Thanks for the info. Just wondered if you felt that the Leon was a little on the firm side compared to the golf in terms of ride quality?
Leon vs golf
- Thread starter Midnight26
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Thanks for the info. Just wondered if you felt that the Leon was a little on the firm side compared to the golf in terms of ride quality?
I can't give an exact comparison between the two, but I can tell you that I prefer driving our Leon 1.4 150 Tsi to our Audi A5 2.0 Tdi. This is probably mostly about preferring the petrol to the diesel. But also it is a comparison of build quality. The Leon is not as good for build quality as the A5 - for certain, we are talking a different level and expense of car, however, it does not seem to affect my driving experience. In fact far from it, I prefer the edgier feel, that more 'sparky' driving experience, the A5 feels detached. I also have a really well specified FR that almost matches the A5, plus the LED lights are a match for xenon lights on the A5 - and you won't get those unless you pay a lot on a Golf.
However, it is horses for courses, ask yourself what is important and then see which car ticks the most boxes. I dismissed the Golf without test driving due to a lack of spec comparative to the Leon - plus I pay company car tax so the Leon really was a no brainer when comparing a Leon FR to a Golf GT.
However, it is horses for courses, ask yourself what is important and then see which car ticks the most boxes. I dismissed the Golf without test driving due to a lack of spec comparative to the Leon - plus I pay company car tax so the Leon really was a no brainer when comparing a Leon FR to a Golf GT.
Very little in it - the Leon does have a slightly firmer ride, but is definitely not harsh at all. I don't really notice or think about the ride quality if you know what I mean, which probably means it's pretty standard.
It's not a like for like comparison though, the Leon is lower and on 17s, I think her Golf is on 16" wheels.
Forgot to say, the electric handbrake is fine but can have limitations when things go wrong - the Golf has refused to go into reverse up a slope a couple of times, with a traditional handbrake you could just hold it until you can feel the bite point, but the electronic hand brake just switched itself off and the car rolled forward. A bit odd and we don't know whether it's a fault yet, or the handbrake working with the parking sensors, thinking the slope is an obstruction and trying to prevent you from driving into it.
With the FR on 18" rims it is firm, but certainly not a bone shaker. I was considering the VX GTC and it is considered to be a bone shaker when on 18's but I managed to get a Leon diesel 5dr FR for the price of a GTC 1.4 turbo SRi petrol, but with many more bells and whistles so a no brainier. The ride on Golf and Leon should be almost identical on same rims given its same platform (anyone who can tell the difference must have ESP!). The difference is all the goodies you're liable to get so comparing the options and trim level between the Leon and Golf you are being offered is key. I can't knock build quality on mine, I've heard about door rattles but not had a peep from mine.
Just get past the badge thing and you'll be fine.
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Just get past the badge thing and you'll be fine.
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Not a fault, my work Passat is the same as was a Golf I had as a courtesy car recently. Be careful of something else too, say you need to move car a short distance, get in, don't put seatbelt on, ( you are only moving it a few feet) manually release handbrake, move car, stop, turn off and get out, handbrake will not auto engage nor will it warn you about it.
On handbrake, I had electronic one in my Astra and wasn't a fan. Prefer the manual on Leon, much better.
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But neither would a traditional mechanical handbrake auto engage. I didn't like the electronic handbrake for simple reason that if the foot brake fails, it doesn't provide a backup system as a mechanical one does. The electronic won't engage if vehicle in motion. Not so much of an issue with a modern day well serviced car but I had brakes fail on my old mini and it was my handbrake that saved the day, that was back in 1992. The electronic sounds a great convenience but in reality, not such a great idea. Glad it's back in my new car!
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Correct. A Citroen I had used to sound all sorts of warnings if you opened the drivers door and hand brake wasn't on.
That's the point. A traditional manual handbrake needs to be manually applied at all times. Electric handbrakes that are automatically applied most of the time, lead you into a false sense of security so that, on the odd occasion they don't self apply, you don't notice until the car rolls away. As for not applying when the vehicle is in motion, they do. And with a lot more stopping power than a manual handbrake. Just don't try it on a busy road.....
The Astra when sensing the car was in motion would not allow electronic park brake to be activated. Assume VWs implementation is different?
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Haven't tried it on the wife's, but on the first passat that had the electronic hand brake it certainly would activate while driving, I found this out while jet lagged after driving back from Gatwick to the north east in a hire car...
On my old f10 5 series apparently you could pull the electronic handbrake as a emergency brake, never had the guts to try after the passat incident
The Leon is the best looking and the best value, and I am well past 40 but won't be going pipe and slippers in a boring golf for a long while yet.
Is the adaptive cruise control in the golf any good and also does your golf have the bi xenon headlights on?
Thanks
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