£12k Budget - Used Audi A3, Seat Leon or BMW 1 Series??

[ChrissyJay]

So, as the title says, I've got a £12k budget, I've test driven a 2016 Seat Leon 1.4 SE, fully loaded tech (sat nav, car play etc etc), really REALLY nice drive, 20k miles, immaculate inside and out... just under £12k...…. I DO like Audi A3's and BMW 1 Series, but for £12k I'd be looking at around a 2014 plate, with at least 50k miles on the clock and no where near the same level of tech - but they are nice! So, older car less tech but more premium badge - OR - Seat Leon which is essentially the Audi A3 engine and underpinnings, just over 2 years old?

[S54Love]

Apparently, Leon SE's are going for around £12.5k new at the moment, so that's always worth considering: https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/seat-leon-se-15ts...

Sorry if that's made the decision even harder!

[Pistonheader101]

If you can’t afford the A3 then the seat/Skoda would be a good option.

[WonkeyDonkey]

Seriously the only reason for considering an Audi A3 is for the 'premium badge'. My god.

[ZX10R NIN]

Seems you can get a brand new Leon 1.5tsi Evo for your budget which makes it a no brainer, I wouldn't say a base A3/1 series is a premium product, if that deal runs out before you get the chance I'd actually be going for these especially when you look at spec/performance & price.
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1.5T Focus Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.0T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Kia Cee'd GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.6T Infiniti Q30 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.2T DS4 Prestige

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

308 GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Astra Elite Nav now these are amazing value for money & a very good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now all the above don't have a premium badge but all are better options than a base model supposed Premium badge.

[anonymous-user]

I’d buy a Ford for that money. VAG make pretty average-st cars these days, certainly not premium. Doesn’t stop knob heads paying over the odds for them though. Don’t be one of them.

[Pistonheader101]

wormus said:

I’d buy a Ford for that money. VAG make pretty average-st cars these days, certainly not premium. Doesn’t stop knob heads paying over the odds for them though. Don’t be one of them.

There’s a reason for the premium - I’ve had a Ford before, it’s nowhere near the same quality as the German motors out there.

[ZX10R NIN]

Pistonheader101 said:

There’s a reason for the premium - I’ve had a Ford before, it’s nowhere near the same quality as the German motors out there.

Not all German cars are premium as I said a base spec A3 is not a better car than a better spec'd Focus, it's a price specific rather than a dead cert.

[Pistonheader101]

ZX10R NIN said:

Pistonheader101 said:

There’s a reason for the premium - I’ve had a Ford before, it’s nowhere near the same quality as the German motors out there.

Not all German cars are premium as I said a base spec A3 is not a better car than a better spec'd Focus, it's a price specific rather than a dead cert.

Yes very well could be - the new top spec Mondeos are a nice place to sit. However I’d advise against buying the base spec car in general - again a base spec a3/a class/ 1 series relatively would be better than a base spec focus etc.

[ChrissyJay]

Thanks for the replies people, my local Seat dealer is where I've seen the one I mentioned, all the reviews say how good it is now... yeah I know I'm paying more at a dealer, is it worth it for 12 months warranty and MOT protection and all the checks they make?! When I say about a BMW or Audi being a premium badge - don't shoot me down for that comment, it's one that's banded around a lot, unfortunately, and I say that in reference to the resale, they'll hold their value more than the Seat.... that's not the reason I'm looking at them, it's the quality (used, around 5 years old or so).... I'll check out all the links you've posted - cheers!

[ZX10R NIN]

Pistonheader101 said:

Yes very well could be - the new top spec Mondeos are a nice place to sit. However I’d advise against buying the base spec car in general - again a base spec a3/a class/ 1 series relatively would be better than a base spec focus etc.

I agree with the last bit but the price isn't the same so you're not comparing apples with apples for the price of a A3 1.0T SE Technik/118i SE you get a 1.5T Titanium or 1.0T ST Line X.