VW Vs Seat

farl

Long time reader - first time poster:)
So, here's the dilemma
VW Golf 1.4 TSi (122 bhp) Comfortline @ circa €26,000
Seat Leon 1.4 TSi (125 bhp) Sport plus @ circa €24,000

Yes, the Leon is better value and even has more std equipment but I don't think it has as good a resale value as the Golf.

Looking for opinions here and possibly your experiences with living with these cars and trade in value.

The Real B-man

As a Seat Driver id go with the Leon you get more bang for your buck and the reliability of a VW for less than a VW

colm_mcm

is the reliability of a VW a good thing now?

HungryJoey

colm_mcm wrote: »

is the reliability of a VW a good thing now?

Generally not, but you could do far worse

Personally I'd go with the Leon my self (the head says so,) but deep down I may rather the golf for some strange reason, no doubt I'd be happy with either. Go for the leon

Hj

jetsonx

Why does VW have this "reliability factor" attached to their marque?

In all the big surveys, VW never score high on reliability. Sure the old Beetle was reliable relative to the competition in it's day...maybe the legendary reliability of this model - still lives on in people's minds.

(Anecdotally, any car I see broken down at the side of the road seems to be a VW)

colm_mcm

Of the 2 I'd go for the Golf, seems to have image and resale going for it.

Oilrig

OK, be logical about this.

On financial grounds look at the cost of ownership issues:

Cost to buy minus cost to sell minus cost to maintain.

Given that reliability will probably be the same (depending on the length of ownership/warranty, it could be nil) either way as they're basically the same I'd exclude it from the equation.

Have a look at resale values and see what you'll take a hit for.

Then, factor in issues such as spec, badge value etc, I.E. allocate a value to each item of spec the SEAT has over the VW and deduct it from the depreciation.

You get the idea...

Biro

I'd go with the Leon. Looks better, has more equipment, is 2k cheaper.
Bargain more off and it'll be even cheaper again. In 3 years time, it will probably be worth only about 2k less than the same year Golf, making it depreciate the exact same amount.

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

is the reliability of a VW a good thing now?

He really should have said "the reliability of Skoda"..

I would go for the Leon, as the Golf looks like it was pumped up, and is bordering on an MPV at this stage.

Altho I'm no great fan of the current Leon's looks either. Older model was better vs the competition. There is always the Octavia... I believe the boot is huge.

colm_mcm

JHMEG wrote: »

I would go for the Leon, as the Golf looks like it was pumped up, and is bordering on an MPV at this stage.

you do realise that the Leon you'd pick over the Golf (because the Golf is too MPV-ish) looks like this?

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

you do realise that the Leon you'd pick over the Golf (because the Golf is too MPV-ish) looks like this?

MPV or that? I know it's no oil-painting, but it is the size of a car.

colm_mcm

The Leon is about the most MPV-ish looking non MPV out there! In fact, I don't know what an Altea is for. It looks the same as a Leon.

E92

Are Skodas really as reliable as people say they are? I mean they were VWs last time I checked, and I know VWs certainly are not reliable!

As for the Leon, between that, the Altea and Toledo, I always thought Seat made 3 cars when all they needed was one.

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Leon is about the most MPV-ish looking non MPV out there! In fact, I don't know what an Altea is for. It looks the same as a Leon.

Golf is quite a bit taller than the Leon. And that's official.

colm_mcm

It looks like a Chinese knock of an Alfa 147

Zonda999

That engine is excellent if supply is anything to go by:

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=231160

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

It looks like a Chinese knock of an Alfa 147

That would be because the Alfa guy responsible for the 147 moved to Seat. The first Ibiza after his arrival looks remarkably like the 147.

Eoin

I think one of the saloons looks very much like the 156 from the back as well, particularly the lights.

bazz26

OP also take into account that the new MkVI Golf is being launched in the next 12 months. This will impact resale value of the current model.

