Golf Estate or Leon ST?
Discussion
Looking to swap back to VAG from my current Volvo, and the sensible choice seems to be either Golf GTD or the equivalent Leon FR. Unless I'm missing something the Leon ticks every box bar badge snob.
What would Pistonheads do? (Apart from the obvious MX5 gag, which doesn't fit a Marshall stack too well...)
What would Pistonheads do? (Apart from the obvious MX5 gag, which doesn't fit a Marshall stack too well...)
Amy.B said:
Leon is just as good as the Golf and it's much cheaper too.
Only thing is the Golf has a larger boot. But if space doesn't really bother you, get the Leon!
Will be getting the Golf Estate or Leon ST anyway, I guess they're similar boot size? Off to the dealers later to look at the Leon in the metal.Only thing is the Golf has a larger boot. But if space doesn't really bother you, get the Leon!
andrewparker said:
Just remember that the GTD has a pretty high standard spec, far better than the Leon.
What's it got that a Leon FR with tech pack doesn't have? I looked at both (although hatches) and went with the Leon, haven't regretted it for a second although I was looking at 1.4 petrol. Leon worked out a fair bit cheaper and I preffered it, although plastics are not as good, the build quality is.
With the GTD things are a bit different, it sits it a very low depreciation bubble which may make it cheaper than the Leon 184. Try both.
JackReacher said:
What's it got that a Leon FR with tech pack doesn't have?
I'd say you've probably got to add the following to bring it up to similar spec.Titanium Pack £715
Technology Pack £1085
Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist £515
Convenience Pack £200
Winter Pack £360
Safety Pack £120
Parking Sensors £249
Spare Wheel Kit £179
Does it have keyless entry? Electric folding mirrors?
andrewparker said:
JackReacher said:
What's it got that a Leon FR with tech pack doesn't have?
I'd say you've probably got to add the following to bring it up to similar spec.Titanium Pack £715
Technology Pack £1085
Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist £515
Convenience Pack £200
Winter Pack £360
Safety Pack £120
Parking Sensors £249
Spare Wheel Kit £179
Does it have keyless entry? Electric folding mirrors?
Keyless entry - no.
A proper f
king handbrake - yes!You sure?
I think Tech Pack includes parking sensors (and is / was being thrown in for free as recently as last week), spare wheel kit can be had for £100 from Seat (if you're leasing, it's better to buy it separately and then flog it at the end for £100 more than you paid). MsTigger1 has just got a 184 Leon FR (hatch) with Tech Pack.
As for titanium pack - I'm not fussed about wheel colour, and prefer the ride of the 17's over the optional 18s.
Does the golf have internal lights that change colour when you engage "sport mode"? They're worth an extra 10bhp!
ETA: There's some fantastic lease deals on the 150 + 184 versions of the leon - but I'm sure there's a thread elsewhere about that.
Does anyone actually like adaptive cruise anyway? In traffic the only time I drove a car with it, the gap left was just big enough that people kept forcing their way out in front of me.
That aside, the dealer offered a good price and 0% finance, so subject to liking the test drive a Leon seems very much the way forward. All else apart they can get cars, whereas the golf would be December delivery.
That aside, the dealer offered a good price and 0% finance, so subject to liking the test drive a Leon seems very much the way forward. All else apart they can get cars, whereas the golf would be December delivery.
Tom_C76 said:
Does anyone actually like adaptive cruise anyway? In traffic the only time I drove a car with it, the gap left was just big enough that people kept forcing their way out in front of me.
Yeah, it's great, wouldn't buy a car without it. On the Golf you set the distance that the car maintains between the one in front. At it's shortest distance a car would be daft to pull into the space it leaves.andrewparker said:
Tom_C76 said:
Does anyone actually like adaptive cruise anyway? In traffic the only time I drove a car with it, the gap left was just big enough that people kept forcing their way out in front of me.
