Craig and his modified Seat Leon FR Mk2…
As well as owning his Seat Leon for a few years, Craig has also been one of our customers for 4 years now. But guess what? He's had a passion for cars for a lot longer than that.
When Craig was younger he used to go along to car shows with his dad, and they would both admire the cars they would like to own one day. He credits these memories with helping him to develop the appreciation he has for cars now.
The first car Craig owned was a Renault Clio 1.2 RL Oasis. Things are a little different now however, with him owning a Seat Leon FR (Mk2), giving out 280bhp, with a 2.0 litre FSI engine.
Seat Leon FR
Craig's car originally started out with the standard 200bhp. However, Craig decided he wanted to 'up the ante' a little, and add some more power to the car. Whilst doing this, he decided to add other modifications to the car such as mirror covers and a grill. Let's look at the list of modifications that his Seat Leon FR has undergone so far:
- Revo Stage 2 + Software
- Revo High Flow Air Intake
- Milltek Exhaust System
- Forge BOV
- Forge PCV Delete Kit
- H&R 40MM Lower Springs
- SuperPro AntiLift Kit
- Upgraded G Hook Discs
- EBC Yellow Stuff Brake Pads
- Genuine BTCC Cupra K1 Spoiler (Glossy Black)
- Glossy Black Mirror Cover, Front Grill & Rear Diffuser
- TRC Front Splitter
It was at this point, that we decided to ask Craig some questions...
What garages do you use?
After looking at the list of modifications the car has gone through, we asked Craig where he gets the work done on his car...
I have used a number of companies over the years. Locally, I have become very friendly with 'Court Garage Nantymoel' (Paul Alderson is the owner). He shares my passion for cars, and always understands that I like all the work on my car to be carried out to the highest standard. He also understands that I only want to use the best parts available.
I have used other garages for Remapping / Revo Software however. These garages include 'Indigo GT'. A guy called Anthony owns this company and he is by far one of the best at what he does.
'LVS Racing' have been extremely helpful to me in the past when I have had questions. I bumped into these guys at 'GTI International' when they installed my 'Revo High-Flow Air Intake System' at the show. Whilst there, they commented on how well my Revo Map was done by Anthony at Indigo GT. This made me feel great, and I knew at that point more than ever, that my car was in safe hands.
What advice do you have for modifying a car?
Craig seemed to understand the importance of research, when it comes to choosing the right garage to perform modification work on your car. This lead us on to our next question, whereby we asked Craig what advice he would give to someone wanting to modify a car for the first time. His response:
Do your research. So many younger guys and girls have asked me advice over the years, and I like to provide them with all of the information possible. Sadly, more often than not, I notice a lot of them trying to cut corners. Doing this only results in the car costing them a lot more money down the line. At the end of the day, you pay for what you get most of the time in this world, so don't cut corners with cheap parts or badly made items. It's important to do your homework before installing anything on your car, or before letting someone else do it. There are endless amounts of information online these days, so nothings too hard to find some information on (compared to the older days).
If money was no option, what car would you buy?
After hearing how someone has such a passion for cars, and always has done, you can't not ask the question...
If money was no option, I would buy a Nissan Skyline R34 GTR V Spec II. I have always wanted this particular car - it has always been my dream. There are others in the range that I want, but this was always the first car that truly caught my attention. Having 'endless money' and buying the 'best car' on the market isn't something that interests me, like it does others. Buying a car that can be made into a 'monster' however, is something else. The Nissan Skyline GTR has always provided the real 'shock factor' for performance, creating jaw-dropping power figures, and its legacy - a car that will never be forgotten amongst the car enthusiast community. Still, I love my Seat Leon.
We would like to say a huge thanks to Craig for taking the time to talk with us about his beloved Seat Leon FR, and how his passion for the world of cars has developed and blossomed into the knowledge and appreciation he has for them today.
Craig's car is insured via our Modified Car Insurance scheme.
Further information: Modified Car Insurance | Performance Car Insurance | Track Day Insurance
You can see more of more pictures of Craig's car here: Safely Insured Instagram | Craig's Instagram