Its Been Nice...

[flakmunky]

But I'm leaving soon...

Just put a deposit down on an '07 Phantom Black A4 2.0TDI (140) with two tone Black / Grey leather interior, BOSE system and some other goodies...

I will miss some of the toys I have on my Leon but tbh I won't miss the road noise!

Will post some pics before I go for good!

fM

 

[phil3012]

What made you change so soon?

 

[ZBOYD]

I find it quietly funny, that people feel they must leave here when they get rid of their SEAT.

Your very welcome to stay, no doubt with the upcoming EXEO, A4 know how is a good thing to have on the forum.

Stay its warm and fluffy here.

 

[flakmunky]

Hey Z,

I don't feel I must leave - I won't be going completely, butI definitely won't be here as often... There's an Audi forum to ask dumb quezzys!

I decided to change for a number of reasons... Long post!


1) The DSG isn't quite as great as I had hoped - whilst it is good I find that in D it is often in the wrong gear at the wrong time - especially pulling out at junctions / roundabouts,

2) Related to the engine and the gear box - it will change down too damn far when overtaking. Flappy paddles are much better but that is defeating the object of an Auto box! I decided I miss a manual... and the torque my 350z and my Golf had... I imagine the DSG would be a bit better in a TDI as it has more torque to play with and won't need to go from 6th to 3rd when accelerating from 50mph.... And I know that by not flooring the go pedal it will only change down to 4th but I don't find this very predictable

2) The fuel economy

3) The ride - good for a B-road blast but terribly hard and road noise is too intrusive - I have just about stopped listening to music in the Leon because you have to have it so loud you can't talk to your passengers*

4) Cheap rattly, hard, easily scratched plastics in the cabin

5) Difficult to clean 18" wheels

6) Never really liked the back end of the car - more precisely the shape of the rear window + hatch when you are stood right behind it. I don't know what it is I don't like... From the side its fine!

7) Cheap rattly, hard, easily scratched plastics in the cabin - Worthy of a second mention

* This may be due to the generally very poor road surfaces around my way

Ok, things I will miss

1) The ride - but only for those b-road blasts. Problem is that those b-road blasts aren't enough to make up for the ride on my daily commute which is crashy and hard

2) The DSG - I seriously wanted to love it and when it gets things right it is superb... But it is only at its best when accelerating. Add some corners in and it starts to fall down a bit...

3) My xenons

4) The front end of the car

5) The performance

I thought long and hard about changing, did a lot of spreadsheet modelling about the costs involved and finally decided the Leon was no longer for me. It served a purpose - it helped me shift my imported 350z which was not selling privately - but I had honestly thought I would be keeping it longer. I wouldn't have got the extras I did if not!

After sitting in other cars you can see exactly where money was saved. BMW and Audi make cars the way I would make them - SEAT take that then look at where they can save money. Compare the SEAT to a Focus or even a Skoda and the quality of plastics, design, fit and so on is marked.

Compare it to an Audi or a Bimmer and its laughable. Before the flames start - I know they aren't in the same price brackets, but the Leon's interior isn't the best cabin in its own class - by a large margin.

So thats why I chose to move on after 9 months of Leon ownership. In some respects I'm appalled at the hit I've taken...

And sad to say that in my list of cars owned, my particular Leon doesn't rate very highly.

My combination of Leon doesn't work too well. I would imagine that the best manual Leon would be the Cupra (no point in the petrol FR) if you really wanted a DSG then I think it would be best mated to a TDI... The mythical FR TDI DSG would be interesting but the fuel economy of the FR TDI almost makes it pointless(40mpg TDI v 30mpg TFSI) so if you really want DSG, then mate it to the 140 TDI...

Regards,

fM

PS Would love to hear what others think about my comments...

 

[phil3012]

I agree with the comments on the plastics used, I'm thinking about changing mine but probably won't for at least 6 months or so.

The plastic are solid and don't scratch too easily (compared to my Celica which was a nightmare), I've still got rattle problems from the passenger door, been to get fixed once and was okay for a while but is rattling again.

The engine in mine is superb, but that's about all the car has going for it. Compared to the Mk.1 Focus and T98 Astra that I had previously the SEAT isn't there build quality wise. It's a shame really.

 

[Rob GTI]

I agree the interior is bigest let down by far. The interiors of Focus, Astra, even french cars are miles ahead. I was recently looking at changing but due to the first year depreciation can't bear to take such a loss. I will have to keep it a while longer so am looking brighten the interior up with MFD2.

 

[Maximus2000uk]

I strongly agree about the DSG problems. It is a great box when you're accelerating, but to overtake it seems to go mad.

Furthermore, pulling away from a stop, in D at least, is clearly something the box doesn't like. It pulls away at about the same pace as a milk-float, unless you really floor it, in which case it will not change to 3rd gear at 10mph.

 

[Hugo Nebula]

I decided to change for a number of reasons... Long post!


