T FSI Sport v TDI Sport v Golf GT TDI

[EdwardNR]

Hi all

I'm new here so apologies if a similar subject has been written to death!

I'm in the market for a good value, reliable, sporty hatch and the Leon seems to fit the bill perfectly. Now I drive a diesel 1 Series at the moment and want something that has a similar feel, but perhaps a little lighter at low speeds (read: the misses!) and lighter on the pocket!

Anyway I couldn't decide between a petrol or diesel Leon or the ubiquitous Golf given it's place in the hatchback hierarchy. So I popped over to Leicester and test drove them all on Saturday, and here is what I thought:

Leon T FSI Sport
Love the seating position, really supportive seats and a great wheel. The pedals seemed a little to near to start with but once the seat and wheel were adjusted they all worked well and fitted my quite average 5'10 frame. The cockpit was a pleasant place to be with all the main controls feeling of good quality and easy to find. I think the plastics are lower rent than the 1 Series but not four grand less! And I'm not sure where the shades will go once the mobile is in the central cubby...

We set off into a very busy Leicester (football was being played apparently) so I never really had the opportunity to open it up but overall the engine was torquey and punchy when needed and I was very surprised at how quiet is was. The best thing about the way the Leon drives is how well set up the steering is for an electronically assisted front wheel drive hatch. Nice and light at low speeds but stiffens as the speed goes up. Not bad feedback either, it certainly felt positive and works well with the chassis. The ride was okay, probably a little better damped than the 1 Series and given the extra inch ont he rims it didn't crash around like some of the journo's suggest.

Overall very impressed, although the average MPG while cruising at 80mph was between 25-33. Very scary on the pocket!

Leon TDI Sport
We then jumped straight into the TDI (same spec) for a direct comparison. Instant thoughts were that the clutch was a little stiffer but less travel, the wheel was a teeny bit heaver and first ger is so short it's silly! Once moving though the extra torque is obvious and makes for a much easier (read lazy) drive and given I drive a diesel much more what I'm used to.

Apart from that there is little to tell the petrol and diesel apart, in the real world the extra bhp is outweighted by the torque in most situations and the 10-12 extra mpg pretty much made my mind up! Plus it can be chipped to 185bhp anyway so I'm told.

And finally, the Golf GT TDI
Well, firstly the salesman didn't help as he obviously didn't think I was serious and pretty much ignored the girlfriend and made her sit in the back. Very silly!

Once we got going (and I was let in the drivers seat) I can say the differences are obvious in the gearing (a longer 1st) and refinement - much quieter, although it rode on 16's which may help. Plus the interior is of an overall higher quality with better aircon controls and a nicer basic trip display (you see the clock all the time!) and it has a space for my shades (yey I hear you say).

Overall I think the Golf is a slightly more rounded car than the Leon and perhaps is good at all things, for most men. But, and here is the big but - it just doesn't have the sporty feel or great steering feedback of the Leon. And it looks sooooo boring, and there's millions of them, and if you don't have a black one the rear bumper looks hideous.

One other thing - why oh why do they have to make the variable servicing on the Golf/Audi a point of difference to the Leon - i.e. the 10k servicing intervals which will mean twice a year for me at approx £450 a year, surely with the engine essentially the same it could be an option....

Anyway sorry to ramble on my first post! In conclusion, well actually I don't have one and was hoping you guys could help me out on this one??

Let me know your thoughts please, and one final thought - would a Stylance with 16's be better for ride quality? But are the normal seats supportive enough? Questions, questions.....

Cheers

Edd

[richi]

Before you decide why not take the diesel FR out for a test drive, it has fantastic supportive seats, a great chunky steering wheel, dual zone climate, cruise control, fantastic engine, great chassis(firm tho), sporty looks and if you spec bluetooth a better dash display that has the clock on all the time ohh but still no holder for the shades although i do believe the golf one can be fitted to the leon, seen it in a thread on here somewhere. Plus pricewise its comparable to gt tdi golf, insurance is not to dear either. You have nowt to loose so go and take one for a spin...........

[duncerduncs]

Originally Posted by EdwardNR

Let me know your thoughts please, and one final thought - would a Stylance with 16's be better for ride quality? But are the normal seats supportive enough? Questions, questions.....

Cheers

Edd

I went for the Stylance on 16's and the ride quality is far better than the Sport or FR in comfort terms. A lot will depend on how hard you want to drive your car, also I find the seats supportive enough. But, again this will depend on your personal taste.

Of course you could get the Stylance, then use the money saved to have a little 'play' with the engine's output to bring it up to an FR

[DanGB]

Originally Posted by richi

Before you decide why not take the diesel FR out for a test drive, it has fantastic supportive seats, a great chunky steering wheel, dual zone climate, cruise control, fantastic engine, great chassis(firm tho), sporty looks and if you spec bluetooth a better dash display that has the clock on all the time ohh but still no holder for the shades although i do believe the golf one can be fitted to the leon, seen it in a thread on here somewhere. Plus pricewise its comparable to gt tdi golf, insurance is not to dear either. You have nowt to loose so go and take one for a spin...........

The sport actually has most of those features, except the more poweful engine, and the fancy bumpers ans 'FR' badging!

[EdwardNR]

Originally Posted by richi

Before you decide why not take the diesel FR out for a test drive, it has fantastic supportive seats, a great chunky steering wheel, dual zone climate, cruise control, fantastic engine, great chassis(firm tho), sporty looks and if you spec bluetooth a better dash display that has the clock on all the time ohh but still no holder for the shades although i do believe the golf one can be fitted to the leon, seen it in a thread on here somewhere. Plus pricewise its comparable to gt tdi golf, insurance is not to dear either. You have nowt to loose so go and take one for a spin...........

I would certainly prefer the looks and power of the FR but I can't afford one so I have deliberately not tried it in case I like it too much! Looking to spend around £12k so it's gonna be a late 05 or early 06 Sport most likely, although I could get a well specced Stylance from www.drivewithus.net at £14657.

Might have to go test drive a Stylance now, thanks for the info duncerduncs

And thanks for the shades holder info richi - will def do that!

Cheers

Edd

[INSIDER]

Hi ed still waiting for an answer about the tdi sport with the bits we mentioned. that is a great price for a new stylance have you checked its definateley a 2.0?

[EdwardNR]

Hi

Great, if I could figure out a way to PM I would but it's elluding me! And yes the price is for a Stylance 2.0 TDI with Metallic, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors and the conveniance pack.

If you can PM me, please do!

Edd

[INSIDER]

check the rules but i dont think you can pm until you get your number of posts up