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Mon 19 Oct 2020 01:13

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

Hi all, I hope someone can help.

I would like to purchase a car. It is a 2011 1.4 tsi Seat Alhambra manual transmission, one owner. It's 55k milage FSH and £9500. Next service and mot is due June/July 2021

It will be an online purchase (so I will not view car until delivery) and is being sold by a Seat approved used dealer. It comes with 12 month warranty, mot protection etc.

But it's the MOTs past emmisson issue (I'm hoping a new exhaust would have solved this?) and repeated oil leaks which are causing me concern...

The sales guy told me the oil leak was fixed and they put new tyres on, but I'm not convinced. Should ask him if I can see paperwork confirmation that shows that the mot advisories have been fixed?

Based on the MOT history and the little detail I have given, can anyone advise me if I should risk it or walk away. Thanks in advance.

The cars past MOTs are as follows:

Date tested10 June 2020PASS

View test certificate

Mileage52,250 miles

MOT test number3244 7876 6966

Test location View test location

Expiry date2 July 2021

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

What are advisories?

Date tested9 June 2020FAIL

View test certificate

Mileage52,242 miles

MOT test number4059 1922 9661

Test location View test location

Repair immediately (major defects):

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

What are defects and advisories?

Date tested3 July 2019PASS

View test certificate

Mileage47,091 miles

MOT test number6802 3954 3484

Test location View test location

Expiry date2 July 2020

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

What are advisories?

Date tested26 June 2019FAIL

View test certificate

Mileage47,091 miles

MOT test number8546 6418 6712

Test location View test location

Repair immediately (major defects):

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

What are defects and advisories?

Date tested29 May 2018PASS

View test certificate

Mileage41,691 miles

MOT test number1057 7881 5118

Test location View test location

Expiry date28 June 2019

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexi (6.1.2 (a))

What are advisories?

The MOT test changed on 20 May 2018

Defects are now categorised according to their severity – dangerous, major, and minor. Find out more

Date tested12 June 2017PASS

Mileage36,045 miles

MOT test number8436 2619 2445

Test location View test location

Expiry date28 June 2018

Advisory notice item(s)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

What are advisories?

Date tested21 June 2016PASS

Mileage30,076 miles

MOT test number4337 2536 9714

Test location View test location

Expiry date28 June 2017

Date tested23 June 2015PASS

Mileage24,558 miles

MOT test number6856 0487 5135

Test location View test location

Expiry date28 June 2016

Date tested17 June 2014PASS

Mileage18,042 miles

MOT test number4478 7816 4140

Test location View test location

Expiry date28 June 2015

Outstanding vehicle recalls

Check if SEAT ALHAMBRA SB11JHJ has outstanding recalls

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 06:33

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - _

Is this the VAG engine with the chain cam problems?

First, Thanks foor asking us.

Secondly

Do Not Buy THIS CAR.

It is way way overpriced

For that money you can get a KIA Rio still under warranty and I am sure lots of others here can find you a suitable car if you give us a location

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 08:50

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Wee Willie Winkie

A quick autotrader search shows no petrol Alhambras before 2016. Are you sure it's 2011? £9500 is a LOT for a nearly 10 year old car, especially as autotrader has 2016 models for not much more.

As for buying unseen and accepting the word of a salesman? Not a chance.

A Kia Rio probably isn't the right size if the OP wants a people carrier..... but £9500 will get you into a Kia Carens from 2016.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 08:56

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - _

A quick autotrader search shows no petrol Alhambras before 2016. Are you sure it's 2011? £9500 is a LOT for a nearly 10 year old car, especially as autotrader has 2016 models for not much more.

As for buying unseen and accepting the word of a salesman? Not a chance.

A Kia Rio probably isn't the right size if the OP wants a people carrier..... but £9500 will get you into a Kia Carens from 2016.

Apologiies, wasn't awake.

Yes I meant a Carens.

The Carens has the same engine as my sportage and that 1.6 engine is good.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 09:15

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - nellyjak

Wouldn't touch it myself....why take the risk.?

