Golf or Leon?

[TorqueVR]

That is the question.........

The budget is between £10k and £15k to replace the wife's mint 2004 RX8 that she's had from new. She thinks the RX8 is a great car but decided to have something more sensible and cheaper to run and she likes the look of the VW. A well built car with a good 2.0 litre turbo diesel. But what about it's Seat brother? Much the same car, but cheaper but I assume that the interior's not as good. What you you know or think chaps?

[TheD]

Leon. Great film.

As for the car I like the Leon

[kambites]

Depends on how much you value perceived interior quality, I suppose. I wouldn't expect a significant difference in reliability for cars of the same spec and they're fairly similar to drive, although they aren't set up quite the same.

The Octavia is worth a look, too.

[SystemParanoia]

they're the same car.. does it really matter?

[RizzoTheRat]

I think the Leon's a little bit smaller, not too sure how the interiors compare though.

I went for the Octavia instead, same underneith but with a decent sized boot, the ability to seat adults in the back, and I'm averaging 47mpg from a 170bhp 2.0tdi

[fatboy b]

SystemParanoia said:

they're the same car.. does it really matter?

Yes. But you get a younger or more high-spec Leon for the same cash.

[Captain Muppet]

SystemParanoia said:

they're the same car.. does it really matter?

To be fair its only very slightly more pointless than any other what car thread.

I vote for the Audi. Or the Skoda. Or just toss a coin.

[Viperz888]

Focus

[TorqueVR]

She simply wouldn't consider a Skoda, but I've a more open minded approach. The budget will not stretch to a new model Focus and the old one's not on the list. She likes Golfs and A3s but our sons have recently bought them, and she'd want something different but a Scirocco would be very nice thank you, but only 2 doors.

What's got me on Seats is this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[Jw Vw]

fatboy b said:

SystemParanoia said:

they're the same car.. does it really matter?

Yes. But you get a younger or more high-spec Leon for the same cash.

This. If I had that kind of cash and had a choice between the two I would take the Leon everytime.

[veryRS]

TorqueVR said:

She simply wouldn't consider a Skoda

So she doesnt like getting the same chassis with a larger, more practical well built body on it with lots of "luxury" toys and the same engine for less money just because its got a badge on the front?

Some people are odd.

The Leon interior is tacky and a bit cheap by the way.

[sjg]

fatboy b said:

Yes. But you get a younger or more high-spec Leon for the same cash.

There's a reason for that - they're the least desirable of the PQ35 platform cars IMO. Despite generally liking Walter De'Silva's stuff, it's probably his poorest design to date, and the interior is just willfully "different" but without any flair at all.

Golf > A3 > Octavia > Leon in my book.

[RizzoTheRat]

veryRS said:

So she doesnt like getting the same chassis with a larger, more practical well built body on it with lots of "luxury" toys and the same engine for less money just because its got a badge on the front?

Some people are odd.

Don't knock it, the more people with badge snobbery the lower the prices stay

[NadiR]

You'd get alot more car for your money with the Seat, for your budget the car will be packed with more goodies. Should be newer as well, and I think the Leon looks better then the Golf. If your wife didn't mind the Skoda though, that would be my choice.

HTH

[anonymous-user]

Mazda 3 2.2d Sport

[TorqueVR]

Don't get me wrong the Skoda is a decent car but a 3 box body style does not tick the right box (we've a dog one - reason why head rules over the heart for a Scirocco). Otherwise I'd be pushing for an A4

[Rob P]

You need to drive them really.

I found the Golf a little more relaxing to drive and more comfortable. The Leon was a little noisier with a firmer ride (which I personally like) but the steering felt worlds apart. The Golf was light but had little feedback (felt like the A3), the Leon felt much more connected and nicely weighted.

[veryRS]

RizzoTheRat said:

Don't knock it, the more people with badge snobbery the lower the prices stay

[veryRS]

TorqueVR said:

Don't get me wrong the Skoda is a decent car but a 3 box body style does not tick the right box (we've a dog one - reason why head rules over the heart for a Scirocco). Otherwise I'd be pushing for an A4

Um the Octavia is a Hatchback with an enormous bootspace. I have two dogs, they fit in it fine.

[sjg]

vs