Thinking of a Leon FR

[TeamBosie]

Evening all, just wanted to ask you what to look out for and any advice on the MK3 Leon? Mrs T and I have been talking about trading the Ibiza in for a Leon as she'll want a bigger car for transporting Baby T around in and carrying all the bits and pieces. Her Ibiza is a 09plate 1.4 85hp Sport, its been a good little car but might be getting a bit small for our needs. The Leon is an attractive looking car at a good price, we've seen some smart looking 5door Leon's around £13k. I am trying to convince her a 2.0 TDi FR is the way to go, looks mean, 18" wheels and road tax is £20 a year. (Is that true?!) She wants one in Lime Green and we've found a couple we like the look of. What do I need to be aware of? Whats your ownership of one been like? What do you like/ dislike about yours?

Cheers,

Bob

 

[psychobob]

A year and a half after buying my 184 FR, I'm still loving the power/torque. And yes, its £20 tax

 

[Ckpearce91]

Right so I own the 2.0 TDI 184ps model with the 18" wheels.

Yes it is £20 a year to tax (manual version) DSG is £30.

It's a great car, I've had it for a year now. Fuel economy is good. I average about 550 miles per tank (mix of A & B roads with some motorway driving). Power is great. Handles superbly.

I'd definitely go for one with Winter pack like mine as it comes with Heated seats which are a god send in this cold weather.

Things to look out for is

1) Rattling door cards. Some people have found more than just the doors rattling. But this is the only rattle problem I have had.

2) Leaking door seals. Mine has recently had this problem. SEAT have fixed it now although I still get wind noise creeping through.

3) Some people have said that their thermostats housing have needed replacing. I haven't had this problem.

4) Sat nav freezing or loading up in Germany. Mine hasn't frozen but I have switched it on to be in Germany lol.

These are some common faults I can think of. But I still love my Leon and am willing to drive through Europe this year to Hungary and then on to Croatia simply because it's a fantastic car and the rental companies never give me a decent car so I'd rather drive 1100 miles each way than fly and hire.

 

[Villers]

Ive had my 1.4tsi FR for 18 months and Im getting rid of it in the next month or so, in fact its almost costing me money to get rid of.

Anyway, if you are buying new then theres nothing to watch for because of you have a good dealer it should get sorted. I havent got a good dealer though. For a family wagon I would prefer something a little less harsh on the ride, with less road noise than the 18" wheels give. Theres a reasonable amount of room but the boot can be a bit meagre.

Issues for me were

1. Door card rattle that you have to fix yourself
2. Dash rattle above instruments
3. Clunking at the rear over rough terrain at low speed
4. Squeeking door seals
5. Creaking windows
6. Self levelling headlights that dont self level

Other issues include cracked lights and vanishing wheel caps lol

All that said they are nice to drive and have a good spec. Just need a good dealer network to back you up for the niggles!

 

[andrewpain]

I got the dealer to swap the 18s for17s for a slightly softer ride.
I love everything about mine, if I'm honest (except the complicated way of selecting a different album on the SD card - but that might be me).
great performance, economical, room enough (especially with the ST). I like the gearbox, handling and ride.
only thing I'd say is, if you do a lot of short trips, watch the DPF (particulate filter) doesn't clog.
If you get longer trips (over 20 miles) it should get warm enough to regenerate.

 

[Geobob]

I have had my 65 plate for 2 weeks, so far I am very impressed. I have the 1.4 150 petrol TSI, this is a lovely engine and a nice drive. My main reasoning for this engine was a reduced tax cost as a company car. But it is also nice to be driving a petrol vs a diesel.

If your wife is doing higher miles then the diesel would be fine, however if she never does any long runs then go with a petrol.

I can't comment on build quality as mine is a later car and brand new, but so far I am happy with mine.

 

[TeamBosie]

Thank you all for your messages - very helpful! I've contacted our local Seat dealer, Lancaster in Milton Keynes so we'll pop up at the weekend and have a look at Leon's. I don't really know the guys here, CKPearce91 did you buy yours from MK? We went in a few months back when Rosie was pregnant and the man tried to sell us a new Ibiza Toca without even seeing her car.. so I guess they're desperate to sell stock! Good to know about interior rattles etc. I think we would be looking around 2013/2014 models - I think a 2.0 TDi would be good but she doesn't do many miles - I have a 2.2d X-Type and now I work in MK I only do about 20 miles a day in it. Perhaps 1.4 TSI is a better bet?

 

[andrewpain]

at 20 a day (filthy habit) I'd say the 1.4 TSi, preferably the 150 hp version.
with the TDi you'd always have an eye on the DPF light....once you knew about it

 

[Geobob]

I would go for the 1.4 150 TSI then, the diesels usually carry a premium and reality is that you will get 40-45 mpg in the petrol anyway. It also so refined compared to the diesel, and you won't have to worry about EGRs and DPFs clogging up.

