View Full Version : Info for mik
Dean Bufton
09-08-2001, 21:31
mik,
My car didn't have the CD Autochanger, but it was supposed to be a 2002 model. I got a call from the dealer in Holland to inform me that the Met Black paint I wanted was not a 2002 colour. It was replaced by a new colour - Techno Grey. This is the colour I went for in the end and I'm v.pleased that I did.
I'm going to put my Kenwood CD in the dash and get a small autochanger for the glovebox.
I'm also having a Cobra Cat 2 to 1 upgrade installed next week. What's in yours?
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Deano (Leon Tdi SE)
Hi Dean,
I don't have my car yet.....quick explanation 'cos my replies can appear confusing......
Wasn't due to replace my previous car 'til Feb 2002. Father was due to change his however, and I convinced him the Leon 110TDi was the car for him, and importing was the way to do it.
His car arrived mid-may, and I had a car/tree interface a few weeks later....ahem.
Really fancied a 20VT, but cannot justify extra running costs....specially when £200 upgrades the TDI to 143hp/215lbs.ft (did you see my comments in the engine-upgrades thread - what d'ya think?).
So mine is now on order from the same dealer my dad used.....waiting....waiting...waiting...!
My dads cars spec appears to match yours. He has immobiliser, but can see no indication of an alarm.
I got several quotes from various importers - ALL quoted MY02 spec as including CD changer.
I had the same issue over colour ~ but finally plumped for solid black (and got a set of 16" wheels with the money I saved). Never heard of "Techno Grey" ~ my dealer told me the "Anthracite Blue Metallic" was really grey, "almost black".....maybe they are the same thing with a different name?
Why not keep your std head unit and use the Panasonic changer that is compatible (£200)?
How do you like the TDI anyway? My dad loves his, and it really loosened up after approx 3K miles.
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Dean Bufton
10-08-2001, 19:05
mik,
I know what you mean about running costs. I was going to get a 2nd hand Impreza but 120 miles a day (commute to work) was going to rack up some big petrol bills. It's only because of the running costs that I went for the TDI.
I read with interest your info on chipping. I know that AMD and Van Aaken do TDI chips and I'm seriously thinking of doing this to my car after my 12mths pan euro warranty runs out.
Alarms - I could have had an alarm installed by the dealer in Holland, but if it packed in I'd be stuffed. As far as I am aware, only the Cat2 Immob is standard on an imported Leon TDi (no volumetric alarm).
Autochanger - I may have been shafted here then. To be fair though, when I placed my order and agreed spec it was for the 2001 model. It only changed around the end of May when the dealer called to tell me about new model year and colour changes. Talking of colour, you're going for the matt black then eh?
The Techno grey is different to the Anthracite Blue Metallic. Check out the Belgian Seat website for the colour (or I can send a pic)? I know that Techno Grey is not a UK colour at the moment though.
I can get a Kenwood changer for £99 to add to my already purchased CD Head unit. I also want to add an amp or two, so I'd have to change the head unit anyway to get the amp pre-outs.
Wheels - what 16's have you gone for? I'm pretty much set on Mille Miglia Spyders (17's all round). I'll probably do this next year when I've saved up the cash.
My Leon has only done 1k at the moment, I've only had it a week and a half. I'm very pleased with it though, apart from the way that water collects in the doors and doesn't drain away until you open them. Anyway it's giving me 60mpg according to the computer and that's bloody marvellous compared to my old Pug 405 Sri. The engine pulls well even at this stage and can't wait for it to loosen up a bit.
A friend of mine has an Audi A4 with the same engine and it goes like stink.
Cheers,
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Deano (Leon Tdi SE)
We obviously have similar ideas.....I have always vowed that I'd NEVER buy new (barring lottery wins of course).
I'd been toying with the Idea of a 2nd hand Scooby for yonks....decided running costs were too high, and was then thinking about a Mondeo ST24 / Vectra2.5 (not in the Scooby league I know, but they are SO cheap...approx £6K for a 3yr old car!)
Its only since importing became much easier that I've considered buying new. I don't have a huge commute at the moment, but 98% of my motoring is either commuting, or with the kids in the car. I couldn't justify the extra running costs for the 2% of the time I could use the extra performance ~ particularly when you consider the UPsolute upgrade to 143bhp / 215lbs.ft for £200. (See www.tdiclub.com (http://www.tdiclub.com) to hear folks wax lyrical about this excellent conversion). I spoke to a guy who upgraded his Golf IV (110) and reckons its significantly faster than his last car (ZX 2.0 16V ~ same engine as MI-16).
Unfortunately I can't wait for SEAT to release the TDI150 in the UK (and I think there is now a question mark over that any way....VAG have shelved plans for the UK Golf TDI 150).
Alarms ~ thanks for the info.
CD ~ C'est la vie. If you are upgrading ICE any way it's probably no great loss.
Colour ~ looked at Belgian website (for 1st time). Techno Grey looks nice, but interestingly they don't offer the Solid Black I've gone for (and I'll be pretty p1ssed off if it arrives in the MATT black you quoted ;-)
Wheels ~ really wanted 16" to sharpen the handling to 20VT level (since suspension is identical). Grip and turn-in I was more than happy with, but general "sproing" over bumps (particularly mid-corner) is a little excessive. Cost was major consideration here ~ wife was not convinved this was money well spent!. Just missed out on some cheap SEAT "Rave" 6.5x16s, and then tried without vain to get someone with a 20VT to sell me their wheels (if they were upping to 17"). Finally found a cheap source ~ "adikt" (see www.adikt.co.uk) (http://www.adikt.co.uk)) ~ got a set of 7x16 10-spoke "buz", with Goodyear NCT3s (which have now been replaced with NCT5...so were also dead cheap). Was a little nervous about Adikt wheels...'cos they are so cheap, but everyone I spoke to rated them as "under-rated"...if that makes sense. I did consider 17", but simply too expensive, and to be honest probably a bit too flashy....must be gettin old.
