A very angry LCR owner...

[Cupraloon]

So a sort of a result then Mike,

I don't know how easy you are to please, but with that kind of lacklustre customer care, I would be still fumming...

Perhaps it still might be worth writing a snotty leter to SEAT HQ's MD, and see what sort of responce you get, also if the car has some warranty speak with another SEAT Stealer.

I've not had a service there, but the if the service I've had from the parts dept is anythingto go by Sidlow SEAT in Horley are worth a try, they've always been very, very obligeing, no i'm not getting commission tel: 01293 820110

It's when i hear tales like these that i remember why i don't travel hundreds of miles to look at cars any more, glad to hear you had a bit of a result, if not entirly the one you hoped for..

 

[skahigh]

sounds like a bit of a result mike, well done.

i wouldnt worry too much about the pulling to the left, quite simply its just something lcrs do. there are guys on here that have been trying for years to cure it and failed.

 

[UncleFester]

Or the fact it's running on tyres with different tread depths at the back .....

 

[Mike Green]

Cheers Cupraloon and Skahigh

It was a bit of a result as you say, but not great. TBH i was glad they had some tyres in stock and changed the front 2, as they were the worst ones and needed changing asap. I will change the back 2 in the coming months if that other pesky one lasts, but need to wait on some pay packets first.

Thanks for the tip loon on Sidlow. I actually went to buy a LCR from them many months ago and for one reason or another had to pull out and they were very understanding. Will consider them, although SCN seem to rate Portsmouth Kings which would be a bit closer than Gatwick (although not a lot in it).

I don't intend to head back to my car dealer unless I have a major problem. Going to live with the left pull for now, as got no funds to investigate this and as you say there is a common prob with this so not going to worry for now, unless it starts to get worse....

 

[Mike Green]

Or the fact it's running on tyres with different tread depths at the back .....

Ah! left back tyre tread of 2mm, right back 3mm (looking from the back). Do you think this could make that much difference?

 

[Deleted member 7729]

I have to say I would of left them the car if they wouldn't agree to the tyres. Rememeber they cost £500 to you and I, not the car dealerships

 

[UncleFester]

Ah! left back tyre tread of 2mm, right back 3mm (looking from the back). Do you think this could make that much difference?

It's definitely not going to help.

 

[D4N BK]

Mine pulls to the left aswell, (4 brand new Pirellis) first thing i noticed when driving away from the dealers, just thought the front left tyre was a bit flat so went to an air pump when i got home to find all trye pressures were correct.
Looked on these forums and found it was a common problem with these 'standard' tyres.

Ill live with it

 

[Mike Green]

Mine pulls to the left aswell, (4 brand new Pirellis) first thing i noticed when driving away from the dealers, just thought the front left tyre was a bit flat so went to an air pump when i got home to find all trye pressures were correct.
Looked on these forums and found it was a common problem with these 'standard' tyres.

Ill live with it

Same here. As long as it does not get any worse.

 

[Mike Green]

I have to say I would of left them the car if they wouldn't agree to the tyres. Rememeber they cost £500 to you and I, not the car dealerships

I was fully prepared to do that, but we reached the minimum I wanted so did not kick up a fuss. To get home would have been tricky as well, so all things considered I cut and ran. As usual, lesson learned the hard way, but will never make this same mistake again.

Good point - if I had paid them £200, that would have covered the cost for all tyres for the dealership!! even more glad I did not agree to it now.

 

[jamesy]

So a sort of a result then Mike,

I don't know how easy you are to please, but with that kind of lacklustre customer care, I would be still fumming...

Perhaps it still might be worth writing a snotty leter to SEAT HQ's MD, and see what sort of responce you get, also if the car has some warranty speak with another SEAT Stealer.

I've not had a service there, but the if the service I've had from the parts dept is anythingto go by Sidlow SEAT in Horley are worth a try, they've always been very, very obligeing, no i'm not getting commission tel: 01293 820110

It's when i hear tales like these that i remember why i don't travel hundreds of miles to look at cars any more, glad to hear you had a bit of a result, if not entirly the one you hoped for..

i brought my car from sidlow seat and was told all Seat used cars must have MINIMUM 3MM tread on all four tyres! might be worth looking into this if i were you

 

[jonjay]

I would right a strong letter to SEAT UK and see what they say. I would also ring another Seat dealer and explain the problems you had and see what they say about it...Another thing to note by them agreeing to replace the front two tyres they are basically accepting responsibilty therefore should have replaced all the tyres.

As for pulling to the left? Tyres properly fitted and balanced?

 

[D4N BK]

i brought my car from sidlow seat and was told all Seat used cars must have MINIMUM 3MM tread on all four tyres! might be worth looking into this if i were you

I was told the same as this, as when i first started looking at LCR's they didnt have any to show me at my local dealers, and said i would have to be very certain of what i wanted before they arranged for a car to be brought to their branch as i would have to actually agree to buy this said car and pay for it to be transported to their branch (add a small amount to the monthly repayments). And i asked about the tyre tread and scratches as this is something i would always check when buying a car, and the Salesman said the same as above, they are sold to a SEAT standard of a minimum of 3mm tread all round and checked by a bodywork specialist.

