Looking at buying a LCR, but should I be concerned by mileage?

[coops10]

Hey, this is my first post here so go easy on me

Im looking at buying a LCR and have a budget of up to max £7k. I have found one on pistonheads that I am going to view on Wednesday:

pistonheads.com/sales/1150031.htm

For £5999, with the modifications that have been done, it looks like a steal. However the mileage is my main concern.... 84,000 miles

Now ive spoken to him on the phone and he works at Seat, he has regularly serviced it and has a full seat service history.

My question is how do they cope with high mileage and should I steer clear? I aim at having the car for maybe 3 or 4 years, but dont drive a lot of miles, up to 6-7k per year. Leaving it at around 105k when I come to sell it.

What do you think?

Thanks, Coops.

 

[smithygcupra]

If looked after these cars will go on forever....inevitably you will have something go wrong at some point as all cars do. Ive had my Leon cupra two years now and it has never had anything go wrong with it.

 

[Steely]

in a nutshell i'd say a well maintained 1.8t should see close too the 200k mark,


but its also in the catagory of how long is a piece of string, they're hard engines,

 

[coops10]

Thanks, sounds good, I found another thread which said pretty much the same thing. And this guy works at Seat and has always had it serviced and maintained there.

Im seriously tempted by the one on pistonheads, only £6k and it has near on 260/270bhp. Does it look good to you guys ?

 

[Steely]

its reasonably priced, haggle a bit , the key is maintainance, good parts, and generally allowing the engine and turbo to warm up to temp and cool down properly, its easy too look after a turbo, but its also quite easy to kill one too

have a look at its history, head to toe it, you;ll be-able to see if its in good nick, cars like lcr's are best comming from enthusiasts, and being on pistonhead i's say its quite likely that is its a car nuts car,

if you're not sure then just walk away,

 

[coops10]

its reasonably priced, haggle a bit , the key is maintainance, good parts, and generally allowing the engine and turbo to warm up to temp and cool down properly, its easy too look after a turbo, but its also quite easy to kill one too

have a look at its history, head to toe it, you;ll be-able to see if its in good nick, cars like lcr's are best comming from enthusiasts, and being on pistonhead i's say its quite likely that is its a car nuts car,

if you're not sure then just walk away,

When i spoke to him on the phone, he sounded like a car nut! The reason for sale is he has bought an Evo !!

He says the car had 1 year warranty left when he bought it so he claimed a lot of new parts on the warranty. Seems to have been looked after well.

Im going to see it on Wed, is there anything i should be looking out for ?

(i know Kyle'87 from here who has a ibiza cupra and he is coming with me so should be able to help)

 

[glangri2]

Thanks, sounds good, I found another thread which said pretty much the same thing. And this guy works at Seat and has always had it serviced and maintained there.

Im seriously tempted by the one on pistonheads, only £6k and it has near on 260/270bhp. Does it look good to you guys ?

I paid £5400 for mine about 6 weeks ago. It needed a little bit of work so after £350 in the body shop, and £100 on parts I am very happy with it. It has got 77K miles on the clock, and I am planning on keeping it for 4-5 years. The engine has a fantastic reputation, and there are so many cars out there that use it.

I worked for Ford for nearly 10 years in Engine design, and we always designed the engines for 200K miles, and I know that VAG use similar criteria.

£6K sounds like about the right price based on the others that I looked at.

There of plenty of owners on here with cars on well over 100K, and they are going strong.

 

[glangri2]

I've just had a look at the Piston Heads link.
Ask the guy how long he has been trying to sell it for. I think that it was up for sale when I was was looking for mine, but he was asking for more than £6K at the time !

 

[coops10]

I've just had a look at the Piston Heads link.
Ask the guy how long he has been trying to sell it for. I think that it was up for sale when I was was looking for mine, but he was asking for more than £6K at the time !

I asked exactly the same thing when on the phone to him as i recognised the photo. Said he had it up around a month ago for £7500, had a bit of interest but nothing to serious. Now he just wants to sell it.

 

[DJ-LIAMC]

I got mine for £5300 03 lcr with 69k on the clock Standard. didnt thrash it on my test drive which i should of because 2nd gear syncro was gone Got it refurbed for £180 . Then realised it wasnt boosting to find out that my boost valve was plumbed in wrong so i fixed that (0£), Then found out that it was remapped boosting at 20psi lol great news saves me £300. so very happy with my purchase and im guessing the car was so cheap due to the boost valve and gearbox but all good now . So on your test drive check all gears at high revs because it can be very pricey.

 

[GlanzaV]

I got my GF her LCR about a month ago now - 52plate with 35000mi on the clock WoOt! One lady owner from brand new and her husband was a car nut, drove a 56plate RS4 and it came with a wallet full of receipts, car magazines reviewing the LCR when it was brand new. Can't have got a better one I don't think - though I paid a bit more than people are saying here; though it was fairly local too which was another big factor in the purchase (never seen it hooning around lol!)

 

[JamJay]

Nothing wrong with paying more for a good one Glanza!

 

[6th.replicant]

It depends how the mileage has been accumulated. If it's been via motorway or rural journeys, then 84k won't be a problem with a pukka FSH.

However, if the mileage is via lots of stop/start town driving - or part-time mini-cabbing - then the gearbox/clutch/drive-shafts/brakes/turbo/exhaust encounter a lot of extra wear & tear, plus there'll be extra carbon/soot deposits in the engine & turbo.

Also, ask the owner to take you for a drive when the engine is cold - explain that you're "not familiar with LCRs & you just want to see how everything works". If he thrashes it from cold to impress you - walk away pronto! It's also a useful way to get an idea of someone's driving style - does he drive with 'mechanical sympathy' or is he 'heavy handed' with the clutch/gearbox/throttle/brakes?

I worked for Ford for nearly 10 years in Engine design, and we always designed the engines for 200K miles, and I know that VAG use similar criteria.

It used to be the case - not sure about today? - that VAG designed & built its engines to finer tolerances compared to Ford & GM, which is why, for example, Mk2 GTIs (8v & 16v) would actually get quicker when they got to approx 80k miles.

 

[Rich23 UK]

Looks like a goodun.

Drive it and see what you think. But judging by the current owners credentials it look like an ideal choice.

Oh and don't worry too much about the mileage. Mines on an 05 plate with 84k. Serviced regularly by Seat main dealer and VAG specialised. Admitedly it's had a new head and turbo in it's time it runs sweet as a nut.

 

[coops10]

Going to see it tomorrow so will see what its like. Thanks for the input guys

 

[b1nuzz]

I currently have my LCR 225 for sale. Its done 67k miles and still going strong. You probably came across it on pistonheads!

The mileage shouldn't be a problem as long as it has been looked after well. Mine still drives like new!

 

[JamJay]

You're all selling up! I found B3LSY's on there too for a mere £6k.

 

[coops10]

I currently have my LCR 225 for sale. Its done 67k miles and still going strong. You probably came across it on pistonheads!

The mileage shouldn't be a problem as long as it has been looked after well. Mine still drives like new!

I don't think I saw it? Do you have a link to the advert please?

Thanks!!

 

[b1nuzz]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1311428.htm

Not sure im allowed to post links to pistonheads, but since you asked, here it is. Im open to offers. get in touch. My e-mail is ben(at)utopium.co.uk or phone 07811 981 040.
its advertised on here too.

Just think, you would have a wicked drive home down the M4!

 

[Mashburn]

Ive had my 03 plate LCR for around 2 months and its on 93k now. Paid £4250 for it.