Regarding the Leon I like the exterior styling and the Golf looks very conservative next to it. The one let down of the Leon though is the cabin, the quality of plastics is very poor imo. Also unless you buy one with the digital climate control there is a very large blank area in the centre console area. Compared to the stylish exterior it looks like they ran out of ideas when they got to the inside.

Underneath both cars are the exact same.

Zonda999

bazz26 wrote: »

OP also take into account that the new MkVI Golf is being launched in the next 12 months. This will impact resale value of the current model.

Regarding the Leon I like the exterior styling and the Golf looks very conservative next to it. The one let down of the Leon though is the cabin, the quality of plastics is very poor imo. Also unless you buy one with the digital climate control there is a very large blank area in the centre console area. Compared to the stylish exterior it looks like they ran out of ideas when they got to the inside.

Its most strange that vw are replacing the golf when it seems to be doing better than ever.It also seems to be considered the best car in its class which is more that was ever said for the mk3 or 4.I hope vw are'nt gettin greedy.There are rumours of cheaper rear suspension

Biro

Zonda999 wrote: »

Its most strange that vw are replacing the golf when it seems to be doing better than ever.It also seems to be considered the best car in its class which is more that was ever said for the mk3 or 4.I hope vw are'nt gettin greedy.There are rumours of cheaper rear suspension

That's exactly what they're doing. Brought forward the Mk 6 Golf by a year or two in order to cut the production costs of it, by getting rid of multilink rear suspension, plus other things, to make it more profitable.

bazz26

Zonda999 wrote: »

Its most strange that vw are replacing the golf when it seems to be doing better than ever.It also seems to be considered the best car in its class which is more that was ever said for the mk3 or 4.I hope vw are'nt gettin greedy.There are rumours of cheaper rear suspension

I thought the Focus was the overall best car in it's class.

Also the MkV costs too much to produce hence the rapid arrival of the MkVI.

Zonda999

Whatcar.com(and loads of others) will tell you differently.On further research of that suspension thing, vw will most likely keep the multilink rear suspension for euro pean car and putting the cheaper stuff on america's cars

woop

the new golf is looking to be a nice too
presuming its the scirocca thing thats replacing the golf?

GERMAN ROCKS

colm_mcm wrote: »

Of the 2 I'd go for the Golf, seems to have image and resale going for it.

+1

Garda_boss

I'd go for the Leon. With the lower price and extras you won't be losing anything on resale but get a year old example for even better value.
And Seat are one of the more reliable brands at least according to the surveys.

http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/13105544635.jpg

omega man

The Leon. Looks better and is as reliable as the golf. Better spec as mentioned also. As for depreciation, the Golf will be an old model when you sell it while the Leon is a new model and will be around for another 3-4 years i imagine. That should counteract any extra value the Golf may have now.

E92

Zonda999 wrote: »

Whatcar.com(and loads of others) will tell you differently.On further research of that suspension thing, vw will most likely keep the multilink rear suspension for euro pean car and putting the cheaper stuff on america's cars

I believe that is what will happen, VW want to make their US offerings more "US friendly"(how putting a diesel into their US market cars makes them more US friendly is beyond me but anyway), so definately the expensive multilink suspension will go for America, but the MkVI Golf is a development of the MkV's chassis AFAIK so there is no reason why the MkVI Golf for us can't keep the independent rear suspension.

E92

Biro wrote: »

Brought forward the Mk 6 Golf by a year or two in order to cut the production costs of it, by getting rid of multilink rear suspension, plus other things, to make it more profitable.

