Buying: SEAT Leon

americano1

Hi all,

I'm in need of a new car as I travel on the motorway for 50mins to work every day. I have been looking around for a car and the Seat Leon is one of the cars that has caught my eye.
After doing a little bit of research, the car seems to be fairly decent on fuel cost (1.6 Diesel).
They seem to be reasonably priced too.

Does anyone have anything they think I should know before purchasing a Seat Leon or would I be better off going for another car?

colm_mcm

Are you looking at buying brand new?

boardsuser1

Had one a a few years ago, granted it was the 1.6 petrol model but still a great car.

Ever since i got rid of it i have had nothing but regrets.

If i ever get the opportunity to buy one again, even as a second car i definitely will.

Brilliant car all round in my experience.

americano1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you looking at buying brand new?

Would love a new one but wouldn't have the money for it.

Second hand 162, 171 and above ideally.

I had driven a 171, 1.6 diesel and liked it - only con I noticed was a boring interior?

Overall, the main thing I have I heard was someone saying the car wouldn't hold it's value if I was to sell in 5 years time.

colm_mcm

americano1 wrote: »

Overall, the main thing I have I heard was someone saying the car wouldn't hold it's value if I was to sell in 5 years time.

None of them do!

americano1

colm_mcm wrote: »

None of them do!

As in, no car does or specifically a SEAT Leon?

colm_mcm

No car these days. Oversupply of new cars and used UK plus finance deals mean relative demand for used cars is less.


Best in that class for resale value was always the Golf but if you got enough discount off something else you could actually do better.

I reckon the car with the least depreciation is the Dacia Duster. Still wouldn't buy one.

Seat Leon would have as good resale as most cars in that class.
Plus if you're buying a used car then heavy depreciation is a good thing as depreciation is bigger the newer it is.

ianobrien

I have a '14 Seat Leon FR (Same model as currently on sale) and I've had zero problems. Mechanically they are the same as the Golf, Octavia, Tiguan, A3, etc. etc. so suffer from all the usual VW/Audi/Skoda problems. There are reports of rattly door cards but I have not got the rattly door cards that some suffer from. The interior, while may appear "boring" to some, is hard wearing (personally I like it as it's not got much silly bling).

There are two flavours of 1.6TDI, 90PS and 105PS. Avoid the 90PS as that's as slow as a wet week.

As mine is the 184PS FR on sticky rubber on 18" wheels fuel economy is not something I focus on. I usually get 5.3l/100km on a mix of driving but I have got as low as 4.2l/100km on long runs with me driving like a saint.

americano1

ianobrien wrote: »

I have a '14 Seat Leon FR (Same model as currently on sale) and I've had zero problems. Mechanically they are the same as the Golf, Octavia, Tiguan, A3, etc. etc. so suffer from all the usual VW/Audi/Skoda problems. There are reports of rattly door cards but I have not got the rattly door cards that some suffer from. The interior, while may appear "boring" to some, is hard wearing (personally I like it as it's not got much silly bling).

There are two flavours of 1.6TDI, 90PS and 105PS. Avoid the 90PS as that's as slow as a wet week.

As mine is the 184PS FR on sticky rubber on 18" wheels fuel economy is not something I focus on. I usually get 5.3l/100km on a mix of driving but I have got as low as 4.2l/100km on long runs with me driving like a saint.

Were the Leon's subject to the emissions scandal a few years back or was that just VW?

George Dalton

They are/were affected but it doesn't apply to the newer Leon that you are looking at.

Casati

My OH has a 16 Leon 110bhp (which will probably be for sale v cheap soon!) and it’s been faultless from new. Very nice car to drive, handles as good as anything in that class and it’s well put together.

On National roads driving at 100kmph or less it will do 4.6 l per 100. Tax is only 180 a year. The 90bhp is a bit dead so go for the 110bhp. The 2.0 is great but it’s a lot more expensive. I agree that the interior is fairly boring but the spec in the SE is good enough inc cruise and it’s a comfortable place for commute.

Leon’s lose a lot of value in first couple of years so I wouldn’t buy a new one again but for you buying a two year old a good idea as some other mug has paid most of the depreciation for you. Be careful not to buy an ex rental as a lot of them find their way onto rental fleets (as do loads of Golfs, Focus, Meganes etc)