Find a vehicle you can SEE and DRIVE before making a purchase.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 09:37

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - badbusdriver

Whether or not a Kia Carens or similar would suffice will depend on how much space you need. The Alhambra is a ‘full size seven seater’, and as such would be comfy enough for seven adults (not their luggage though, alas!). A Carens would be better considered as a ‘five plus two’ seater, with the rear two best suited to children. If that would suit your needs, there are many other options, either a 2011 car much cheaper, or a much younger £10k car. But if you need an MPV the size of an Alhambra, with a petrol engine, the pickings are very slim indeed!.

Looking on Autotrader, as has been noted, very few other Alhambra’s, certainly around that age, same for its VW twin, the Sharan. Did notice a 2012 Ford Galaxy with the 1.6 turbo petrol for under £7k, which seemed much better value than your Alhambra, but there were only a couple showing nationwide.

As was also mentioned before, I’d be wanting to find out whether your Alhambra uses the chain drive version of the 1.4TSI, this has a poor reputation for reliability.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 09:20

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - pd

Although it seems a lot the price is about in line with the guides for a franchised dealer sale. Maybe £500 over but not hugely over.

I think I'd want a full and proper explanation what the oil leak was and how it was fixed before considering it. I'd also want something in writing to that effect and a new MOT to confirm it. It may have been an easy fix but it is so difficult to tell without looking at the car.

Emissions I have come across MOT failures on this engine for this before and it is always on low mileage cars. The solution has always been to take it "for a damn good thrashing" after which it passes the MOT and starts better.

Personally, I'd go and look at this car before buying it. People carriers can also have a hard life and I'd want to see the interior etc. myself.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 09:37

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - catsdad

The reg , buried in the text, is SB11 JHJ.

HJ pricing tool suggests £6.6k from a franchised dealer.

Aside from the high price what would put me off are the two episodes of excessive oil leaks. Minor leaks on a car of this age are normal but excessive means a really active drip onto the ground. The chances of its having suffered engine damage would appear high.

The chances of the dealer really knowing what the full repair history is are slim to none.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 09:59

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - pd

Autotrader have it at £8500-£9000.

I think HJ is out of date with the current market where things are silly prices.

Edited by pd on 19/10/2020 at 09:59

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 11:06

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Just a few opinions

Seems a crazy price for almost 10 year old VAG car.

Be very careful with this engine.It is in the EA111 dodgy years that the infamous poor camchain/tensioner design and terrible supplier chain quality severely affected virtually all 1.4/1.2 tsi engines (up to 2012).

If it rattles loudly when started from cold having stood overnight, walk away. Make sure no-one has started it in the hour prior to witnessing as this will disguise any problem. Even then its not a foolproof test.

Ask where exactly was it leaking oil and how did they fix it.

Oil leaks may be because the chain has been changed which involves removing the sump and timing covers, all of which need to be meticulously cleaned of old liquid gasket, and the correct, expensive sealant used carefully and correctly. Even dealers don't get this right, only way to fix is to remove sump again, clean again and retry.

Continuing Oil leaks would be worry me, they only get worse over time.

Strongly advise a visual inspection as has been said, some MPV's get a hard life with kids kicking everything in sight.

A petrol engine will not be very economical in a heavy Alhambra.

Spark plugs required at 60,000 miles absolute max. Check when they were last changed. They are expensive iridium plugs.

Ask for its repair history and if its been in the dealer network. At this price check its had annual servicing always done on time, by that I mean every year, no extended oil changes sometimes called variable oil services. If oil changes extend beyond a year on this car, the cam chain suffers accelerated wear especially as the mileage indicates possible short run use with frequent cold starts. That would also possibly explain exhaust issues.

Edited by brum on 19/10/2020 at 11:37

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 10:17

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Bromptonaut

No knowledge of this particular model but if there's doubt about the description and whether the engine size and year match that need resolving.

I would have though it unusual for a car of that age to be offered under a franchisor's approved used scheme but some dealers might be prepared to do so if it's a car sold/serviced by them. I bought a high mileage diesel Roomster from the Skoda dealer on that basis'

Like others I'd be wary of buying a car that may be nine years old unseen.

Some MoT items like emissions too high or steering faults will result in a fail and may be bad enough to be dangerous.

Advisories are usually notes of something the owner will need to monitor like tyres near but not at their limit. or minor corrosion. Sometimes though they imply a limit to the test. Examples might engine cover limited view under bonnet or wet test which means the vehicle was tested after being driven in rain makin oil leaks less visible.

www.f1autocentres.co.uk/news/mot-advisory-notes-ex...d

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 11:40

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - madf

The MOT history showed owner(s) basically ignored issues until forced to act.

