Had this delivered on Thursday:

When I first drove this, it was cold, wet and miserable so I didn't really think much of it, plus I'd only driven it a short distance and around town.

I'm guessing that the cold weather attributed something towards my dislike for it, that and the crap roads - it felt so harsh and as if the suspension had no movement at all.

The ride is very firm and the tyres (235/35s) must have concrete sidewalls.

Once I'd filled it up with petrol the weather had dried and warmed a bit so as I was going cross country to see some mates on Thursday it was time to find out what the car is like on a decent flowing A road. The A414 should be ok

Like I said the ride is firm but get moving and out of town and the ride alters with speed. It's still firm but feels less crashy and very stable. Loads of grip and very little body roll (much like the FR170 I had recently) but more so, and the brakes are phenomenal. Around town at low speed they feel really over servoed, but get out of town and go a bit quicker they are still very responsive but you don't almost put yourself through the screen when you want to slow down.

The 6 speed gearbox is sweet shifting and positive, with a nice feel, steering is meaty and direct, light but not too light.

What does it go like? Erm, with 265ps it's no slouch. In any gear. At any speed. It's probably the fastest car I've driven. The engine is absolutely immense.

Foot down from about 20mph in 2nd and hold on. There's not much lag and it sounds RIDICULOUS. Loads of induction noise, turbo whoosh, dump valve (even though its a recirc type you can still hear it) and wastegate flutter all in one! It's really angry sounding, a bit like a NGTC Touring Car. But cruising on the motorway or pootling around town, you would be hard pushed to realise it's potential. Above 3000rpm it just goes mad, change up a gear at the redline and it drops you right back into the power band and away you go.

You can cover ground in it really quickly - making progress is really quite effortless, it flatters you as a driver too. It always feels like it's on your side and with a huge reserve of grip and big brakes you can lean on it.

This one has leather and an upgraded audio set up over the FR I had - it's got bluetooth and a DAB tuner with bells and whistles, and I can report that it sounds much better than the two previous set ups (Exeo and Leon FR) I've encontered from SEAT.

I won't talk about fuel economy, except that if you drive it hard, you'll need deep pockets. Even driven gently on a run you'll see maybe 30mpg, less around town.

I wasn't going to mention this as I don't usually 'race' on the road because it's a bit silly. But coming out of the Dartford Crossing tolls this morning on my way to Brands Hatch I had a bit of a burn up with a BMW E30 M3 and a Focus ST. They were having their own little drag race and I just booted it to see if I could keep up....I was a little embarrassed when I arrived at the circuit and they followed me in giving me a thumbs up in the queue to get it and a brief questions and answers session when we parked up! Neither could believe how rapid the Leon is.

Forget the crappy plastics around the handbrake (it really is awful) and the fascia around the climate control dials, this car is a proper weapon.

BUT just like the Peugeot RCZ I had, I couldn't live with it every day - it's got too much race car about it for my liking. Too hard and too juicy, and the way the ESP light blinks in the first 3 gears I think tyre wear will be high!

I love it, the power and noise is addictive, the handling is awesome, but for me it is too silly as every day car to do 20k miles a year in.

Edited 30 May, 201115 yr by Dave_G

It's still outside, I've done about 550 miles in it - commuting, work driving, seein mates and going to brands hatch for 3 days - so it's had a good test

Goes back Thursday. I'll report back on fuel for a laugh then!

Filled up this morning, £75, 55 litres

Done 250 miles, half the tank gone. Suspect I won't reach 500.

More fun out and about today, Watford to Canvey Island to Hayes, back to Watford and then back to Richmond (Sw14) and back!

Had the 170 DSG for a bit...and like you, Dave, found the ride FAR TOO HARSH.

I have a Leon cupra and have to agree the plastics ain't the best and it is a little boring inside,but i don't mind the suspension too much but then again i have 18's and i think the R has 19's .The seats are very supportive when things get interesting.The engine doesn't sound all that impressive apart from the induction growl ,but overall quite pleased with it as i can get anything between 26mpg pushing it a bit and 42mpg if i drive at real sensible speeds.

yea i test drove the cupra r (was plannin on testin the fr petrol manual....but the only car that was petrol manual at the time at the dealership of similar performance was the cupra r )........the response is amazing ....but i felt a little disconnected from the road and didn't feel like the 'need' to drive it again after. I think that is the only way I can explain it really......but brilliant car for the price.