Leon FR170 TDI 2012. Swap for what?
Leon FR170 TDI 2012. Swap for what?
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Garry-l0vx9

Original Poster:

2 posts

73 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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Looking to maybe swap my leon for a petrol hot hatch. Got about 7-8k to play with. Will be doing 250 miles a week. Options i can think of are

Mk3 leon fr
Focus ST
Civic Type R FN2
GOLF Gti
BMW 120i or higher
308 gti

Will need to be standard no mods FSH and fit golf clubs in which may kill off the one series.

My current leon does most things well so im not sure on selling it to be fair but for the right car i would.

CG2020UK

2,935 posts

67 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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I’d keep the Leon

Radec

5,858 posts

74 months

Wednesday 18th January 2023
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MK3 Leon, basically comes with most of the kit as standard that you'd be paying extra premium for in most of the other cars.

Parts readily available as it's shared across the vw platform.

It's a bit more under the radar compared to the others as well.

Mr Tidy

30,835 posts

154 months

Wednesday 18th January 2023
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At 250 miles a week I'd probably keep your diesel Leon.

It just about makes economic sense, and if you change you risk buying someone else's problem(s)!

Ankh87

1,145 posts

129 months

Wednesday 18th January 2023
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Why are you wanting to sell? 250 miles a week is nothing. I use to do that in a Subaru Impreza WRX, it did cost a lot but then I weren't shy with the go pedal.

If you have no issues with the Leon, no problems with running it and doing regens then keep it. If you've never driven a vtec then do so. You'll either love it or hate it. Completely different than your TDI or Turbo petrol.

greenarrow

4,557 posts

144 months

Wednesday 18th January 2023
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Well, 250 miles a week is roughly average mileage so you don't really NEED a diesel, but as it does everything so well, not sure its worth chopping in for the choices mentioned. I would imagine a FN2 is going to feel gutless after the Leon. I remember driving the Leon FR diesel when they first came out and they felt very rapid due to that torque, not quick off the line, but real world in gear quick, but you know that already. The FN2 will need wringing out to produce similar real world performance, but if that's your thing so for it.

The 120i is going to feel slow (if its the pre turbo model, which if its a swap, I imagine it will be). The Golf is a good car, but likely will be a Mk6 which means its not going to offer you much different to your Leon other than a petrol power plant.

To be honest I am not sure there's much you can swap for which is going to do the job any better unless you fancy something completely different and not a hatchback. If you're upgrading to a newer gen car then that would be a different story as something like a Mk7 Golf GTI would be an improvement I am sure.

Ankh87

1,145 posts

129 months

Wednesday 18th January 2023
quotequote all
Yeah it's not massive mileage.

You've also got to think about what interior you like as that is the place you'll be spending the time in. I say this because the Focus ST interior is drab. Nothing special at all and looks like your average Ford.


Other options

Octavia VRS
Mazda 3 MPS
Renault Megan RS
Subaru Impreza WRX (you have been warned though, engine and gearbox issues. All owners have the worry of one of those going at any point. I had both)