Main faults to look for: V5 (150hp)

[dendy]

Hi all.
I am going to see my 2nd v5 tonight. It has a full SEAT service history, 50,000 miles on a W plate. I am new to these cars and was wandering what are the main things to look for in a good/bad one. Any help would be greatly appreciated and help my bartering powers no end.

Thanks

 

[GrayT]

MAF is the most common thing mentioned on here (there will be plenty on it if you do a search). Give it a decent test drive - mine is of similar mileage now and drives very smooth - the one you are looking at should be the same.

Check the sump and sump guards underneath - people knock the sump on extra large speed humps if taken too fast. Brake switch faults are fairly common but you won't really know unless the brake lights fail on you. Check all the electrics - electric seats, mirrors, etc.

A minor thing - it wouldn't suprise me if the interior front handles look scratched and are peeling - it's not a sign of abuse, it's just the rubbery covering on them is useless. I swapped mine with the rears (they are identical).

Of course do the usual and check the garage receipts with the service history to see if anything has been replaced, number of previous owners, etc. You should get a good deal on a 150 model now. If anything is amiss walk away, there will be other quality ones out there. The engines should take high mileages very well, and bodywork and interior (except handles) seem to last well if looked after.

Welcome to the forum and good luck btw.

 

[dendy]

Cheers GrayT. He says the MAF is sorted and everything is bang on: Hpi cleared, Fdsh, not a mark on it. The last service was the main one etc. He is selling for £4000 do you think i would be cheeky offering £3700 1st off?

Cheers

 

[GrayT]

Dealers should expect a lower offer, so that's not cheeky at all. If no movement then say you've got another one to look at and you'll get back to them - at least that calls their bluff. At the very least a years car tax could be thrown in plus a full tank of petrol and you're two thirds of the way to £300. But only drop the price after you know if they are going to tax it for you.

What colour by the way?

 

[dendy]

Just got me a toledo.

Turned up looked at it mint apart from slight scuff on black plastic trim on rear bumper and the interior front handles like mentioned above. There was a receipt for a brand new MAF with last service 3000 miles ago. Thought this was a good thing.

Offered him £3700 turned it down flat as he showed no signs of negotiation. I walked away and low and behold he phoned me and said if I payed £3900 he would tax it and supply a full tank. I accepted

I had never saw one of these before in the flesh. They are more compact than I thought(is good) and in metallic blue, well say no more. You certainly get a lot for your money. I viewed some leon cupras before and are more impressed at the overall package of the toledo v5 offers. Ok the leon is slightly faster when you ring the neck out of em. Driveability, luxuries and price, the toledo wins hands down. Roll on this Saturday...

Thanks GrayT

 

[GrayT]

Just got me a toledo.

Turned up looked at it mint apart from slight scuff on black plastic trim on rear bumper and the interior front handles like mentioned above. There was a receipt for a brand new MAF with last service 3000 miles ago. Thought this was a good thing.

Offered him £3700 turned it down flat as he showed no signs of negotiation. I walked away and low and behold he phoned me and said if I payed £3900 he would tax it and supply a full tank. I accepted

I had never saw one of these before in the flesh. They are more compact than I thought(is good) and in metallic blue, well say no more. You certainly get a lot for your money. I viewed some leon cupras before and are more impressed at the overall package of the toledo v5 offers. Ok the leon is slightly faster when you ring the neck out of em. Driveability, luxuries and price, the toledo wins hands down. Roll on this Saturday...

Thanks GrayT

Excellent, welcome to the club (glad the old walking away trick worked Enjoy for a bit and then if you want a little bit more power you can always spend the money you saved on a remap to 170 bhp!

 

[dendy]

Was looking into it already. Amd Charge around £400 i see. Was going to check out aldon automotive an their prices. Are there any differences in the way remapping is carried out by companies?

How much more fuel does yours guzzle, if any?

 

[GrayT]

Don't know about Aldon Automotive so can't comment. AmD were thorough and professional. Some have said they saw no difference or even had an improvement in mpg. My fuel consumption did suffer marginally, but I do a fair bit of my driving in London so that doesn't help. The V5 isn't wonderful with fuel economy, though better on longer runs.

I've found the performance benefits running on Optimax (again adds to cost though). Car doesn't like it if it reverts to ordinary unleaded now - but then it takes a couple of tanks to adjust either way and I never give it that chance because it likes Optimax now. If you do go for a remap run it on the same fuel for at least 3 tankfulls before you get it done I would say.

Edit: Just checked Aldon's site. Just strikes me they're not VAG specialist whereas AmD are.

 

[dendy]

pics

Not the best...

 

[dendy]

Edit: Just checked Aldon's site. Just strikes me they're not VAG specialist whereas AmD are.
Yeah I know. Just that aldon are around the corner from where I work when I leave London to go to birmingham. Should go to AMD though

 

[GrayT]

Looks a nice example from what I can see from those pics. You've got an awful lot of motor for your money.

 

[dendy]

Looks a nice example from what I can see from those pics. You've got an awful lot of motor for your money.

Too right i am blown away at what you get for such a small premium. Hope it is as good a condition mechanically as it is aesthetically. Where in London do you live? If ya dont mind

 

[Sam20v]

nice looking motor mate!!

 

[GrayT]

Too right i am blown away at what you get for such a small premium. Hope it is as good a condition mechanically as it is aesthetically. Where in London do you live? If ya dont mind

East Ham - how about you? Can go days without seeing another Toledo and weeks without seeing another V5 - which is what I like!

 

[dendy]

I live in Finsbury park.

Just got the car and enjoyed the drive back immensely...
Could be running a little better tho. When I test drove it, it ran flawlessly, plenty of power, ticking over at one notch under 1000rpm. Drove thirty miles back. It pulled fine. Got home and found that it is ticking over at a lower rate and not as smooth-the rate fluctuates-not lots but its there. Throttle response is not as instant as it was when pulling away. The power seems to still be there tho. Any ideas?

 

[V5TDi]

Mine does the same after replacing the MAF in January. When I replaced it I made the car re-learn its fuel settings by resetting the codes in VAGCOM, so its not related to any previous fuelling problems.

When I bought the car 3 years ago with 15K on the clock it did and always has idled around the 750rpm mark when warm. After MAF replacement at 47K it seems to fluctuate more.

I was thinking about giving it a few tankfulls of BP ultimate to give the fuel system a clean, as it did a good job on our Ibiza.

 

[dendy]

Yes the maf was changed a month ago. when I bought the car back it was not good on fuel and idled badly. The car is now running much better. Fuel cons. seems to be steadily climbing - averaged 33mpg on a 20 mile trip from the centre(ish) of london to essex a city/ motorway/country lane(m11) trip. Awesome on the mway. Feeling better now

 

[StuC]

Dendy - Just seen your pics...... nice!! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I love mine

 

[nmaher]

are v5's common in england as i have only ever seen 2 for sale in ireland

 

[GrayT]

are v5's common in england as i have only ever seen 2 for sale in ireland

I wouldn't say common - the Toledo is a fairly rare sight full stop and you don't see that many V5's on the road. Having said that you can normally find a selection of decent examples on Autotrader.