reviews suggest that the engine is quieter and the ride is more forgiving. The "old" one was back breaking...QUOTE]

I have the "OLD" one, 58 plate and I have to disagree about the back breaking ride. I came from an Ibiza FR and trust me the Leon FR is not back breaking at all.

The Ibiza FR and Cupra more so, have a back breaking and filling loosening ride.

Also I didn't think the PD 170 was noisy as diesels go, much quieter than a 1.9 Vauxhall.
 
I would have to agree with Nath. I drive a petrol FR 57 plate but took a 58 plate FR PD 170 for a test drive and ride was really good on 18s (i run 17s) and also the engine didnt sound too loud. The dealer said the CR was 10% better so cant wait to test drive! :)
 
After my test drive in a facelift CR 170, it made my 56 plate FR sound like an ice cream van. I was gutted, so I went back the next day and ordered one :) with leather seats too!!!!
 
Well I called in at my local dealer on the way home and specced a white FR up with the convenience pack, xenons and alacantara interior.

The guy i spoke to is going to ring around to figure out how much he can offer for my Z4.

Hopefully they'll end up writing me a cheque for about £1,200 and then I can go across the road to JBS and get it remapped, de-DPF'd and a milltek system installed :D
 
Well I've learned a new word today - Alacantara! :think:

Any thoughts on what it's like to keep clean?

Its a little more difficult to maintain than leather but by no means a PITA... Swissvax do a decent cleaner for it as well but my Mondeo seats are almost 3 years old and the Alcantara on those is in very good shape.
 
Hopefully they'll end up writing me a cheque for about £1,200 and then I can go across the road to JBS and get it remapped, de-DPF'd and a milltek system installed :D

M1 just recommended I get at least 500 - 1000 miles on my CR 170 before I get it remapped.
 
I think most tuners would recommend you run the car in for at least a thousand miles or so before having it remapped.

Last thing they want you to do is cause the engine any stress or damage by whacking on an extra 30hp from new.

I know most engines are developed and made to produce well under what they are actually capable of but its got to be worth a thought !
 
by the way... as i now have enough posts under my belt i can properly help you with the Alcantara cleaning question.

Here's a link to DW, the thread was from someone asking about cleaning Alcantara

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=131912&highlight=alcantara

Then as i said before, there is a product from Swissvax which is designed for the job as well.

Cheapest option would be the damp MF cloth with a weak dilution of interior cleaner and your hoover :thumbup:
 
Hmmm, the whole thing has turned to nothing now.

I got a call back from the dealer with a trade-in price on the Z4; let's just say it was substantially lower than I was expecting/hoping, so changing cars is a no go now :cry:

FYI it was about £4k less than the current Glass's guide valuation - wonder if they just didn't want the hassle?

Oh well.
 
I think the issue is that with the lead time of a new Leon, it'd be getting toward December and with a couple more thousand miles that's causing the problem.

I possibly could sell it now and pince my wife's Mini for a few months.

I'd have to admit that I was hoping that I'd get what I wanted on trade-in and it would all be done with very little effort on my part.
 
Build time on the Leon is always going to cause you hassle though with the trade in unfortunately.

If your set on the Leon then a private sale and walking into the dealer with the cash is the only way i think.
 
Out of curiosity when getting a trade in value for the Z4 from the glass's guide, did you try the price for one 6 months older ot offset the build time. I bet it is not £4K differant.
 
Out of curiosity when getting a trade in value for the Z4 from the glass's guide, did you try the price for one 6 months older ot offset the build time. I bet it is not £4K differant.

No I didn't, but I don't have direct access and it's £3.50 a time :whistle:

Even "webuyanycar.com" offered me something like the actual value, albeit for an immediate sale.

Perhaps I was in cloud cuckoo land thinking I'd get at worst a straight swap, plus the outcome really has tested my resolve on getting a new Leon and for now it's a no.