Thoroughly Disappointed

[blueblob01]

As title reads.

Sold my 05 plate civic ep3 type R for nothing other than economy (45 mile a day commute)

6 months ago bought an 05 plate tdi fr 150 on 59k - Seneible obvious option? Economic and got some poke? well

Civic type R - CAST IRON BULLET 2 years of ownership not even a headlight blew.

Seat leon:

-Engine management light - fault code wiring loom for the glowpugs (common issue)
- the 3 hoses that link from the intercooler blew off under my wheels because of a failed clip (£3 part) - which from research is a P!ss poor design. - parts = around £200+ - metal pipe seems to cost a fortune
- Wheel bearing now making a noise - not got round to fixing yet
- Yesterday - Police sound coming from Turbo. All evidence from Seat and research points to the turbo being worn. estimated cost £600 upwards

every common fault with the leons has happened to me so far. This in total has not been an economic experience at all. The car has now only just done 63k WTF is going on? I darent show my sorry a$$ on the honda forum I used to belong to. Was told multiple times not to sell.

Think there needs to be a sticky somewhere saying how unreliable SOME seats can be.

By the way I can honestly say I drive my car sensibly. I didnt with the civic. But the leons not the same nutty reving machine.

I cruise in my leon cruising to bankruptcy.............

 

[MPJ88]

I think you've just been unlucky. Everyone has horror stories and yet there are also stories of these cars well in excess of 100k without any issues.

People simply wouldnt buy them if they were all as you've described.

Sorry you've been so unfortunate

 

[tony323ci]

I recently got rid of a Vauxhall Astra twintop convertible

loved the car to bits but you should read the horror stories about the roof operation and the dealer attitude if I had read that forum before I bought one I wouldn't have touched it with a bargepole

 

[53 Leon SX]

Think there needs to be a sticky somewhere saying how unreliable SOME seats can be.

You might as well ask for a thread saying how unreliable cars can be!

I'm sorry to hear about all the problems you've had though. Some people do get unlucky and have cars that seem to love having problems.

 

[Richard1983]

Just a case of bad luck could happen with any make of car

You cant tell me some one will not have had a smiler experience with a Honda being that unreliable.

for the past 5 year I have driven Seats and had nothing but usual wear and tear costs nowt else

 

[Pyro]

It's all about history

 

[Ape]

You bought a lemon, unknown to you. It happens dude. Doesn't mean all SEAT's are the same though. You get ones that are cared for, and still break. Ones that are uncared for, and run fine. Some which are maintained and never let their owner down. It's the luck of the draw with second hand cars, even the history can mean very little.

 

[kingbee]

Japanese cars might be the most reliable, but SEATs aren't that bad really, you just got unlucky I reckon. Before buying a Leon, I did a fair bit of research into reliability and decided it was worth it, due to the relatively good looks of the Leon (mk1) and low-cost fairly powerful motoring.

 

[53 Leon SX]

Just a case of bad luck could happen with any make of car

Yes, exactly!

You cant tell me some one will not have had a smiler experience with a Honda being that unreliable.

You have basically said here that I could tell you someone will have had a similar experience with a Honda being unreliable!

Anyway I think you meant that I couldn't give you an example of a Honda letting their owner down due to unreliability to which you're right...I don't know anyone who owns one for a start but I'm sure if I put unreliable Honda into google something would come up.

for the past 5 year I have driven Seats and had nothing but usual wear and tear costs nowt else

Why did you keep buying them then if this was the case?

As Pyro and Ape has said with any second hand car the important thing is its history and even then its used as an aid to make an educated guess. I'm not trying to have a go and I understand your frustrations honestly, but you said yourself in your first post every common fault with the leons has happened...I don't know what you expected if you know they are issues that potentially you'll be presented with!

 

[blueblob01]

Thank you all for sympathetic comments!

I also did a lot of research both honda and then the Seat. Friend has a garage and been deeling with VW most his life blah blah

yes aware of the common faults on cars with MUCH more milage!!!! 63k is nothing the car has barely broken in.
Jabbasport say that the 150 fr is one of the more robust turbos and a common fault on milage double what I have.

My understanding of diesels is that the "go on forever" and seeings shes done 63k I am not impressed.

In the Guildford area if anyone knows where the hell to start with getting this fixed!