It's an OLD car .

Old cars need careful maintenance to keep them going properly.

Old cars corrode.

So you want to buy - sight unseen - a neglected car with a history of oil leaks and poor maintenance.? You can be sure there will be lots of parts close to end of life ..

Run - don't walk - RUN away.

Heap of expensive issues...likely..

Edit: Is it cheap ? NO. If it was cheap.. but it is not,

Edited by madf on 19/10/2020 at 11:43

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 12:08

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - pd

Agree, it would have to be 100% and absolutely mint to be worth considering at that price unseen.

It is neither so wouldn't bother. If it was a bargain and worth a gamble maybe, but it is not.

Incidentally, oil leaks on MOT can be anything. Can often be power steering fluid - not necessarily engine. Can be anything from some oil which missed the filler running down the engine a tiny bit to the Exxon Valdize. Impossible to tell from paper (or screen), you always need to look.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 12:35

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - catsdad

Good point pd.

The MOT Handbook gives leak limits. To fail for leaks it needs to be forming a patch 75mm or more on the floor within 5 mins.

Pretty horrendous rate in practice I would have thought.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 12:47

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Engineer Andy

Agree, it would have to be 100% and absolutely mint to be worth considering at that price unseen.

It is neither so wouldn't bother. If it was a bargain and worth a gamble maybe, but it is not.

Incidentally, oil leaks on MOT can be anything. Can often be power steering fluid - not necessarily engine. Can be anything from some oil which missed the filler running down the engine a tiny bit to the Exxon Valdize. Impossible to tell from paper (or screen), you always need to look.

Indeed - a former colleagues BMW (diesel) 3-series has oil leaks, but which weren't attended to for over a year, and the engine expired one morning when starting on his driveway, emptying its contents onto the drive, ruining both in the process and costing several £0000s to put right.

I agree that this car is certainly not worth the high risk, especially if it's also overpriced for its age and condition, plus previous owners not seemingly attending to possibly significant issues raised in MOTs. Especially as it hasn't been inspected by someone with a good deal of mechanic's knowledge on behalf of the OP.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 19/10/2020 at 12:48

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 15:51

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

Don’t touch it, this engine is notorious for timing chain failures and was replaced in 2012 with an updated belt driven version. I get the appeal but either spend substantially more and buy a 2013 on TSI or a post 2014 2.0 diesel, if you do regular longer runs to appease the DPF. Don’t touch the auto either. If funds won’t allow this then look elsewhere. Give us a search area and your requirements plus budget and we’ll come up with a few nearby options.

Edited by SLO76 on 19/10/2020 at 15:52

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 16:20

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Don’t touch it, this engine is notorious for timing chain failures and was replaced in 2012 with an updated belt driven version. I get the appeal but either spend substantially more and buy a 2013 on TSI or a post 2014 2.0 diesel, if you do regular longer runs to appease the DPF. Don’t touch the auto either. If funds won’t allow this then look elsewhere. Give us a search area and your requirements plus budget and we’ll come up with a few nearby options.

I'm not sure it got the EA211 replacement in 2012, as the engine was only launched in the Golf and Octavia mk3 in 2013, I think it took a couple of years after that to get into most other VAG cars.

On checking, the first EA211 CZDA engine didnt come into Alhambra and Sharan until 2016.

There may have been other alternatives 1.8/2.0tsi however they too are cam chain with all the problems of EA888 gen 1/2 i.e. dodgy chain drives, blocked piston oil rings, excessive oil burn to name the worst bits. Alhambra/Sharan never got the finally sorted gen3 or gen3b

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 17:45

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

“I’m not sure it got the EA211 replacement in 2012, as the engine was only launched in the Golf and Octavia mk3 in 2013, I think it took a couple of years after that to get into most other VAG cars.

On checking, the first EA211 CZDA engine didnt come into Alhambra and Sharan until 2016.”

