Used car tests

Used buyer's guide: SEAT Toledo

The SEAT Toledo was a flop new, but looks good value second-hand

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18 Jun 2013

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What to look for?

• Most Toledos are owned by families, so make sure the interior trim hasn’t been damaged by young children.• Dual-mass flywheels can fail after 80,000 miles; listen out for rattling that’s louder with the clutch depressed.• The oil pump of the 2.0 TDI can fail, leading to the destruction of the engine and turbocharger.

Part-way through production SEAT gave up on petrol Toledos, so diesels are far more common. These combine economy with relaxed cruising, but don’t dismiss a petrol if you do few annual miles.

The 1.6 FSI is a good budget option, while the 2.0 is the same engine as in the MkV Golf GTI, but with 148bhp. The 1.9 TDI is frugal but gruff, so the 2.0 TDI is the best buy. In Sport spec, it comes with more comfortable seats, plus stiffer suspension that improves the drive without spoiling the ride.

Recalls

Reassuringly, the second-generation Toledo has been recalled only once – and even then, only 2.0 TDI models with a six-speed manual box were affected. The recall came in April 2006 and concerned the 1,477 UK-sold examples built from February 2004 to June 2005. The potential problem centred on the dual-mass flywheel, which could separate because of a fault with the clutch pressure pipe. In extreme cases, this could cause a fire; SEAT replaced the flywheel and pipe.

Check out the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) website for up-to-date recall information.

Driver Power

Our view:Not a single Seat made it into the top 100 of our Driver Power 2013 satisfaction survey, partly through the cars’ rarity and partly through dissatisfied owners. The highest-placed model was the ageing Altea, which finished 121st; next came the even older Leon MkII in 128th. Not very impressive.

Your view:Gareth Hill from Wigan, Greater Manchester, owns the Toledo 2.0 TDI Sport pictured. He says: “With comfortable seats and stacks of space, it’s very practical, economical and quick. Quality and reliability are excellent, but it’s only really suitable for four people and some parts are expensive.”