 

[53 Leon SX]

Thank you all for sympathetic comments!

I also did a lot of research both honda and then the Seat. Friend has a garage and been deeling with VW most his life blah blah

yes aware of the common faults on cars with MUCH more milage!!!! 63k is nothing the car has barely broken in.
Jabbasport say that the 150 fr is one of the more robust turbos and a common fault on milage double what I have.

My understanding of diesels is that the "go on forever" and seeings shes done 63k I am not impressed.

In the Guildford area if anyone knows where the hell to start with getting this fixed!

Fair enough you do have a point and I don't doubt that you've done the research, I have no reason to after all.

Maybe the mileage has been tampered with??? Bit of a long shot that one though anyway...in the morning someone will most likely be along with more helpful advice blublob.

 

[blueblob01]

Mileage tamperage! This is the conclusion I am beggining to come to. Despite it having service history and the book links up with all chasis numbers etc.

I need sleep, have turbo specialists to call tomorrow!

 

[MasserS]

May improve when run in a bit, new driver sometimes causes problems, maybe the previous owner didn't get into boost on the turbo and you have? If it's been sat a few weeks I know that can open a whole can of worms, anyway good luck and have a scan at what else it due to be replaced

 

[Phoenix27]

You could always do the same as me....

I bought the car knowing i wanted to sort every 'common problem' out before it got too bad. Now it seems fine. On the bright side there can't be much else to go wrong.

Fingers crossed you get it sorted soon mate, i'm guessing you still enjoy the car despite this set-back?

 

[Slimy]

You could always do the same as me....

I bought the car knowing i wanted to sort every 'common problem' out before it got too bad.

That's the view I took, I knew what the common faults were and budgeted to fix them. I then bought a car that had about half of them, and sorted them. Once I get round to sorting the leaky doors I'll be back to 'square one', and with a car that I know the history of.

 

[Chrissy20vt]

My EP3 Type R suffered a few niggles, It was a 2004 facelift, Serviced 100% previously, But as said that had issues, gearbox was dying @ 76k wishbones loose etc..

Its just luck of the draw, I sold it to buy my current 2005 Leon Cupra R, And this has been spot on, Only 2 issues in 2 years - Turbo packed in (I dropped something down my TIP!) & Clutch died after 75k & stage 2 tune for over 18 months,,... Oh and 1 x hard trackday!

There are some good and some bad examples of every marque out there...

Chrissy

 

[lee_woollett]

I've had my fair share of lemons in the past and i feel your pain. I've had cars that have continually gone wrong whilst i've owned them, i then sell them and years later speak to the people who bought them and they say that they've had no trouble at all (i think i'm cursed ). My dad has been a mechanic for the past 30 odd years and has always drummed it into me that anything japanese made should be reliable, but german cars are probably just as good.

TBH my 11 year old LC has been the most reliable car i've owned (now close to 120k on original turbo). I took a big risk buying one without service history (my old car blew up and i had a day to find a new car with a budget of £2.5k all within a 10 mile radius of where i live). Mine was owned by a fleet car company so it's probably been serviced on time but they just couldn't find the documents.

Only issues i've had so far in 2 1/2 years is 1 coil pack break and 1 clutch pedal break (both common problems).

 

[Richard1983]

Why did you keep buying them then if this was the case?

As Pyro and Ape has said with any second hand car the important thing is its history and even then its used as an aid to make an educated guess. I'm not trying to have a go and I understand your frustrations honestly, but you said yourself in your first post every common fault with the leons has happened...I don't know what you expected if you know they are issues that potentially you'll be presented with!

I keep buying seats because i find them reliable the only costs to me have been service intervals, tyres, timing belt and brakes general costs of running any car.

I did make sure each one had a good service record so i guess it does pay off.

 

[53 Leon SX]

I keep buying seats because i find them reliable the only costs to me have been service intervals, tyres, timing belt and brakes general costs of running any car.

I did make sure each one had a good service record so i guess it does pay off.

Sorry Richard I got the wrong on of the stick on what you meant! Thought you was saying that all you ever seem to be paying for is repairs for common faults which what you said. I getcha now lol

 

[Applemobile]

I would just be glad you don't own a Honda. Vtec just kicked in y'all, and all that nonsense.