“In late 2012 Volkswagen rectified this problem by upgrading the CAVD EA111 to the CTHD engine. This was released with upgraded pistons and piston rings, oil squirters, a stronger timing chain tensioner and a few other tweaks. It is much more reliable engine and does not share the same problems as the CAVD. With minimal modifications (approx 2-3 hours) the CAVD engine can be replaced with the late model CTHD.“

HJ Reviews Seat Alhambra Good and Bad section.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 20:28

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

None of those cam chain EA111 variants found their way into the Alhambra SLO

It was fitted with the original CAVA variant through 2015, although there may have been upgraded chain designs as happened with the CBZA/CBZC 1.2tsi EA111 engines in 2012 with no engine code change along with substantial other design changes (oil capacity to name one)

7zap.com/en/catalog/cars/Seat/brand/16/0/Alhambra/

First Belt driven EA211 fitted was CZDA variant in 2016, much much better engine, widely acknowledged as one of VAGs best efforts

EA111 can be great engines but best avoided unless you know the history 100% and what to look out for.

CAVD variant was 160bhp and the infamous CAVE supercharged 179 bhp were fitted to hot hatches, both were inherently unreliable.

Edited by brum on 19/10/2020 at 20:44

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 21:19

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 21:40

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

From a quick look around online there seems much confusion as to when the 1.4 TSi’s were replaced with the newer belt driven design but from what I can see it began production in 2012 and it seems odd that they’d produce both designs for any length of time. It is entirely possible of course but I’d verify with a Seat main dealer service dept before buying one.

That said I recall the heated debate I had with Skidpan a couple of years back regarding the availability of non-DPF equipped Kia Rio’s, Cee’d’s and Honda Civics post 2010 and requests to dealer service departments and customer services were all over the place. One said they did another they said they didn’t. Seems HJ and the current owners of this site believe the Alhambra changed in 2012 and they’re usually fairly accurate.

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 21:47

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Skoda who manufacture all these engines did not start producing the 1.4 tsi EA211 until 2014, the first EA211 engine was the 1.0mpi in 2012

From skoda website....

www.skoda-auto.com/news/news-detail/3-millionth-ea...e

Milestones for EA211 production in Mladá Boleslav
2012: EA211 production begins with the 1.0 MPI
2014: Production of the 1.4 TSI and 1.6 MPI begins 2015: Production milestone reached: 500,000th EA211 built
2016: Production of the 1.0 TSI begins and production milestone reached: ŠKODA AUTO manufactures its 1,000,000th EA211
2018: Production of the 1.0 MPI EVO begins
2019: ŠKODA AUTO manufactures its 2,500,000th EA211
2020: ŠKODA AUTO manufactures its 3,000,000th EA211

HJ is wrong, he probably looked up Wikipedia which is an unreliable source having conflated the start of 1.0mpi which is the 1st EA211 released.

The engine was phased in across the group with release of MQB models.Sharan/Alhambra got it shortly after the facelift in 2015

Edited by brum on 19/10/2020 at 22:15

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Mon 19 Oct 2020 23:03

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

Thanks brum, I believe you are correct. Did a bit of further digging and from what I can find the Alhambra didn’t get the EA211 1.4 TSI 150PS until May 2015. Here’s a list of dates that may prove helpful, if accurate. Though again it does show some VAG models having had this engine as far back as 2012 which doesn’t fit with Skoda’s info. Is this the only plant that builds this engine? I can’t find anything on where they’re built.

Could it be that the later date is just when Skoda started making it? But then the figures do look like global scale production. I’ll stick to advising people off any pre 2015 VAG petrols or diesels to be sure. They’re a bit hit and miss on reliability anyway even though the EA211 has proven robust to date, its predecessor was anything but.

A neighbour bought a very nice low mileage 2012 Skoda Yeti TSi under my advice a while ago. I did tell him to call the local Skoda dealer service dept and verify if it was the belt driven engine which they told him it was yet when you hear it start you can clearly hear the rattle of a chain before the oil gets to quietening it down. Thankfully he’s moved away and won’t be able to throw things at me when it eats itself.

motor-car.net/vw-engines/item/20088-vw-ea211-4-cyl...r

Edited by SLO76 on 19/10/2020 at 23:13

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 00:26

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Further research shows EA111 and EA211 engines were also produced at Chemnitz, lower Saxony but details are extremely difficult to find. Highly likely they started before Skoda I think

Its easy tell the difference - the EA111 cam chain engine has a large metal canister type oil filter very obviously on the top left front of the engine facing you when you open the bonnet. EA211 engine oil filters are hidden down below on the front of the oil sump, not easily visible from above.

