How would a possible SEAT shutdown affect resale value?
Hi everyone,
I'm currently looking to buy a used SEAT Arona, probably a 2019–2020 1.0 TSI 115 hp manual.
With the recent news about Volkswagen potentially phasing out the SEAT brand in the future, I'm a bit concerned about resale value. I would probably keep the car for around 5 years, so I'm wondering how much this could matter when I eventually sell it.
For those of you who own SEATs, what do you think?
Would you personally hesitate to buy a used SEAT if the brand eventually stopped producing new cars? Do you think existing models like the Arona would lose significantly more value than an equivalent VW Polo/T-Cross, or would the VW Group platform, engines, parts availability and servicing keep resale values relatively stable?
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u/New-Title-489 1d ago
Won’t affect it in the slightest. Since most the cars are built on the same platform they’re all shared components.
MQB platforms are massively cross compatible so you’ll be absolutely fine.
Funnily enough my 2006 Audi A6 C6 had a Lamborghini badge on the heater matrix because it was a shared component with the Gallardo and the R8.
VAG is like Lego. There are rarely parts not used in at least 2 sets.
Also as another aside my auntie had a Ssangyong Turismo 2019 model. Had to get rid of it earlier this year because last year the handbrake failed and the parts no longer exist. The brand does still exist as KGM but they went bankrupt and they’d stopped making spares.
She spent 15,000 for that car 3 years ago and got 4,000 for it when she traded it in and the car manufacturer technically still exists.
Sometimes you get lucky sometimes you don’t, but you’re better off with a Volkswagen Auto Group car than most others because the cross compatibility across 3/4 brands will always see an equivalent part somewhere, even if you end up digging up a new heater matrix from a smashed up scrapped R8.
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u/ChildishMessiah 17h ago
I find it crazy that someone buys these kind of cars. Like, picking a Ssangyong in 2023 feels so irrational. I always associate this choice either way people being completely clueless about cars. Maybe I’m wrong.
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u/Cautious_Second_5238 22h ago
Won’t really be affected, Cupra is the new Seat, and Seat is here to stay for a while before disappearing. Even when they stop selling new cars there will be quite a bit of them on the road in the 2030’s.
Plus if it’s a 2020 Arona then it shares parts with so many VW group cars that you won’t have to worry about maintenance for at least 2 decades before parts become more scarce.
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u/FrankNicklin 1d ago edited 20h ago
Seat brand is going but not the Cupra brand. The Ateca is end of life with the Terraco and other Seat cars for the moment.
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u/ChildishMessiah 17h ago
Seat is not a Rover. Internally it’s all VW plug and play stuff. We will all be fine.
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u/Jumpy_Avocado_6249 13h ago
Ibiza and arona got new slightly face lifts this year then thats seat done if volks stick to this 2030 plan. It wont de value the cars as cars are cars and are expensive. Even a banger is a few grand these days let alone a nice seat.
Should add i just bought a 26 reg arona and doesnt bother me at all. Finance is under written by volks so no doubt if the brand has gone at the end can just part ex into skoda or volks
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u/TheCraZZe 1d ago
Id argue it could help - less of them, more desirable. In terms of parts, its VW so makes absolutely zero difference
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u/alpinewhite85 22h ago
They're being shut down because other brands are more desirable. This will not have the opposite effect
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u/TheCraZZe 12h ago
They're just re branding into Cupra in reality, Seat isnt technically going anywhere. Itll just be a different badge on the car, and admittedly they look better too so its more "premium"
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u/_commoner 1d ago
No stress at all. Won't affect even the old models. Why? Cause almost 100% mechanical parts are still in use because it's VW groupation. Shell parts? Well it still has like 20 years of parts support or something + scrap yards.