Anyone got a Seat Exeo? Any good?

[dugsud]

I'm just in the process of choosing my next company car and like the look of the Seat Exeo Sport Tourer. I know they are based on the last generation A4 which is no bad thing and for a similar spec/engine combo the nearest A4 is £6-8k more!

I'm thinking of the 170PS diesel which is a good engine in other VAG products. Any opinions?

[CraigyMc]

dugsud said:

I'm just in the process of choosing my next company car and like the look of the Seat Exeo Sport Tourer. I know they are based on the last generation A4 which is no bad thing and for a similar spec/engine combo the nearest A4 is £6-8k more!

I'm thinking of the 170PS diesel which is a good engine in other VAG products. Any opinions?

Can't speak for the exeo, but I hate that engine. I tried it in a golf and it is the only diesel I've had problems with, pulling away from junctions using just the clutch. No torque at all at idle (good engine once running further up the range though)

C

[BlackMCS]

I had the A4 on which the Exeo is based. Was a tough car and had barely a squeak from it in just under 3 years of ownership. Ours was a petrol though, we test drove the 140 diesel and it shook like a tractor at idle.

[xr287]

This isn't in any way useful to you but it has just occured to me that I have only seen 2 of these in the flesh since they came out and one of those was a nearby neighbour who seemed to work for VAG and was always bring home a different Audi/Seat etc. I wonder how well they are selling.

[Six Fiend]

See lots of them on the motorways all over the UK. Look good in the metal to me, especially estates.

[CraigyMc]

Six Fiend said:

See lots of them on the motorways all over the UK. Look good in the metal to me, especially estates.

I've never seen one in the flesh. (20K miles pa)

[dugsud]

I see one every few days but they are pretty rare. I think they've only been out a year and a bit mind.

I may be able to go for the 2.0 TSI petrol is it a better engine than the diesel? I only do 18k a year so it'll be close cost wise.

Edited by dugsud on Wednesday 22 December 23:02

[BlackMCS]

I'm not sure if they use the new TFSi engine but the 197 bhp version I had in the A4 was smooth, quick enough and gave low 30s mpg. Used a bit of oil though - a litre every 5k miles or so.

[dugsud]

BlackMCS said:

I'm not sure if they use the new TFSi engine but the 197 bhp version I had in the A4 was smooth, quick enough and gave low 30s mpg. Used a bit of oil though - a litre every 5k miles or so.

It's the latest VAG Tfsi engine and makes 211ps in the Seat.

[Chris_w666]

Not sure about the Exeo but I quite like the way the estate looks, however in the Passat both the 140 and 170PS TDI lumps felt very sluggish. I would want the petrol unless I was doing huge miles.

[anonymous-user]

Chris_w666 said:

I quite like the way the estate looks

Its not an estate, its a sport tourer

I think externally they look great, one was sitting next to me at the lights today and from the side it is very difficult to tell apart from the A4 avant. Are they as nice and well screwed together as Audis internally?

[ManOpener]

dugsud said:

BlackMCS said:

I'm not sure if they use the new TFSi engine but the 197 bhp version I had in the A4 was smooth, quick enough and gave low 30s mpg. Used a bit of oil though - a litre every 5k miles or so.

It's the latest VAG Tfsi engine and makes 211ps in the Seat.

It's a great engine and probably the least powerful one I'd consider in an A4 sized car.
The Exeo is, AFAIK, identical to a B7 A4 but with Seat front/rear lights, wheels and the odd bit of interior trim. Didn't they just move the entire production line to Spain?

[fatboy b]

The Dash in the Exeo is straight out of the A4 cabriolet, so it's almost a 10 year old design. That said, it's a nice dash, but things do move on.

[dugsud]

Just wanted to bump this for any more opinions before I pull the trigger on an Exeo ST 170 Sport as below...

[Shaun_E]

I've had one for a year now. It's a saloon, SE Lux specification with the 170ps diesel engine. The engine is fine - I drove a 143 on the test drive which was OK but the 170 has a lot more grunt. Never had a problem pulling away in it but it is not as economical as some modern diesels (or perhaps I just drive it too hard). I get about 48mpg on a run, high 30's araound town and 33mpg towing my Caterham on a BJ Minno trailer (which it does easily).
It's a decent drive and the interior is much better finished than any other SEAT (this is my 3rd having had a Mk1 Leon Cupra R and a Mk2 Leon FR previously). The big downside for me is that the interior is definitely "previous generation": the stereo doesn't show track listings from an iPod/USB (although it does from MP3 CDs) and the Bluetooth phone connection is very basic. The dash lighting is a sort of orangey/red which looks a bit dated too.
The SE Lux comes with most of the toys you would expect but SatNav is an expensive option. The Sport Tech looks like a great option as you get leather, Sat Nav and a BOSE stereo with iPod connection all for about £900. Downside is you get sport suspension - the standard suspension rides much better but still provides decent body control (how hard do you really want to push a big diesel car!).
All in all I think it is a very good value car and I have been generally happy with it.

[dugsud]

Thanks Shaun

Very useful info. It is the Sport Tech that I'm going for which is really good value. To get an A4 or 3 series touring to equivalent spec is £8-9k more!!

[DannyVTS]

I've only ever seen 2 of these, both saloons in resale black.

That blue tourer looks the sex. Get it. Now.

[Thom987]

Would it not be better to buy the old A4 on which it is based?

[dugsud]

DannyVTS said:

I've only ever seen 2 of these, both saloons in resale black.

That blue tourer looks the sex. Get it. Now.

I'd get the blue in a flash but it's not a UK market colour

[dugsud]

Thom987 said:

Would it not be better to buy the old A4 on which it is based?

But why would I buy a two or three year old car with perhaps 40k on it in preference to a brand new car with a manufacturers warranty?

Just for the badge?