The EA111 has the turbo and exhaust cat at the front of the engine, EA211 its behind the engine.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 10:11

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

Hi, thank you for all of the detailed information.

I know nothing about cars but yes I also had some nagging feelings.

The only reason I felt even slightly at ease going through with purchasing is because it is through a seat approved used dealer. They say it comes with a a12 month warranty, full service history check, 110-112multi point check, 12 month mot protection, roadside assistance and 30 day exchange etc. I kept asking about the oil leak and emisson issue and he said he would send me the Multipoint check list and the new mot on Wednesday (tomorrow) to review.

I am very much in need of a car and the sharan or alhambra seemed perfect with seating space and number and sliding doors. However petrol and manual transmission is hard to find at an affordable price. My previous cars were a grand scenic and audi a2, both diesels (before the children). But I think my driving style requires a petrol. I do not often drive long distances and rarely spend more that 30mins to 1 hr driving maybe 2 or 3 times a day.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 10:14

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

Yes it is the chain cam version but that's all I know. Should I ask him to provide the engine code and/ or take a picture/ video of what's under the bonnet?

From what I gather from the information you have provided, I should spend a I little more and be looking at alhambras and sharans built after 2015 with EA211 engines?

Salesman said they wouldn't usually sell a car that old but said car and service history was mint and therefore was able to sell it with the vw/seat 1 yr warranty.

I'm in the south east and I am looking nationwide.

I also drive about 2000 - 3000 miles a year.

Edited by Sasha Thompson on 20/10/2020 at 10:41

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 10:51

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - _

Thanks for coming back and telling us,

But after 35 years in the trade and now retired a bit, I wouldn't touch this one .

That is way too much money to lose if it goes pear shaped.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 13:22

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Thanks for coming back and telling us,

But after 35 years in the trade and now retired a bit, I wouldn't touch this one .

That is way too much money to lose if it goes pear shaped.

ORB is correct. It is way overpriced and is of dubious quality, I also note it is located in Ayr at the opposite end of the country to you, so not much chance of inspecting it in person which it certainly needs accompanied by a trusted mechanic familiar with this engine. And it won't be easy to fix anything in case of problems, "just fetch it back in....."

A printout of 112 point check and a copy of the MOT is just the usual unverifiable sales garbage. I doubt there are 112 things that need checking on a car. Windscreen washer fluid level ok.....yeah.

Last year I looked at buying an under three year old car from an approved used dealer, I asked to inspect the service history of this so called FSDH car. It had gone almost 25,000 miles and 29 months from new without any service, which was just done before it was put on the forecourt.. Only Oil and filter were changed. Saleman did not accept my arguement that under any service regime (Skoda}, that this car did not have a valid history and so manufacturer warranty or goodwill, he kept insisting it had a full perfect history and there are no problems with warranty or longevity of the car So I just walked away.

Car salesman do lie frequently, and are very experienced in convincing customers that black is white. Never trust them.

According to some trade mag articles, used car prices which have risen to dizzy heights due to exceptional combination of circumstances this year, are now showing initial signs of collapse as more used cars are starting to flood the market with the end of furlough and availability of money getting tighter.

Lease/PCP/unaffordable cars etc are being returned and the intial surge of must have buyers has started to disappear with the usual seasonal slump that happens at this time of year.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 14:04

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

“ ORB is correct. It is way overpriced and is of dubious quality, I also note it is located in Ayr at the opposite end of the country to you”

My neck of the woods. I’m 5 mins away. Had a look on Autotrader and I can’t find it. Can you link the advert for me? I know the local Seat dealer in Ayr is a good one, they’re not cheap but they sell a good well prepared car.

Edited by SLO76 on 20/10/2020 at 14:08

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 14:49

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - _

The car exists, but where it is advertised I certainly cannot find it...

Perhaps the Op could tell us exactly where the car is?

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 15:12

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - joegrundy

It was at Ingrams, Ayr, but 'has been sold or is no longer on the database'.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 17:20

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

I have screen shots of the advert. But I can't find the advert online anymore. I have a video (I removed link).