Re chip ~ if you can wait a year...fine. If not, have a look at UPsolute website (www.upsolute.com) ~ upgrade is undetected by SEAT diagnostic equip, and Upsolute provide warranty related to their chip....
PS : Van Aaken wanted £500+ (plus fitting) for their chip, which only offered 130bhp)
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[This message has been edited by mik (edited 13 August 2001).]
[This message has been edited by mik (edited 13 August 2001).]
Dean, if you had got the Dutch dealer to install the optional Seat alarm then why would you be in trouble if it packed in - wouldn't it be covered by the pan-European 12 months warranty ?
I know that a volumetric alarm is an optional extra on a Dutch 20VT is this not the case on a TDI ?
Or were you thinking of a non-Seat alarm ?
Yorkie.
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[This message has been edited by yorkie (edited 13 August 2001).]
Dean Bufton
13-08-2001, 20:20
Yorkie,
The Dutch dealer said that the alarm he would install was not the same as UK spec volumetric. I didn't want to risk it and am now getting a CAT 2 to 1 upgrade fitted by a local VSIB installer.
I wanted a CAT 1 system anyway as car crime is definately a concern in South Wales.
Mik - I'll look into the upsolute chip, sounds too good to be true.
Cheers,
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Deano (Leon Tdi SE)
[This message has been edited by Dean Bufton (edited 13 August 2001).]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dean Bufton:
Mik - I'll look into the upsolute chip, sounds too good to be true.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dean,
Yeah - that's what I thought at first......I'd heard all the +ve comments about this product, but discounted it assuming it would be muchos expensive. Had decided on a tuning box (circa £320 for 137bhp). Was really shocked to find out how cheap Upsolute is....
Actually - while I'm here....thats something else for you to look into. http://www.tuningbox.com/
Plug-in box that goes between your ECU and your fuel injection system. Intercepts and modifies commands to increase fueling (which passively increases boost too) to give approx 137bhp and 203lbs/ft. It's a little more "crude" than a full chip remap....but still gets good reviews. The big advantage is that you can install / remove in approx 2 minutes. No warranty problems there then.....3yr unit guarantee (and I'm sure they do a "money back if not fully satisfied" deal.
Website info is wrong for UK dealer...it is still Siegerland (UK), but phone is 0191-422-1313. They're about to increase the unit price to approx £350 (which is what Demon Tweeks sell it for). Click on "brochure request" on their website though, and you'll get a voucher to buy @ £293 (inc VAT and P&P). They even do interest free credit over 10 months.
I think I said before ~ this was my original plan before I found out how cheap UPsolute was. However....it's sounding so good again as I'm writing this...... ;-)
Regarding alarm ~ can you advise (approx) how much it is costing you to upgrade to CAT1?
Thanks,
Mik
PS - just remembered - have a look at this http://forums.tdiclub.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002644
Thread on "TDIClub" forum discussing this exact subject. (I'm "mik_ok"!) Discussion occured back in April, when I was still learining...and...err..before I had written any cars off!
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Dean,
Any more thoughts on Upsolute / Tuning Box?
And since I'm being nosey again - any response to my previous question regarding CAT1 upgrade cost?
Cheers, Mik
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Dean Bufton
24-08-2001, 14:37
mik,
Sorry for not replying sooner.
The CAT2-1 upgrade (COBRA) has now been fitted at a cost of £249. The only problem is that I now have a single screw in my glovebox that should be screwed in somewhere....nice touch Mr VSIB fitter! http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/mad.gif. Also some of the trim around the battery was loose where the bonnet pin had been installed.
I'm going to take a good look at the install this weekend to check on the soldering etc (I've had too many bad experiences with apparently reputable alarm fitters before.)
Thanks for the info on "chipping". Both look good but I would probably go for the Tuning Box due to it's easy removal. I'll wait until the car is fully run in and the pan-euro warranty has expired before taking the step. Of course a set of 17" alloys may find themselves on the car by then too http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/wink.gif .
Cheers,
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Deano (Leon Tdi SE)
[Message edited by Dean Bufton on 25 August 2001.]
Deano,
Thanks for the update.....£250 sounds reasonable, and my last car had a Cobra, so I'm comfortable with them ~ has it reduced your insurance significantly?
Does it work from the original key, or do you now have a separate Cobra "plipper"?
Cheers,
Mik
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Dean Bufton
27-08-2001, 21:13
Mik,
Install seems good despite earlier problems (I found where the screw went http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/wink.gif .
I use the Cobra's remote to open and close the car now (I now carry the less bulky spare key instead).
Good news though as I tweaked the Cobra's settings and now have total closure enabled. (windows auto close when setting alarm). http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/cool.gif .
I am still waiting for amended insurance docs to come back from Tesco before letting them know of the extra security (cat 2-1 upgrade and cat 3 disklok). If I get a discount I'll let you know Mik.
Cheers,
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Deano (Leon Tdi SE)