2002 Seat Leon S 1.4 16v from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Excellent engine, excellent handling, build quality??
Faults:
Sometimes jumps out of reverse gear.
Clutch sometimes sticks and unable to engage a gear, this is rectified by lifting and re depressing the clutch.
Oil pump failed at 57,000 miles, This has caused wear on the cam shaft and valves, which are currently been replaced.
General Comments:
The handling of the car is superb, it sticks to the road well and enjoys cornering at speed.
The engine, despite only having 80bhp, is playful and has the performance of a bigger engine. It revs well and has vast amounts of power from about 3,000rpm. Sometimes needs downshifting or coaxing in 5th at 45mph, which is about 1,500rpm, but when it gets into the stride of the power band, it seems to keep to want going.
We currently own a 2008 Corsa SXi, and my little Seat will easily keep up and can even out corner and brake its bigger 1.6 cousin. =)
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th October, 2009
27th Oct 2009, 05:08
I test drove a 2001 Punto 1.4, 2003 Corsa 1.6, Ibiza 1.4 and a Astra 1.4 at the same time as testing this car. I preferred the handling and the performance of the car.
Yes it's a 1.4, which obviously won't have the final performance of a 1.6. It's not just the engine, it's the driver as well. Anyone can drive a car fast, but not everyone has skill.
The oil pump, cam shafts, rocker heads & tappiters were replaced in a Seat dealer, FREE of charge because it was a manufacturing fault.
21st Oct 2009, 03:17
I really doubt your experience with cars...
The 1.4 16v engine is really weak, and the car is severely underpowered. It does 0-100 km/h in 14 seconds! This is no sports car performance, plus the fact that the oil pump broke under 100 000 km is unacceptable.
I know you love your car, but please test drive other cars... you will be surprised.