Not quite a Citigo! - 50k miles owner experience

[pinkpanther]

The car  bought for members of the family to learn to drive in has now clocked up fifty thousand miles!

 

I bought it pre-registered in January 2019, in the 'pre-crazy car price' era for £7500 and in fact it was worth more than its purchase price for at least the first 3 years of its life!!

 

I swopped all 4 tyres for Michelin Cross Climate all-seasons 20k miles ago. 

 

Beyond annual servicing, it needed new front discs and pads and the rear drum brakes have never worked satisfactorily, despite repeated attention by 2 different main dealers.

 

Whilst under manufacturer warranty it needed a new electric power steering motor and replacement rear shock absorbers.

 

None of the SEAT main dealers we used were especially helpful, or offered exceptional service,  so it now goes to an independent VAG specialist for annual servicing - https://autohausdolby.co.uk/services-volkswagen-passenger-cars/

 

Despite 'only' 59 BHP it's great fun to drive and has averaged more than 50 mpg (at a fuel cost of 12.5p/mile) thus far👍

 

Total fuel cost has been £6268.68😳

 

Despite CO2 emmisions of 96 g/km the government's ill-considered VED policy means I pay the same for annual road Tax as a similarly aged Range Rover😠

 

I now primarily use it to carry bike(s), which had less effect on MPG than anticipated (September 2023 onwards).

 

I'm hoping for a similarly uneventful next 50k miles, although I guess that might be wishful thinking🤞

 

In my view it is a sad reflection of the car industry (? possibly driven by government policy) that such inexpensive cars are no longer readily available at reasonable cost.