I need you help guys/gals... the wife wants a Leon FR!!! (It has to be a GTI!!)

[TheReflex]

Better built, better looking, better badge, better feel-good factor, better residuals.

Better car all round really

Cass

What he said .

[RobGTI]

Got to add my two pennies worth...

I had a good few Golf GTIs over the years and was almost definitely going to get a 3 door Mk 5 in either white or red, anyway my situation changed and I needed a 5 door (the wife was pregnant ).

So I test drove the Leon FR and Golf GTI back to back for at least an hour in each over varied surfaces here are my thoughts:

To drive they both drove exactly the same, I know the reviews reckon there are subtle differences but not so much that I could tell.
The interior of the golf as everyone's said is far better than the Leon.
The boot in the Golf is bigger but I can get the pram shopping etc so no problems (I was coming from a Mini so every other cars boot looks massive).
The Leon I think looks great with the optional 18s and in a light colour and get quite a lot of +ve comments about the looks (as many as with my fully loaded, kitted Mini).

In the end I went for the Leon because it was a change from VW, its rareness factor, good looks and I got it fully loaded with everything (18s, bluetooth, bi-xenons, sunroof, armrest, rear airbags, winter pack, convenience pack) for less than the price of a standard GTI.

Yes it has compromises with the interior and its not got the cache of the "Golf GTI" but thats about it as far as I can see. I went for it knowing this and don't regret it.

[Cass]

In the end I went for the Leon because it was a change from VW, its rareness factor, good looks and I got it fully loaded with everything (18s, bluetooth, bi-xenons, sunroof, armrest, rear airbags, winter pack, convenience pack) for less than the price of a standard GTI.

This is a very valid point when you are paying with your own hard earned cash

List for my MY2007 3 door with lots of extras was almost 25k

Cass

[illyun]

Got to add my two pennies worth...

I had a good few Golf GTIs over the years and was almost definitely going to get a 3 door Mk 5 in either white or red, anyway my situation changed and I needed a 5 door (the wife was pregnant ).

So I test drove the Leon FR and Golf GTI back to back for at least an hour in each over varied surfaces here are my thoughts:

To drive they both drove exactly the same, I know the reviews reckon there are subtle differences but not so much that I could tell.
The interior of the golf as everyone's said is far better than the Leon.
The boot in the Golf is bigger but I can get the pram shopping etc so no problems (I was coming from a Mini so every other cars boot looks massive).
The Leon I think looks great with the optional 18s and in a light colour and get quite a lot of +ve comments about the looks (as many as with my fully loaded, kitted Mini).

In the end I went for the Leon because it was a change from VW, its rareness factor, good looks and I got it fully loaded with everything (18s, bluetooth, bi-xenons, sunroof, armrest, rear airbags, winter pack, convenience pack) for less than the price of a standard GTI.

Yes it has compromises with the interior and its not got the cache of the "Golf GTI" but thats about it as far as I can see. I went for it knowing this and don't regret it.

Fair enough, but if you can afford it, I'd go for the genuine article... the Golf GTI.  Other cars just don't come close and if the Leon was that good why wasn't it feted in the motoring press in the same way?  I don;t remember Jeremy Clarkson nominating the Seat as car of the year any year.

[illyun]

I havent posted much, i've been a lurker sorry.....

As you can guess from the title were still in the 'looking/test driving' stage 

I thought I had the wife sussed and the plan was to get a GTI.... I made the big mistake of getting a test drive in a Leon FR just for a laugh.... mistake!!  she reckons she prefers the FR!!!

I need you lot to give me some more ammo to fire at her...

the only pros i can see the Leon has is more BHP buts its heavier and it has slightly more kit as standard! oh and its cheaper....

i don't like it as when your inside it's like driving an armoured personnel carrier, you can't see anything!! the Pillars are 50 foot wide!! it just feels bigger and more sluggish!

I'm not being a badge snob, well i guess i am but i just prefer the golf. only problem is the wife will be paying the bigger chunk of the cash as a deposit, then the rest will be on finance but i'll be making a contribution... i have to tread with care 

I need your help!!!

I think one main plank of your strategy needs to be ensuring that your wife doesn't read your posts here 

[illyun]

At the end of the day the choice boils down to whether you want this... which comes with compulsory slippers and pipes 




Or this.... 



Note the subtle addition of the Mk1 Golf GTI in the background, thereby associating the Mk5 with its heritage, history and class. Not that I am bias or anything 

[speedynz]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                 Have a look at those pictures.

Isn't the Seat a bit of a dud, imagine a friend pulling up in it, what does it say about them?

Now imagine the same friend pulling up in the Golf GTI.

See my point?

[illyun]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                 Have a look at those pictures.

Isn't the Seat a bit of a dud, imagine a friend pulling up in it, what does it say about them?

Now imagine the same friend pulling up in the Golf GTI.

See my point?

Exactly.  As the Chinese say - in Mandarin or Cantonese of course - 'A picture is worth a thousand words' 

Or as Confucious might have said 'One who chooses Seat Leon over VW Golf GTI will cry many tears afterwards as he is like one who chooses Coca Cola over Tescos No Frills Cola'

[K1]

What happens if so called friend pulls up in an Audi S3 instead of GTI, what does that say?
As much as i like the GTI, i know i'd have the S3 over it if i could swallow the 4-5k difference

[speedynz]

What happens if so called friend pulls up in an Audi S3 instead of GTI, what does that say?
As much as i like the GTI, i know i'd have the S3 over it if i could swallow the 4-5k difference

But what happens if your best friends sisters nephew in law pulls up in a Yugo Zastava and say's "It's better than the Golf GTI 'cos it just is"

"Nah, it is, innit"

Then what?