Buying a Exeo ST

[stevea1234]

Hi,

Had a good read through the forum and after test driving an Exeo ST last week decided to look for a second hand one.

Ideally I want to get a 12 to 18 month old Exeo ST 170 Sport Tech. Bit disappointed to see that heated seats are an option but leather is standard. Leather's too cold for me in the winter without heated seats!! Guess I'll need to find a car with the option.

Tops I want to pay is around 16K, which seems possible but I can't find too many for sale.

Any ideas on sites to check online? Tried Seat and Autotrader but can't find any other good sites.

Also any advice on what to look out for on the car or things I should look to get would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

 

[MasterKey]

I used the Seat site to find the local dealers and then checked directly with them to see what they had since the Seat site isn't terribly up to date. When I started looking I found that Arnold Clark's site listed a fair number, though none were anywhere near me.

In my case (last month), I found a ~12 month old SE Lux model in the price range you're looking in from a relatively local dealer. It was a 143 rather than a 170, but it had a low mileage so I'd expect you shouldn't have major problems finding one.

 

[stevea1234]

I used the Seat site to find the local dealers and then checked directly with them to see what they had since the Seat site isn't terribly up to date. When I started looking I found that Arnold Clark's site listed a fair number, though none were anywhere near me.

In my case (last month), I found a ~12 month old SE Lux model in the price range you're looking in from a relatively local dealer. It was a 143 rather than a 170, but it had a low mileage so I'd expect you shouldn't have major problems finding one.

Tried my local dealer (Droitwich) but nothing yet. I think I'll try another couple of dealers to see what I can find. It does seem that anything reasonably priced is in north England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Midlands and the South is definitely more expensive. Not in too much of a rush though as the current car doesn't go back until the end of Feb (company car, now opting out)

Not sure about the 143. I test drove the 143 and it wasn't bad, but ideally I want something a little faster. If the car was right though it would work.

 

[MasterKey]

Holders of Congresbury, a little south of Bristol, had at least one ST 170 in a month ago and I certainly had a good experience buying from them. If you don't mind a slightly long drive, they're worth a look.

I'd agree that they're cheaper further north, something I noticed when I went looking.

Good luck with your search!

 

[Dave_]

The heated seats are part of the winter pack (heated seats, heated washer jets and headlamp washer system) and was a relatively inexpensive option - something like £270 so finding one shouldn't be that difficult, in theory.

I've driven both 170 and 143hp cars. The 170 engine is a peach, smooth and powerful, the 143 is much same just fewer ponies. 0-60 time is about a second slower and in- gear there's a bit of a difference in performance but not that much.

Opted for the ST SE Tech + Xenons and Winter Pack, only available in 143 flavour. Leasing a 170 Sport Tech was over budget, which is a shame as the lower ride height, 18s and rear tints look tasty.

The contract hire monthly rental came in under £300 + VAT. Happy Days.

 

[Exeowner]

I looked for months before finding the right car, even then it wasn't the perfect spec but the price was so low I found myself looking for the catch.

The car I bought was a demo which they obviously wanted to replace, I believe the key to the price was that being a demo there was not the same pressure on the dealer to make a profit on their purchase price if they'd got it as a trade in or bought at a silent auction.

It needs some patience, but if you can find a demo which is older than say, 8 months there is a decent chance you'll get a bargain if you show serious interest.

Don't go for any cars used as loan cars for servicing as they get hammered, it's got to be a sales car driven only by the sales guy/girl and only allowed on escorted test drives. They are kept clean and tidy, washed once a week and may have a top end wax treatment to impress the customers. You can check the average fuel consumption and tyre wear to see if it's been driven sensibly, though don't expect them to driven by saints, just not thrashed.

It's a shame you have a deadline for the company car return, also the ST seems to keep it's value better which won't help you. I have cloth seats in my saloon, but noticed the leather seats in some cars marked and crinkled if they had been used by someone who isn't careful getting in/out, maybe wearing jeans a lot etc. - look out for that. Good luck.

 

[stevea1234]

Thanks for the feedback. Registered my details with a couple of dealers. Seems like there's not alot of choice but as I've got a couple of months I'm not too concerned yet.

