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Following my other half success at passing her driving test i am looking for a cheap first car. i have seen a Seat arosa that looks tempting, bUt could it be trouble in the form of expensive repairs. ?
it is S Reg 1.0 litre engine 88 K miles, any opiinion welcome thank you all
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get it, they are cool cars
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Reasonable mileage for an 11-year-old car - not too high, not too low. it could be a good buy provided that you aren't paying more than a few hundred pounds for it.
if it looks as if it's had a particularly hard life, walk away: at this end of the market condition is more important than make or model, and there are plenty of other possibiltiies.
Edited by Avant on 22/03/2010 at 22:57
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the one i have seen is £900, seems a lot to me and a freind has told me they are dreadfully expensive on clutchs & cambelts.
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isn't it a Vw Lupo with a different badge... i looked at one a few years ago... i'd have thought subject to the usual checks it should be ok... not heard of problems re cambelts etc? have you looked at hJ's secondhand buying guide for them??
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My daughter bought a 1.0 '99 Lupo 5 years ago at 33k; i've now got it as my (and family) spare car at 67k, after my daughter found a 1.4 Lupo.
whilst basically similar cars, there are detail differences between the Lupo and arosa, however my observations are as follows
- the Lupo is nicer inside than the pre-face lift arosa
- for cheap cost of purchase and insurance, and considering its size, the Lupo has very good NcaP crash test results
- our car is boomy at 65-75mph; fitting the underbonnet sound-deadening from a 1.4 Lupo helped and was simple and cheap (approx £25 new)
- a 1.4S Lupo is a much more refined car, (more soundproofing, electric windows, opening rear windows, power steering , improved access to rear) although less charactorful, a bit thirstier and a group higher insurance.
hJ warns about the cost of clutch replacement on the 1.0 compared to the 1.4, though my independant Vw/audi garage doesn't seem to think it would be too much more.
cam belt and full service (filters, plugs etc) cost me £325 3-4 years ago.
From memory, i've had to replace the fuel filter under the tank (5 minute job, once you've done it once!), the oil pressure sensor, the wiper rack (after the linkage fell apart) and the clutch pedal assembly; this may be a weak point, as the 1.4 also had the same problem, and is not such a quick job as the dash and steering column have to come out. if the clutch action is awkward or heavy, be aware!
hJ in the Lupo review also warns of internal condensation if used for short journeys; this happened to mine this cold spell, when the oil pressure warning light came on when starting one frozen morning. if you get an arosa/Lupo, get the breather checked/cleaned when it is serviced next.
i got 50 mpg on a regular 130 mile motorway round trip comute - 75mph there, 65mph back. Daughter used to get 45mpg whilst (shorter!) commuting on b roads; short town trips drops consumption to low 40s mpg.
watch for paint bubbling in roof seams and tailgate
i think they're great cars - so long as you don't want or expect to spend your time in the outside lane at 80mph!
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