SEAT [Approved] Used Cars

[Razoo]

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) of buying a SEAT [Approved] Used Car?

I'm thinking of buying a used Leon 2.0TSI FR and there are some available direct from SEAT under their [Approved] Used Car scheme. However, I'm not convinced this is the best way to buy a SEAT.

To start with, some of the cars look like they've been stored for a long time out in the open (discs badly rusted, brake callipers corroded, etc. - I can see this in the high resolution pictures provided on the website).

It also seems I have to commit to buying a vehicle without seeing it first (the cars are stored at Milton Keynes, but SEAT won't allow potential buyers to inspect them).

Unlike Ford Direct vehicles, these SEAT vehicles are sent to the dealer as they are, warts and all. AIUI, Ford put their Ford Direct cars through their own workshops for any servicing and remedial work required, and the selling dealer receives the vehicle ready to go. With SEAT, the dealer receives the car as it is and it is up to the dealer to carry out any servicing and remedial work themselves. As the price is fixed, there cannot be any incentive for the dealer to do much work on the car, as the more work the dealer does, the less profit the dealer makes. It seems they won't even do a basic service (oil & filter) if they can avoid it.

A further concern is that my local SEAT dealer doesn't have any workshop facilities, other than valeting. I think they use a nearby Audi Main Dealer's workshop, probably at £silly/hour.

Any comments/advice anyone?

Thanks,

Razoo

 

[steroidchris]

If it's as you suggest, I'd steer well clear.

 

[hedge9001]

Or buy my cupra k1!!!

 

[jezyg]

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) of buying a SEAT [Approved] Used Car?

I'm thinking of buying a used Leon 2.0TSI FR and there are some available direct from SEAT under their [Approved] Used Car scheme. However, I'm not convinced this is the best way to buy a SEAT.

To start with, some of the cars look like they've been stored for a long time out in the open (discs badly rusted, brake callipers corroded, etc. - I can see this in the high resolution pictures provided on the website).

It also seems I have to commit to buying a vehicle without seeing it first (the cars are stored at Milton Keynes, but SEAT won't allow potential buyers inspect them).

Unlike Ford Direct vehicles, these SEAT vehicles are sent to the dealer as they are, warts and all. AIUI, Ford put their Ford Direct cars through their own workshops for any servicing and remedial work required, and the selling dealer receives the vehicle ready to go. With SEAT, the dealer receives the car as it is and it is up to the dealer to carry out any servicing and remedial work themselves. As the price is fixed, there cannot be any incentive for the dealer to do much work on the car, as the more work the dealer does, the less profit the dealer makes. It seems they won't even do a basic service (oil & filter) if they can avoid it.

A further concern is that my local SEAT dealer doesn't have any workshop facilities, other than valeting. I think they use a nearby Audi Main Dealer's workshop, probably at £silly/hour.

Any comments/advice anyone?

Thanks,

Razoo

That's a poor used car scheme then. I have seen some cars that have come from Seat and they do have rusty hubs I know cosmetic and easily sorted but not good if any other issues are not resolved before handover.

I had a 318i SE from BMW's approved scheme a few years back and that was spot on. Again like Ford and Audi the car's are pre-prepared even stone chips were filled in and the car looked as good as new.

Better waiting for the right car to come up at a dealer so you can physically inspect it.

 

[DAZFR72]

i bought from my local stealer twice now first was a mk2 leon fr tdi and just bought a facelift leon cupra ex seat uk car, have not had many grmbles with my local stealer!!! car was preped and anyt issues i had before and after picking up car have been sorted

 

[Big_Mikey_G]

Another example of SEAT UK's appalling customer service record?

 

[coggie]

As I understood...

To physically see the car you have to put a deposit down to show interest in the car, I test drove an identical model then I put down £100 on mine to get it to the dealer. I test drove my car when it arrived and then (and only then) agreed to take it, based on the figures the dealer worked out on my first visit.

Yes, they may not have refunded the deposit if i'd rejected the car but I wanted a Leon, so they would have just taken the £100 off another car.

 

[dannychapman10]

I bought a facelift Leon fr from swindon. All 4 wheels had flat spots on them. Took weeks for them to admit and cough up for new wheels for it. The car was also sold with the airbag light on.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Razoo]

As I understood...

To physically see the car you have to put a deposit down to show interest in the car...

I wasn't offered that option, although my local dealer may do that if I ask. Mostly my dealer seemed concerned about being left with the car if I didn't buy it after seeing it. It's unfortunate they are not a more proactive dealership. It's also unfortunate that SEAT won't let me view the car in the holding pound at Milton Keynes.

I test drove an identical model then I put down £100 on mine to get it to the dealer...

That's one of my problems - I haven't even seen a Leon 2.0TSI FR in the flesh, let alone had the chance to test drive one.