Looked at an SE LUX with all the options which was promising but it had beige leather which personally I couldn't cope with.

 

[stevea1234]

OK, found a 2011 60 plate 170 ST Sport Tech for £149995, which seems a good price?

Only downside is it's the other end of the UK and will need delivering which adds £300 plus return flights to look at the car. So really around £15,500.

I'd prefer something nearer to home, but the local SEAT dealer wouldn't move on price and wants nearly 17K for a slightly newer car. So very tempted by this one.

One question, what's it like in silver? Not too bothered about colour, but also not my favourite but colours do vary depending on the car.

 

[Koops]

Got an ST in silver which I love (tis the Lux version)...very smart with the 5 'solid' spoke low profile wheels, tinted side windows, silver roof rails etc ...matter of personal taste of course...I'm still not quite convinced about the intake grill but I can live with it

 

[Leodis]

I got mine on Saturday, an ST 143 SE Tech from JCT600. 13 months old with only 9700 mioles on the clock. Under £14.5k.

Bargain I think.

Search Seat used cars but also AUtotrader as not all the cars the dealers have are on Seat web site.

 

[HarveyWoods]

Silver - My test drive car was silver and I thought it looked great. I have avoided silver recently as it seemed the whole world had a silver car, they have now moved onto black and then white, but it really looked the part in silver. My daughter, aged 9, is insistent on a blue car this time but if the choice was mine then I would have gone silver.

Incidentally, why do Seat only offer the Exeo in fairly staid colours whereas the rest of the Seat range has some very bold colours. Not all businessmen, the main target market for the Exeo, want dull colours!

 

[floosy]

Motors.co.uk has a 2010 plate 170 ST Sport in silver with 6k on the clock in Sunderland for £13,995.. TBH if i hadnt just traded my 143 sport in for a TSI I'd driving up there to have a look myself

Incidentally, why do Seat only offer the Exeo in fairly staid colours whereas the rest of the Seat range has some very bold colours. Not all businessmen, the main target market for the Exeo, want dull colours!

Totally agree... My 143 was in a dark grey (looked nice and exec saloon like) and my new TSI is in blue...but a sort of steel blue which is a bit insipid...I would have really loved it to be in Gaia Blue or the same orange they do the Leon Cupra R in...something in your face and raunchy for when i get it mapped to 270ish bhp. Mind you having said that blowing past a beemer who thinks they have just been left by a bog standard dull coloured "A4" repmobile is always nice fun.

 

[stevea1234]

Motors.co.uk has a 2010 plate 170 ST Sport in silver with 6k on the clock in Sunderland for £13,995.. TBH if i hadnt just traded my 143 sport in for a TSI I'd driving up there to have a look myself



Totally agree... My 143 was in a dark grey (looked nice and exec saloon like) and my new TSI is in blue...but a sort of steel blue which is a bit insipid...I would have really loved it to be in Gaia Blue or the same orange they do the Leon Cupra R in...something in your face and raunchy for when i get it mapped to 270ish bhp. Mind you having said that blowing past a beemer who thinks they have just been left by a bog standard dull coloured "A4" repmobile is always nice fun.

Thanks, but really after the sport tech as I couldn't live without xenons and sat nav.. Add to that leather and the Bose sound system and I think its definitely worth paying a little more.

 

[stevea1234]

Well found a car!

A White 170 ST Sport Tech. 5k miles and 9 months old. Slightly more than I wanted to spend at 16.5K but still seems a bargain for the age and mileage.

Not seen it yet, but put down the deposit pending a test drive. Previous owner was SEAT, hopefully looked after but I'm told it's perfect. Aiming to pick it up at the end of the month when company car goes back.

 

[floosy]

Well found a car!

A White 170 ST Sport Tech. 5k miles and 9 months old. Slightly more than I wanted to spend at 16.5K but still seems a bargain for the age and mileage.

Not seen it yet, but put down the deposit pending a test drive. Previous owner was SEAT, hopefully looked after but I'm told it's perfect. Aiming to pick it up at the end of the month when company car goes back.

Excellent! Enjoy it