I would go back and demand the others done, as someone mentioned they are not cheap.

And incase one tyre does get low on tread and you are stuck for funds to buy a replacement tyre straight away then it might be worth putting your spare wheel on? as the LCR have full size alloy spares (mine has a brand new tyre on )

 

[chughes163]

hi guys - i used to work for vw in sales and have worked for 2 other main dealers for other companies too. Their approved schemes used to be the tyres had to have a minimum of 3mm on each tyre - if it was under this, they would replace them....that was compulsary everywhere.

Having looked on Seats website they go on about their 120 multi-point inspection etc. it might be worth contacting seat and asking them what their policy is on tyres? that way you have manufacturer proof. What people often forget is although its a main dealer, these places are still only franchises with Seats name above the door - if they can get out of something, they will often give it a go!

They should have the inspection sheet of when the car was checked - sometimes this is supposed to be done by the RAC or the AA - so if they havent done the check to manufacturer standards, you could get them in even more hot water!

In your shoes, I would definitely write a letter to Seat UK - but first I would write formally to the dealership in question stating that you plan to do this. That way you are giving them the opportunity to do something about it first....in my mind, there is no way a dealer can try and claim that the tyres are your fault after just 400 miles use. I am also amazed they made you drive back there! - surely the more logical route would have been to send you to your local qwik fit and get them to carry out an independent inspection?

In summary then, write a stinking letter to dealership...then SEAT! I would also try and claim for your lost time and expenses going there - at the end of the day, they have acknowledged it was their error in part...so you should be able to get something!

 

[chughes163]

I would say as well that you are an influential member of seatcupra.net to the dealership - if they think your story will go on the web with their name against it, you might get more of a result

 

[Mike Green]

Vary good points chughes - cheers for your views. I have actually written an email to Seat complaining so am waiting to see what they say.

I was annoyed taking the car up, but they had to change over a number plate as well. They said the only way they would investigate my claim with the tyres is if they could check the tyres at their garage - under no circumstance would they take the word of another garage - so my hands were tied really - drive all the way there or replace the tyres myself.

They did not actually say the wear on the tyres was my fault - they said they were low but would pass an MOT, are legal and thats all they have to give with the car so they do not have to do anything about the tyres!!! I argued about the 3mm but he really did not seem to care - but then if he was right in saying he does not have to do anything as they are legal, why would he replace the front 2? Again this has been noted in the email to Seat to hear their views. I will let you all know what the outcome is, and if not satisfactory they will be named and shamed without a doubt so people can be aware of this place!!

 

[chughes163]

Yea, the thing is coming from a dealers point of view, i can understand the pressures on sales managers etc. for making money and how competitive the market is - the internet has played a massive part in that.

But....they still have to acknowledge the reason you bought it from a dealer - for peace of mind. Ultimately, you pay a premium over buying from auction or privately for that very reason.

As a consequence, its not upto you to worry about his margins - its his issue...and if the car isnt upto Seat standards...hes paid too much for the car.

It should not be you who has to proove the tyre tred depths. He should give you a report showing the inspection which has taken place and the tyre depths at that point. Also, i cant understand their logic making you go down there - they should have paid for an independent body to check them out - like the AA, RAC or even another Seat dealer.

I think the entire thing stinks and you should definitely get somewhere with it. Best of luck

 

[Mike Green]

I hear what you are saying and totally agree with you. TBh that will teach me for not sorting this out before I agreed to buy the car, but you can't remember everything.

They actually said they inspected the car when I called them about this before they released the car for sale and the tyre tread was not highlighted as being low, so they agreed to a second evaluation of the car at their garage only.

It is all a bag of shite and I know they are in the worng. Will have to see what SEAT has to say. They even replaced the Eagle F1's with standard Pirelli Pzeros which I was not over the moon with, but then there was no way I was going to go on another 200 mile round trip and another day wasted to go back.

 

[matt-drummer]

I think I read somewhere that all consumables on a car sold through the trade must be capable of lasting at least three months from the date of sale. I also believe that any car sold through the trade to the public is automatically warranted for three months against major faults and failures. This was my understanding a few years ago and the law may have changed but I would only expect that it is even more in favour of the consumer.

The conclusion from that is that you would expect three months of normal wear from the tyres of a car supplied to a member of the public through the trade, 2,500 to 3,000 miles before replacement is required using average mileages.

On the other hand, if one of the rear tyres still has 3mm of tread and one 2mm (possibly 3mm at the time of sale), then they would have passed the '3mm minimum tread ' being talked of.

I prefer my first argument, three months/3,000 miles of life in tyres!

 

[UncleFester]

Hmm i got just over 3000 miles from a brand new set of tyres on my LC Tdi , so the 3k argument for the LCR may well not be a valid one.