Just had a test drive in a new Leon

[Sanjay]

I've just been for a test drive in the New Leon (2.0 TDi Sport) at Listers in Coventry. Like a lot of people have said on here, the car looks much better in the flesh than in pictures. There's loads of neat touches like the rear door handles and the windscreen wipers parked vertically under the pillars of the windscreen.

The interior is overall nice too, but I must say that the quality of some of the plastics is horrible on the doors and by the gearstick/handbrake. It's really cheap looking. And the rear view mirror hangs from the roof of the car (it isn't attached to the windscreen) The thing is it hangs too low and obstructs the view out of the windscreen. One thing to note, is that the Tdi I drove didn't have the usual red illuminated dials. When I put the lights on, the dials illuminated white. I quite like the red dials on my current Leon and was disappointed with this.

That said, I have no other faults to pick - the instruments are clear to read and I love the centre console. The leg room in the back is much better than my current Leon.

To drive, the Tdi was ok. It had 140 bhp according to the salesman and picked up speed rapidly. It was quite smooth and for a diesel, I thought it was quiet. The gear change was smooth and much less notchy than my current Leon. The windscreen is very steeply raked and that would take a bit of getting used to. Use seem to sit so far away from the windscreen than the current Leon.

Would I buy one? Yes, but not a diesel. I think I'm going to wait for the 2.0 TSFI Sport to come out (salesman said it would be here in October/November). But I know if I buy the TFSI, I will want the new FR or Cupra when it comes out (next year according to the salesman) as I was told it will have a different bodykit on it withg the Cupra having a centre exhaust pipe. Overall, 8/10 for the new Leon.

[vwsurfbum]

glad you liked it! its amazing people change there tune about the car when they see it in the flesh!

[vern]

Get THIS weeks autocr@p(autocar) look @ the outerback cover, as one mean looking 3/4 view of a black leon 2.0tfsi or do what i do read it @ asda then put it back

[wild willy]

Originally Posted by vern

Get THIS weeks autocr@p(autocar) look @ the outerback cover, as one mean looking 3/4 view of a black leon 2.0tfsi or do what i do read it @ asda then put it back

Vern, may the new leon tempt you back to the fold when the new cupra version comes out. The thought must have passed through your mind.

[cupra R con]

well i must say i was impressed with the looks of the new Leon's i saw in Portugal, but having spent some time in a DSG diesel golf on friday i reckon all new cars are on a downward spiral of building costs
gone are the tactile plastics of the MK4 & in there place are hard cheap crap. many people would say the MK4 was over engineered, but the air of quality made paying over the odds for a 'average' car worthwhile.
TBH you may as well buy a focus & save some cash as the new VW stuff is not great, & that includes that over rated DSG box.

[vern]

Originally Posted by wild willy

Vern, may the new leon tempt you back to the fold when the new cupra version comes out. The thought must have passed through your mind.

Yes mate, if they get me outta of my company van, and into a company car, would be interested in a derv version with the 2.0 170 bhp(standard) engine, this revs really well apparently