Registered 2011 54262k colour is Nayara Blue petrol manual 1390cc engine stop/start system, roof rails, rear view camera, front and rear sensors, 17 inch alloys, park assist, heated front seats, Bluetooth, cruise control, auto lights etc 240 tax 167 g/km Co2

Edited by Sasha Thompson on 20/10/2020 at 21:18

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 17:23

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Avant

Sasha, the most important thing to come out of this is not to buy a car which is located miles away from you. Consumer legislation protects you to an extent, but not against the logistics of taking a car back to the selling dealer several hundred miles away if it's faulty. And this one is.

The used car industry isn't one where you expect miracles. But there's a miracle implied by the MOT history you've quoted: in one day and 8 miles, all the serious faults were cured and the oil leak ceased to be excessive. Clearly the seller went to find a more amenable MoT tester.

If it's been sold already, let's hope it's to some other punter and not you.

Take time if you can, and keep looking. There's a Cars for Sale button on this site at the top of the page, as well as Autotrader.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 18:01

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

I can vouch for this particular dealer but I wouldn’t recommend buying a chain driven TSI VAG car no matter how well serviced it was. It’s a flawed design which is prone to failure plus I agree that buying locally makes more sense. The only exception would come if the warranty was manufacturer backed and could be used at another franchise dealer but you’d need to verify this first. The only way I’d buy this would be if you could extend the warranty to cover the full term you’d own it and again only if it was a Seat backed warranty with no claims limit or at least £10,000 minimum to cover engine failure.

At this sort of money a younger and more reliable Vauxhall Zafira 1.4T would be a wiser bet if you must have a people carrier of similar size.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 18:17

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

He did say that it will come with a 1 year vw/ seat warranty and repairs can be completed at any approved seat vw dealer. Or something along those lines. But I agree with all of the advice and comments. Thank you.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 18:46

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

Here's a link to the SEAT approved used warranty booklet (pdf download)

vwfsinsuranceportal.co.uk/media/1006/17374-seat-fi...f

Always worth reading warranty terms and in particular exclusions.

Significant features and benefits of the policy

This is a Named Component policy which covers only those components that are listed in this policy.

Significant conditions and exclusions of the policy

The maximum we will pay per claim is £1,000 incl. of VAT. The maximum payable withinthe period of cover is the market value of your vehicle at the time of sudden failure.

We will not pay for:

• The failure of any components as a result of wear and tear

• The failure of any fixed or portable in car entertainment systems or satellite navigation system

You must ensure your vehicle is serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.

And the big one (re oil leak....)

• We will not pay for repair or replacement if the fault causing the component failure or damage existed before the Warranty came into effect.

Edited by brum on 20/10/2020 at 18:49

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 19:08

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

“ The maximum we will pay per claim is £1,000 incl. of VAT. The maximum payable withinthe period of cover is the market value of your vehicle at the time of sudden failure.”

Very poor for a manufacturer back approved used warranty. Unacceptable and next to worthless as any moderate to major failure will cost substantially more. I’d check that this is correct and isn’t a named component extended warranty policy.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 19:43

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - brum

“ The maximum we will pay per claim is £1,000 incl. of VAT. The maximum payable withinthe period of cover is the market value of your vehicle at the time of sudden failure.” Very poor for a manufacturer back approved used warranty. Unacceptable and next to worthless as any moderate to major failure will cost substantially more. I’d check that this is correct and isn’t a named component extended warranty policy.

SLO It is not a manufacturer backed warranty, its a VW UK financial services insurance product.

The only manufacturer backed warranty ever available on any VAG car is the original new car warranty or an extended warranty that is ordered and purchased with a brand new car prior to first registration. Once registered VAG extended / used approved warranties are then VWFS products that are underwritten by an insurance broker, I forget the name but Im sure Google knows

Be aware of the term "sudden failure". A rattling chain is not covered. Neither is the unresolved oil leak reported on the MOT. which existed before the cover is taken .Market value of the car in six months time? Anyone's guess.

Another doozie from the terms and conditions....

• Servicing must be carried out in accordance with vehicle manufacturer recommendations. Genuine brand components, oils and other fluids or components, oils and other fluids of equivalent specification and matching quality must be used. Failure to comply with this condition will result in a Warranty claim being rejected

• Failure to keep your vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s service schedule will void the Warranty. You must keep all servicing receipts and invoices. We will be entitled to check that your vehicle has been serviced regularly and may ask to see these in the unlikely event that the condition of your vehicledoes not appear to correspond with your vehicle service schedule.

