12th Jul 2011, 12:28

I bought a 5 year old Alhambra Stylance 1.9 TDI 130bhp in April 2010 in order to start up my own airport transfer business. I read up about the known faults and the recalls (dual mass flywheel), but comparing this car to others in its class (Sharan, Galaxy, Peugeot 807/Citroen C8), it was a no brainer based on price, reliability, and specification. I had previously owned a Seat Leon, so was familiar with the brand.

The car has gone from 40k after 5 years to 120k after 6 years, and I have had no major problems whatsoever. It's funny how people have issues with their own car and suggest that the whole range is problematic!

I did 40k on my first set of tyres, budget Sunew's, which I was impressed with. I changed to winter tyres in Nov 2010 just before the snow hit, and often found I was the only vehicle ploughing through the snow, and they did 20k with hardly any wear, so will do another season at least. I am now on another budget brand, which cost £55 a tyre, and there is hardly any wear at all, although I am aware some people have problems with the rear wheels toeing in and wearing sometimes.

I find swapping front and back wheels prolongs tyres massively.

The air con packed up recently, but it turned out to be a simple pressure switch - don't get conned into having a new compressor, as often these still work with a live feed into them.

The only gripe I have is with the number of fuses and bulbs it seems to blow, but then I am doing 1500-2000 miles a week. I go through tail light bulbs and side light bulbs regularly, and more recently brake light bulbs as well. Otherwise, electrically the car is absolutely fine.

I have it in for an oil change and filters every 10k, and changed the cambelt when I bought it, and again just recently after another 80k. The only other sign of wear in the engine had been the fanbelt, so we replaced that before it pinged.

However, I have been informed there are rubber particles now visible underneath, which suggests the dual mass flywheel is on the way out. I had previously read that my model had a massive recall, but had been informed that my own had NOT been recalled, yet at 120k miles it appears to have packed in. Am I able to get any assistance from Seat UK on this, as it suggests to me that if they had a partial recall, it should have been a total one?

I'd just like to add that if people actually take care of their cars, service them regularly and when they need it, and take the necessary precautions such as changing belts etc, they should find the car runs for a long long time. I have been informed by my mechanic, a small back street workshop who specialise in VAG group cars, that this should last me to about 300k miles without any major issues.

Internally, the car is mint. I keep it that way. But many 2nd hand I saw were worn out badly, especially in the final row of seats where kids had obviously been allowed to spill drinks and wipe their grubby little hands!

For an MPV it drives well. 130bhp is no monster, but it pulls well, particularly when loaded with 6 passengers and a trailer full of luggage weighing around 120 kilos! I have to say I've been really impressed with the car, and the only upsetting thing for me is the massive stone chips on the bonnet - £200 for a respray can wait a while though, as it will only get more of the same.

I test drove lots of other cars in this class, and the Seat drove so much better than all of them, including the VW, which felt wobbly and like a canoe. The Stylance does have a better ride, and the engine is responsive enough. I hated the lack of power in the French cars, and the cost of replacing the electric doors that are known to fail was too much to bear, so I opted for the Seat with its higher spec than the VW models.

The only thing that irritates me is the creaking I get from the rear seats when I have passengers in them. Not all, but a couple of them. I've tried greasing the feet, oiling the springs and mechanism that folds up when you remove them - no change. It really does make it sound as if the passenger is overweight and putting pressure on the seat!!! Anyone got any ideas for this issue?

I'd recommend the car for anyone looking for a reliable spacious and comfortable MPV, but be prepared to service and look after it regularly and not scrimp on the maintenance that so many people put off. False economy I am afraid. But try and find a Stylance, as the other's level of trim is quite bland and dull. My passengers all comment on how comfy the seats are.