I test drove my car when it arrived and then (and only then) agreed to take it, based on the figures the dealer worked out on my first visit.

I did provisionally discuss a price with my dealer. However, SEAT UK have now bumped up the price of the vehicle I was interested in by £300 compared to the price it was a few weeks ago They will need to bring the price back down again for me to remain interested.

Yes, they may not have refunded the deposit if i'd rejected the car but I wanted a Leon, so they would have just taken the £100 off another car.

Well, I'll probably go for another make if I don't like the SEAT FR. I wouldn't be too impressed if it cost me £100 just to establish that the FR isn't for me.

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

Razoo

 

[m0rk]

Why not just test drive a new FR? Just arrange a test drive at a dealer & away you go.

 

[jezyg]

Why not just test drive a new FR? Just arrange a test drive at a dealer & away you go.

Hard to find an FR TSi to test drive I brought mine engine blind

 

[Razoo]

Why not just test drive a new FR? Just arrange a test drive at a dealer & away you go.

It's a cunning plan but I can't find a dealer in range that has a 2.0TSI FR or FR+ in stock. There seem to be plenty of oil burners around, but no petrol FRs.

I'm continually looking...

Razoo

 

[hedge9001]

Razoo come test drive my cupra k1, I want rid asap!

 

[Razoo]

Razoo come test drive my cupra k1...

Thanks for the offer, but I prefer the slightly understated look of the FR. The insurance on the FR is good for me too.

...I want rid asap!

Why?

Razoo

 

[m0rk]

It's a cunning plan but I can't find a dealer in range that has a 2.0TSI FR or FR+ in stock. There seem to be plenty of oil burners around, but no petrol FRs.

I'm continually looking...

Razoo

Let the dealer do the work for you.

http://www.seat.co.uk/testdrive

I'd consider driving a Golf to 'see' what the engine is like, and the oilburner to see what the ride is like. You want a 'facelift' FR though - the pre facelift is only good for people that have already broken their spines.

 

[Razoo]

Let the dealer do the work for you.

As of today, that might happen! I was of the opinion that my local SEAT dealership was being somewhat indifferent. However, they are now trying to find a 2.0TSI FR for me to test drive.

I'd consider driving a Golf to 'see' what the engine is like...

There are a few dealerships around here that I would much rather avoid. In particular this includes my local VW Main Dealer. A few months ago I was considering a Golf, so I gave the dealership the Jeremy Clarkson test. This involved dressing up in JC (Jeremy Clarkson, not Jesus Christ ) attire (jeans and baggy shirt) and wandering into their opulent showroom funded by overcharged customers. Despite there being several pretentious 'suits' wandering around, I was completely ignored and no one asked if I needed any help. Added to that, a work colleague who drives a Golf has been ripped-off on every service this dealership has done for him. Despite giving a 'fixed price' quotation for a service, they always 'discover' something expensive that also needs doing, like; "I'm sorry sir, we have just realised that the car we sold you, the same one that has all its specifications fully detailed on our database, has got a DSG gearbox and we need to change the oil for £silly."

You want a 'facelift' FR though - the pre facelift is only good for people that have already broken their spines.

When was the facelift introduced? Sometime in 2009? I'm looking at a 2010/60 FR.

Razoo

Hey, whoopee-do! This is my fifteenth post to this forum. Now I can do posh stuff like posting pictures and URLs

 

[jezyg]

When was the facelift introduced? Sometime in 2009? I'm looking at a 2010/60 FR.

Razoo

FL came out around June 2009 09 plate on so a 10/60 will be a FL model.

 

[SeanH]

Mine was bought through the SEAT approved used Scheme, 5 month old ex-demo car and the sales manager was using it as his daily ride, no problems so far with it and was spot on with their service especially after the manager himself mistakely put petrol in it when he took it to fill it up with £50 worth, for that I got my first service free and the ipod kit chucked in for free.

Sean

 

[tetsujin]

Yesterday, I bought a used approved Seat Leon FR TDI form my not so local dealer (8 hour round trip to see it) but it had the exact spec I wanted and was the right price.

Has done 10k and was a demo car up until 3k and then the manager used the car after that.

Went to see the car and test drive it and the thing is like new! drove perfect and apart from the odd stone chip is like new.

Even got them to chuck in the first service for free too

Comes with the Technology Pack, Convenience Pack and 18 inch Black Orion alloys and front and rear parking sensors. Basically everything except leather.

Cant wait to pick it up!

 

[chris285]

i bought my mk1 from a dealer and no problems here, granted they had the car though so not quite the same

my housemate was looking for a mk2 leon, went to the local dealer and told them what he wanted and they were going to see what they had and what was around when they were looking at stock and didn't need him to commit to anything

hoping to be the same when i look for my k1 soon, but i am going to be actively looking and not just relying on the local dealer anyway