Despite having been a member on here since i bought my 2007 Leon FR mk2 as an ex-demo car in early 2008 i have been more of a lurker than an active participant on the forums for many years. But now I've hit what feels like a terminal situation with my Pride and Joy it feels like only other owners could understand this dilemma..... The missus certainly doesnt!
I noticed some slight bubbling of the paint around the rear passenger wheel arch back in May 2018. After removing the back wheels and liners it rapidly became apparent that i had a manufacturing fault on my hands. The adhesive seam on that side of the car that covers the lip of the car's outer skin/shell where it rolls under the wheel arch was not covering the raw metal edge properly or sufficiently. Over the 11 years of the car's life, water/moisture had gradually pushed in and the dreaded tin worm had taken hold along the line of a section of the wheelarch.
I embarked on 14 month mission with my local dealer, then SEAT UK and then assorted other dealers trying to get a repair under bodywork warranty. Eventually after much argument and patience a report came back that admitted - yes, the car hadn't been built correctly in the first place. This prompted a series of further various assessments by SEAT (and rejections/appeals) that ultimately resulted in a response that essentially said - Yep the car had a fault. Yep this was wrong from build. Nope, it wasnt damage of the type honoured under my (now expired) bodywork warranty, and the cost of replacing the rear quarter of the car and doing the fix (necessary in order to guarantee the repairs) was literally the book value of the car - so it wasnt economically viable. SEAT would therefore give me the cost of the repair (approx £2500) as discount off a new car - only and final offer.
I went back and forth a little longer and then looked into getting the repair done myself, couldnt get it below £1800 at any bodyshop of good repute. My case is now with the Motoring Ombudsman but they promise a response within 8 weeks if they're taking your case and i'm 14 weeks in with no response or replies to emails so it isnt looking good. Disappointing from SEAT but not entirely unexpected as they dont want ot be messing about fixing a 12 year old motor i suppose.
But I dont want a new car! My motor is mint, low mileage (just under 60k), has been over-serviced and worked on by myself, SEAT dealer and - in it's later years - a local VAG Independent. Every bit of the bodywork and paint is untouched, i've loved every minute of my ownership, and the thing has never let me down - ever.
I'm at a bit of a loss of what to do really. The rust is creeping round the arch now and needs action. A patch up/bodge job doesnt feel like i'm doing the car justice, but then 2 grand-ish on a 12 yr old motor seems over the top what with other life expenses at the moment, 4 kids etc. It literally feels.... disrespectful (??) to let it rot away - i was toying with spending a few quid on refurbing the alloys into black and maybe finally getting the leather interior done as i know a guy now.... But once the rot started it felt like i'd be chucking good money after bad.
Sorry for the essay, just wanted a rant/emotional outpouring! And other owners tend to be the only folks that get something like this.
I noticed some slight bubbling of the paint around the rear passenger wheel arch back in May 2018. After removing the back wheels and liners it rapidly became apparent that i had a manufacturing fault on my hands. The adhesive seam on that side of the car that covers the lip of the car's outer skin/shell where it rolls under the wheel arch was not covering the raw metal edge properly or sufficiently. Over the 11 years of the car's life, water/moisture had gradually pushed in and the dreaded tin worm had taken hold along the line of a section of the wheelarch.
I embarked on 14 month mission with my local dealer, then SEAT UK and then assorted other dealers trying to get a repair under bodywork warranty. Eventually after much argument and patience a report came back that admitted - yes, the car hadn't been built correctly in the first place. This prompted a series of further various assessments by SEAT (and rejections/appeals) that ultimately resulted in a response that essentially said - Yep the car had a fault. Yep this was wrong from build. Nope, it wasnt damage of the type honoured under my (now expired) bodywork warranty, and the cost of replacing the rear quarter of the car and doing the fix (necessary in order to guarantee the repairs) was literally the book value of the car - so it wasnt economically viable. SEAT would therefore give me the cost of the repair (approx £2500) as discount off a new car - only and final offer.
I went back and forth a little longer and then looked into getting the repair done myself, couldnt get it below £1800 at any bodyshop of good repute. My case is now with the Motoring Ombudsman but they promise a response within 8 weeks if they're taking your case and i'm 14 weeks in with no response or replies to emails so it isnt looking good. Disappointing from SEAT but not entirely unexpected as they dont want ot be messing about fixing a 12 year old motor i suppose.
But I dont want a new car! My motor is mint, low mileage (just under 60k), has been over-serviced and worked on by myself, SEAT dealer and - in it's later years - a local VAG Independent. Every bit of the bodywork and paint is untouched, i've loved every minute of my ownership, and the thing has never let me down - ever.
I'm at a bit of a loss of what to do really. The rust is creeping round the arch now and needs action. A patch up/bodge job doesnt feel like i'm doing the car justice, but then 2 grand-ish on a 12 yr old motor seems over the top what with other life expenses at the moment, 4 kids etc. It literally feels.... disrespectful (??) to let it rot away - i was toying with spending a few quid on refurbing the alloys into black and maybe finally getting the leather interior done as i know a guy now.... But once the rot started it felt like i'd be chucking good money after bad.
Sorry for the essay, just wanted a rant/emotional outpouring! And other owners tend to be the only folks that get something like this.