1) The DSG isn't quite as great as I had hoped - whilst it is good I find that in D it is often in the wrong gear at the wrong time - especially pulling out at junctions / roundabouts,

2) Related to the engine and the gear box - it will change down too damn far when overtaking. Flappy paddles are much better but that is defeating the object of an Auto box! I decided I miss a manual... and the torque my 350z and my Golf had... I imagine the DSG would be a bit better in a TDI as it has more torque to play with and won't need to go from 6th to 3rd when accelerating from 50mph.... And I know that by not flooring the go pedal it will only change down to 4th but I don't find this very predictable

Agreed. A setting between D & S would be better, with less propensity to change up and down. Is it possible to alter the electronics to do this?

4) Cheap rattly, hard, easily scratched plastics in the cabin

Cheap and hard not so much of a problem; it's rattly & easily scratched that I can't stand.

Ok, things I will miss

1) The ride - but only for those b-road blasts. Problem is that those b-road blasts aren't enough to make up for the ride on my daily commute which is crashy and hard

I find it more of an A-roader than a B-roader. Mind you, I came to the Leon from a Fabia vRS, which was the most chuckable thing I've ever driven around country lanes. I don't feel half as confident in the Leon on the same roads.

2) The DSG - I seriously wanted to love it and when it gets things right it is superb... But it is only at its best when accelerating. Add some corners in and it starts to fall down a bit...

Agreed.

Almost as soon as I'd got the Leon, I began to regret it. On a test drive, it's easy to be seduced by the shiny new toys, and the slight niggles one feels are put down to unfamiliarity; "when I've had it for a while, I'll find a more comfortable seating position, or get used to the handling". Well, the fact is, I haven't.

After six months with the Leon, I am starting to warm to it slightly, but not enough to want to keep it. The only things keeping me in it are the money I've just spent on it, and the lack of an alternative. I really do like the gearbox (despite its problems), so until a smaller car with a DSG (or equivalent) comes along, it's the Leon. I'm keeping my eye out for an Ibiza FR/Cupra DSG or Fabia vRS DSG.

 

[Maximus2000uk]

The Fabia has just been replaced and I remember reading an article a while ago saying that the vRS would never get the DSG box because Skoda drivers prefer a standard automatic.

SEAT have said that the new Ibiza will get the new 7 speed DSG box. Whether or not it reaches the FR - we'll have to wait and see although I think it would be a mistake by SEAT not to put it into the FR.

 

[flakmunky]

A few people seem to agree with me - what about the die hard loyalists?!

After six months with the Leon, I am starting to warm to it slightly, but not enough to want to keep it. The only things keeping me in it are the money I've just spent on it, and the lack of an alternative.

I decided to bite the bullet re money - I'm horrified at the depreciation! Glass's guide (shown to me by 3 dealers) showed it to have dropped £475 last month alone!!!!

Whilst that kind of deprication can't keep going, I thought it best to get out now and invest my money in a car whose value won't plummet quite as fast. Added to that, the original owner of the car I'm buying has taken a bigger hit than me thus helping to soften the landing for me. The A4 I'm buying with the spec it has was£28k new... I'm getting it for just shy of £20k... Makes my loss slightly less painful.

RE: Hard plastics - I made a black leather elbow pad for the drivers door about 3 days after buying it as it made by elbow hurt so much! Wouldn't be too bad if the ride wasn't quite as crashy!

 

[foxy367]

I find it more of an A-roader than a B-roader. Mind you, I came to the Leon from a Fabia vRS, which was the most chuckable thing I've ever driven around country lanes. I don't feel half as confident in the Leon on the same roads.

I came from a golf Gttdi and that must be a 1/4 as chuckable as your Skoda! I find the Seat is much better than that was but find the suspension very harsh. I contmeplated changing too but can't afford to take the hit.

Its true what you say about being drawn in by the toys. Then everyday life they don't seem quite so important but there are things I definately couldn't live without. Certainly from a diesel point of view there is nothing out there in the price bracket which comes close.

1. Golf £1500 dearer
2. Focus - Slow
3. Astra - 10 a penny
4. Audi - £3000 dearer
5. BMW 1 series - Massively more expensive £3000+ for M-Sport and less kit
6. Renault Sport Dci - £2000 dearer with French noteriety!

With all this in mind we either take a hit and lose money or stick with it and ride out the niggly dislikes.

Looks like I've talked myself out of changing car again!!!

 

[flakmunky]

I used to think that Audi & BMW weren't worth the premium, but after sitting in a lot of 1, 3, A3 and A4's over the last 2 weeks, I see it a bit differently now... I can see where the difference goes... Its the little touches.

Little things that make a world of difference, some of the things I noticed on some of the cars I have been looking at were, in no particular order or importance:

Gloveboxes: carpeted, soft opening / closing, rechargeable torch, compartments, A/C outlet.

Drinks Holders: in a useable place, hold the drink as opposed to just being a hole, some of the Bimmers had an A/C outlet in the bottom of them to keep the drink cold!

