Im sorry . I have a question. I am guessing that tge previous infotainment system was smaller in its time? Or is that not true? If it was smaller than the question is did it have to cut the interior to fit it? And who actually can do that? Thanks in advance..
This is how you should own a car. I have a 2006 A4 Avant. Keep up with maintenance, replace little parts that need changing. Still drives like a dream, does all I need. No need to 'upgrade'.
I think you should keep it and carry on, you've underlined all the reasons why replacing it with a new petrol manual car is hardly an upgrade for alot of financial cost and this car still feels fresh and does everything you want it too so I see you having it for quite a while longer.
@@lvpvsmalvm522 LOL new Toyotas, Hondas and Subarus look older than 5 year old Volkswagens/Skodas/SEATs especially on the inside. Toyotas in particular are atrocious. Volvos are nice though.
@N1ckZ My 2003 Honda Accord always gets comments on how modern it looks inside and out. It is slightly modified but nobody believes it's a 21 years old car.
shumranskunder3334 Absolutely! I had the 2008 Accord 2.4. Looks stunning, has adaptive cruise control, back up camera, fully electric seats all for 2008! Plus that 2.4L engine is bullet proof. Can't say the same for a 2008 passat 🤣 probably half the trim will have fallen off and multiple electrical faults, lol
Such an interesting video Richard. My parents were recently in the market for a new car, and quickly realised what you said here - if you have a car from around the last 10/15 years, drivetrain is probably the only reason to upgrade. They went for a PHEV, which has proven a huge difference. It's funny though, as I ended up taking their older car (sentimentality strikes!) for myself, and in many ways we've seen that the older (2008) car is better built than the newer model (2022) of the same car by the same manufacturer.
I've had the 7.5 Golf for 4 years now - I can easily see myself owning it for the next 10 years. Golf 7 / Leon / Octavia / A3 from that period are great, especially with 1.4 TSI!
I bought a 2017 model a few days after I watched your 10 year anniversary with the car. At that time I spend around 4 months looking for a car and your video was a big reason I ended up going for it. It has been great, a massive improvement over the Ford Ka I have been driving for the past 4 years.
I have a 2024 Seat Ibiza Fr Sport as a first car. It’s a Motability car for anyone wondering how I can afford it plus insurance. Your 10 year video on the Leon convinced me to get a Seat. I’ve had mine about a month and it’s great
I absolutely love my mk3 Leon, only had it about 10 months but I've done 18000 miles and it's been 100% reliable! It's a 2020 year car and could have had the mk4 but this one had physical climate controls and proven reliability record!
Brilliant video as always! Who doesnt love a high mileage hero! I have a 2015 Leon Fr 184 for the past 4 years. Its just ticked over 145k miles and has been a brilliant car. I have no intention to change it. I think the screen in your car is from a 2015/2016 model year as from 2017 onwards the only had physical buttons on one side.
I bought a 2012 bmw X1 with all original parts still bit over 2 years ago, currently at 200,000 km. Will keep it for as long as it can run, upgrading the display and interior now too.
I recently got a Seat Leon SC in FR trim just like yours and as I have been talking with my friends about it I have come to the same conclusion as you have and its that I dont really see a car worth upgrading to that doesnt cost at least double or triple the money (talking second hand ofc). My friends suggest the A3 but to get an A3 that has the features my Leon has such as the full led headlights, ambient lighting, sports seats, sports suspension and such I would at least have to pay double what I paid for the Leon but Im getting the same chasis and engine and gearbox that I alredy have. (Not to mention that I also prefer the looks of the Leon). So I totally understand why you have yet to upgrade it and that brings me a lot of joy honestly to hear it from someone who knows cars and has owned one for a very long time. It confirms I have made a good decision buying one and Im looking forward to keeping it fresh and new looking just like you do with yours. And I can definately confirm what you said about the Seat Sound System. It honestly blew me away. Anyway, I love your videos man, helped me a lot when I was just starting to drive and I have been a fan for some time so keep up the good work!
Bought a 63 plate Leon 1.4 TSI FR 6 speed after watching your reliability video, done 5k miles in a few months and it’s been much better than my old Fabia, currently on 110k miles and needs a bit of maintenance but nothing too major
Ive got a mk3.5 leon 1.0 tsi 115bhp and i had a minor non fault collision, whilst the car was in the garage i was given a 2021 Mk4 leon and i absolutely hated it, the digital climate control was distracting, the car didnt look anywhere as good as mine and i was missing my climate control panel and my additional options, especially my heated seats, i bought it for £8000 2 years ago at 66,000 miles and is now sitting at a comfortable 115,000 miles! Still in love with it and dont plan on getting rid of it any time soon!
The 1.8 is a more durable and tuneable engine, though. It has a cast iron block, which is very rare nowadays. But as you said, for day to day driving the 1.4 is the smarter choice. Also I confirm everything you said about OBDEleven, i literally coded in a rev cam to my 2014 A3 last week, worked like a charm.
100% peak Leon this car. New one is so blobby and disappointing - my theory is VWG got spooked they made the last Leon 'too' good, eroding into Golf and A3 sales, so they purposefully nerfed the new one a bit to make it sit as the more overtly budget option, like SEAT is meant to be. I still find the 184 FR TDI Leon of that era a genuinely desirable car after all these years!
Very VERY nice car that SEAT - in excellent condition! I own a 2023 Volvo V60, that I plan to keep for as long as I can; its a brilliant car (my third V60☺️), and I cant stand the latest cars.
I’m on my third VW and my second Touran 2.0tdi. I’ve always kept my cars for about 5 years or 150,000 miles, but the current one has been so good that I’ve still got it at 236,000 miles. It’s often still clocking up 7-800 miles each week at about 50mpg. It’s been mechanically perfect and I still enjoy driving it over long distances so see no reason to replace it. I service it myself every 9,000 miles with a DSG oil and filter change every 37,000 miles. It uses no oil between services and has easily been the cheapest car I’ve ever run.
