Trudy M.
Dec 1, 2024
I really didn’t want to give this review as it isn’t the best. I went back to Motorvogue SEAT because of the amazing service I had the first time around when I got my first Motability car, an auto Arona FR Sport 5 years ago. Salesman Stefan knew everything, answered any questions, put me at ease & introduced me to driving an automatic for the first time.
This time I felt rushed from the first phone call to Nik, about making an appointment to try the new Arona, when he said what model/colour would I like to order!?! I wanted to see one, sit in it & drive it first!
When I went to see Nik he hadn’t got a car out for me to try. They were all parked very closely together & I had difficulty squeezing into one. I then arranged another appointment to test drive one the following week.
On arriving Nik said they didn’t have an automatic for me to test drive, which was the whole point of me going. His manager Dan came over & asked if I liked any other cars. I said the Ateca, but I couldn’t afford the advance payment on one. He then went to double check & came back saying SEAT would give me £1500 toward an Ateca, if I got it before the end of the year. That was the game changer & I agreed to a test drive. Nik handed the key to my friend & said off you go. Had I been on my own, I would not have driven it due to it being bigger than my Arona & my anxiety. I could have easily gone to another garage & chosen a different make/model. Luckily I wasn’t alone, but neither of us were familiar with keyless stop/start or electric handbrake, so it was trial & error driving it.
When we got back I said I’d still like to sit in the new Arona, but they were still parked in tight, so Dan told Nik to get one out for me. It has changed quite a lot interior wise & felt plasticky & looked tacky, but I’m used to driving one. Dan led us inside to check availability. The decision was out of my hands as there weren’t any automatic FR Sport or FR Limited Editions to be found, where I could get it in time to get the SEAT £1000 toward it or before mine was due back.
Dan then explained what the Ateca FR comes with & went through the colours. After much searching he found a blue one in Germany, so it was fate & meant to be! My friend decided to take advantage of the SEAT money back offer & ordered one in white! (Her’s was missing the 3 in 1 charger as is mine…)
When I went to collect my Ateca, Nik asked me to write a review without even seeing it!?! And for the second time in 3 visits, he got my friend & I coffees then said to go & try out the car. I’m on two crutches, wearing a splint on one hand & unable to carry or drink outside! After completing the paperwork & payment Nik handed me the keys & I went to set up my phone to it with my friend’s help, but he stood over us making me flustered, so I didn’t. I was given the temporary insurance & told I’d need to get fuel. The car had 5 miles worth left & was flashing on empty, so Nik told me where the nearest petrol station was & off we went. My friend thought he rushed us without explaining the car to us again.
It’s taken for granted that most people can get into any vehicle & drive it, but with my disabilities, anxiety & not being tech savvy, I would’ve liked to have been shown how it all works, but didn’t dare ask for sounding stupid.
It seemed obvious Nik’s new to the job, wasn’t familiar with all the cars specs, expected me to know how to drive it & tried to rush the process. He’s got a lovely, friendly manner if only he’d slow down a bit.
Once home, my husband & sons explained the keyless entry to me (I thought I had to use the remote every time), switching the automatic brake on after I rolled from a hill start, to put it in Eco rather than Drive, setting the car up to my phone & how it all works.
Overall, the SEAT Ateca FR is a great car & I’ve been so happy with her in the short time that I’ve had her.