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On the prowl for a Leon Mk3

Fuelwatcher

Fuelwatcher

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Aug 21, 2003
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Horsham, West Sussex
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Hi Guys

I have owned a Mk1 Leon TdiSE since 2003 and looked after her, serviced her myself etc. Sadly a few weeks back a ******** in a van ran into the back of her and the insurance company duly wrote her off. Sad day!

Anyway after trawling through new and used cars I really am quite sold on a Mk3 Leon Tsi FR 1.8.

I have a few questions.

  1. Is the 1.8 that much quicker and better than the 1.4.
  2. I have seen a few deals pitching this car at around £11-12k for a 2016 reg with relatively low mileage, is this competitive.
  3. I am going to look at the car tomorrow, can someone give any things to particularly look out for? this is a 16reg, DSG, 13k on the clock. Up for around £12k

Many thanks for help in advance.
 
Use the search function to get more info, as this topic’s been discussed before. I have a 1.8 and would recommend it.

Main advantages over 1.4 are:
-more power
-wider torque spread
-independent rear suspension
-bigger brakes
-electronic torque vectoring
-sound actor
-direct and port injection (less potential for carbon buildup)

Hope that helps.
 
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Fuelwatcher said:
what would you be searching for as I had a quick hunt round. I really want the 1.8 but for my budget there are not heaps around
Click to expand...

“1.8 vs 1.4 tsi Leon” or something similar. Try google and the search function on here.

I think there are lots of people who also really like the 1.4 so I guess try both if you can. I thought the 1.4’s throttle map meant it gave all its power quite early in the pedal travel, giving the impression of more performance than there is. The 1.8 really starts to go when the 1.4 tails off, but if you don’t need that extra power then the 1.4 is also a nice car. The 1.8 will obviously use more fuel, but it’s not night and day.
 
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Jazzjames said:
“1.8 vs 1.4 tsi Leon” or something similar. Try google and the search function on here.

I think there are lots of people who also really like the 1.4 so I guess try both if you can. I thought the 1.4’s throttle map meant it gave all its power quite early in the pedal travel, giving the impression of more performance than there is. The 1.8 really starts to go when the 1.4 tails off, but if you don’t need that extra power then the 1.4 is also a nice car. The 1.8 will obviously use more fuel, but it’s not night and day.
Click to expand...
as above said. If you like to rev and get going the 180ps is great but the older 150ps isn't much different in every day driving. I'd personally take the 1.4 as it'll be a better everyday driver as the 180ps engine is an older design and less efficient. Just my 2p into the equation.

The usual 'test drive' if you can situation and see what suits you. Tbh there's nothing between them performance wise in the real world.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
 
I have the 1.4 with ACT and it is a good engine with plenty of poke for normal driving on public roads. As said the rear suspension and brakes are different on the 1.8, however I've had my 1.4 round a circuit and was amazed how well it stuck to the floor even with the simple rear torsion bar style suspension.

I haven't driven a 1.8 so I can't say for or against for that, but the 1.4 drives lovely and is comfy to be in, even for long distance driving.

Any specific questions about the 1.4 I'll try and answer for you if you have any.
 
As above but I’ve had the 1.4 and 1.8 and found that the 1.4 ran out of puff at 4000 revs whereas the 1.8 gets going then and is more fun and flexible. I find the 1.8 much better and you won’t go wrong with it.
 
Or you could buy my MK2 Leon Cupra R... You may as well go up from a MK1 to a MK2 lol its natural progression haha
IMG_20190908_144558-2320x1305.jpg

IMG_20190908_151902__01-2320x1305.jpg
 
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You'll notice a massive increase in fuel costs, going from your old diesel to the 1.8, the 1.4 not so much. The DSG will also decrease the mpg as well.

I've driven both 1.4 and 1.8, then bought the 1.4. Unless you are really into taking insane risks, or track days, you won't notice the difference in power or suspension specification when driving it normally.
 
I’m a normal driver but my wife has the 1.4 which I drive regularly and the difference in the ride smoothness is very noticeable. The 1.4 crashes over bumps that the multi link on 1.8 glides over. Overtaking in 1.8 also noticeably easier due to the increased flexibility the 1.8 has. Horses for courses of course but the OP has seen a 1.8 and no reason not to go for it if they like it which is the question they need to answer on a test drive.
 
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i have a 1.4 act 150ps which had a simple remap by AmD and mine is now 180ps which is the sane power as the 1.8. I love my 1.4 and after 10,000 miles i havent found any fault with power delivery or punch. Hope this helps you choose the right car.
 
I have a 1.8 Tsi in manual. Sport Coupe. I test drove the facelift 1.4 before I bought this one. Both very similar to drive during everyday driving. However, the 1.8 definitely has more to give when you want to floor it. At the time my brother had a 2.0 BMW 1 series and I could out pace him in a straight line all the way up to 85 ish mph before the benfits of diesel started to overcome my petrol engine.

In terms of fuel consumption. My daily commute is a 90 mile round trip and i will get consistently 45mpg. If the roads are clear and i drive conservatively (i don't mean like a granny, just considering how much throttle you actually need) then i can get between 50 and 52 mpg.

Id say also, the 1.8 is porbably more comforatble to cruise in on duel carriageways as with 6 gears and I guess a different gearing ratio means you sit about 2k revs at 70 mph so you dont have constant engine drone on long journeys.

Depending on what year you are looking, you could get much lower than £12k.

I bought mine back in 2017, at the time it was only 3 years old, 1 previous owner. 12,000 miles on the clock. Full leather interior, winter pack and a few other extras.
I paid £10,500 for mine from a Seat dealership in Wolverhampton. (not sure the salesman knew what he was selling me)
but you will most certainly find better deals than that I would say but I'm not sure how much having the DSG adds to the car value.
 
Last edited:
Jazzjames said:
Use the search function to get more info, as this topic’s been discussed before. I have a 1.8 and would recommend it.

Main advantages over 1.4 are:
-more power
-wider torque spread
-independent rear suspension
-bigger brakes
-electronic torque vectoring
-sound actor
-direct and port injection (less potential for carbon buildup)

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
I thought the 1.4 FRs also had the independent rear suspension? Dealer told me only 1.4 SE and Lux spec has the torsion bar suspension FRs all have independent
 
I have still made no decision lol. I test drove the 1.8 tsi dsg and the 2.9 Tdi fr dsg. Liked both of them...not tried the 1.4 which there are more of about. I still cannot decide between manual and dsg but dsg adds another grand.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 
Fuelwatcher said:
I have still made no decision lol. I test drove the 1.8 tsi dsg and the 2.9 Tdi fr dsg. Liked both of them...not tried the 1.4 which there are more of about. I still cannot decide between manual and dsg but dsg adds another grand.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
If you're going to be doing lots of longer distance driving then TDI all the way, but for fun factor you'd have to get the 1.8, the 1.4 is a good compromise between the economy of the TDI and the petrol punchiness of the 1.8.

As for DSG or manual it depends on how lazy you are ;)
 
All said above between the 1.4 and 1.8 is correct.

On the dsg vs manual the only think I would add is if a dsg goes wrong it's far more expensive to fix and this applies to the mechatronics unit too (gearbox ecu).

They are a small fortune when they go wrong, I work in warranty and see these all the time, obviously working in warranty we only see the bad cases but it's something to think about and why I chose a manual:)
 
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