A NEW car is always a treat – squeaky clean, that smell, everything feeling tight and unused.
And let’s assume that you’re terribly successful so of course your new business car is better than the last one anyway.
But after a few thousand miles the novelty wears off. Bit of a mess on the back seat, not quite so spotless, that smell…it’s when you start to find out what it’s really like to live with your business car day to day.
A few Leon thoughts
- Company car tax – £46 per month for a basic rate tax payer
- Official mpg – 74.3mpg
- Our average mpg – 52.3mpg over 3000 miles
- Our best mpg – 64mpg on a 400 mile round trip
- Best feature – the way it does corners
- Worst feature – the CD player’s in the glove box!
That’s where I am with the SEAT Leon. What’s it like after 8000 miles or so?
Our Leon is the 105PS 1.6 diesel SE. It’s not one of the quicker variants (read our car review of three of the newly released SEAT Leon SC coupes if it’s speed you’re after) but for the sort of constant daily use it gets that’s probably just as well.
Because whatever it says in the stats, it’s the sort of car that always feels quick to drive, and, frankly, makes you want to go faster. Let’s not over-analyse the reasons; the upshot is that it’s always a pleasure to drive – and when you have to spend as much time in your car as I do, that’s important, otherwise a big part of your working life can start to feel too much like a chore.
Build quality is another part of that. No rattles, and everything is pleasing to the touch, and for the most part, to use…
Which brings us to the Leon’s irritations (all cars have their fare share).