The question should be "why do other people get rid of perfectly good cars within 5 years?" Modern cars even from 10-15 years ago are more reliable than ever, their interiors wear better than ever, and their tech means they don't really feel outdated. It's also far more eco-friendly to keep an older car running for as long as possible since the majority of resources used and emissions released come from its manufacture rather than from the tailpipe.
Great video Richard. At this time I would never be able to keep a car for that long. I get bored of them fast and than start looking for something else.
I know the feeling because that's how I used to be. For me it's much easier to hang onto a car I bought new for a long time whereas I'm much more likely to change used cars frequently.
All makes sense. I have a great spec 2016 F54 Clubman and I won't be changing any time soon due to the lastest car going backwards in many ways....like the touch controls you mentioned.
Always great vids Rich! Keep up the good work.... some very well made points! I've just ordered myself a 1 Series BMW and the only thing that was making me think twice was the climate control issue.... it's a real step backwards in usability imo. I got a new three door SEAT Leon FR Sport in 2018. Loved that car! Much quicker than manufacturer recorded times and so economical I used to forget it needed petrol! Great fun to drive too!
Damn you're right about the SUV thing. I saw it with the A6 Avant E-Tron too. I was really excited for that car to come out, only for them to obviously increase the height and change the shape to make it more SUV-like. Even the Aygo is replaced by the Aygo-X. I get that people like SUVs and crossovers, but leave it to that. What's the point of selling a hatchback or estate if you're going to pretend it's an SUV anyway
I'm starting to thing that I'll be facing a similar dilemma at some point. I have a 2015 Golf with the 2.0 diesel and I genuinely don't see why I'd spend the money upgrading at this point as the only feature I think I'd use that I don't already have would be something like lane assist. £20 road tax and decent fuel economy for my mostly longer journeys isn't to be grumbled at and I have enough power to drive like a bit of a yobbo if I want to or take gaps in traffic if I need to which is pretty nice. I've only had minor wear and tear so far and the odd electrical gremlin which I think is fine considering the age of the car. I think it's quite telling when I've been able visit friends who live in countries which don't tax older cars as highly as we do in the UK - 20+ year old cars are much more common and if you're after value then it seems like a toss up between newer budget options with rudimentary modern tech bells and whistles or older German stuff which quite frankly is still great to drive. It's confused me that my dad held onto an old Passat for so long but after getting a lift in it recently it still drives fine and my only gripe would be how the loud the engine is at motorway speeds as it only has 5 gears (his mechanic is encouraging him to run it into the ground at this point as apparently the newer ones aren't built as well and would be really pricey to upgrade to). I know there's the conversation about emissions and that but it feels wasteful to me that we need to expend resources to build new cars when there are ones which still run fine and some of which don't pollute as much as others. I'd like an EV some day for that reason but until my generation can afford homes I'll be going with what is more cost effective sadly and what I have currently fits the bill in that regard.
I think personally I'd wait and see how this recession plays out before throwing down 38k on a car. Currently I drive a 440i which is a bit of a drinker but it's been reliable so far and just knowing it'll start when I turn it on and keep me safe on the road has kept me from looking at replacing it. That Leon seems to give you those same reassurances and it's a hard sell to replace something you feel you can trust to just work when you ask it to, especially when the upgrade isn't giving you much more. All the work you've done in maintenance, functional and aesthetic, has made it look and feel like a pleasant place to be.
Completely agree with the mk4 leon climate controls being absolutely horrible. Had a mk4 cupra leon for a few weeks before I returned it due to substantial mechanical issues. "Downgraded" to a mk3 seat leon estate FR and I am not missing the cupra very much. The mk3 feels a bit more robust and more of a workhorse. The mk4 didn't feel like it was built to last, but my opinion is probably skewed due to the constant issues I had with it going into limp mode etc. Also gotta mention the lighting controls on the mk4, absolutely horrible little buttons on the side rather than the rocker switch. Infotainment in general was horrible. Love that the mk3 has a dedicated button to turn off start stop, to select your driver profile etc... All that and the climate control was buried in menus upon menus upon menus. Got the auto version of both of them as well. The rocker switch for the gear selection on the mk4 looks cool, but its a right pain. After doing a fair few test drives over the last month or so and trying to find a car for me, I think the 2012-2020 era seems better than most of the new models that have came out after COVID.
lol What a wonderful video and how well executed. I would say you just had described my story but just used a different brand car. Thanks a lot. Will be sharing with my friends
I'm using the FL version of an FR Mk.III Leon for food delivery in the Czech Republic. Bought her with 8 000 kilometres on the clock, no she is 140 000. Was a dream of mine to own an FR and even if I have to rebuild or to buy a new engine, she's is gonna stay with me for as long as possible.
I almost chocked when I thought you were sponsored by another OBD brand that's the biggest scam (carly) but obdeleven is really good and definitely recommended.
Depending on the model it might be possible to retrofit some of these features you are looking for. Take audi for example any b9 platform can be upgraded to the b9.5 components including the mmi and instrument cluster. Yes while some crazy upgrades such as the mmi+instrument cluster would set you back 10k due to the labour cost there are easier ones such as the matrix lights that cost 2.5k-3.5k including warranty to have done by a garage or less than a grand if you are looking for a DIY project. Going on a forum dedicated to the car is worth gold if you are looking to keep any car for longer than 5 years.
Tbh im only just considering replacing my 2007 Volvo C30 for similar reasons. A newer car doesnt do much (that matters ro me at least) significantly better. The only reason I am looking to replace it is that its getting more and more costly to maintain. And I have spotted a car (actually a mazda 3 also) that I think would be a worthy replacement.
