bit the bullet

[perelaar]

and ordered a new daily driver car yesterday, to replace our current Seat Leon 1.9.

New one will be... wait for it... another Seat Leon . As we spend at least 2h per day in that car and as I was able to get a very nice discount through work we decided to treat ourselves to a bit more luxury.
So the new one will be a ST in FR spec, 2.0 TDI, navigation, leather seats, LED lights. Lots of electronic gubbins, but none of these so-called driving aids: radar controlled cruise control, automatic braking, etc. And the missus insisted on a manual gearbox - she likes driving too much to trust an automatic
The new one has the same weight as the current Leon, but will have more space inside and crucially, 150bhp instead of 105. Anything to keep Mrs perelaar happy!

Delivery somewhere middle November, early December.

[harlowmaverick]

Sounds really nice, I hope you enjoy it
Phil

[perelaar]

I do think we will - even though I really enjoy driving the old T2 as well

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by perelaar

And the missus insisted on a manual gearbox - she likes driving too much to trust an automatic.
.

The Seat Leon gets a lot of good press so it must be a pretty good machine.

Have to take issue with your comment about liking driving too much to trust an automatic.

In my experience clutch failures are far more common than torque convertor failures and auto boxes more reliable than manual ones as they are harder to mistreat. I assume that the Seat Auto would be the dual clutch variant as per VW & Audi and it is a very good box.

When I take out customer loan cars many drivers of manual cars are wary of automatics but rarely the opposite way round.

Modern automatics are often more economical than the manual variants e.g. 8 speed not being uncommon plus with modern automatics you also get the manual option. Yes it is down to personal choice and also what you drove in your formative years. The concept of autos being for lazy drivers is just tosh - before anyone brings that up.

I learnt to drive in an automatic Vauxhall Cresta Powerglide - 2 speed box! Took my test in a manual Vauxhall 101 Victor. Then went on to drive a range of autos from the horrible Borg Warner Mini, Cresta Hydramatic, an Opel Rekord Coupe with the famous GM Strasbourgh box that was licenced to R.R.

I do drive the odd manual gearbox at work but I personally will always prefer autos.

[jims-terrano]

Nice, of course we'll need the photos when you've got it

After driving my Skoda for a few months and a polo before that I rate VAG cars very highly.

[don simon]

Seat are nice motors. I hired an Altea 1.9 Td a few years ago and it flew.
There was an unfortunately named SEAT dealer in Madrid called Flick whose publicity stickers were all written in capitals... Oops!

[perelaar]

What I wanted to say, she does not like the car to decide for her when to shift - I'm sold on automatic, had a double-clutch Jetta once as a company car

[walshie]

What are the emissions like??

(assuming its a vw engine, otherwise please disregard comment)

[johnb5177]

Always fancied a Leon, I like the specs, performance and styling, and current emissions debacle aside, like VAG products......