184 TDi DSG?

[Hugo Nebula]

Is there a likelihood of a DSG 'box in the 184 BHP TDi? I know it's not listed in the configurator, but that combo is available in the Golf, the A3 & the Octavia. It seems stupid not to offer it in the Leon.

The other option available to all other models is the automatic braking. As someone who's had a couple of these accidents (and a few more near misses) over the years, this is something I'd definitely tick as an option if it were available.

Thing is, I've had a go in the 1.8 petrol w/ DSG, and I like the new car's handling, but unless Seat get their act together & produce a diesel version, I will probably look long & hard at the GTD or the vRS, or even save my pennies for an A3 S-line.

 

[Walpurgis]

Is there a likelihood of a DSG 'box in the 184 BHP TDi?

I suspect that there won't be a DSG option for the 184 TDi unless there's massive demand for it. Seat is probably too small to offer all of the options of its bigger brothers. My ideal would be the 1.4 TSi engine with DSG but, again, it's not available.

As fas as the automatic braking option goes, are you talking about VW's Automatic Distance Control [ADC] or City Emergency Braking (or something else)?

If you're talking about ADC then you may be luck, but you might have to wait a while. When Seat announced the ST estate version of the Leon recently, they said that one of the options will be radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control. I think this uses the same technology as ADC and will probably become available across the Leon range. However, the ST is not due to arrive until early next year, so you may have to wait until then for the option to be offered on other versions of the Seat as well.

Other options being introduced with the ST are Dynamic Chassis Control and Progressive Steering so the Leon is gradually getting many/most of the Golf technologies.

 

[cilurnum]

The other option available to all other models is the automatic braking. As someone who's had a couple of these accidents (and a few more near misses) over the years, this is something I'd definitely tick as an option if it were available.

Given the brakes that the Leon had on my test drive I wonder whether it's needed. It's the car behind you probably need to worry about.

 

[Hugo Nebula]

As fas as the automatic braking option goes, are you talking about VW's Automatic Distance Control [ADC] or City Emergency Braking (or something else)?

The VW website seems to imply that City emergency braking is part of the ADC 'package', "including Front Assist, radar sensor controlled distance monitoring system, City emergency braking and cruise control". Audi's Adaptive Cruise Control includes, "braking action is initiated at speeds below 19mph". The Skoda vRS website says, "modern safety systems are available on the new ŠKODA Octavia vRS including Front Assistant and Automatic Braking".

To me, Automatic Distance Control and Adaptive Cruise Control appear to be different names for the same thing (like DSG and S-tronic). None of which are on the Leon. Yet.

 

[Walpurgis]

We will probably get a better idea of when these technologies will reach the Leon range after the ST is launched at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

 

[Hugo Nebula]

Apropos not much really, but I had a test drive this afternoon in a Golf GTD with the above. It definitely has 'city braking' as part of the adaptive cruise control. It was quite unsettling at first to come to a halt at lights without pressing the brake pedal! I didn't quite work out how to leave it on all the time without cruise control, but if it can be, then it could be an insurance saver (the new Golf already has a lower insurance grouping because of it).

 

[Walpurgis]

Did it stop because there was a vehicle in front or because it identified the red lights?

What puzzles me slightly is that the City Emergency Braking system uses a laser sensor, while the Automatic Distance Control uses radar. Surely a radar system could do both jobs?

 

[Hugo Nebula]

Did it stop because there was a vehicle in front or because it identified the red lights?

Vehicle in front. It also happened at give ways, and keeping pace with the car in front.

What puzzles me slightly is that the City Emergency Braking system uses a laser sensor, while the Automatic Distance Control uses radar. Surely a radar system could do both jobs?

It was a one hour test drive; I didn't have time to dismantle the system and find out how it works.

 

[IMG SEAT]

The 184ps 2.0 tdi FR DSG is planned for production in Spring 2014

 

[Hugo Nebula]

Hmm. OK thanks. So I suspect I'll be keeping my car for another 12 months to see how things pan out.