Great video richard as a replacement I have a 2019 69 mazda 3 sky active x saloon, I love it and I'm a big fan of the tech fitted to it, why don't you look at a slightly used example. I got mine at 3 years old for 19k
Can top you there, my 2010 1.6TDI Octavia, bought 4 years ago, now 220000 miles, though just spent couple of grand upgrading timing belt, water pump, thermostat and housing ABS sensor and magnetic ring hub, alternator belt, EGR cooler and valve. Now, to get airbag warning light sorted, new control module apparently 750 euro from VW, 150 euro from local Motor factors, and 75 to 100 euro from scrap yard. Which option should I go for.
I’ve got a 2024 SEAT Ibiza Xcellence Lux 1.0 110TSI 5-door manual. Unlike the new Leon, the new Ibiza still has a separate Climate Control which I find very easy to use. Being the top spec model, it has a reversing camera, front+rear sensors, adaptive cruise control, etc. Even with the 1 litre, it still has plenty of power. Comparing your 2014 Leon to my 2024 Ibiza, the looks, especially externally, are very similar.
The climate controls in the new model are voice active, you tell the system you're cold or hot and it'll sense whose in the car and it adjusts the temperatures. It also turn off through voice commands.
I’m a fellow ADI and I’m in the same boat as you. I kept my old Fiesta learner car (2014 diesel) when I brought my last car (2017 Fiesta diesel) I use both of them to spread the miles so hopefully I can prolong the need to change as there nothing that’s really taken my fancy. I drove the Mazda 2 after watching your review but I found the 90bhp MHEV underpowered. I drove a Suzuki sport and liked that but the bucket seats I imagine wouldn’t be comfortable to sit in all day. I’m going to test drive the new Swift over Christmas see what that’s like as Suzuki do good deals for ADI’s
Similar situation with me and my 2010 Scirocco 2.0 TDI. on 180,000 miles and I didn't plan to sell it. Only reason why I'm considering it now is because theres a water ingress issue I cannot figure out where it's coming from and I frequently drive through clean air zones, making it very expensive to run. Other than that it starts up and drives first time every-time and never let me down.
I've had 2 Leons, still do, ones a 14 plate (@141k) the other is the face lift 17 plate(@65k). The 17 plate is quite a lot nicer to be in than the 14 plate, especially the much bigger and faster screen with apple car play, they are both the 1.4TSI, the common thing that went was the water pump, easy and cheap repair though. I would suggest the 17 plate over the 14 because of the headlights, they are much much brighter, also they look nicer, the rear ones too. These engines are super reliable, had the walnut blast too, made it much smoother.
I got my VW Polo about 3 years. It had about 112,000 miles on it. Today it reached 120,000 miles, and my only real complaint is that the radio is almost too fiddly to use while driving. I love everything else about it. It's from 2004, so it's in that "sweet spot" (in my opinion) between modern cars with iPads for infotainment systems, and older cars where you're lucky if the heater works.
I have the new shape Leon and find the climate controls more of a 'set and forget' function. Currently in winter I have my climate controls set to 20c on the least aggressive auto setting (3 levels of auto to pick from) with AC on and very rarely need to touch it. When I do touch it in winter to help de-mist the windscreen, I press the shortcut button by my right knee (weirdly by the headlight buttons?!?). I do prefer the physical buttons, but it really isn't as much of a problem as some reviewers make out.
Own the same car, only 2.0 d, with 184 hp, and satisfyingly quick. Think it has independent rear suspension. Still love it. Not ulez free though Ps can be very economical , 58mpg
You are spot on, the 184bhp diesel and the 180bhp petrol all have independent rear suspension. Any late 2015 184bhp diesel is also a euro 6 engine so ulez compliant.
Apart from very big technical problems, like major rust problems or a completely blown engine i would not switch from a good working Golf 7 based car to any modern vehicle in its class either. there is simply nothing that warrants this decision. the leon is fun to drive, has basically the same performance and fuel economy as the newer 1.5 TSI and is young enough to allow for everyday features like android auto etc. - keep it. i´d recon a reasonable switching point could be 3-5 years from now with a solid state battery equipped fun to drive compact electric car with decent range and charging times. that would be a real successor if the overall cost of ownership is right.
What is the oil consumption like? Engine still healthy? Still original turbo? It's impressive how long some components have lasted based on the hours the car has done. Keep an eye out for any corrosion and stop it before it becomes an issue, stone chips etc. Have you undersealed it in its life? Or just kept it clean.?
IMHO you should invest in a rust treatment and protection of this car now. Modern cars are plagued with inconvenient touch controls, distracting driver assistance/warnings that have to be turned off every drive, and higher maintenance costs associated with their greater complexity. You have found a functional, practical car for your profession that has proven its reliability, you should be keeping that going as long as economically feasible!
Can you do us a video on the differences between driving economy cars vs performance cars? I was shocked at how different they are in terms of gear selection and general handling!
The Leon 5F was probably the best looking one they made. You can tell that the Ibiza 6F was modelled after it. The new Leons look like they have a long but squished nose.
You can reset service and inspection by holding down 0.0 (odo reset) while turning to accessory on all 2013 onwards VAG. Service and inspection need to be reset separately a bit annoying. My 2016 Octavia 1.4 EA211, 0 issues, only oil and belt replacement.
@RichardFanders In Australia we don't use Long life, i however disable stop start with OBD, don't know if you guys can we have no MOT only when selling a car one is needed. And no emissions.
Great vid you should look into the seat leon fr sport variant you would have to buy used (2020) and it would it sadly have an electric hand brake but it has DCC and some even have stuff like sun roofs,camera heated seat ect..
Great video Richard. Been watching your videos for more than a year on your other channel. Helped me a lot when learning to drive - on my 2nd car now which is funnily enough the same Leon Fr but as the 5 door….. was wondering how did you manage to get CarPlay running on it? Is it a retrofit system or was it an sd card update? Was thinking of getting CarPlay sorted on mine.