Yeah, it's great, wouldn't buy a car without it. On the Golf you set the distance that the car maintains between the one in front. At it's shortest distance a car would be daft to pull into the space it leaves.For me it was a major selling point over the A3 and 125d as its only of the trio to get this standard fit.
Regarding the distance setting I find the closest setting generally prevents people from cutting in, but if its less busy or poor driving conditions I increase the distance accordingly. You can also customise how quickly the car accelerates to close the gap as traffic speeds up.
va1o said:
andrewparker said:
Tom_C76 said:
Does anyone actually like adaptive cruise anyway? In traffic the only time I drove a car with it, the gap left was just big enough that people kept forcing their way out in front of me.
Yeah, it's great, wouldn't buy a car without it. On the Golf you set the distance that the car maintains between the one in front. At it's shortest distance a car would be daft to pull into the space it leaves.For me it was a major selling point over the A3 and 125d as its only of the trio to get this standard fit.
Regarding the distance setting I find the closest setting generally prevents people from cutting in, but if its less busy or poor driving conditions I increase the distance accordingly. You can also customise how quickly the car accelerates to close the gap as traffic speeds up.
Tom_C76 said:
I'd only tried it on a Volvo with a manual box. On that the adaptive cut out at 10mph, and only had two distance settings. One got me cut up all the time, the other meant it braked very hard and seemed dangerously close to my way of driving, albeit the computer shouldn't need reaction time.
Yeah there is a significant difference in the system capabilities depending on Manual or Auto gearbox. The Golf has 5 or 6 distance settings if I remember correctly. We're 6 months into our Leon FR (1.4 ACT Petrol) ownership and its been brilliant. The cabin is a nice place to be, it's economical, quiet and more than quick enough for a family wagon.
We looked at Octavia estates as well and although virtually identical price (both discountable to ~£19k), the Leon was better specced especially with the free tech pack and at the time the finance offer made it cheaper as we only wanted to borrow ~£7k and SEAT had 0% over 3 years with a 50%+ deposit, plus it came with the newer ACT engine. Given we wanted a petrol, equivalent Golfs don't really exist. The only real option was the boggo S Spec with the less powerful 125bhp engine. The GT spec is the only other petrol and that has the DSG box which we didn't want, was way more expensive and for some strange reason still only comes with the older 140bhp variant of the 1.4 engine which is less efficient than the ACT version as well as less powerful.
As to the boot being smaller, the reality is there's very little to choose between any of them and it's still cavernous (and bigger than most estates in the next sector up)
We looked at Octavia estates as well and although virtually identical price (both discountable to ~£19k), the Leon was better specced especially with the free tech pack and at the time the finance offer made it cheaper as we only wanted to borrow ~£7k and SEAT had 0% over 3 years with a 50%+ deposit, plus it came with the newer ACT engine. Given we wanted a petrol, equivalent Golfs don't really exist. The only real option was the boggo S Spec with the less powerful 125bhp engine. The GT spec is the only other petrol and that has the DSG box which we didn't want, was way more expensive and for some strange reason still only comes with the older 140bhp variant of the 1.4 engine which is less efficient than the ACT version as well as less powerful.
As to the boot being smaller, the reality is there's very little to choose between any of them and it's still cavernous (and bigger than most estates in the next sector up)
Edited by LocoBlade on Friday 18th September 23:43
Leon was great on the rest drive, and unlike the Golf I can get one before the warranty runs out on my current car. So I ordered it.
Dealer stock with Tech pack, convenience pack, 18" rims and panoramic roof, alcantara seats. Decent discount and they didn't want me to fix the scuff or damaged alloy on my current car, so I pick up on Friday.
Only slight snag is that boot liners are on back order, which is a pain for transporting dog.
Dealer stock with Tech pack, convenience pack, 18" rims and panoramic roof, alcantara seats. Decent discount and they didn't want me to fix the scuff or damaged alloy on my current car, so I pick up on Friday.
Only slight snag is that boot liners are on back order, which is a pain for transporting dog.
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