[Ian.s]

Picked up somewhere that the Stop/start button for right hand drive vehicles is still on the left hand side of the center console! Not the ideal placement as having to reach over gear shift to push button. Looking on the Seat uk site the interior photos may have just been photo-shopped from a LH drive car.😡. Anyone got a right hand drive DSG with stop start that can post on here? Thanks.

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

The demo I drove and the 3 others in the show room had the button on their left. I suspect in keeping costs down they won't be making any changes for UK market as left hand drive market is bigger.

 

[Ian.s]

Yeah that's what I thought👍 Real economic design floor in my mind though. If it was placed infront of the gear shift in the middle would of solved this.

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

Or on the dash near to the steering wheel.

 

[JimJam]

It's kinda important to me as I have limited left arm mobility, I've asked the Seat dealer if they can move it and place a blanking plate in its original position. How hard can that be for an experienced mechanic/Engineer we shall see

 

[Rob]

If Seat wont - and I doubt they will, a good auto electrics place will easily be able to move that for you.

 

[GazzaB]

Just been looking at the SEAT website.
Go to New Arona, click on Design and scroll down to Interior Design.
Shows a picture of a right hand drive Lux model with the start button on the right hand side of the gear stick.

Think that pic you have is just a photo-shopped picture.
or it was taken from a early pre-production unit.

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

It's more likely the pictures have been reversed to show right hand drive. I will double check on Thursday when I go to the dealers to see if they have any new ones with the button and see what side it's on. All the ones I've seen in the metal so far have been on the left.

 

[GazzaB]

I did note, that this pic is the Manual gearbox, and on the SEAT UK website it shows the button on the right with the DSG!!!!!

Were all the ones you've seen all Manual boxes???

Ive not actually seen a DSG version in my dealer, only has a manual without keyless entry.
So, it poses some interesting questions
1. Is the start button on different sides with Manual or DSG boxes.
2. If so, is this a technical issue of gear linkage preventing the move?
3. is this a change in 2018 models. (Did they move the button? and was this only on the 2017 versions)
4. If this is change in the 2018 version, then could the 2017 version be moved?

These questions are all highly speculative and really needs clarification from the dealers or directly from SEAT.

Also add:
Ive looked through the website and brochure and all of the Manual box pics show the button on the left.
all of the DSG pics show it on either left or right side..

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

The ones I saw/drove were all auto, it was one of the first things we mentioned to the sales lad. These were on the launch day last November. I pick mine up on Thursday, although being a lowly fr sport it doesn't get such luxury 🙄, but I'll see if I can have a look in some others, I suspect there will be a few in the show room that day.

 

[GazzaB]

Ive sent an e-mail to SEAT, asking about the location of the start button.
As in the both of the manuals it say that the layout is symmetrical.
So the button should be on the right hand side.
So wait to see what I get back from SEAT on this.

 

[GazzaB]

Right is Got a reply from SEAT UK, about the Start button location.
Dear Mr..

Thank you for your recent contact regarding the SEAT Arona.

I am delighted to hear of your recent purchase of a SEAT Arona for your next vehicle. Having discussed your query with our Sales Support Team, I can advise the Stop/Start button is on the left hand side of the gearstick.

I hope you find this information useful and thank you for contacting SEAT UK.

Kind regards

Dean Goodwin
Customer Relations Advisor
SEAT UK

So I have challenged them on this as on the Web Site it clearly does show the button on the Right hand side of the lever.

This is my Reply:
Hi Dean

Can you answer why the brochure shows it on the Right Side of the Automatic gear stick?(DSG)
Also shown on your website on the right hand side.

I attach a screen shot from your Seat website clearly showing the Start Stop button on the Right hand side of the gear lever.

European spec cars with the steering wheel on the left show the button on the left side, the UK car Steering on the right hand side shows the button on the right side!!!!

If this is not the case then clearly your website is missleading customers?
IMG_1043.jpg

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

Not that I wanted to promote their way of advertising but unsuspecting the reply will be something along the lines of
All the pictures are illustrative and not indicative of the design or equipment fitted to all vehicles.
And probably some rubbish about they reserve the right to change design and details at any time.
I did have a quick look today in some 18 plates awaiting delivery and they had the button on the left.

 

[GazzaB]

Dolphin: YEP You are most like right, that is the sad fact of these manufacturers, they promise the earth, moon and Stars, but in the end all you get a wee tiny pebble..
Because they exercised the right to change the parameters design etc etc etc. Standard Bull S..T.
************ Plausible deniability **************
But the Owners Manual does state that the dashboard is symmetrical.. So they will after this Probably update it and remove that line. LOL.
Not being Cynical in any way LOL.
Or could I just say that they are just being cheap, and/or getting back at us in little ways because they are losing their favorite cash cow.. (Brexit)

 

[GazzaB]

Finally I got an answer from SEAT on this. see below... and picture I submitted, which apparently is not a UK spec car????
On the website looking at the pictures which clearly show Right hand drive spec cars, and from the info below that the pictures used are stock of the Ibiza??? with the Start button on the right side. As clearly they are UK spec cars, I lived in Germany for 11 years, driven both left and right hand drive cars, do they think we are stupid?
OR are they saying that other Right hand drive vehicles in other parts of the world are getting this moved just NOT the UK.

Thank you for your email dated 1 March 2018 to SEAT UK. Please accept my apologies for the delay in my response.

Having discussed your query further with our Product Marketing Team, I can confirm that the start/stop button is on the left hand side of the DSG gearbox on the SEAT Arona. In regards to the models SEAT Ateca and Ibiza, I can advise that the start/stop button is on the right hand side of the gearbox.

Further, in relation to the photo that you have sent in, I would like to clarify that the website images are not UK specification vehicle's. Please note, I have forwarded your email to our Product Marketing Team to update the website.

I hope you find this information useful and thank you for contacting SEAT UK.

Kind regards

Dean Goodwin
Customer Relations Advisor
SEAT UK
IMG_1043.jpg

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

If it's on the right on the Ibiza then does that not use the same part? Would this mean an easy retro fit if that's the case.

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

Scrub that, just checked pictures on autotrader of Ibiza and the button on the left.

 

[GazzaB]

Well according to the SEAT guy they are on the right hand side..

******* Having discussed your query further with our Product Marketing Team, I can confirm that the start/stop button is on the left hand side of the DSG gearbox on the SEAT Arona. In regards to the models SEAT Ateca and Ibiza, I can advise that the start/stop button is on the right hand side of the gearbox. ********

And if this is correct for the Ibiza, its the same plastics so a retro fit should be possible.. Pop into the showroom and look at a 2018 Ibiza.
and if possible, we can get see how easy it is to change, and get it put in the tech section.

But clearly they are not on the actual cars.
So what the hell is correct?
Getting more confused by the minute on this one...

ANY ONE WITH AN EXCELLENCE LUX Model, CAN THEY CONFIRM WHICH SIDE THE START BUTTON IS PLEASE. TAKE A PHOTO AND UPLOAD. THANK YOU...

 

[Dolphinfriendly1012]

I'm guessing they mean the Leon as that's the same as the ateca.

 

[GazzaB]

The Leon and Ateca both have the same layout.
The Ibiza and Arona both the same layout.

and in no pictures of the Leon, Ibiza and Ateca on the website does it show the button on the right.
Only in the Arona pictures.

Very ODD...