Also, on the point about is it worth the upgrade for 3 things you would like, you also have to consider all the things you will hate, which could offset the likes.
Hello Richard, one question which I did not find in your video about Leon is; did you ever change your manual transmission oil in all these years and miles? Thanks in advance!
@@RichardFanders Thank you for the reply, my mk7 Golf is almost 11 years old with only 80k km on the clock, next oil change I'll also change the tranmission oil. Cheers!
Purely based on the title (so far), I have a car of similar vintage and I can't justify the cost of buying a new motor. The only tangible upgrades would be the stereo and heated seats; which certainly isn't worth the price! The move away from tactile controls to a touchscreen interface is certainly a drawback on newer machines... Not to mention the fact that with a Hayne's manual, servicing/repairs is a doddle. I think I'll drive this car until it truly gives in!
As a car trader and former apprentice driving instructor I can say buying the newer generation VAG group car would never in a million years be worth the money as indeed the upgrades are negligible. My partners MK8 Golf has the sliders and touch screen. It's hateful , the steering wheel failed and was replaced, as was the central screen. Now the gearstick module is needing replacement.
Ive had the 150 1.4ACT version ofthis car for 10 years and 80,000 miles. The only issue i have is a hesitation about 4 to 6krpm on wide open throttle. Any idea if the walnut blasting may help?l with that or what you would log on odb11?
The question is why not? i own 2016 BMW and I added after market Android auto I don't feel I need anything more. I like the car, it's reliable (yes, reliable BMW with stage 2) and I don't wish to replace it. I did bought another pure fun car (an older cayman) but I still don't think about selling my BMW.
My Leon Cupra is a weapon. Smokes most cars with less than 370bhp and handles like it's on rails. Full leather interior and panoramic roof. Sadly it's lost about 8grand in value since i have owned it and i go through £50 a night if im rallying 😂
You won’t get reliability like that from a new car now, I have a focus that is now 3 years old and 50k miles. it’s had a maf sensor a rocker box gasket and a Nox sensor which was on back order which put the car off the road for almost 6 weeks!
Because of all this stupid technology they put in new cars. Old Toyotas are the best when it comes to reliability, especially their 2.4L and 3.0L engines. Pretty much bullet proof!
The climate control system in your Leon doesn't look tooo different from my 24 plate Ibiza, which I agree is far more intuitive than the silly touch system on the New Leon. I was also not a fan of an electric handbrake on that, whilst the Ibizia has a standard manual handbrake. It's also tempting to get that fancy OBD2 device to turn off the beeping you described in the AD as well as stop start, perhaps.
But they don't commonly get blocked or go wrong like dpfs because petrol doesnt have as much soot as diesels and they run hotter/warm up faster than diesel so its always passively regenerating
@@sbrader97the petrol filters might not cause issues now, even tho manufacturers mostly guarantee their functionality for the lifetime of the car…the real issue is slightly decreased responsiveness and worse mpg in comparison with same engine without the filter 👍
You need a new learners car with touchscreens everywhere and no physical controls besides the gear shifter. It's the future. You need to prepare the learners by teaching them how to (safely) take their eyes off the road to dig through submenus to adjust the the HVAC or defrost settings.
I have a Hungarian 100 Forint coin for Lidl. It's cheaper than yours .. about 22 pence at today's exchange rate ... Whoops ! .... I've just checked .... a minute fraction over 20 pence now .... but works just as well at Lidl.
Thank you OBDeleven for sponsoring this video! Use the link below to get Winter Sale discounts of up to 23% at go.obdeleven.com/winter-sale-richard
Im sorry . I have a question. I am guessing that tge previous infotainment system was smaller in its time? Or is that not true? If it was smaller than the question is did it have to cut the interior to fit it? And who actually can do that? Thanks in advance..
This is how you should own a car.
I have a 2006 A4 Avant. Keep up with maintenance, replace little parts that need changing.
Still drives like a dream, does all I need. No need to 'upgrade'.
A man that loves a basic interior 😂
What dreams do you have ?
Our 2003 1.9 tdi Polo Sport 😊 7:20 owned since new is approaching 262000 miles, the engine still runs sweetly. No plans to replace it.
I think you should keep it and carry on, you've underlined all the reasons why replacing it with a new petrol manual car is hardly an upgrade for alot of financial cost and this car still feels fresh and does everything you want it too so I see you having it for quite a while longer.
Volkswagen Group cars can still look and feel modern after 10-15 years. You can't say the same for many other manufacturers
Toyota, Honda, Volvo, Subaru
@@lvpvsmalvm522 LOL new Toyotas, Hondas and Subarus look older than 5 year old Volkswagens/Skodas/SEATs especially on the inside. Toyotas in particular are atrocious. Volvos are nice though.
@N1ckZ My 2003 Honda Accord always gets comments on how modern it looks inside and out. It is slightly modified but nobody believes it's a 21 years old car.
N1ckZ And yet the Toyota will last twice as long and cost half as much as the equivalent German car :)
shumranskunder3334 Absolutely! I had the 2008 Accord 2.4. Looks stunning, has adaptive cruise control, back up camera, fully electric seats all for 2008! Plus that 2.4L engine is bullet proof. Can't say the same for a 2008 passat 🤣 probably half the trim will have fallen off and multiple electrical faults, lol
A good car with a functional no-nonsense interior, as it should be.
Such an interesting video Richard. My parents were recently in the market for a new car, and quickly realised what you said here - if you have a car from around the last 10/15 years, drivetrain is probably the only reason to upgrade. They went for a PHEV, which has proven a huge difference. It's funny though, as I ended up taking their older car (sentimentality strikes!) for myself, and in many ways we've seen that the older (2008) car is better built than the newer model (2022) of the same car by the same manufacturer.