AFAIK Euro Golf MkVIs will retain the expensive multilink rear suspension(it is a development of the MkVs chassis after all), but Golfs/Jettas for North America will ditch the multilink rear suspension.

spank_inferno

Consider an Octavia VRS, nearly new you can get them for about €26,000.
(only kidding)... I'd go for the Leon

colsers22

I would go for the Seat Leon if I was planning to keep it for a few years..
The new Golf doesn't impress me at all (just to look at, as I haven't driven one). I prefer the Leon's look. It looks like a bigger Alpha Romeo 147 from the back, the front is sort of nice too. The Golf is just a little boring looking imo

alexmcred

Had the same prob when looking at cars. The golf gt 122hp (went for the 140 myself) looks a lot nicer than the Leon IMO. I was actually ready to put a deposit down on the Leon but eventually could not live with the looks. Looks great from the front and back to just looking at the side turned me off.

With regards to resale even with a new Golf launched the current one should hold its value quiet well. If you look at mkIV (very poor reliability and quality) and they are still going for decent money.

I did not consider the focus as I don't like the new styling.

farl

OK, taking test drive tomorrow in in the Golf, the Leon TSi and TDi.
Have to say that the Leon has a great exterior. Very sporty, it reminds me of the old Mazda 3F but the interior - it looks very like they went for an early lunch and never came back to finished it.

Can't thnk of any other make out there that I should compare to. Afraid to go near Alfa, Corolla (or whatever it's called now) just seems reliable and boring, Nissan - what were they thinking?

Tks to all that offered their opinion.

agent_smith

I am thinking of changing mine as well at the moment. Have done a full spectrum of diff cars.... volvo s40, mondeo, 3 series, alfa 159 , then back to the hatches again and was thinking of a hot hatch. Took a look at the golf gti and seat fr. interior of both is of same quality IMHO. the quality of plastics is equally as good in one as the other. Both feel very 'german' inside. Exterior wise... the leon (i have one already at the moment) wins hands down. The leon is probably the nicest looking car in its segment at the moment. Water de silva knows how to produce an elegant sexy design... alfa 156, alfa 147 , alfa spider (old one and gt) , seat leon etc..
Both cars drive the exact same.. but the leon is a bit cheaper stock and wehn you add in all the toys that the leon comes standard with to the golf... it just looks overpriced in comparison.

batman2000

E92 wrote: »

Are Skodas really as reliable as people say they are? I mean they were VWs last time I checked, and I know VWs certainly are not reliable!

As for the Leon, between that, the Altea and Toledo, I always thought Seat made 3 cars when all they needed was one.

In a word Yes. I have had 3 and not a single issue with it.....

groupb

Zonda999 wrote: »

Its most strange that vw are replacing the golf when it seems to be doing better than ever.It also seems to be considered the best car in its class which is more that was ever said for the mk3 or 4.I hope vw are'nt gettin greedy.There are rumours of cheaper rear suspension

Don't know of any motoring journal that would pick one over a focus.
Next you'll tell us that somebody rates a passat or an A4 as a better car than a mondeo.

Zonda999

groupb wrote: »

Don't know of any motoring journal that would pick one over a focus.
Next you'll tell us that somebody rates a passat or an A4 as a better car than a mondeo.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews-by-type.aspx?RG=2

This crowd do for starters.And whats that sh1t about the A4 and mondeo about???I did'nt say that did I and the clear answer is that some people do rate a passat and A4 better cars than the mondeo.WTF???If everyone rated the mondeo the best no-one would buy a passat or A4 would thay???I dunno about you but i seem to see plenty of both cars around....Everyones taste in cars in different afterall!!!

HashSlinging

Biro wrote: »

I'd go with the Leon. Looks better, has more equipment, is 2k cheaper.
Bargain more off and it'll be even cheaper again. In 3 years time, it will probably be worth only about 2k less than the same year Golf, making it depreciate the exact same amount.

Thats been my experience having had a couple of SEATs, very stylish cars, and sales are up.

One of the main reasons I prefer the leon is that everyone else dosent have one.! Has a wow factor if its spec'd properly, whereas the golf is a "golf"....and will always be a "golf"... theres nothing wrong with the golf its just very predictable, the leon just looks like it wants you to drive it.

The centre console is a bit sparse but its very well put together and you can see and feel the quality control everywhere over the previous models.