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 21:59

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

I've decided on not purchasing the alhambra. But just for clarification, I would need a post 2015 engine for either the alhambra or sharan. www.lookers.co.uk/used-car/volkswagen/sharan/1-4-t...9 something similar to this listing?

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Tue 20 Oct 2020 22:17

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

Every approved used car I’ve sold or personally owned had a manufacturer backed warranty with no claims limit up at least to the value of the car. I’m surprised by Seat’s wholly inadequate warranty but VW financial services are part of the VAG group so it is a manufacturer backed warranty.

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Thu 22 Oct 2020 07:46

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Domina29

Larger Mpvs seem to be a dying breed. Alhambra was discontinued this year March and the sharan will be discountinued at the end of this year I think.

The zafira was discountinued in 2018. Plenty of 7 seater SUVs though...

I've decided on looking into a vauxhall zafira tourer from 2012 onwards with the 1.4t petrol engine and manual transmission. Depending on age, milage and history I'm hoping max price I will spend will be between 7-8k. However most of the 2017 and upwards have quite high mileages 40+k. I have seen a nice 2013 tourer techline, decent milage priced around 6500.

I will plan an upgrade to a larger mpv over the next couple of years... I have to watch the market. But, even at this time the serena, elgrand, i800 even with auto transmissions seem better priced. They have a petrol hybrid, which is low on emissions.

People on here are right about how high used car prices have become especially for petrol manual tramission vehicles. I think maybe because the ultra low emission zone is soon to be extended in London and other places and manual transmissions are cheaper to maintain? ...

I would usually have gone for a diesel, but since the pandemic I do not do long distances. In addition, I've heard places like Bristol are banning 'all' diesel cars in their city centre at certain times and some councils in London also add an 80 surcharge to parking permits and 25% extra for parking tickets even with a euro 6 diesel.

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Thu 22 Oct 2020 11:40

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - joegrundy

I note that with a 5+ year old car the warranty is a 'named component' warranty with a £1000 claim limit. I don't suppose that's highlighted by dealers when selling a 5+ year old car car with the 'used approved' warranty.

I remain extremely cynical about 'used approved'. i do note, however, that Kia used approved (under 20 months/20k miles) offer a fresh full 7 year Kia warranty from the date of purchase.

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Thu 22 Oct 2020 15:26

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - SLO76

“ I note that with a 5+ year old car the warranty is a 'named component' warranty with a £1000 claim limit. I don't suppose that's highlighted by dealers when selling a 5+ year old car car with the 'used approved' warranty.”

You’re right, I’ll bet that dealers will be very quiet about this. In my day an approved used car had an all singing all dancing warranty for at least 12mths, if the car didn’t qualify for this by either not having a full dealer history or it was too old or up in the miles it was sold by another branch or went to auction. It seems standards on approved used cars have plummeted in recent years. I was particularly appalled by Honda approved used stock at our local dealer. The Seat approved used warranty offers cover that is wholly inappropriate for a complex modern car. £1,000 wont look at a major failure.

Edited by SLO76 on 22/10/2020 at 15:27

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Thu 22 Oct 2020 15:49

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - RT

“ I note that with a 5+ year old car the warranty is a 'named component' warranty with a £1000 claim limit. I don't suppose that's highlighted by dealers when selling a 5+ year old car car with the 'used approved' warranty.” You’re right, I’ll bet that dealers will be very quiet about this. In my day an approved used car had an all singing all dancing warranty for at least 12mths, if the car didn’t qualify for this by either not having a full dealer history or it was too old or up in the miles it was sold by another branch or went to auction. It seems standards on approved used cars have plummeted in recent years. I was particularly appalled by Honda approved used stock at our local dealer. The Seat approved used warranty offers cover that is wholly inappropriate for a complex modern car. £1,000 wont look at a major failure.

I've heard some horror stories on a VW forum about the Das Welt Auto approved scheme - lack of preparation seems to be the main issue.

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 10:22

SEAT Alhambra 2011 1.4 TSi - Car purchase help - Westbury33

Lots of sound advice already on why not to buy.

I have had the misfortune of a VAG group Approved Used Warranty. Do not think for one moment that the warranty has anything to do with Seat. Its merely a white label insurance product and very over priced at that. Avoid.

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