Thinking of buying a Leon TDI

[3sixty]

Hi guys,

My first car was a Mk5 Golf 1.9 TDI Sport, loved the thing. However, sob story.. I fell in love with a girl and bought a house, so the car was sold to allow for a deposit. I bought a cheap Mk4 Golf 1.6 to run around in but this is now drinking petrol and I now have saved a bit of money so looking to upgrade to TDI again.

I quite like the look of the Leons, and at the risk of being labelled a boy racer chav type, I quite like them with the BTCC bodykit, seems to stand out a bit more. I've found a few cheaper second hand 1.9 Reference Leons. Can you buy the bodykit at the Seat dealers? Or another independant? And what are the prices like? Is it a fit yourself job or is it down a body shop?

[Welshbeef]

Buy a std one with the kit on - doing it yourself will wipe a lot from its value + unless its a skilled job look terrible.

[3sixty]

Thanks for the response... struggling to find TDIs in my price range with the kit already on, hence the question. Might have to save up a bit more by the sounds of it then.

[Welshbeef]

3sixty said:

Thanks for the response... struggling to find TDIs in my price range with the kit already on, hence the question. Might have to save up a bit more by the sounds of it then.

You thought about the older Mk2 Leon 1.9 TDI Cupra or the FR 150? fine cars

[3sixty]

I would, but insurance. I'm 21 so the price on an FR or Cupra will be insane. Thats why I have tended to sway towards the standard 1.9 TDIs, but just wanted the bodykit to make it a bit special. Not really too keen on the old shape either, much prefer the new.

[Welshbeef]

3sixty said:

I would, but insurance. I'm 21 so the price on an FR or Cupra will be insane. Thats why I have tended to sway towards the standard 1.9 TDIs, but just wanted the bodykit to make it a bit special. Not really too keen on the old shape either, much prefer the new.

Insurance will be hardly any different + you will save yourself best part of £5-6k by buying the older car in the first place.

[3sixty]

Admittadly it was a year ago, but I looked at an older Cupra/FR when I was buying my Mk4 Golf. Just checked the price of a 2005 (new model) Leon and it comes up a lot less (Around £300). I may be wrong and try again... but when push comes to shove I wouldnt buy one, the looks dont do it for me.

[matt3001]

I just bought my girlfriend an 07 plate Leon FR TDI 170 that is a great car and would recommend to anyone. In relation to your question though if you buy a reference 1.9TDI then you can buy the "sport" bodykit from a SEAT dealer and they will fit it for you, it is about 1k to do though, but you would have the official thing so it wont affect the residual value

[3sixty]

Thanks matt, but I was looking at a 2nd hand Leon Reference selling privately. Wanted to see if the dealers will sell me the bodykit and fit it for me, and at what cost.

[Tearz]

Matt3001,

Glad you bought a Leon FR TDI - I have a 07 plate Leon FR TDI with Bluetooth and 18" alloy wheels.

Love every minute of it and has never let me down since I bought it brand new, it's now at 17,000 miles. Very good car

[matt3001]

Tearz said:

Matt3001,

Glad you bought a Leon FR TDI - I have a 07 plate Leon FR TDI with Bluetooth and 18" alloy wheels.

Love every minute of it and has never let me down since I bought it brand new, it's now at 17,000 miles. Very good car

Thanks. Had the car a couple of weeks now and its awesome, apart from the interior not much different from my A3 S-Line with the same engine. I did see an FR550 the other day in white... I want those light grey suede Cupra seats!

[kazste]

have you considered the ibiza cupra? 3 year old diesels go for approx 8-9k (at least thats what i got p/x) suspension a little hard but a lot of fun and with a few minor tweeks very adjustable. not massive inside and only 3 doors though so might not be the right car if you need a leon sized car but thought i would just put the case forward as i love them so much im on my second and have already put deposit down for the next gen one when it comes out! also reasonable on insurance i was 22 when had my first 2 years ncb based in notts parked on driveway cost me £900.

hope this helps in some way

[basherbarrichelo]

My step dads just brought a Leon fr, and I can’t say anything bad about it because its awesome. Its had a re-map to 190 and has got the bilstien suspension which makes it a bit harder than the standard suspension but other than that I would recommend it!!

[NTEDave]

What would work out a lot cheaper is some FR / Cupra bumpers from Ebay. The bodyshops that are fitting the K1 kits (Aero / BTCC) flog them on. If you can find a Reference in an FR colour it should be fairly cheap and easy to get the bumpers.

The bodykit is £808.00 according to the Seat site, factor in a grand or so for fitting and painting <Absolute guess on that one, ages since I've dealt with a bodyshop.

[Skyrat]

3sixty said:

I would, but insurance. I'm 21 so the price on an FR or Cupra will be insane. Thats why I have tended to sway towards the standard 1.9 TDIs, but just wanted the bodykit to make it a bit special. Not really too keen on the old shape either, much prefer the new.

I'm expecting my new Leon 1.9TDI Stylance any day now. The 1.9 is nippy enough but not exactly outstanding. Why would you put a body kit on it and just make it heavier, and hence, slower? I went for a candy white one as I think it looks stunning in white, and it makes it stand out a bit (there's hundreds of them on the road around me and I've yet to see a white one yet).