The Ateca is a two edged sword for us, after 2.5 years now. It’s definitely one of the most fun to drive cars on the scheme, if you enjoy spirited driving. Pulls somewhat decent (for 150hp), very planted, plenty of feel in the steering, loads of grip – but, that comes with a big downside.
It never relaxes. The ride’s firm which can become grating where we live, as well as the build quality being.. rather “rattly” by now. Plenty of creaks, squeaks, rumbles and clackering in the interior which i personally have trouble to come to terms with.
Equipment wise it got everything, including all the bits that no one ever needs (autoparking etc). It’s rather frugal, constantly returning 45mpg and more (on a 9 mile trip) which isn’t bad for a 1.5l petrol with 150hp and automatic.
All in all, it’s a good car. Indeed, for the £1700 AP we paid back then, it’s a great car. For the £4000 SEAT is asking now for it? I’d be annoyed. The quality, or rather.. “solidity” just isn’t there for that kind of money.
And the Golf, well.. Yes. It’ll arrive. Probably. No one knows when (ordered Nov. last year, build date was week 34 but got cancelled when the Ukraine war started, no date since), potentially not even this year anymore. We got quoted 6 months in November, lol. On the upside, i’ve talked to my saleslady about it already, and as a gesture of good will (hence me pointing that out), we’ll get a fully charged battery, a full tank, the luxury carpet mats (optional extra, £75) as well as the semi-rigid boot liner (£58) thrown in, as a thank you/sorry. We also got a verbal agreement (i don’t know how much that’s worth, but alas) for an ID4 as courtesy car if the need arises, through an extended test drive.
I’ll be honest, as much as we fell in love with the car on our extended test drive (got it for 5 hours, drove around 100 miles), if the dealership would tell us “well, yeah, we quoted you 6 months, but it’s now around 18 – take it or leave it”, we’d probably gone somewhere else. To me, a good relationship with the dealership is important, and if i get the idea that i should be grateful that i get the car eventually in the first place, rather than making an effort, i walk. That’s just me personally though. It, as i said, depends on whether or not you could get an alternative through the scheme in the first place. If nothing’s there, then of course you’re shagged.