Great video. By the way, I reckon I could listen to Richard all day so informative.
That SEAT is beautiful, I live in Spain and I see lots of them
I passed my test July this year in my first car which is the MK3 Leon. Absolutely love the car 😊😊
I've had the 7.5 Golf for 4 years now - I can easily see myself owning it for the next 10 years. Golf 7 / Leon / Octavia / A3 from that period are great, especially with 1.4 TSI!
I bought a 2017 model a few days after I watched your 10 year anniversary with the car. At that time I spend around 4 months looking for a car and your video was a big reason I ended up going for it. It has been great, a massive improvement over the Ford Ka I have been driving for the past 4 years.
I have a 2024 Seat Ibiza Fr Sport as a first car. It’s a Motability car for anyone wondering how I can afford it plus insurance. Your 10 year video on the Leon convinced me to get a Seat. I’ve had mine about a month and it’s great
I absolutely love my mk3 Leon, only had it about 10 months but I've done 18000 miles and it's been 100% reliable! It's a 2020 year car and could have had the mk4 but this one had physical climate controls and proven reliability record!
You can't replace it now! It wouldn't be the same car channel without it. You need to keep it forever. Pick up welding as a hobby in the meantime!
Brilliant video as always! Who doesnt love a high mileage hero! I have a 2015 Leon Fr 184 for the past 4 years. Its just ticked over 145k miles and has been a brilliant car. I have no intention to change it. I think the screen in your car is from a 2015/2016 model year as from 2017 onwards the only had physical buttons on one side.
This is a fantastic review from someone who has owned the car for so long.
I bought a 2012 bmw X1 with all original parts still bit over 2 years ago, currently at 200,000 km. Will keep it for as long as it can run, upgrading the display and interior now too.
A superb car looking as good as it did when it rolled out the factory. Just upgraded my very similar Mk3 Leon to the new Mk4 one!
I recently got a Seat Leon SC in FR trim just like yours and as I have been talking with my friends about it I have come to the same conclusion as you have and its that I dont really see a car worth upgrading to that doesnt cost at least double or triple the money (talking second hand ofc). My friends suggest the A3 but to get an A3 that has the features my Leon has such as the full led headlights, ambient lighting, sports seats, sports suspension and such I would at least have to pay double what I paid for the Leon but Im getting the same chasis and engine and gearbox that I alredy have. (Not to mention that I also prefer the looks of the Leon). So I totally understand why you have yet to upgrade it and that brings me a lot of joy honestly to hear it from someone who knows cars and has owned one for a very long time. It confirms I have made a good decision buying one and Im looking forward to keeping it fresh and new looking just like you do with yours. And I can definately confirm what you said about the Seat Sound System. It honestly blew me away.
Anyway, I love your videos man, helped me a lot when I was just starting to drive and I have been a fan for some time so keep up the good work!
17:41 Well hello there Mr.Supra
I like the content mate, keep up the good work & keep uploading new videos & on Conquer Driving 👍
ayy, Richard, welcome back and Happy holidays! Hope you can sqeeze out more vids in 2025! :D
Bought a 63 plate Leon 1.4 TSI FR 6 speed after watching your reliability video, done 5k miles in a few months and it’s been much better than my old Fabia, currently on 110k miles and needs a bit of maintenance but nothing too major
VAG engines of that era got a bad name, but in retrospect they were mostly great. Good compromise between mileage and long-term usability.
Ive got a mk3.5 leon 1.0 tsi 115bhp and i had a minor non fault collision, whilst the car was in the garage i was given a 2021 Mk4 leon and i absolutely hated it, the digital climate control was distracting, the car didnt look anywhere as good as mine and i was missing my climate control panel and my additional options, especially my heated seats, i bought it for £8000 2 years ago at 66,000 miles and is now sitting at a comfortable 115,000 miles! Still in love with it and dont plan on getting rid of it any time soon!
The 1.8 is a more durable and tuneable engine, though. It has a cast iron block, which is very rare nowadays. But as you said, for day to day driving the 1.4 is the smarter choice. Also I confirm everything you said about OBDEleven, i literally coded in a rev cam to my 2014 A3 last week, worked like a charm.
100% peak Leon this car. New one is so blobby and disappointing - my theory is VWG got spooked they made the last Leon 'too' good, eroding into Golf and A3 sales, so they purposefully nerfed the new one a bit to make it sit as the more overtly budget option, like SEAT is meant to be. I still find the 184 FR TDI Leon of that era a genuinely desirable car after all these years!
Very VERY nice car that SEAT - in excellent condition! I own a 2023 Volvo V60, that I plan to keep for as long as I can; its a brilliant car (my third V60☺️), and I cant stand the latest cars.
I’m on my third VW and my second Touran 2.0tdi. I’ve always kept my cars for about 5 years or 150,000 miles, but the current one has been so good that I’ve still got it at 236,000 miles. It’s often still clocking up 7-800 miles each week at about 50mpg. It’s been mechanically perfect and I still enjoy driving it over long distances so see no reason to replace it. I service it myself every 9,000 miles with a DSG oil and filter change every 37,000 miles. It uses no oil between services and has easily been the cheapest car I’ve ever run.
What year is it?
The question should be "why do other people get rid of perfectly good cars within 5 years?" Modern cars even from 10-15 years ago are more reliable than ever, their interiors wear better than ever, and their tech means they don't really feel outdated. It's also far more eco-friendly to keep an older car running for as long as possible since the majority of resources used and emissions released come from its manufacture rather than from the tailpipe.
That's a good looking car , nice color, interior looks really nice , I like it
Great video Richard. At this time I would never be able to keep a car for that long. I get bored of them fast and than start looking for something else.
