Leon or Cordoba?

AlienGav

Hey folks!

My brother was looking for some advice on his next car, so i thought 'No better place than here!

The two cars he's been looking at are the 03-05 Seat Cordoba and Seat Leon.

What the main differences between these cars? Do the 1.4s have any poke? Or is the TDi Diesel the best bet?

From my understanding, the Cordoba is based on the VAG Polo/A3 platform, and the Leon is based on the mkV Golf?

I've been in the Cordoba and thought the ride was rather bumpy and choppy, is the Leon a better buy?

Any imput?

Thanks in advance

bazz26

The 03 - 05 Cordoba is basically a saloon version of the Ibiza which in turn is a clone of the VW Polo/Skoda Fabia. Not really much market for a small saloon car based on a super mini in Ireland as the hatch back versions are usually more practical. VW droped the Polo saloon from the current range due to this and not too many Fabia saloons around.

The 00 - 05 Leon is based on the MkIV Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. The 99 - 04 Seat Toledo is the saloon version of that Leon. The new 05 Leon is based on the MkV Golf and MkII Octavia. The 1.4 petrol engine is the same 75bhp version found in the rest of the VAG range and is not very powerful and is dredful for overtaking especially in heavy cars such as the Golf and Leon. VAG have a 100bhp version available in the Fabia, the mind wonders why this was not used in the bigger cars throughout the VAG range as it really is better.

The TDi engines are probably the best of this range. The Cordoba has a 1.4 TDi unit but is a bit rare and expensive. The Leon has the tried and trusted 1.9 TDi units in 90/110/130 and extremly rare 150bhp. Avoid the old 1.9 SDi unit as it doesn't have a turbo and was carried over from the MKIII Golf.

My choice would be the Leon 1.9 TDi in 110bhp or 130bhp. The TDi is also great for an ECU remap if your into that. I think somebody here got this done to their Leon recently.

Cyrus

what about a toledo, its the booted version of the leon and generally better value as they dont seem to be as desirable

unkel

Nothing to add to bazz's post...

bazz26 wrote:

VAG have a 100bhp version available in the Fabia, the mind wonders why this was not used in the bigger cars throughout the VAG range as it really is better

Yeah I always wondered about that. The 100bhp 1.4 for maybe €1000 more than the 75bhp version would be a win-win situation

Buyer gets a lot more poke (and the Golf / Octavia and Leon could really do with 100bhp) for not much money. VW would get €1000 more* for something that will cost them nothing extra (different mapping of ECU)

*well the state will take about half of that

ando

bazz26 wrote:

TDi units in 90/110/130 and extremly rare 150bhp.

yep the 150 is really very rare. Just incase anyone doesnt know, you can spot the differance by the badges on the back of the car.
If the 'TDI' is all silver, its a 90hp version.
Red 'i' = 110hp
Red 'di' = 130 hp
Red 'Tdi' = 150 hp

Ive only seen one 150 hp version since March and it was a Golf

AlienGav

Thanks for the heads up lads, much appriciated.

He's decided to go with the Leon TDi

It's a 04 1.9 TDi 110hp < 20k miles @ 16, 000 euro

Seems like a good deal, I'll let you know on tuesday how he gets on.

Thanks again for the info,

-Gav

bazz26

ando wrote:

yep the 150 is really very rare. Just incase anyone doesnt know, you can spot the differance by the badges on the back of the car.
If the 'TDI' is all silver, its a 90hp version.
Red 'i' = 110hp
Red 'di' = 130 hp
Red 'Tdi' = 150 hp

Ive only seen one 150 hp version since March and it was a Golf

Just spotted this one:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=288332

Quick car but definately overpriced. An ECU remap of the 110bhp version would be cheaper.

ando

AlienGav wrote:

It's a 04 1.9 TDi 110hp < 20k miles @ 16, 000 euro

thats very cheap. I got an '02 with 36k on the clock for €16500, although it did have a cupra kit on it

ando

AlienGav wrote:

It's a 04 1.9 TDi 110hp < 20k miles @ 16, 000 euro

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=244964 :rolleyes:

fletch

bazz26 wrote:

Just spotted this one:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=288332
.

God that car is a beaut! What I wouldn't do to be able to afford one!

unkel

ando wrote:

I got an '02 with 36k on the clock for €16500

:eek: That seems very expensive!

stevenmu

bazz26 wrote:

The 1.4 petrol engine is the same 75bhp version found in the rest of the VAG range and is not very powerful and is dredful for overtaking especially in heavy cars such as the Golf and Leon.

I've the 1.4 and it's not quite that bad, I can overtake pretty well in it, but I wouldn't recommend it over the TDi, I kinda regret not going for one myself. There's also a 1.6 petrol which is meant to be much better but they're kinda rare here so with the premium you'd pay you're better off with the TDi