Joined up after reading this thread, there was a link posted on tyresmoke.net.
Really sorry to hear the problems you have had, but you have to see it from Seats side too, although they should have said "We will find the fault and if it has been caused by mods you will be charged, if it is a genuine manufacturing fault we will cover the costs."
This would have been fair and would have kept a customer on side, they way they have gone about it really hasn't done them any favours.
I would like to know what relay went down and what mods you have done, you may have rectified the fault but the cause might not have been sorted yet.
Now, the reason I wanted to post was I think you are mad to sell the car.
You say you owe £15k, and this is what they have said you need to pay to keep the car?
You also say they are giving you trade price back which is £11600??
Well you could refinance the £15k over 60 months with no balloon, even at 8% apr that would only be £302 a month.
Why pay them £3500 to get out of the car now?? You may as well pay that and have the car for another 12 months. At the moment cars are loosing around 45% in year one, however, by year 3 they are still worth around 40% of the list price, so you have now just seen the big hit, to jump ship is financial suicide.
Even if you see another 12 months out, paying what you were going to pay to get out of the car (and at least you still own it) you will probably find what you owe is pretty close to what it is worth at the point, selling in a private sale.
I know you are annoyed with Seat and with the car, but stop and think about this for a moment, you obviously liked the car up until the day this started, so cut all ties with the finance company and Seat and enjoy it again.
£3500 to get out, or £3500 to drive it round for another year?? It's a no brainer really mate.
If you need a contact who can sort new finance for you and settle the old finance with no fuss drop me a PM and I will give you someones details.
All the best.
Guy