I know the feeling because that's how I used to be. For me it's much easier to hang onto a car I bought new for a long time whereas I'm much more likely to change used cars frequently.
All makes sense. I have a great spec 2016 F54 Clubman and I won't be changing any time soon due to the lastest car going backwards in many ways....like the touch controls you mentioned.
Looks like new. It's served you well!
Always great vids Rich! Keep up the good work.... some very well made points!
I've just ordered myself a 1 Series BMW and the only thing that was making me think twice was the climate control issue.... it's a real step backwards in usability imo.
I got a new three door SEAT Leon FR Sport in 2018. Loved that car! Much quicker than manufacturer recorded times and so economical I used to forget it needed petrol! Great fun to drive too!
Damn you're right about the SUV thing. I saw it with the A6 Avant E-Tron too. I was really excited for that car to come out, only for them to obviously increase the height and change the shape to make it more SUV-like. Even the Aygo is replaced by the Aygo-X. I get that people like SUVs and crossovers, but leave it to that. What's the point of selling a hatchback or estate if you're going to pretend it's an SUV anyway
I'm starting to thing that I'll be facing a similar dilemma at some point. I have a 2015 Golf with the 2.0 diesel and I genuinely don't see why I'd spend the money upgrading at this point as the only feature I think I'd use that I don't already have would be something like lane assist. £20 road tax and decent fuel economy for my mostly longer journeys isn't to be grumbled at and I have enough power to drive like a bit of a yobbo if I want to or take gaps in traffic if I need to which is pretty nice. I've only had minor wear and tear so far and the odd electrical gremlin which I think is fine considering the age of the car.
I think it's quite telling when I've been able visit friends who live in countries which don't tax older cars as highly as we do in the UK - 20+ year old cars are much more common and if you're after value then it seems like a toss up between newer budget options with rudimentary modern tech bells and whistles or older German stuff which quite frankly is still great to drive. It's confused me that my dad held onto an old Passat for so long but after getting a lift in it recently it still drives fine and my only gripe would be how the loud the engine is at motorway speeds as it only has 5 gears (his mechanic is encouraging him to run it into the ground at this point as apparently the newer ones aren't built as well and would be really pricey to upgrade to).
I know there's the conversation about emissions and that but it feels wasteful to me that we need to expend resources to build new cars when there are ones which still run fine and some of which don't pollute as much as others. I'd like an EV some day for that reason but until my generation can afford homes I'll be going with what is more cost effective sadly and what I have currently fits the bill in that regard.
I think personally I'd wait and see how this recession plays out before throwing down 38k on a car. Currently I drive a 440i which is a bit of a drinker but it's been reliable so far and just knowing it'll start when I turn it on and keep me safe on the road has kept me from looking at replacing it. That Leon seems to give you those same reassurances and it's a hard sell to replace something you feel you can trust to just work when you ask it to, especially when the upgrade isn't giving you much more. All the work you've done in maintenance, functional and aesthetic, has made it look and feel like a pleasant place to be.
Completely agree with the mk4 leon climate controls being absolutely horrible.
Had a mk4 cupra leon for a few weeks before I returned it due to substantial mechanical issues. "Downgraded" to a mk3 seat leon estate FR and I am not missing the cupra very much. The mk3 feels a bit more robust and more of a workhorse. The mk4 didn't feel like it was built to last, but my opinion is probably skewed due to the constant issues I had with it going into limp mode etc.
Also gotta mention the lighting controls on the mk4, absolutely horrible little buttons on the side rather than the rocker switch. Infotainment in general was horrible. Love that the mk3 has a dedicated button to turn off start stop, to select your driver profile etc... All that and the climate control was buried in menus upon menus upon menus.
Got the auto version of both of them as well. The rocker switch for the gear selection on the mk4 looks cool, but its a right pain.
After doing a fair few test drives over the last month or so and trying to find a car for me, I think the 2012-2020 era seems better than most of the new models that have came out after COVID.
Max torque at 1500 rpm. Better low down acceleration than a lot of diesel engines 😊
Old Richard on the Italian tune up. Well needed
lol
What a wonderful video and how well executed.
I would say you just had described my story but just used a different brand car.
Thanks a lot. Will be sharing with my friends
I'm using the FL version of an FR Mk.III Leon for food delivery in the Czech Republic. Bought her with 8 000 kilometres on the clock, no she is 140 000. Was a dream of mine to own an FR and even if I have to rebuild or to buy a new engine, she's is gonna stay with me for as long as possible.
I almost chocked when I thought you were sponsored by another OBD brand that's the biggest scam (carly) but obdeleven is really good and definitely recommended.
Depending on the model it might be possible to retrofit some of these features you are looking for.
Take audi for example any b9 platform can be upgraded to the b9.5 components including the mmi and instrument cluster.
Yes while some crazy upgrades such as the mmi+instrument cluster would set you back 10k due to the labour cost there are easier ones such as the matrix lights that cost 2.5k-3.5k including warranty to have done by a garage or less than a grand if you are looking for a DIY project.
Going on a forum dedicated to the car is worth gold if you are looking to keep any car for longer than 5 years.
Tbh im only just considering replacing my 2007 Volvo C30 for similar reasons. A newer car doesnt do much (that matters ro me at least) significantly better. The only reason I am looking to replace it is that its getting more and more costly to maintain. And I have spotted a car (actually a mazda 3 also) that I think would be a worthy replacement.
I had a 2019 Leon with the 1.5 engine. Was a creaking rattling slow dog of a car and costed me so much money. Bought a e90 330i and so much happier
Great video richard as a replacement I have a 2019 69 mazda 3 sky active x saloon, I love it and I'm a big fan of the tech fitted to it, why don't you look at a slightly used example. I got mine at 3 years old for 19k
Can top you there, my 2010 1.6TDI Octavia, bought 4 years ago, now 220000 miles, though just spent couple of grand upgrading timing belt, water pump, thermostat and housing ABS sensor and magnetic ring hub, alternator belt, EGR cooler and valve. Now, to get airbag warning light sorted, new control module apparently 750 euro from VW, 150 euro from local Motor factors, and 75 to 100 euro from scrap yard. Which option should I go for.
