Well, I am (relatively) young and I have had a Leon FR TDI since beginning of September. The ride certainly won't shake any fillings out, but then I don't have any to shake out, and if I did I would be able to replace them (I'm a dentist!)

I think its a great car. I seriously considered an Octavia VRs, as I had a Toledo with massive boot previously, but it was just too expensive against the Leon. And has previously been commented on, the standard spec is too mean. The Leon ride is certainly firm, but I've had no probs with comfort on long journeys, and I've done 500 miles/week since I had it. It goes like the proverbial off a shovel and even sounds good (for a diesel)!

I'm not anti-Octavia though. My wife has an L+K estate 2.0TDi on order, collecting on Monday. I agree the interior plastics on the doors and upper dash in the Leon are s**** quality compared with the Octavia. However, I can confirm after 3000+ miles there are no rattles or squeeks and it all seems well screwed together. It seems that Seat have now fallen into the role of 'budget' VAG brand, with Skoda filling the middle ground between them and VW. I really do think Skoda need to revise their standard specs however, for instance ESP should really be standard fit on a

Mine has the standard 17s.

Lots of people seem to think they look to small on the car, but I like the design, and being 5 spoke they are incredibly easy to keep clean.

I haven't driven a car with the 18s so can't comment on the difference, only confirm I find the ride on mine absolutely fine.

I hate cleaning cars especially the wheels, so ease of cleaning is the main consideration when I 'm choosing wheels.

Been in a Leon - really hard suspension - would start to annoy on the roads where I live. But i really like the design. The Octavia is understated and rather mondeo-ish. But wins it for me on the massive boot space. The Leon's boot is hardly bigger than my fabia's. I also like the Volvo V50 estate.

Jules

The leon I drove was running on 18's and the ride was 'seriously' hard to the point where cruising at 90 on the M5 took a lot of concentration because it was bumping around so much.:confused:

It hadn't done many miles so maybe it needed to bed in but it wasn't for me.

My jap import Integra DC5 had a more forgiving ride and that was basically a racing car !!

Doesn't look like they come up with much of interest, and not sure what the advantages of 100kg extra weight are!

Well, it's company - a passenger who's in the car all the time and weighs nearly 16 stone.