Hello

I've got about 9k to spend on a new car - well new to me

I've narrowed it down to either the Leon FR or the Octavia VRS - in petrol as I fancy a change from diesel and because i am concerned about the reliability issues with the DPF etc... although as a curve ball I am half tempted by an Altea FR TDI but I digress...

So has anyone owned both ? I am familiar with the Leon Fr and know the ride is harder - I expect there to be a bias on this site but I'm going to ask anyway !

Where would your hard earned money go ?

thanks

I would choose the Octavia vRS

Hello

I've got about 9k to spend on a new car - well new to me

I've narrowed it down to either the Leon FR or the Octavia VRS - in petrol as I fancy a change from diesel and because i am concerned about the reliability issues with the DPF etc... although as a curve ball I am half tempted by an Altea FR TDI but I digress...

So has anyone owned both ? I am familiar with the Leon Fr and know the ride is harder - I expect there to be a bias on this site but I'm going to ask anyway !

Where would your hard earned money go ?

thanks

That's an easy one as far as I'm concerned. Seats are ugly. Not only does the Octy look nicer, it's also more practical and simply feels better built. Perhaps I'm a bit biased as I'm in my 40s. Younger people and girls tend to like the look of the Seat for some reason. ;-)

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by silkysteve

as someone who owns both (although diesels)

I would say Octavia:

Better built, more Comfortable

Faster top end performance

More spec for your money

More room esp in the boot

Although the Leon is a very good car, just dont like it as much as the Octy, the Leon is more agile and easier to park.

Looks wise thats pretty tough, I would say the Leon is more sporty looking.

I would choose the Octavia vRS

I'm guessing this forum is going to be a bit biased. :-)

Even so, I struggle to see a reason why anyone would choose a Seat instead, unless they still have a problem with the badge.

Looks wise thats pretty tough, I would say the Leon is more sporty looking.

You are joking? :-)

I suppose I've never really got this "sporty" thing.

I test drove both (in diesel form) and in my opinion, the Leon was the better handling car of the two, but I couldn't imagine driving 30K a year in it, I'd have had no fillings left...

The Octavia is almost as good (handling wise), far more practical and I think the better looking car of the two, I also thought the interior of the Leon was not a pleasant place to look at, certainly not compared to the Octavia interior. However, if I wasn't doing the miles, then I could be seriously tempted by the Leon, at the end of the day I know that mechanically it's basically the same as my Octavia but is slightly more agile...

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by Raglits

thanks folks - tbh I just prefer the look of the Leon - ugly ?!!!

One other factor is that I have found a nice Leon with low mileage and cheaper than a VRS..

must admit i love the seat leon fr's in white even seen an orange one! very nice!

i like the white a3's with the black roof and anthrecite wheels <<<<thats my 1 day car lol

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by Ryan90VRS

The only person that can tell u what to choose is you. Test drive them both then have a think about what suits your needs better

I've had both and, granted one was an fr Ibiza n the other was a furby vRS, build quality on the Skoda was far better and the ride was better. Saying that, if your going to thrash it and hammer around feisty twisty back roads, the seat won hands down. It's a racer, so was the Skoda but the vRS felt a little more "refined" if you get my meaning

ive driven many a cupra, and the most noticable thing is the interior is horrendous. By far the worst interior of all other VAG models by a long long way.

however i do prefer the looks. Another point to look at is the SEAT dealer repuation isn't known to be the best where as the skoda dealership network is highly regarded.

Also theres the space, performance differences between them are pretty much negligable.

the ride on the seats is also very crashy. in an attempt to appeal to the younger driver who thinks stiff is better

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by janner_Sy

thanks folks - tbh I just prefer the look of the Leon - ugly ?!!!

One other factor is that I have found a nice Leon with low mileage and cheaper than a VRS..

I suppose Seat are the Marmite of cars - you either love 'em or hate 'em. If you like them, that's fine as long as you can live with the fact that at least half of the people who see it will think it's a bit of a pig. ;-)

On the other hand, being a bit more conservative, the Octavia is going to get a lot more admiring glances or, at the very least, no reaction.

I'd have the new Audi RS3 but they're £31k more than you've got to spend so....it'll have to be the vRS. Biased ? No. Driven both, thought the Leon FR was nice but very cheap inside with tacky plastics and the Octavia more practical and better put together.

IMO the leon looks great from the outside but bland as hell on the inside and as you'll see this more the Octy is a better choice. if excellent interiors are your thing then the A3 is better than both.

I had a Leon FR diesel on an extended test drive before I got my previous vRS and thought it more nimble than the Octavia. However, the ride was simply appalling and the lack of compliance made the car quite difficult to control at speed over uneven surfaces.

I could have put up with the interior, but not the ride :no:

Seat - Better looking on the outside, very dull on the inside, small boot.

VRS - Bit brutal on the outside, much nicer on the inside (even better than the golf IMHO), massive boot

Given the choice I'd stick with the Octy

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by Aspman

I think the Seat is better looking outside, but the interior of the Skoda is much nicer (better quality, feels more solid).

The Seat has a sportier ride, and feels faster on the twisties, but here is no way I could live with it as a daily driver, the suspension feels crashy and hard.

If you have a family, I'd definitely go for the Octy. There's more room and they are less likely to be complaining at you about bumps (and your kids/wife will actually be able to fall asleep on a long journey, leaving you to drive in peace).

Had a look at one when I test drove the octy. The inside felt so small, cheap n nasty in comparison. Didn't even bother with the test drive at that point, knew I wasn't going to get one.

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by DbD

Hello

I've got about 9k to spend on a new car - well new to me

I've narrowed it down to either the Leon FR or the Octavia VRS - in petrol as I fancy a change from diesel and because i am concerned about the reliability issues with the DPF etc... although as a curve ball I am half tempted by an Altea FR TDI but I digress...

So has anyone owned both ? I am familiar with the Leon Fr and know the ride is harder - I expect there to be a bias on this site but I'm going to ask anyway !

Where would your hard earned money go ?

thanks

Fancy asking that question on a Skoda forum.

vRS all the way, unless you're talking Cupra.

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by Pagey1255

Have you tried posting on the marmite.com forum to see if anyone there likes marmite?

Have you tried posting on the marmite.com forum to see if anyone there likes marmite?

hey its possible to give an objective opinion !

I did say I expected people to be biased...

the ride on the seats is also very crashy. in an attempt to appeal to the younger driver who thinks stiff is better

I totally agree. If what you are looking at is anything like the Cupra I have tried then you need to be prepared for a firm/harsh ride. I think you should have a drive in one and then your mind will be made up

as timmy said, cupra Vs vRS itd be the cupra all day long.

FR Vs vRS its the octavia easy

if there was a k04 vRS that would be perfect

whats all this ko4 ko3 business ?

Anyway thanks for your help - I think I knew which one I really wanted...

Has too be the VRS...