Mirrors: Never mind wing mirrors rotating downwards when you engage reverse, believe it or not some had blind spot eliminators... Fancy that! Blue tinted to avoid being blinded by eejits that have retrofitted HIDs

Seats: one of the things I can't fault my FR on, actually, however some of the cars had electric lumbar, electric memory seats (v. useful when SWMBO is 5'1" and I am 6') heated seats (I know its an option on the Leon)

Boot: Decent, stiff floor board that doesn't sag, a clip to hold the floor up whilst pulling the spare wheel out (how cheap would this be and how useful is it?!), a 12v power outlet,

Fickle things, many of them, and many others expensive options, but like I said some of the little things are so cheap but make a lasting impression... Like a carpeted glovebox - first thing I did was to stick to carpet in mine because after 2 miles the rattling of stuff inside it drove me nuts!

 

[Michael B]

^^ The seats are def one of the biggest + points for my FR - the support is excellent, I cant help but feel im going to fall off seats in other cars as they are so flat, when chucking it in corners.

 

[Al]

I used to think that Audi & BMW weren't worth the premium, but after sitting in a lot of 1, 3, A3 and A4's over the last 2 weeks, I see it a bit differently now... I can see where the difference goes... Its the little touches.

Little things that make a world of difference, some of the things I noticed on some of the cars I have been looking at were, in no particular order or importance:

Gloveboxes: carpeted, soft opening / closing, rechargeable torch, compartments, A/C outlet.

Drinks Holders: in a useable place, hold the drink as opposed to just being a hole, some of the Bimmers had an A/C outlet in the bottom of them to keep the drink cold!

Mirrors: Never mind wing mirrors rotating downwards when you engage reverse, believe it or not some had blind spot eliminators... Fancy that! Blue tinted to avoid being blinded by eejits that have retrofitted HIDs

Seats: one of the things I can't fault my FR on, actually, however some of the cars had electric lumbar, electric memory seats (v. useful when SWMBO is 5'1" and I am 6') heated seats (I know its an option on the Leon)

Boot: Decent, stiff floor board that doesn't sag, a clip to hold the floor up whilst pulling the spare wheel out (how cheap would this be and how useful is it?!), a 12v power outlet,

Fickle things, many of them, and many others expensive options, but like I said some of the little things are so cheap but make a lasting impression... Like a carpeted glovebox - first thing I did was to stick to carpet in mine because after 2 miles the rattling of stuff inside it drove me nuts!

I have to say that I also don't really like the interior in the Leon in general when compared to something like the new A3. The plastics used are defo cheap and nasty compared to the likes of Audi and VW - even Skoda actually. The centre part of the dash styling and the plastic used is unforgiveable. However the seats, the space, comfort and actual instrument cluster is very good.

Nonetheless, the next car I will buy will have a nicer interior, which means I won't get another SEAT. Yes it shares VW running gear, engines etc, but you can see where why the price is lower for the SEAT.

I know where you are coming from with regard to road noise and ride, but to be honest, they do not bother me to the same extent as they seem to bother you. Regarding DSG, can't comment as the Cupra has no DSG.

I have to say though I do not regret buying mine at all. In fact, so far, it ranks right up there as one of my favourite cars (I have owned) alongside the Civic VTi, Subaru Impreza Turbo and VW Passat TDi. It does something that all of the above did (Civic for being a hot hatch, Impreza for performance and Passat for being a little more conservative.

The only other thing I feel that lets down my car is the fact that it looks like an FR, but on the flip side, I also like the fact that it blends in every time I see an obnoxious looking VXR Nurburgring, K1 Cupra or Focus ST with Stripes. What SEAT could have done was add wider arches on the Cupra so that the likes of the FR's etc were easily distinguishable even with Cupra bumpers, just as the S4 is distinguishable from the RS4.

Anyway, enjoy the A4 mate. I know someone with an A4 and another person with an A6, and they are lovely cars.

Horace

 

[chrisboyle999]

is it just the fr drivers thinking of chopping in?
most cupra owners seem reasonably chuffed.

 

[NickP]

I'm pleased with mine - mpg not as good as I'd hoped after my Mk 1 but even that's gradually improving.
I've got mine to the spec I want, so would imagine I'll keep it at least until the end of the warranty period

Just need to get the MMI interface for the MFD3 now, and then I'll be happy

 

[chrisboyle999]

Just need to get the MMI interface for the MFD3 now, and then I'll be happy

ps3 in traffic jams eh!!!!!

 

[SpursMadDave]

Just need to get the MMI interface for the MFD3 now, and then I'll be happy

As soon as you do, dont be shy, share it with all of us!!!!

 

[Kevo]

I find it quietly funny, that people feel they must leave here when they get rid of their SEAT.

Your very welcome to stay, no doubt with the upcoming EXEO, A4 know how is a good thing to have on the forum.

Stay its warm and fluffy here.

I have been here since the Cupra R in 03 then stuck around while owning all the other cars i have had....Like you say warm and fluffy

 

[NickP]

ps3 in traffic jams eh!!!!!

I was actually thinking full ipod functionality with menus on the screen