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Mk2 vs Mk3 differences

NowGottaIbizaMk5

NowGottaIbizaMk5

Full Member
Feb 5, 2005
375
0
Beverley
got a 60 reg Ibiza now
been looking at Leons and seen some nice ones BUT am confused as to the differences in the 2-3 versions. some I have looked at have different instrumentation - SatNav or touch screen radio. Leon today was a 13 plate yet had handles on the rear door.
I am now very confused
is there an idiots guide on the differences please????
 
I'm not really sure how you can directly compare a Mk2 and a Mk3. They are two different cars in the same class that just happen to share the name "Leon".

The best thing you can do is go to a SEAT dealer who has both Mk2's and Mk3's on their forecourt and take a look for yourself.
 
thanks - i wasn't trying to compare but just trying to work out the differences.
think that i have worked it out now - visually the latest version has angular, rather than rounded, headlights and rear lights and the rear quarterlight window points upwards.
Not got a local SEAT dealer with ones to go and see in stock in my price range - not wanting to pay over £10K . . . and so the hunt on the internet goes on.
I did test drive a newer one today and it is very, very nice :funk:
 
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The mk3 is available in a 3 and a 5 door and also an estate, whereas the mk2 is only available in a 5 door. The interior is a lot better in the mk3 too.
 
It's all down to personal preference but I prefer the exterior styling of the Mk2 as I think it looks quite unique. The Mk3 just looks like "another car" IMO and has similar looks to other cars of the current generation.

I do however prefer the interior styling and layout of the Mk3 over the Mk2.
 
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Yeh not going to get a MK3 for 10k

Anything 1999-2005 is MK1
2005-2013 is MK2
2014- is MK3


MK1/2 only comes in 5 door, MK2 has no rear handles...

If the car your looking at is newish but has rear handles its a MK3.
 
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One I looked at yesterday was obviously a firm's pool car as it kept scrolling through the mobile phone connections and listed about 6 names and phones. Nice, but odd tyres and a nasty gouge on the rear door paintwork. I like my old Citroen C4 VTR+ and have seen some c 12months old with 15k for a similar price to Leons. My logical brain advises to go with newer, low mileage (ex-Citroen) C4s but my heart brings me back to SEATs although they are slightly more expensive.

I have diesel and do c16k+ annually, probably 25% motorway and the rest made up of city and A road driving.
Would a newer LEON with an efficient petrol engine be a better bet than any 1.6 diesel with a DPF (which wold get cleaned by motorway runs every few weeks) ?
 
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GottaIbizaMk3 said:
One I looked at yesterday was obviously a firm's pool car as it kept scrolling through the mobile phone connections and listed about 6 names and phones. Nice, but odd tyres and a nasty gouge on the rear door paintwork. I like my old Citroen C4 VTR+ and have seen some c 12months old with 15k for a similar price to Leons. My logical brain advises to go with newer, low mileage (ex-Citroen) C4s but my heart brings me back to SEATs although they are slightly more expensive.

I have diesel and do c16k+ annually, probably 25% motorway and the rest made up of city and A road driving.
Would a newer LEON with an efficient petrol engine be a better bet than any 1.6 diesel with a DPF (which wold get cleaned by motorway runs every few weeks) ?
Click to expand...

If you like french cars then go for the Citroen, we have a Peugeot 5008 the car and never let us down in 50k. When the time comes to change this car we will get another 5008. My seat has done 1400 miles and been back to the dealer 3 times now (but love it).

One of my daughters has a 14 Ibiza on a 9 plate 92k only let her down last week spring snapped, new spring and some other rod thing replaced £132.

My other daughter has a citroen c4 picasso 111.000 miles never gone wrong once only thing she dose in between services is every 6 months is have an oil change.

So think long and hard at what car you want and be happy.
 
kazand said:
Mk3's, didn't realise they were coming in that low, mileage a bit high on both but not bad. Think they might be ex Seat cars. Not sure what SE spec includes.
Just checked, both registrations are Northampton, maybe ex hire cars.
Click to expand...

It is a ex hire car... Look at the little green energy on the right hand side of the tailgate :)
 
robin cur said:
If you like french cars then go for the Citroen, we have a Peugeot 5008 the car and never let us down in 50k. When the time comes to change this car we will get another 5008. My seat has done 1400 miles and been back to the dealer 3 times now (but love it).

One of my daughters has a 14 Ibiza on a 9 plate 92k only let her down last week spring snapped, new spring and some other rod thing replaced £132.

My other daughter has a citroen c4 picasso 111.000 miles never gone wrong once only thing she dose in between services is every 6 months is have an oil change.

So think long and hard at what car you want and be happy.
Click to expand...

I had an E-class and a front spring snapped at 90k. Was almost £500 to replace the pair.
 
Mk3 looks better externally ( especially in 3 door trim ) and is miles better internally for me. Night and day different. Modern v old .
 
Looks like a base spec SE (no tech pack etc). 3 years worth of mileage in 12 months or so will defo hurt the price and no doubt it will have had a mark or two touched up.
 
AndrewJB said:
Yeh not going to get a MK3 for 10k

Anything 1999-2005 is MK1
2005-2013 is MK2
2014- is MK3


MK1/2 only comes in 5 door, MK2 has no rear handles...

If the car your looking at is newish but has rear handles its a MK3.
Click to expand...

Not really true on the years there. Earliest MK3's in the UK were about February 2013 so there are a couple about on 62 plates. The majority of the early run (mine included) went onto 13 plates though.
 
That was a rough guide as I was on my phone in the middle of Prague.

The first batch in UK were 5 door press office cars mainly registered with 0Y13 plates along with 6604 HMS which was brought over for a few weeks.
 
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