Used car advice

jcrennie

So decided to take the plunge on a Seat Arona auto coming it at around £15,500.

Ay my local SEAT garage they have a SE Technology model at around £15,600 and 24 months warranty. Round the corner at the Citreon garage they have the next model up (FR Sport) coming in with an extra 10,000 times but at around £15,300 and standard 3 months warranty. 

Would there be any flags from anyone here? I've only ever bought one car before, and my experience with insurance/warranty is it's an absolute nightmare so not really worth it as they will try their hardest not to pay out and blame it on wear and tear. My first time trying to negotiate with franchise dealers and pushing the hidden extras on you etc. - just found the main SEAT dealership a bit pushy this time. I'd prefer the higher spec model and not really bothered with the extra miles, just concerned somewhere I might be getting mugged off and whether if I buy from SEAT I'm likely to be paying extra cos of their own brand.

mobileron

Have a look at skoda dealer warranty used cars,there offering free 12 months warranty.
Google Marshalls skoda, Skoda cars are great value and super reliable.

iwb100

If it were me I’d rather take the lower mileage, lower spec with the longer warranty.

How are you buying this? If cash then fine but I’d absolutely not take some hideously high APR PCP on these. You are only saving 28% on new and if they have a lot of miles on them that’s not great. Reflective of the terrible value in the second hand car market right now. 

Grumpy_chap

If it were me, I'd buy the one with the extra equipment assuming it is something I want that actually does something, not just red seat stitching.

With two cars this close, it will be down to personal preference.

The one thing I would check is whether the Citroen and Seat dealers are actually the same company / group. If so, you have to ask why they put the Seat to the Citroen garage and outside the approved used scheme.

iwb100

Grumpy_chap said:

If it were me, I'd buy the one with the extra equipment assuming it is something I want that actually does something, not just red seat stitching.

With two cars this close, it will be down to personal preference.

The one thing I would check is whether the Citroen and Seat dealers are actually the same company / group. If so, you have to ask why they put the Seat to the Citroen garage and outside the approved used scheme.

Dependent on the year the cars are from the only real functional difference is the SE tech has air conditioning rather than the fancier climate control of the FR sport. The rest is cosmetic stuff, one inch bigger alloys and sporty styling.

Far as I remember that’s about it since the tech gives the better screen, inbuilt sat nab, wireless phone charging and connection….

jcrennie

Thanks everyone so far - I'd be buying cash, with the majority coming from a bank loan for 10k. The rest would be cash and PX mu current vehichle.

The SEAT garage is a smaller franchise near me, they only have 2 locations within their franchise and the FR model is with an Evans Halshaw franchise. My speaking to the sales rep, it seems like they are becoming more and more like Cazoo and then trying to price match against cars in the local area.

Cars are both practically from the same year and have a lot of the same functions. FR has the 'mode control' - but is more the exterior I prefer. My part-ex value came in a bit lower than I was hoping too and definitely got the 'need this sale closed before end of April' pitch from the SEAT garage which irritated me a little.

iwb100

jcrennie said:

Thanks everyone so far - I'd be buying cash, with the majority coming from a bank loan for 10k. The rest would be cash and PX mu current vehichle.

The SEAT garage is a smaller franchise near me, they only have 2 locations within their franchise and the FR model is with an Evans Halshaw franchise. My speaking to the sales rep, it seems like they are becoming more and more like Cazoo and then trying to price match against cars in the local area.

Cars are both practically from the same year and have a lot of the same functions. FR has the 'mode control' - but is more the exterior I prefer. My part-ex value came in a bit lower than I was hoping too and definitely got the 'need this sale closed before end of April' pitch from the SEAT garage which irritated me a little.

All dealers sell based on the market price. They don’t just make it up. It’s why prices are high right now.

Have you looked on auto trader to see what prices look like for same model and compare mileages etc? You don’t say what mileages the cars are but don’t seem too many FR sports for less than you were quoted. It’s not a good time for second hand car buying.

gord115

mobileron said:

Have a look at skoda dealer warranty used cars,there offering free 12 months warranty.
Google Marshalls skoda, Skoda cars are great value and super reliable.

Skodas have always had a 12 month warranty from the main dealers.Most main dealers of all Manufactures offer the same

jcrennie

iwb100 said:

jcrennie said:

Thanks everyone so far - I'd be buying cash, with the majority coming from a bank loan for 10k. The rest would be cash and PX mu current vehichle.

The SEAT garage is a smaller franchise near me, they only have 2 locations within their franchise and the FR model is with an Evans Halshaw franchise. My speaking to the sales rep, it seems like they are becoming more and more like Cazoo and then trying to price match against cars in the local area.

Cars are both practically from the same year and have a lot of the same functions. FR has the 'mode control' - but is more the exterior I prefer. My part-ex value came in a bit lower than I was hoping too and definitely got the 'need this sale closed before end of April' pitch from the SEAT garage which irritated me a little.

All dealers sell based on the market price. They don’t just make it up. It’s why prices are high right now.

Have you looked on auto trader to see what prices look like for same model and compare mileages etc? You don’t say what mileages the cars are but don’t seem too many FR sports for less than you were quoted. It’s not a good time for second hand car buying.

I'll do some researcg - I think it is just the FR model, rather than FR Sport. I know it's not the best time to buy a used car, but my current car is done for me, PCP is only good on brand new deals imo and nobody really knows what will happen with the 2nd hand car market. Can't see prices reverting to the 'norm' ever again if I'm honest unless the Government push the 2030 ban on new electric.

SE Tech has done 22,000
FR has done 32,000

Herzlos

It sounds like you prefer the FR, go for it.

Grumpy_chap

iwb100 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

If it were me, I'd buy the one with the extra equipment assuming it is something I want that actually does something, not just red seat stitching.

With two cars this close, it will be down to personal preference.

The one thing I would check is whether the Citroen and Seat dealers are actually the same company / group. If so, you have to ask why they put the Seat to the Citroen garage and outside the approved used scheme.

Dependent on the year the cars are from the only real functional difference is the SE tech has air conditioning rather than the fancier climate control of the FR sport. The rest is cosmetic stuff, one inch bigger alloys and sporty styling.

Far as I remember that’s about it since the tech gives the better screen, inbuilt sat nab, wireless phone charging and connection….

With that information, I'd get the SE Tech