New LEON FR - Have I Paid Too Much

[nbullus]

Just ordered my first ever SEAT and part-exchanged my Skoda Fabia VRS (which I did love and have had some fun in so no jokes please).

Having searched the ads for a 12 month/or ex-demo one with a suitable spec (failed miserably) I ended up buying a new LEON 1.8 TSI with following extras:

- DSG with flappy paddles
- 18" Performance Alloys
- Technology pack
- Full Leather/Winter Pack
- Sunroof
- Sound system
- Spare wheel
- White paint

I realise that the Technology pack is actually a freebie and I also think the Winter pack comes with the Leather Pack anyway, so the total RRP quoted to me was £24,935 and I ended up shaking hands at £22,259. I went for 0% finance and they game me £8000 part-ex on the 2010 Skoda (very low mileage) which I was very happy with considering my card won't be hear for 3 months.

I thought I had struck a very good deal and was so looking forward to getting the car, but people are saying this is not a very good saving on a new car and I'm starting to think I may have had a surge of blood to the head and rushed into it now! I nearly went for the CUPRA 280 - god knows what they would have said if I had paid the £26,700 for th 5dr/DSG model with optional sunroof and Leather pack.

I suspect there are hundreds of people on here who have recently bought a new Leon FR so any advice would be helpful as I only put down a small deposit so could cancel if there are better deals.

Someone cheer me up please!

 

[morini]

Just ordered my first ever SEAT and part-exchanged my Skoda Fabia VRS (which I did love and have had some fun in so no jokes please).

Having searched the ads for a 12 month/or ex-demo one with a suitable spec (failed miserably) I ended up buying a new LEON 1.8 TSI with following extras:

- DSG with flappy paddles
- 18" Performance Alloys
- Technology pack
- Full Leather/Winter Pack
- Sunroof
- Sound system
- Spare wheel
- White paint

I realise that the Technology pack is actually a freebie and I also think the Winter pack comes with the Leather Pack anyway, so the total RRP quoted to me was £24,935 and I ended up shaking hands at £22,259. I went for 0% finance and they game me £8000 part-ex on the 2010 Skoda (very low mileage) which I was very happy with considering my card won't be hear for 3 months.

I thought I had struck a very good deal and was so looking forward to getting the car, but people are saying this is not a very good saving on a new car and I'm starting to think I may have had a surge of blood to the head and rushed into it now! I nearly went for the CUPRA 280 - god knows what they would have said if I had paid the £26,700 for th 5dr/DSG model with optional sunroof and Leather pack.

I suspect there are hundreds of people on here who have recently bought a new Leon FR so any advice would be helpful as I only put down a small deposit so could cancel if there are better deals.

Someone cheer me up please!

10.7% discount. Doesn't seem so bad I don't think, but if you read some of the other threads on here there are some brokers offering double that discount. Pretty sure you could do better, but there are some things to watch out for.

I think you need to read the T&C's very carefully and make sure you are comfortable with how some of the brokers operate before you commit.

 

[ZBOYD]

Think you did very well there on a factory dealer order. A brokerage deal like DTD might of shaved off a little more, but not a huge amount in my opinion, and I personally feel its better to strike up a rapport with the supplying dealer.

However any savings shouldn't be ignored, if a dealer steadfast refuses to come up with a discounted price, you walk away.

But based on the RRP thats a pretty hefty discount on a factory supplied car with a good spec, if your happy with the figure then really thats all that counts. I'd be surprised if you did much better than that really other than going through a broker.

 

[nbullus]

Hi Morini - thanks fro the reply

What are the pitfalls with the brokers then?

I did look at one broker who was offering the same spec £1000 cheaper, but no 0% finance and the part-ex was a joke. They were offering me less than webuyanycar who offered me £6900 for my old car as of now and this would obviously go down another £500-600 by the time I came to get rid of the old car in 3 months time. I didn't look any further as the savings made were wiped out by the poor part-ex offered.

 

[morini]

Hi Morini - thanks fro the reply

What are the pitfalls with the brokers then?

I did look at one broker who was offering the same spec £1000 cheaper, but no 0% finance and the part-ex was a joke. They were offering me less than webuyanycar who offered me £6900 for my old car as of now and this would obviously go down another £500-600 by the time I came to get rid of the old car in 3 months time. I didn't look any further as the savings made were wiped out by the poor part-ex offered.

Main pitfall is you could end up in a pre registered car. Might not be a big thing for you but it will affect residual when you want to sell.

Given that you managed a decent discount and secured a decent part ex price well above book I think you are doing pretty well. If it were me I would stick with the deal you have negotiated.

 

[jonjay]

I think you did great there mate as Zboyd said. I got offered similar by main dealer so pretty good going.

 

[keithjeb]

Not too far off the discount I got on my pre-reg 2.0 TDI 150 which was about 16% IIRC. That being said I did buy it in november.

