Leon ST FR 184ps man OR Leon ST Excellence 184 PS man

[sychnant]

Hi I hope this post is in the right place and i apologize if not.
I am retired and in receipt of Motability and presently drive a BMW 120d Msport..
I am due to renew my motability contract and was thinking of buying a Seat Leon because its a much better deal than the BMW.. I have to pay £2k up front for the bmw with no cruise control reversing cam and just basic features... The Leon will only cost £400 up front..But i cant decide whether to get the FR model or the Excellence.. both with the 184ps 2.0 diesel and manual transmission. The Excellence offers the same acceleration and power but with a load of extras like heated seats and front camera etc.. Whereas the FR offers the Drive mode. What i am asking is will i notice a massive difference in the driving/ fun factor between the two because of no sport mode on the Excellence..and which should i buy? Thank you in advance for any advice..

 

[Luckypants]

I think the biggest thing you would notice is the suspension. The FR has 'sports' suspension and Xcellence has 'comfort' suspension, I've driven both and could not live with the fidgety, hard ride in the FR. I specced an SE with loads of extras for my last car due to wanting comfort suspension on the country roads where I live - the Xcellence was not available then. Next time I'll specify an Xcellence if I stay with the Leon.

I recently test drove Atecas and rejected the idea of an FR spec Ateca for the same reason. The suspension was even worse on that car!

 

[sychnant]

Thanks

Thank you for the info, i havent had a test drive yet but i didnt want the lowered sports suspension either, The BMW has sports suspension and run flat tyres and is just tooo hard...I was merely curious about the throttle response between sport mode on the FR and the Normal on the Excellence.

 

[DEAN0]

Thank you for the info, i havent had a test drive yet but i didnt want the lowered sports suspension either, The BMW has sports suspension and run flat tyres and is just tooo hard...I was merely curious about the throttle response between sport mode on the FR and the Normal on the Excellence.

Nothing that you couldn't correct with a DTUK pedal box if you want the comfy car with the sport throttle response.

 

[sychnant]

Thanks for the info, and please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is a DTUK pedalbox?

 

[rmkvi]

I chose Xcellence for mine mainly due to the equipment which was standard in that trim, but which would've costed me extra on FR (making the FR way more expensive). You have to also keep in mind that Xcellence is also less sporty looking on the exterior, which I really like because it keeps away all the boy racers trying to challenge you at every stoplight but you still get the sporty feel inside the cabin. The grill has chrome bits and and not the honeycomb style which is in the FR. Also the front bumper has a subtle yet noticeable difference to make it look less sporty and a bit of chrome trim on the windows. I actually really liked the look of Xcellence more than FR (maybe I'm getting old).

For me the driving profiles a bit gimmicky anyway. If it's a cupra then maybe the differences are bigger and there maybe you really need to use different profiles for everyday driving, fast driving and track. But I doubt it is as necessary of an accessory for a regular car. Then again I've never tried them, so I'm just assuming.

 

[DEAN0]

Thanks for the info, and please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is a DTUK pedalbox?

A company called DTUK do a tuning box and a pedal box for the 184 motor.

The tuning box offers around 235hp and a huge torque increase

The pedal box makes the throttle action sharper - similar to the sport mode.

The main thing I prefer sport mode for is the nicer feel to the steering.
This could be achieved by using VCDS or similar software.

 

[zeffania]

The main thing I prefer sport mode for is the nicer feel to the steering.
This could be achieved by using VCDS or similar software.

I read lots of people having different modes for each bit, sport for throttle and normal for steering. My wife's cmax feels stupidly light when I swap back, but I like the sport mode full stop. Not sure why I bothered coding all modes to red doors now

 

[DEAN0]

I read lots of people having different modes for each bit, sport for throttle and normal for steering. My wife's cmax feels stupidly light when I swap back, but I like the sport mode full stop. Not sure why I bothered coding all modes to red doors now

I am like you - car spends its life in sport mode.

Have also changed the mode button so it stays the same colour as the dash even with sport mode selected.

 

[sychnant]

Thanks to everyone for their input on my question, I will probably go for the Leon ST Excellence with the 184ps engine with manual box with Desire Red as the colour.
I will be having a test drive tomorrow so can make my mind up then..As has been said earlier although the excellence might not have the more "sporty" look of the FR it can still be a "wolf in sheep's clothing" when it comes to 0-60 mph..

 

[sychnant]

Lack of traction

I have just had a test drive in the Leon ST FR 150ps manual and was a impressed with its ride and stability but was disappointed in its inability to maintain grip with firm acceleration. It seemed prone to "tramping" the front wheels, not only in 1st but also 2nd gear after a leisurely slow takeoff from 1st..The roads were damp but if the 15o ps is having trouble handling the power how will the 184 ps i am intending to buy cope? Or am i asking to much of it.. Thanks..

 

[zeffania]

Have also changed the mode button so it stays the same colour as the dash even with sport mode selected.

How? This really bugs me from my OCD point of view. Would love to have them all the same. I have VCDS at the mo from a mate

 

[sychnant]

I might have to have a serious rethink and perhaps settle for an auto box and possibly adjust to the 1.4 ecoTSi engine which has good performance with good economy and hopefully the DSG will eliminate the wheel spin....very frustrating.

 

[zeffania]

I might have to have a serious rethink and perhaps settle for an auto box and possibly adjust to the 1.4 ecoTSi engine which has good performance with good economy and hopefully the DSG will eliminate the wheel spin....very frustrating.

Mine will only spin if you are silly. Mine aren't brilliant tyres either. Just need to drive to the conditions. I could spin a 105bhp Octavia on a greasy road if I was inclined to

 

[sychnant]

Thanks for the info, perhaps i am expecting to much after driving the BMW which is the also 184ps and of course is RWD.