[Ash]

Hi,

I've been lurking for a week or so but I've got a test drive booked for Saturday and all going well I'll be ordering an FR Sport.

My local dealer which is blade seat in Bristol couldn't offer me a test drive so I'm off to Chippenham motor company, has anyone here got any views either good or bad about that dealership?

Cheers,
Ash.

 

[theforestdweller]

My local dealer s Blade SEAT in Gloucester, and they too had no demonstrator available when I was looking in November, with only vague assurances of future availability. I was not impressed with them, nor with an enquiry I made with them many years ago when looking for a SEAT "Freetrack" (one of the best cars I've ever owned). I went down to Hartwell in Hereford - no appointment but they made a car available for a test drive immediately, an altogether much better experience. My Arona has been ordered through an online broker based in Brighton so I don't know who the supplying dealer will be. I will not be using any of the Blade dealerships for servicing that's for sure. I will look to Hartwell, or a little further away from me Listers in Worcester who have already been very efficient (and cheap!) in supplying me with an armrest to put my new car around when it arrives, hopefully ready for the new registration on 1st March. Hope this helps, and enjoy your test drive whoever supplies it!

 

[Ash]

Thanks for the reply, my test drive is booked with the Chippenham motor company not Cheltenham like I'd originally posted, whoops.

This will be my first new car purchase, any tips? I see on their website that they offer a paint protection service, is this sort of thing worthwhile or am I better off saving the money and waxing it myself?

Cheers,
Ash.

 

[theforestdweller]

Paint protection would appear to be a very divisive issue. It's a real money maker for the dealerships or the third party firms that are subcontracted by the dealerships. I think one thing most would agree on, besides whether it's actually effective or not, is not to let the dealership anywhere near the process. A young employee with a bottle of magic stuff, a dirty rag, a quick wipe over and job done - allegedly :roll: . Professional detailers will all tell you that even the PDI at the dealerships can result in damaged paintwork with swirls and minute scratches apparent under a strong light. The professionals advise instructing the dealerships NOT to do a PDI clean of the bodywork, but take the vehicle directly to themselves for preparation - without having to undo the damage already caused by the dealership.

In summary I would say that the offering from the dealerships is not worthwhile in terms of effectiveness or care in application. If you want something worthwhile go to a professional detailers. They will want the car for more than a day and charges are going to be in the several hundreds.

As with all things, you get what you pay for :| .

 

[Snowdaddy]

My advice is to go to the SEAT UK website, and play with the finance pages, sometimes an offer for £250-500 extra off pops up, this is a SEAT offer, not the dealer, so print it and put it in your pocket. Only get it out when a deal with dealer is agreed (unless they have already told you about it and asked for the code). I think there is interest free at moment (subject to a minimum deposit)

I would save the money on paint protection (at least at dealer rates of £350ish) and buy the 5 year factory warranty (can't be added after it is registered), the later add on warranty has many exclusions compared to factory one.

If you want paint protection get it done elsewhere for less than half the price. Similarly things like gap insurance are much cheaper bought separately

If they can find you a stock vehicle should be about 2-3 weeks (as held at UK port), bit longer if in transit. If they offer you a factory build expect 8-10 weeks + 4 weeks delivery (say 3 months) plus time for factory to accept order (which can be many weeks, especially if dealer has already used up their quota). Each dealer only gets a quota to spread the allocation between all European dealers (but wont tell you if they still have quota this month unless you ask directly)

Always worth asking if there are extras that they will add for free, could try for a spare wheel, or armrest, or boot liner etc (if not already included). Work on the basis if don't ask, won't get, if get nothing, then no worse off having asked, but might get bonus item.

 

[theforestdweller]

If you are a "Boundless" member (Civil Service Motoring Association - CSMA) they have a relationship with "Griffintaxfree.com" and are currently offering the 115ps Arona Sport FR at £17,995.00 which is 15% and near £3.5K off list price. That's where I ordered mine. I haven't investigated their finance options but they are available .

 

[GazzaB]

I would not bother with the paint protection.
I had this on my Golf mk7 and it amounted to the sum on nothing when it was traded from my Arona.
the dealer told they don't even consider this in the price.
So it is a complete waste of money.
You are better of getting the car to a Specialist detailers and getting is polished and ceramic coated. will cost about the same as the Autoglym offering but be 100% better.
Ive polished mine myself, but not put on the ceramic coating.
The Alloys will have a QTechniq C5 wheel coating prior to being refitted. Ive already polished them before storing over winter. (16" steel with Winter tyres fitted at the moment).
As for the interior: The carpets and Alcantara are costed with GTechniq i1 Smart Fabric ABV2 & the Leather is costed in L1 Leather Guard AB.
Exterior: Using Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel and Korrosol(Body decontamination-Iron & Tar remover)
wash the wheels first, then Spray the body using a Foam gun, then 2 bucket hand wash. I clay bar wet when needed, then either hand polish to maintain. or if it is looking dull, then I will use Meguires medium polish, then and fine finishing polish. using a DA Polisher. Then apply a carnauba wax(Sonax Professional) by hand or DA Polisher.
as the carnauba wax is curing I will vacuum fully, clean windscreen inside and out with AutoGlym Fast Glass, dress the dash and plastics/ruuber, with AutoGlym Vinyl & Rubber Care. recoat the seats and drivers carpet with GTechniq as required. cleaner the Leather with AutoGlym Leather Cleaner, recoat with L1AB as required. once every 2-3 months.
Then finish up the body work polish off the dry Carnauba wax, using Sonar wax detailer bring to a shine.
then use Autoglym glass polish all round. and apply 2 coats of RainX.
All done takes about 5 hours to fully detail the car.

But at the moment its just a spray off and apply Autoglym Aquawax polish as it goes on wet. as it too cold to this time of year to spend to long doing it.
Once the the weather turns better in spring I will be doing all that, and getting the car looking good again. and then its just weekly maintenance wash/wax.

 

[Ash]

Thanks for the replies, some useful info on there.

My test drive is at 2pm today so will let you know what happens,

Cheers.

 

[[email protected] FLUX]

Hi.
Just to let you know that we offer a product called Total Loss Protection. Whilst it's not exactly the same as your traditional GAP insurance we feel for some customers it can make a cost effective alternative.
Please feel free to take a look if you wish.
https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/extras/total-loss/
Regards,
Dan.

 

[Ash]

So I took a 1 litre fr sport for a test drive yesterday and thought it was really great, I was surprised at how pokey the engine was for the size of the car.

I've ordered a full mystery blue fr sport with the 1 litre petrol engine, I also asked for some side steps and a detachable tow bar to be fitted. The dealer estimated it will be ready in March but we'll see.

Cheers,
Ash.