Things will vary from dealer to dealer, but a friend of mine who works at a merc garage reckons around new reg time is the worst time to try and get a deal, as they get a lot of orders through simply to get the new reg. Whether thats a load of crap or not I don't really know, but it makes some sense.

 

[Buzzlightyear]

I don't have a direct comparison for the 1.8fr but have no doubt you'll love the Leon. I only recently joined the club having spent a few weeks weighing up pro's and con's of different specs and purchase options. I ended up going for a spec'd up pre-reg 2.0tdi fr184 5dr. The car had originally been registered by seat last September to achieve higher sales targets, but never turned a wheel.

I wasn't bothered about the fact the car was on 63 plate - it'll be having a cherished reg no plate applied, and only had 8 delivery miles on the clock. I was however drawn to the additional spec I got for the small sacrifice of being the second owner; technology pack, leather upholstery & winter pack, titanium pack, driver assist pack, convenience pack, led light pack, seat sound system and space saver wheels. The cost, £19,695.

Only you can put a value on being the first owner and the need for a sunroof, but it that's quite a lot less than you've described. Is it worth ringing a few dealers to see whether or not any pre-reg cars exist to suit your requirements..?

If petrol fun is more your thing I'd also be inclined to suggest for-going some of the additional extras you'd mentioned and going all out to buy a base spec 280 Cupra, which some brokers are advertising for under £23k?! That's a whole different level of performance for just a little more cash and a dare say could have much better residual value than the 1.8.

Cheers, Buzz

 

[nbullus]

Sounds like some people have had some really good deals on the pre-registered cars. I think my order was too bespoke and told to expect a 10-12 week wait, although I would have jumped at a pre-reg/ex-demo with a bit more discount.

I have to admit I had completely forgot about the new 14 reg so maybe SEAT have not been short on orders and reluctant to offer any big discounts given the free Technology pack and the 0% finance already being offered.

They did pull a few faces when I first showed them the figures I had been quoted at another dealer. My nearest dealer refused to beat/match it and the dealer I ended up ordering off would only match it. I know these dealers are a canny bunch and always making out your taking the shirt of their backs.

Anyway thanks everyone for the advice and input. Feeling a lot better now.

 

[smurf123]

hi i purchased mine 5 weeks ago white 63 plate fr 180 tsi manual with sunroof,tech pack ,18"alloys ,spare wheel
paid £18,400

 

[Brucie]

Nbullus, very similar price to mine mate, although I didn't go for the sunroof which saved me a bit of money. Also went for 0% finance like you.

Trade in for mine was a joke, so sold it on here instead which helped reduce the cost to change.

Initially went in to look at ex-demo, but wanted the full 3 years of warranty on the DSG gearbox and there were none around with the spec I wanted. Yes, it would have been cheaper to compromise on spec a bit, but thought I'd treat myself

Fingers crossed its on the boat as I type...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[speedfreak]

Looking for a white Leon ST (FR) 1.8 tsi manual with following options :
Convenience Pack
Driver assist pack
Winter pack
Seat sound system
LED interior lights
Titanium pack
Space saver spare
Drive The Deal have quoted £20,922 using Seat Finance
Will see if any local dealers can get anywhere near !!!!

 

[nbullus]

Looking for a white Leon ST (FR) 1.8 tsi manual with following options :
Convenience Pack
Driver assist pack
Winter pack
Seat sound system
LED interior lights
Titanium pack
Space saver spare
Drive The Deal have quoted £20,922 using Seat Finance
Will see if any local dealers can get anywhere near !!!!

Sounds like a good price as well.

Not quite sure whether DTD are allowing for the free Tech pack as they seem to charge for this in the RRP of the car when you select it.

 

[nbullus]

I just priced up my spec on DTD out of curiosity and it came in at £22145 - so only £100 cheaper. I'm pretty happy with the comments that my dealer discount was actually very ggo, especially considering the excellent part-ex he gave me as well.

CarWow certainly does seem a good point to start - 5 SEAT dealers quoted and my local delaer matched the best price I was offered from Stoke SEAT.

Counting days down until I get my eager arse into it for the first time.

 

[nbullus]

Nbullus, very similar price to mine mate, although I didn't go for the sunroof which saved me a bit of money. Also went for 0% finance like you.

Trade in for mine was a joke, so sold it on here instead which helped reduce the cost to change.

Initially went in to look at ex-demo, but wanted the full 3 years of warranty on the DSG gearbox and there were none around with the spec I wanted. Yes, it would have been cheaper to compromise on spec a bit, but thought I'd treat myself

Fingers crossed its on the boat as I type...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi Brucie. You shouldn't compromise on your spec - you have what you want as it's your car so nothing wrong with treating yourself. Not like we do it every year is it !! Enjoy