Seat Peterbrough, Stoneacre

[Chuckie]

Thought my attempts for a test drive would be intereting

I asked for an extended test drive in a LEON TFSI FR (2 hours, not 2 days) but was told that salesman would need to speak to the service manager, eventually booked a TFSI test drive for first thing the following Sat morning (abit of a pain as it is a 45 min drive to the dealers).
I arrived at the dealers to be told that they had sold the test drive car the day before so I could not have a test drive!!!! (apparently they had not let me know because the salesman had not been in on Friday and was not in on the Sat morning and nobody else knew I was coming!!!!!)

The guy I spoke to was very apologetic (there's a surprise) and said they would have another car in on Wednesday but I would not be able to have a long test drive as their insurance requires that there is a member of staff on the test drive, they are very busy so no one could be available (why did he think I had agreed to be there at 0900 on a Sat morning!!), and the car is not realy a demonstrator and they can't put too many miles on it.

Are they missing a point here, I am not looking to buy a £2K second hand Arosa, I want to spend over £17K on what is one of SEATs most expensive cars and this is how they deal with me.

Eventually the salesman discusses with the sales manager and they agree that I can either have a shorter test drive (about an hour), or if I arrange my own insurance I can have a longer test drive. I was to ring them for the chassis number for my insurance after Wednesday (apparently they dont know what they are getting until it arrives).

About 4 hours later the original salesman calls me to apologise that he had not got back to me about the original test drive. After a few questions it became apparant, that not only that he hadn't been able to tell me that the car was sold because he had been off work sick for the week (I thought he was off for two days???) but he was also not aware that I had been into the dealers that morning. I told him that I had been in and pointed out that he should find out what had happened that morining. He then called me back about ten minutes later (more apologies) He then proceeded to tell me that a long test drive was out of the question (insurance/ busy dealers/miles etc...) by this point I was getting a little annoyed (I will be honest I was totally pi$$€d off, broken promisses, incompetabce and questionably honesty???? will do that to a man). So I suggested that he should speak to his collegues, they shoud all get there stories straight and give me a call back on Monday.

Believe it or not he did call back on Monday, will I think he did because I had a missed call but he was too dim to leave a message!!!. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and expected him to call back.

I gave up on Friday and called the dealership and asked to speak to the sales manager, she was very apologetic (they are good at apologies, crap at selling cars, but good at apologies), I explained what I wanted (a test drive in a TFSI FR if you have forgotten), I got the insurance/ busy dealers/miles etc... story but said that she would leave a message for the regional manager as he could authorise an extended test drive, unfortunatly he was not available on Friday but she knew he had a meeting in Lincoln on the Sat morning and was coming down to Peterborough aferwards.

I am still waiting for a call

Chris

 

[The Cupra Kid]

LOL... why am I not suprised! I've been in that dealership... there is a reason its tucked away around the back of the dodgy trading estate!!!

If you want a better dealer try the one in Lincoln... I got a test drive in LCR after dropping in off the cuff! Yeah I know its a bit of a drive, but findin a 'good' dealer is worth it!

 

[SparkyWatt]

I think its the Stoneacre bit that lets them down, they arent a Seat Dealership, more of an independant. They sell Fiats and allsorts down there, well worth a try but dont get your hopes up of finding good service.

 

[techie]

They are more than likely much like the Stoneacre that was down here. Not really interested in selling you a new SEAT but would love to stitch you up with 10 years finance on an old bucket of a Mondeo.

 

[CupraMatty]

My previous Ibiza Cupra and this Ibiza Cupra R both came from Stoneacre, Peterboro, brand new, and they have always maintained them both. Having dealt with them both times, I have had very mixed relationships with them. On the whole they were fine with the 2001 Cupra, and fixed a few things under warranty fine, and trouble free servies. However the 2002 Cupra R, was Ok at first, service and coil pack change under warranty/voucher, and then started to have problems after that, mainly with the old service manager (who seemed to dislike the fact the car kept breaking!), to which I pointed out if they'd fix it, then I wouldnt need to keep comin in. he was a bit of a strange one, and thankfully now left. At the worst of it, they had the car for 10 days to do a service, change the track rod ends, and top suspension mounts, HOPELESS, even though I had their new ibiza demonstrator lol.....

 

[FenlandPosh]

I remember a few years back when I wanted a test drive in a Seat Leon Cupra TDI Mk1 and the salesman looked me up and down (I was 24 at the time but looked 18ish) and told me to come back when I had a enough money to buy one. When I snapped at him that I had 16k burning a hole in my pocket he said that he'd let me test drive one if I left them with £2k as a deposit, as you can imagine I told him to shove it.

I went and bought a slightly older BMW and had to drive there and point out what I'd bought with the money he obviously didn't want, the look on his face was priceless. I don't care if everyone is different in there now, I wouldn't step foot in that place now if you paid me to.

 

[2003v5]

Stoneacre are shite, bought a brand new fiat punto from them nothing but trouble, First day i had it had to take it back in to be fixed, now have my toledo and stoneacre are also seat dealers there still crap. They wanted £650 to fix my car, done it myself for the price of a new sensor. There no help and i try to avoid them if i can.

 

[Chester]

The only car I bought from there was my '98 R Cordoba 2.0 16V SX. Went in to get the paperwork done having paid the deposit already, enquired as to its whereabouts as it wasn't on the forecourt. Apparently one of the sales guys had used it to run an errand, but wouldn't be back until the next day. Needless to say I was fuming and demanded my money back, shouting so other customers could hear what was going on. They threw in 12 months tax for free as I was leaning forwards out of the seat as the sales guy retreated from the desk. Still wasn't elated but it ended up being a fantastic car with very few problems.

After this thread though and hearing other local horror stories about them, I'll use them for genuine parts only, unless they've got a sale-of-the-century which would be a rare thing.

 

[ipd56]

i just use them for parts only