With you being in Luton, check out Letchworth Seat as well, that is where I got mine from even though I live in the West Midlands. They seemed to have a decent selection of cars available.

 

[Ckpearce91]

Thank you all for your messages - very helpful! I've contacted our local Seat dealer, Lancaster in Milton Keynes so we'll pop up at the weekend and have a look at Leon's. I don't really know the guys here, CKPearce91 did you buy yours from MK? We went in a few months back when Rosie was pregnant and the man tried to sell us a new Ibiza Toca without even seeing her car.. so I guess they're desperate to sell stock! Good to know about interior rattles etc. I think we would be looking around 2013/2014 models - I think a 2.0 TDi would be good but she doesn't do many miles - I have a 2.2d X-Type and now I work in MK I only do about 20 miles a day in it. Perhaps 1.4 TSI is a better bet?

I didn't buy from MK because they tried selling me cars I didn't want and then told me they couldn't do me the car I wanted at the price I wanted so I went to Listers Solihull. Much better service there. In fact I had good customer service the further north I went.

I'm from Luton originally

 

[Joe_3490]

Thank you all for your messages - very helpful! I've contacted our local Seat dealer, Lancaster in Milton Keynes so we'll pop up at the weekend and have a look at Leon's. I don't really know the guys here, CKPearce91 did you buy yours from MK? We went in a few months back when Rosie was pregnant and the man tried to sell us a new Ibiza Toca without even seeing her car.. so I guess they're desperate to sell stock! Good to know about interior rattles etc. I think we would be looking around 2013/2014 models - I think a 2.0 TDi would be good but she doesn't do many miles - I have a 2.2d X-Type and now I work in MK I only do about 20 miles a day in it. Perhaps 1.4 TSI is a better bet?

Only place to try is Letchworth Seat, I knows its a bit its bit further than MK but I have got my last few from their and always had excellent service from sales and Aftersales, I usually use Alex but from what I have heard the others there are just as good

 

[Curtly]

Nothing wrong with letchworth service wise, but their cars aren't exactly the cheapest.

 

[Geobob]

Nothing wrong with letchworth service wise, but their cars aren't exactly the cheapest.

Mine was, nothing else pre registered in the country was close with the spec I got too.

I got a deal as well, don't be afraid of asking for a discount.

 

[andrewpain]

got mine from Letchworth 2 years ago, pre-reg excellent price and PX, delighted.
great service from sales and service.
thoroughly recommended...

 

[Villers]

Just to echo the above. The 1.4 is a good engine and more than suited to what you have mentioned. Its punch but by no means a wild beast and is very well mannered. Ive had a average of 40mpg over the ownership including a 25 mile round trip commute that can often take an hour each way due to traffic.

To be honest the 1.2tsi would also be up to the job!

 

[LWCARAB]

Does anyone have a new sales contact at Letchworth Seat?

 

[TeamBosie]

Thanks guys, I will contact Letchworth Seat, I can echo the comment about them trying to sell my wife a car she didn't want, it was kinda awkward and we were like thanks, we'll be in touch...run away! We live in Toddington now, I've escaped Luton but Letchworth is easy to get to I use ******* in St Albans for parts, but they don't have many Seats, only Hyundais.

We'll test a 1.4 TSi 150 manual and see how that goes. Looks really good on paper, good mpg and pretty pokey too.

What do you reckon an 09 reg Ibiza SC 1.4 85hp Sport is worth? Its Chrono Yellow, 17" alloys - kerbed a few times! 90k on clock, been serviced by dealer up to 60k then by me ever since using genuine parts. I reckon £2500 part ex but sold privately £3500?

 

[Geobob]

Does anyone have a new sales contact at Letchworth Seat?

I dealt with Craig Herbert, to be fair I think I was easy for him to deal with as I identified the car, did a deal and the company transferred the funds all in the space of about 3 days, and all done over the phone. He did a good job though.

 

[LWCARAB]

I dealt with Craig Herbert, to be fair I think I was easy for him to deal with as I identified the car, did a deal and the company transferred the funds all in the space of about 3 days, and all done over the phone. He did a good job though.

I don't suppose you have an e-mail address for him?

 

[Joe_3490]

Does anyone have a new sales contact at Letchworth Seat?

01462 686341 and ask for sales, as I said I use Alex, Very knowable and helpful, has been at a few different dealers over the years, My partner bought a C2 in 2009 when we got her Ibiza last year he remembered her from Citroen and even remembers the car she bought which was impressive all done in a friendly manner, never found him pushy either.