2000 Seat Leon 20VT 1.8 turbo petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Bargain Road Rocket

Faults:

Very little even considering my car is one of the earliest to be built and has done 40'000 miles.

The rear folding seat catch gave up.

The folding electric mirrors work occasionally.

The remote locking has been a constant pain only working 50% of the time.

It has a huge appetite for front tyres!

General Comments:

None of the faults I have experienced in any way detract from the experience of owning one.

I had mine chipped to 220Bhp and fitted Yokohama A539 Tyres to replace the (too hard) Pirelli's.

Nothing on the road can live with it this side of a 911 Porsche.

I advise NOT to turn off the traction control system in the wet as the car will bite!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th February, 2002

2000 Seat Leon 20VT 1.8 turbo from Greece

Summary:

I love my car

Faults:

Driver's seat is not well fixed, producing minor movement when braking or leaning back.

Front doors produce various 'squeaks' when driving over bumps.

Rear seat easily folds back (does not lock in place). Dealer was unable to fix it. I did it by thickening the metallic fitting of the back seat lock with plastic tape. Problem now is eliminated.

Driver's door mirror does not fold in as far as the passenger mirror (this is normal as the driver's is much bigger than the passenger's one).

Gear shifting is not that smooth. Sometimes, you may be unsure whether you shifted from one to two! Shifting from two to three, and upwards is OK.

Passenger's seat-belt socket is too close to the central console so it produces noise when no passenger is in and the seat is positioned back.

Too difficult to keep these wheels clean!

Paint-work seems to be very poor especially in my case (deep blue).

A plastic cover of one hinge of the bonnet was broken.

Unacceptable front screen wipers. Dealer doesn't replace them!

Seat logo of the engine plastic cover has mysteriously disappeared.

The 'door open' indication works only for the boot and the driver's door. What is the point (kid's safety!)?

Poor cassette deck quality and too complicated to use the stereo. Compact disk player quality is perfect though.

Poor visibility in the back.

General Comments:

I don't think that the problems above are really serious. I am sure that in the future editions they will disappear.

Car is really fast. 6 speed gearbox is superb.

You don't feel any power loss even with 4 passengers, with the air-conditioning switched on climbing a mountain. The torque is huge.

It is quite comfortable (but not a Peugeot).

Back seats could be roomier for the knees.

The quality is really high.

Handling is very good, but a stiffer front suspension would be preferable. But please do not switch off the ESP! Especially in roads like Greek ones!

The only thing I would ask for more is engine power after 5000rpm (chipping!).

Respect the accelerator (it is really difficult, I know)! Otherwise the gas station man will adore you!

Pirelli P6000s are a very bad choice for this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th September, 2001

26th Sep 2004, 16:53

I have had a Seat Leon 1.6 sport for 2 years now, the best reply I can give to some of the comments on your website, is that this car is the best and most reliable car I have ever driven it has superb road holding and acceleration, is comfortable and has plenty of room (I am not small person).

A superb vehicle congratulations to Seat. Thank you

Richie Harrison, Hartlepool.

2000 Seat Leon Sport 4 (or Cupra for UK) 1.8 turbo from Greece

Summary:

You can't found another car like this at this price! BRAVO! Seat

Faults:

It's perfect.

General Comments:

This car it's a...

1) Sports car

2) GTI

3) Family car

4) Luxury car

5) Beautiful car

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd August, 2001

2000 Seat Leon S 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

An absolute bargain: no-one should buy a manual VW without going to their local SEAT dealer first

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

VW build quality from Barcelona.. platform for the car is identical with the VW Golf at anything up to £2000 less in price.

The Leon is roomier and has a bigger boot than the Golf, though the interior quality is akin to the old Golf and is more plasticky than the current Golf which has an interior finish like an Audi, almost in the BMW/Mercedes category.

The car is put together to the true VW standard and leaves the US marques (Ford & GM) miles behind.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st July, 2001