SEAT Toledo (2005 - 2008) 2.0 TDi Stylance 5d DSG (2007/07) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Doesn 't scream I drive an Audi but will out-perform many lower models easily, which is a shock for some. (Only 141bhp but the DSG gearbox seems to make it easy to pull away quickly if needed).

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They are a quiet bunch, my mum just likes to sit there and get a lift in silence, my brother likes the auto gearbox and my neighbours are probably sick of looking at it due to where I park it,!

Would you buy this car again and why?

Nah, I will keep it and drive my other cars more in future, a Lancia and a Volvo. My wife's Fiat 500 Twinair is also an option. Don't people have anything else to spend their money on?

What are you likely to buy next?

Not sure, quite like new Toledo and Leon also the MG6 GT will be cheap very soon.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£10,500

When did you buy the car?

March 2009

Did you get a good deal and why?

Not bad, mainly because I bought an obsolete model with a high spec which not meant people wanted it. Smarter money would have gone on the Altea or Leon, but I have no serious regrets.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

DSG auto gearbox, massive boot (drumkit), black with chrome and alloys looked smart. Nice heated leather, climate, Bluetooth, etc. I liked the gadgets, the salesman at the main dealer was a total scumbag though and like many others I have struggled to find anyone other than the girls on service reception who know what customer service is.

What was the dealer like?

Overall rubbish, don't buy here, there are plenty of others.

What's it like to drive?

Quick and noisy, engine, tyres and wind all quite intrusive. Sharp handling, was like a Golf GTI on the 18s. Power sterring sharp, gearbox a beauty

What's it like to park?

Hard work but learn to trust the parking sensors and use a lot of mirror to be safe.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Yes, leaking oil from the turbo pipe. Dual mass fly wheel is on its way out at about 50,000 miles, the heated wing mirrors have never worked, the passenger window was replaced for catching the mirror when parked. This window cable subsequently failed just out of warranty - SEAT price, try £500! 18" rear wheel cost about £1,000! BBS SEAT Sport alloys were nice looking but went through Pirelli tyres at a fast rate. Also too easily damaged on our appalling potholed roads. I took them off and fitted 16" wheels from an Altea, rides and handles slightly softer, but no tyre problems 18 months later.

What's most practical about your car?

Huge boot, sliding rear seats, nice leather which can be wiped. Big doors open wide, rear arm rest allows access to boot.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Heated seats, Bluetooth hands free voice activated phone is a cool thing to have and will be missed, reverse parking sensors, it needs them, dark privacy glass makes the interior cool in summer. DSG adaptive gearbox harms economy but is so easy to live with, bar £200 gearbox oil changes, don't go to SEAT for this, even VW will do it for less.....