Astra GTC or Leon FR

what the hell!

Hey guys so looking to buy a new set of wheels and kinda looking at the GTC or the FR. 2 litre diesel really. Which would you think is the best option out of the two or am I missing any other options around the same price range?

MuppetCheck

I had a GTC SRI 165 diesel and chopped it in after 9 months for a Leon FR. The GTC is a good car but the Leon is a better car in almost every way bar looks.

The engines smoother, lighter on juice, much pokier and all round the car feels a lot more modern. It's worth looking out for a 184bhp FR though. The 150bhp FR is about equivalent performance wise to the GTC as its a heavy car.

GavRedKing

If you're going brand new, theres a new shape Astra coming later this year with a range of engines.

http://www.opel.ie/experience-opel/opel-about/opel-news/2015/June/opel-news-opel-reveals-new-opel-astra.html

Interslice

MuppetCheck wrote: »

I had a GTC SRI 165 diesel and chopped it in after 9 months for a Leon FR. The GTC is a good car but the Leon is a better car in almost every way bar looks.

The engines smoother, lighter on juice, much pokier and all round the car feels a lot more modern. It's worth looking out for a 184bhp FR though. The 150bhp FR is about equivalent performance wise to the GTC as its a heavy car.

Funny you say that. Seen a Leon FR in red the other day and thought to myself, 'they look well, I'd actually drive that', which is very rare for me and new VAGs. To me them opels look mank altogether.

MuppetCheck

Interslice wrote: »

Funny you say that. Seen a Leon FR in red the other day and thought to myself, 'they look well, I'd actually drive that', which is very rare for me and new VAGs. To me them opels look mank altogether.

They're a little plain compared to the old model I think. Thought the GTC was the best looking Opel in years.

Interslice

3 door in red though!! Not mad on the white or that style of wheel. No offence . I didn't even like the white on the transporter I had! Can't get my head around how they're selling so many white german cars nowadays!

Toyotafanboi

i know i'm biased; and i'm not saying the FR doesn't look good, but the GTC is a looker, particularly from the rear. havn't a flattering photo of my own

buying new, i couldn't do much but speculate. i'm in a 2012 GTC nearly 18 months now (20k kms in that time, nearly 50k overall). so far so good, not had a minutes bother with it and no complications at service time. i don't know what the diesel claims, but the 1.4 turbo petrol is doing around 7l/100km which isn't too bad for a car of it's size weight.

i'm pleased with it. as is ms. fanboi. personally, i wouldn't change it but if we could turn back time, i'd say she'd rather go for the scirocco in hindsight.

MuppetCheck

Interslice wrote: »

3 door in red though!! Not mad on the white or that style of wheel. No offence . I didn't even like the white on the transporter I had! Can't get my head around how they're selling so many white german cars nowadays!

Not a fan of those wheels myself either. The ones in your pic are much nicer. White is a doddle to keep - marks don't show and it help my OCD. The FRs replacement is ordered in white too as a result.

As for the diesel Astra TFB it didn't do much better than the petrol, certainly not enough to justify the extra noise. About 44 to the gallon...I know it was on 19s and 20s too but that's still pretty poor going.

what the hell!

GavRedKing wrote: »

If you're going brand new, theres a new shape Astra coming later this year with a range of engines.

http://www.opel.ie/experience-opel/opel-about/opel-news/2015/June/opel-news-opel-reveals-new-opel-astra.html

Looks pretty good!

bazz26

Regular Astra hatchback and estate will be launched first, I wouldn't expect to see a new GTC for at least 12 months after that.

what the hell!

bazz26 wrote: »

Regular Astra hatchback and estate will be launched first, I wouldn't expect to see a new GTC for at least 12 months after that.

Ah ****e really? No point in waiting so.

bs2014

Leon FR are quite light so they are quick off the line, when you put in sport mode it handles beautifully. If you are set on 3door, I wouldn't buy a 3dr FR as traditionally 3drs will depreciate a good bit more than a 5dr, and the 5dr leon is (personally) nicer than the 3door. If you are fixed on going 3dr, the GTC is far nicer. It looks as fresh as ever and I think in the right colour/wheels looks nicer than a scirocco and certainly a 3dr leon. Don't let the new astra coming out put you off, the GTC isn't likely to be replaced for another year or so.

ianobrien

Just one thing with the FR, it comes in two flavours, 150PS and 184PS. The 184PS has the Seat Drive Profile ("sports mode") and fully independent rear suspension, while the 150PS doesn't have the Seat Drive Profile and has the standard Leon rear suspension. The 184PS also has a lower compression ratio (evidently to allow higher boost pressure), bigger front brakes and some silly lights in the doors.

vectra

I was in Muppetchecks Astra and in his Leon.
Though I will say the Astra was quiet, I would prefer the FR as a driver car.

bazz26

it also has a nice bit more torque.

bs2014

ianobrien wrote: »

Just one thing with the FR, it comes in two flavours, 150PS and 184PS. The 184PS has the Seat Drive Profile ("sports mode") and fully independent rear suspension, while the 150PS doesn't have the Seat Drive Profile and has the standard Leon rear suspension. The 184PS also has a lower compression ratio (evidently to allow higher boost pressure), bigger front brakes and some silly lights in the doors.

I have a 150ps version and I have the SEAT drive profile and red light on the inside of door when in sport mode

ianobrien

bs2014 wrote: »

I have a 150ps version and I have the SEAT drive profile and red light on the inside of door when in sport mode

Ya I've checked the brochure and its now in the 150PS model. When I was looking before I got mine it was only in the 184PS diesel and 1.8 turbo petrol.

My bad.