live 10 minutes away at the moment). Hell I will drive to my local Tesco for the sake of getting a 20 minute round trip.
I love how easy everything is with this car. I get in, it's perfect driving position & seats makes me comfy. A turn of the key and I hear a gentle purr once the oil pressure is up. 3 seconds later, my mobile is hooked into the bluetooth. It all just works. Ready to roll. No fuss, no effort.
Once you get used to the ride (which can seem a bit tough at first), you realise that the springier ride actually helps keep you feel connected to the road. You learn to love it and that sportier, meatier "on rails" feeling. You know where you are when you corner. The awesome exhaust note when you do push hard roars. Clear road ahead? Rev off the lights, drop into 2nd.. floor it and leave everyone wondering where the hell you just went.
The Leon is so understated. It looks serious when it appears looming in your rear view mirror. Drive it gently, it's smooth and refined. Hit it hard and it gives you all the thrills you need.
My friend drives a BMW 3-Series M Sport 320d. He scoffed at me when I told him I had bought a Seat. "Won't touch my BMW, cheap Golf knockoff". Had two goes in mine, seen the bluetooth in action, the IPOD connection and has a test drive booked on Saturday. Funny how peoples opinions change? He is astounded to just how good the car is. He is a picky one (shopped an Alfa GT in for the BMW!) and he is raving about the Leon.
So a week in, I am absolutely stoked with this car. I can't help but look outside the house every now and then just to admire it. Once you get used to the car and in tune with it, it just keeps getting better. I can't wait to do a proper long drive in it. Cruise control .. forgot that as well, just makes it even sweeter.
The Leon shows the Focus to be a thrown together, bland dull example of safe engineering. The Leon? A different class and utterly addictive.
![[B)]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/shades.gif "Cool [B)]")
