A couple of concerns before purchasing Ateca

[jon25]

Hi,

I'm almost ready to purchase a '23 Ateca Xperience with about 10k miles on the clock but noticed a few things that make me a bit anxious:

1. On the passenger side, the sill (or whatever it's called) on the lower part of the doors seems to be misaligned with the door closed. See attached screenshot. Is this a reason for concern? Can it be fixed somehow?

2. Is it just me, or does the gap between the headlight and the bonnet on the left side of the attached 2nd pic seem a bit wider than on the right side of the pic??

3. I was told this car hasn't been used in the past months and has been parked on the car dealership's outdoor parking lot. When I opened the bonnet, I noticed white residue on the aluminum part of the engine. I was told it's due to humidity/dew etc. and that all cars that stand out in the open develop similar residue due and that it's normal. It's probably aluminium oxide, it seems. But is this another reason for concern or does it just need to be wiped clean and that's all?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[ian_106]

 

[ian_106]

I would pass myself for a car this new.

 

[Tell]

Feels like one of those ones that get rejected in the final stage at the dealer which then turn up in car warehouses. 1. Seems concerning.

My rear door isn't totally aligned but I think that could be re hung but I'm not totally bothered by that. Something different to 1. 2016 early production model. Whether that fits into re hanging category pass. You could point out the issue.

Some of these things escape final checks in the factory / let them pass through then get rejected if they are that bad or offered at a lower price. Some find themselves in car warehouses. When buying a Punto years ago the warehouse had two, one with a ding on the bonnet and one with a cracked badge. Pre registered. Those had come off worse on a transporter and had got shipped out for discount sale. Useful discount if happy with the blemish. Wasn't me who was buying it.

 

[Axel1]

Id pass on that car personally. The misaligned bonnet and sill are both on the same side, which raises suspicion of accident damage on that side, coupled with the fact that there is “white residue“. I may be wrong, but such residue is typically polishing dust, created when the the car paint work is cut and polished, typically after it’s been repainted following accident damage.

All the signs suggest to me that this car has been repaired. Not uncommon, but there’s plenty about that haven’t been.

 

[jon25]

I checked with this car dealership today (they are a certified dealership and repair service for VAG cars) and was told that the misaligned bonnet should probably be easily fixable/aligned and will look into it tomorrow. I'm waiting for them to send me the pics after aligning it and will probably decide then, depending on how they fixed it. What do you think?

By the way, they told me that this car had been damaged slightly before, but on the driver's side, not the passenger side where I saw the misalignment.