Looking in the next year to buy a Seat Leon FR 181

[OD1122]

So in the next year or two I'm looking to buy a Seat Leon FR 181 BHP 2.0 Diesel. I'm thinking 2017 onward because I want an electronic handbrake.

I was wondering if anyone who owned one could tell me their experience?

Plus are there any reliability issues with the 2.0 litre engine?

thanks!

[OD1122]

Also just to add, is there any DPF issues? I’ll be covering a mixture of motorway, national speed and a short amount of city driving equating to 50 miles daily.

[Nickp82]

Not much response so I will give my tuppence!
I have a Leon Cupra 290 at home and drive a succession of VAG diesels for company cars (currently a Octavia VRS with the same 2.0 as the Leon FR).

My commute is only ten miles each way, 7 miles on NSL DC and I have never had any DPF issues so I am sure you will be fine. I get 40 mpg overall though it wouldn't be hard to get a fair bit more if I wanted to. The engine itself is good but not great, it doesn't feel as strong as I would expect a 180-odd bhp engine to feel though this may partly be because it does have quite a smooth power delivery unlike the older turbo diesels.
Can't understand your desire for an electronic handbrake, I hate them but that aside the Leon is a nice car, the exterior styling makes it my preference of that size of car.

[OD1122]

Nickp82 said:

Not much response so I will give my tuppence!
I have a Leon Cupra 290 at home and drive a succession of VAG diesels for company cars (currently a Octavia VRS with the same 2.0 as the Leon FR).

My commute is only ten miles each way, 7 miles on NSL DC and I have never had any DPF issues so I am sure you will be fine. I get 40 mpg overall though it wouldn't be hard to get a fair bit more if I wanted to. The engine itself is good but not great, it doesn't feel as strong as I would expect a 180-odd bhp engine to feel though this may partly be because it does have quite a smooth power delivery unlike the older turbo diesels.
Can't understand your desire for an electronic handbrake, I hate them but that aside the Leon is a nice car, the exterior styling makes it my preference of that size of car.

Thanks for the feedback! I’m currently driving a 108bhp 1.7 Astra that isn’t particularly refined so by the sounds of it, the 2.0 VAG engine will be welcome in both amoothness and power!

The reason for the electric handbrake is that whilst I can operate a mechanical one pretty competently, I love the ease of using a electric handbrake in traffic, going up hills and being able to effortlessly disengage it at traffic lights by putting some revs down.

My girlfriend on the otherhand hates them haha..,

[XLYC]

OD1122 said:

So in the next year or two I'm looking to buy a Seat Leon FR 181 BHP 2.0 Diesel. I'm thinking 2017 onward because I want an electronic handbrake.

I was wondering if anyone who owned one could tell me their experience?

Plus are there any reliability issues with the 2.0 litre engine?

thanks!

I have that engine in a golf. Solid performer, if I’m doing 60 on the motorway I can get 61 mpg without trying, if I’m doing 70 I can get 54 mpg easily. Out performs almost every 2.0 saloon on the road e.g 320, a4, c220. And comes with better kit e.g (adaptive, pro nav, heated seats).

DPF never been an issue and I drive local a lot through town, it just automatically regenerates regarless if you use the motorway or not.

My lifetime mpg has been 46 mpg mixed. Oh and I have the DSG model and I recommend it! Solid gearbox never had issues. Never had any engine issues, just tyres and body work!

[OD1122]

XLYC said:

I have that engine in a golf. Solid performer, if I’m doing 60 on the motorway I can get 61 mpg without trying, if I’m doing 70 I can get 54 mpg easily. Out performs almost every 2.0 saloon on the road e.g 320, a4, c220. And comes with better kit e.g (adaptive, pro nav, heated seats).

DPF never been an issue and I drive local a lot through town, it just automatically regenerates regarless if you use the motorway or not.

My lifetime mpg has been 46 mpg mixed. Oh and I have the DSG model and I recommend it! Solid gearbox never had issues. Never had any engine issues, just tyres and body work!

Thanks! What is the engine like if you do say, cruising at 75/80 on an empty motorway?

[rallycross]

come back in 23 months when you are ready to buy one (sorry if that sounds a bit rude but 1-2 years is a very long time away in car buying terms).

[OD1122]

rallycross said:

come back in 23 months when you are ready to buy one (sorry if that sounds a bit rude but 1-2 years is a very long time away in car buying terms).

No, that’s fair enough, I understand that the market will change quite a bit in that time. I was just curious how people felt about it compared to competitors but i suppose in terms of pricing that would be more applicable closer to the time.