I’ve got a 2024 SEAT Ibiza Xcellence Lux 1.0 110TSI 5-door manual. Unlike the new Leon, the new Ibiza still has a separate Climate Control which I find very easy to use. Being the top spec model, it has a reversing camera, front+rear sensors, adaptive cruise control, etc. Even with the 1 litre, it still has plenty of power. Comparing your 2014 Leon to my 2024 Ibiza, the looks, especially externally, are very similar.
The climate controls in the new model are voice active, you tell the system you're cold or hot and it'll sense whose in the car and it adjusts the temperatures. It also turn off through voice commands.
You've replaced so much it's like Trigger's broom!
I’m a fellow ADI and I’m in the same boat as you. I kept my old Fiesta learner car (2014 diesel) when I brought my last car (2017 Fiesta diesel) I use both of them to spread the miles so hopefully I can prolong the need to change as there nothing that’s really taken my fancy. I drove the Mazda 2 after watching your review but I found the 90bhp MHEV underpowered. I drove a Suzuki sport and liked that but the bucket seats I imagine wouldn’t be comfortable to sit in all day. I’m going to test drive the new Swift over Christmas see what that’s like as Suzuki do good deals for ADI’s
Similar situation with me and my 2010 Scirocco 2.0 TDI. on 180,000 miles and I didn't plan to sell it. Only reason why I'm considering it now is because theres a water ingress issue I cannot figure out where it's coming from and I frequently drive through clean air zones, making it very expensive to run. Other than that it starts up and drives first time every-time and never let me down.
I've had 2 Leons, still do, ones a 14 plate (@141k) the other is the face lift 17 plate(@65k). The 17 plate is quite a lot nicer to be in than the 14 plate, especially the much bigger and faster screen with apple car play, they are both the 1.4TSI, the common thing that went was the water pump, easy and cheap repair though. I would suggest the 17 plate over the 14 because of the headlights, they are much much brighter, also they look nicer, the rear ones too. These engines are super reliable, had the walnut blast too, made it much smoother.
Hell yeah Richard
I got my VW Polo about 3 years. It had about 112,000 miles on it. Today it reached 120,000 miles, and my only real complaint is that the radio is almost too fiddly to use while driving. I love everything else about it. It's from 2004, so it's in that "sweet spot" (in my opinion) between modern cars with iPads for infotainment systems, and older cars where you're lucky if the heater works.
For young people it's probably a very old car, for older and me it almost brand new :D
I have the new shape Leon and find the climate controls more of a 'set and forget' function. Currently in winter I have my climate controls set to 20c on the least aggressive auto setting (3 levels of auto to pick from) with AC on and very rarely need to touch it. When I do touch it in winter to help de-mist the windscreen, I press the shortcut button by my right knee (weirdly by the headlight buttons?!?). I do prefer the physical buttons, but it really isn't as much of a problem as some reviewers make out.
Own the same car, only 2.0 d, with 184 hp, and satisfyingly quick. Think it has independent rear suspension. Still love it. Not ulez free though
Ps can be very economical , 58mpg
You are spot on, the 184bhp diesel and the 180bhp petrol all have independent rear suspension. Any late 2015 184bhp diesel is also a euro 6 engine so ulez compliant.
Apart from very big technical problems, like major rust problems or a completely blown engine i would not switch from a good working Golf 7 based car to any modern vehicle in its class either. there is simply nothing that warrants this decision. the leon is fun to drive, has basically the same performance and fuel economy as the newer 1.5 TSI and is young enough to allow for everyday features like android auto etc. - keep it. i´d recon a reasonable switching point could be 3-5 years from now with a solid state battery equipped fun to drive compact electric car with decent range and charging times. that would be a real successor if the overall cost of ownership is right.
What is the oil consumption like? Engine still healthy? Still original turbo? It's impressive how long some components have lasted based on the hours the car has done.
Keep an eye out for any corrosion and stop it before it becomes an issue, stone chips etc. Have you undersealed it in its life? Or just kept it clean.?
30:08 Rust protection undercoating?
Bilt Hamber Dynax UB works and works well.
noice vid as always🔥
IMHO you should invest in a rust treatment and protection of this car now. Modern cars are plagued with inconvenient touch controls, distracting driver assistance/warnings that have to be turned off every drive, and higher maintenance costs associated with their greater complexity. You have found a functional, practical car for your profession that has proven its reliability, you should be keeping that going as long as economically feasible!
excellent - thanks
Can you do us a video on the differences between driving economy cars vs performance cars? I was shocked at how different they are in terms of gear selection and general handling!
The Leon 5F was probably the best looking one they made. You can tell that the Ibiza 6F was modelled after it. The new Leons look like they have a long but squished nose.
You can reset service and inspection by holding down 0.0 (odo reset) while turning to accessory on all 2013 onwards VAG. Service and inspection need to be reset separately a bit annoying. My 2016 Octavia 1.4 EA211, 0 issues, only oil and belt replacement.
With long life plan I found I had to reset it via OBD2
@RichardFanders In Australia we don't use Long life, i however disable stop start with OBD, don't know if you guys can we have no MOT only when selling a car one is needed. And no emissions.
The price for new cars is so high these days. Keep your car. Keeping mine.
I went for a 1.0 tsi fabia (new car) but I intend to keep it
I've got the 2022 seat leon estate version, hopefully I'll have stress free driving until the wheels fall off....
