Leon Cupra TDI 54 plate 120k miles. What to look for and should i buy?

[Joni]

Theres a red Cupra tdi for sale with 120k on the clock and full seat history. It needs a major service but the deal could be done for £4,500 and i'd do the service myself for peace of mind.

So.... what do i need to check other than the clutch, rear washer, aircon and spare wheel which i gather can be problems.

How many miles are these engines likely to be able to do without any major problems and regular servicing?

Should i wait for a lower mileage cupra and spend a little bit more?

 

[smithygcupra]

firstly are you looking specifically for a derv??.... if not you could get say an 01-02 LC
(180) with say 70-80k for less than that... just look on the bay...

IMO £4500 is alot to spend on a car with 120k...put it this way... if you have it... cuz it could well be a lovely car and well looked after... in say 2 years time it couldve done 150K?? and you wont be able to sell it then really or for very little..... diesel engine parts are generally more expensive than petrol because the parts have to be made to be alot stronger to cope with the torque, high pressure fuelling etc....

i would imagine you could get a car with less mileage for a similar price.... have a shop around before you buy... cuz u can guarantee the week after you buy yours, you will come across one with less mileage, your perfect colour and for cheaper....lol sods law...

 

[MrJohnnyB]

Has it had a new cambelt at or around 80k? Has it got a full service history? Is it an FR+. Price doesnt seem that terrible these engines are good for 200k fairly comfortably. Is it standard?

 

[Joni]

Cheers for comments so far.
It has full seat history but major is service is due (was last done at 60k).
I'm told its a CUPRA and advertised as such and is standard to the best of my knowledge.

Definitely has to be diesel that i go for. I do around 20k+ a year. So lets say in three/four years time i'd sell it with 180/200k on the clock for £1000-£1200??? So costs me around £1200 a year depreciation?

Would prefer a black or silver car really. Will shop around as well but it does seem very cheap compared to whats around. Its being sold by a non SEAT dealer. They've knocked £1000 off the price recently. Is there more to go?

Tyres have about 4-5mm of tread all round. Are they expensive on the cupra rims (which don't look to be the biggest ones you can get - i may be wrong).

 

[MrJohnnyB]

I know nothing of diesels but major services are supposed to be carried out every other service, if you're referring to spark plugs/leads being changed... I'd be worried if it's only had an oil and filter change every service since 60k. I'd also find out about the cam belt...

 

[SHADY-NINJA]

If its of any consolation, you are getting a good deal here.
the only thing to do is to find out if the service has been maintained
accordingly.
diesels will generally outlast petrols any day.
the only trade-off is the tractor noise which in my own opinion
is not that much.

 

[oldman]

usual other things:
smoke
wet footwells all round
if diesel, then cambelt & water pump are due about now as many many many threads suggest every 60k
hpi
brake fluid change is supposed to be every 2yrs

do a search on the 6million threads that generally ask same
also look in the tdi section as well

 

[MrJohnnyB]

I assume thats what the OP means by the comment full service, so thats' another 500 quid to set aside for a cam belt and major service....

 

[smithygcupra]

if its been well looked after then it could last well over 200k.... have a good haggle with them and see how much u can get off it.....play on the mileage and the fact that it is overdue a 'major' service.... try and find some little things such as small dents or scratches or wateva.....if you could get t for £4k or under id snap it up... shouldnt be too get the price down

 

[Joni]

Sorry i'm referring to the cambelt change service as the 'major service' which i'd quite like to do myself anyway so that i can change every roller, waterpump etc - so i know that its right!
As for the cost of doing this i'd expect the parts to be up to £200 - does this seem reasonable?
I have had a good search but couldn't find an obvious 'what to look for when buying a leon cupra tdi' thread hence this post. Perhaps a sticky would be worthwhile?
AFAIK the dealer confimred that ALL services have been carried out and performed by SEAT - will check myself though.

 

[MrJohnnyB]

if you are doing all the work yourself then i would say yeah its not a bad deal really, im sure u could get a few quid off/free tax or whatever though. About 150 ->200 is probably about what you're looking at...

 

[Joni]

I didn’t go and see it in the end. Had no time on Fri or Sat and was a bit put off by the mileage at 120k and the fact that I’m going to get peanuts when I sell my own car. I was also hoping to get the car chipped but didn’t realise that cupras would have clutch slippage problems unless you fit an upgrade.

I’m still looking though and would prefer to find something below 100k. If anyone has one for sale in the South West at a reasonable price then I may be interested. Thanks for all the info so far.

 

[SHADY-NINJA]

in my own opinion i think you are asking for too much.
you want a special edition diesel for cheap money but without the trade
offs.
there is always going to be a trade off when you are looking to pay
£4500 for a 54 plate TDI 150.
i would really be honest with you.
if you dont want the trade offs then....,

1). go and pay £7800 to the main dealers
2). go to the salvage like one of my mate didby and got a flood damaged repaired on for £4200 (See below).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&item=330282909194

 

[SHADY-NINJA]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&item=330282909194

my mate just bought this car as a cat D insurance write off and drove it straight off the salvage yard.
phoned the SEAT dealer up the next day (who supplied him the radio code) to find out that it had full SEAT service history, only one owner, and please remember that this is a TDI 150 FR+ on an 05 plate.
the only trade off is that the car is a cat D insurance write off.
at this price, who cares.
in my opinion i will go the salvge route, (if you are tight on budjet) because these are cars whose owners never wanted to part with in the first place hence there is little or nothing to hide. WHAT U SEE IS WHAT U GET.

 

[Joni]

Perhaps i am asking too much but you have to remember it is a buyers market. So maybe i will buy a car more cheaply than a few months ago but i'll also have to sell mine more cheaply too.
I'll keep looking. CAT D is not what i'm after but thanks for the information.

 

[kineticz]

lol I have no idea why people shy away from Cat D. :S

 

[Joni]

Its generally because the bulk of the population shy away from CAT D. Bit of a viscious circle. If i buy a CAT D it will be twice as hard to sell so why cause myself the headache of buying one in the first place.

 

[cordoba lad]

If you are looking at a Cupra TDI make sure that the correct oil has been used because if it hasn't you'll end up with a nice looking collection of parts that won't go too far at all.

 

[Joni]

As in PD oil?

 

[SHADY-NINJA]

for long term usage, cat D motors are exellent bargains.
and remember that there are an elite of people
that are willing to buy cat D motors as long as
the price is right.