sunstar

I'm going to test drive the new Seat Leon 1.8T tomorrow. If anyone is interested, I can post a comparison report.

sunstar '00 A3 1.8T silver<ul><li><a href="http://www.seat.co.uk">http://www.seat.co.uk</a</li></ul>

Wando

have a real good look and see what A3 bits are on it!

sunstar

The model I've driven was a Seat Leon Sport (I wanted to drive the 4x4 (Cupra), but that option is not yet shipped - will be in June)

Some highlights:
- FWD 1.8 180hp turbo engine with constant 235nm at 1900-5000 rpm
- color: blue metallic (best looking color IMO)
- Foglights in the front bumper
- 8 Speakers, CD Changer in the front-box
- 6 Gears
- 5 Doors (no 3 door version available at all)
- TCS (Traction Control System? That's what the button said)
- 16" alloys (which look crap...)

The cockpit compared to the A3 is rather simple. It rather looks like the one in the Golf IV (LCD displays...). No dot-matrix display as my A3 has, no Driver Information System (not even possible as an option). The middle console was actually the same as in the A3 - Seat managed to put in a cupholder - VERY USEFUL. There's a simplified version of climatronic A/C in there - which is a lot cheaper than Audi's - but suits almost anyones needs.

Sound quality: Superbe!!
Side mirrors have to be manually adjusted

The rest of the inside was actually the same as the A3 ambition (sport) - it just looks a little cheaper.

Torque is with no doubt superior to my A3. I'd kiss this baby's *** on the motorway. If this is what I get from a chipped A3 then it's not a question if I DO it but WHEN Apart from that, it felt exactly like driving the A3 (i.e. grip)

Now the price:
The car with the mentioned options (metallic paint, CD changer, 8 speakers, climatronic) is priced at EUR 21'000 here in Switzerland! Considering it's built on the A3 platform I have to say: V.A.G. pisses me off too

sunstar '00 A3 1.8T silver

David R

I guess the important question is, if you were buying now, which one would you go for??

sunstar

A3! But I'd choose the 180hp version

David R

Why the A3? Image? Quality? Something else??

sunstar

Well, I actually can't call the A3 a luxurious car, but compared to the Leon the A3 just looks better from the inside. And besides that, I simply love the shape of the A3.

I test drived the Leon quite hard, and after some time there seemed to be a cover-part below the car loosening. I could hear it scratch the ground whenever going over some road bumps.

And: the central locking sounds like someone gets shot.

Still a very nice car though for folks who can't afford an A3 :-)))

I'm gonna take some pics next weekend of a Leon and post 'em in the WWW.

So long,
sunstar

Wando

I'd say mine is, check the registry for all the options, It's built as well as other German marques and leather makes all the difference!

sunstar

Well...Seat is actually Spanish, isn't it?

Wando

Yeah I meant the A3 not the Seat