Great vid you should look into the seat leon fr sport variant you would have to buy used (2020) and it would it sadly have an electric hand brake but it has DCC and some even have stuff like sun roofs,camera heated seat ect..
Great video Richard. Been watching your videos for more than a year on your other channel. Helped me a lot when learning to drive - on my 2nd car now which is funnily enough the same Leon Fr but as the 5 door….. was wondering how did you manage to get CarPlay running on it? Is it a retrofit system or was it an sd card update? Was thinking of getting CarPlay sorted on mine.
Thanks for watching. It's a retrofit unit from a 2020 car.
I specifically avoided the Golf and Leon because of too many haptic controls in the interior. I wonder how many other people have done the same.
I wish you did car reviews. You actually talk about the things that matter rather than "soft touch plastics" on things you don't touch!
he has some reviews on this channel
Did anyone else notice the Roland Rat steering wheel? Once seen you can't unsee it.
Also, on the point about is it worth the upgrade for 3 things you would like, you also have to consider all the things you will hate, which could offset the likes.
Hello Richard, one question which I did not find in your video about Leon is; did you ever change your manual transmission oil in all these years and miles? Thanks in advance!
Oh yes, very important. Pretty sure I mention it in this video: th-cam.com/video/xciHvUxulqQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=KBhU_RWqbbM4qP4G
@@RichardFanders Thank you for the reply, my mk7 Golf is almost 11 years old with only 80k km on the clock, next oil change I'll also change the tranmission oil. Cheers!
Purely based on the title (so far), I have a car of similar vintage and I can't justify the cost of buying a new motor. The only tangible upgrades would be the stereo and heated seats; which certainly isn't worth the price!
The move away from tactile controls to a touchscreen interface is certainly a drawback on newer machines... Not to mention the fact that with a Hayne's manual, servicing/repairs is a doddle. I think I'll drive this car until it truly gives in!
Id like to see what power it’s marking now, you find some times that millage frees up the engine a bit and starts producing more power.
I feel it's about the same. I had the valves cleaned again a few months ago.
Biggest bummer now, starting to spot laquer peel on the paint. EEEK
As a car trader and former apprentice driving instructor I can say buying the newer generation VAG group car would never in a million years be worth the money as indeed the upgrades are negligible. My partners MK8 Golf has the sliders and touch screen. It's hateful , the steering wheel failed and was replaced, as was the central screen. Now the gearstick module is needing replacement.
Ive had the 150 1.4ACT version ofthis car for 10 years and 80,000 miles. The only issue i have is a hesitation about 4 to 6krpm on wide open throttle. Any idea if the walnut blasting may help?l with that or what you would log on odb11?
Hi man! I was wondering what is your opinion on the Hyundai i30? Would you give it a shot? It also offers hybrid options
I've not tried the latest version so I don't have an opinion. But if I was looking for a new car I would certainly look at one.
The question is why not? i own 2016 BMW and I added after market Android auto I don't feel I need anything more. I like the car, it's reliable (yes, reliable BMW with stage 2) and I don't wish to replace it. I did bought another pure fun car (an older cayman) but I still don't think about selling my BMW.
My Leon Cupra is a weapon. Smokes most cars with less than 370bhp and handles like it's on rails. Full leather interior and panoramic roof. Sadly it's lost about 8grand in value since i have owned it and i go through £50 a night if im rallying 😂
You won’t get reliability like that from a new car now, I have a focus that is now 3 years old and 50k miles. it’s had a maf sensor a rocker box gasket and a Nox sensor which was on back order which put the car off the road for almost 6 weeks!
Because of all this stupid technology they put in new cars. Old Toyotas are the best when it comes to reliability, especially their 2.4L and 3.0L engines. Pretty much bullet proof!
Not to mention if yours is a Ford Ecoboom / Citroen PSA then your wet belts due to destroy the engine after 50k miles
@@Cyberpsych0_ mines a 1.5 diesel but they just as bad, especially the emissions systems like adblue
I've found the car sweet spot is 2006 to 2014 give or take by maker.
You look after your cars does help
The climate control system in your Leon doesn't look tooo different from my 24 plate Ibiza, which I agree is far more intuitive than the silly touch system on the New Leon.
I was also not a fan of an electric handbrake on that, whilst the Ibizia has a standard manual handbrake.
It's also tempting to get that fancy OBD2 device to turn off the beeping you described in the AD as well as stop start, perhaps.
Have you ever considered switching petrol car to the diesel one?
Also newer petrol cars are equipped with GPF or OPF filters
But they don't commonly get blocked or go wrong like dpfs because petrol doesnt have as much soot as diesels and they run hotter/warm up faster than diesel so its always passively regenerating
@@sbrader97the petrol filters might not cause issues now, even tho manufacturers mostly guarantee their functionality for the lifetime of the car…the real issue is slightly decreased responsiveness and worse mpg in comparison with same engine without the filter 👍
You need a new learners car with touchscreens everywhere and no physical controls besides the gear shifter. It's the future. You need to prepare the learners by teaching them how to (safely) take their eyes off the road to dig through submenus to adjust the the HVAC or defrost settings.
how is taking your eyes off the road 'safe' to fiddle around with a fucking ipad?
"You're joking right, tell me you're joking"- Mike Wazowski
new car safety features drive me mad like lane keep departure and speed sign recognition.
I have a Hungarian 100 Forint coin for Lidl. It's cheaper than yours .. about 22 pence at today's exchange rate ... Whoops ! .... I've just checked .... a minute fraction over 20 pence now .... but works just as well at Lidl.
Poor gearbox, I send my sympathies.
Amazing that its survived 300,000 km of learner driving without having crashed 🤭
3:10 would be great if my car would auto demist, bloody annoying having to wait for it to demist early in the morning before setting off to work 😃
I don’t think you once mentioned the turbo in the whole video? Surely that’s been replaced in that 214k miles?
original turbo