TECHNOLOGY TO ENJOY

10th November 2014

L drivers queue up for lessons in “green machine” SEAT Leon bought from Croyde Motors

/ Driving instructor Paul Marquardt hails Leon SE as ideal driving school car/ Lima green car dubbed “green machine” helps first time pass rate soar/ User friendly technology helps pupils build confidence on the road

Learner drivers in North Devon are queuing up for lessons with top driving instructor Paul Marquardt as word spreads of the popularity of his SEAT Leon “green machine” bought from Croyde Motors.

Ex-police response driver Paul, who runs Excel Driving School, bought a new SEAT Leon five door SE 1.2 TSI 110 PS in Lima green, from the SEAT dealership in Jones’s Hill in June after previously owning three SEAT Ibizas, which had also served very well as driving school cars.

But Barnstaple-based Paul, 57, has been stunned by the immediate impact of the punchy Leon which has put the first time pass rate of his pupils on course for a 20 per cent hike. Furthermore pupils are now being entered for their driving test after an average of 29 hours of lessons, as compared to 38 hours with previous cars.

Paul, who is an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), said: “I am delighted with my new Leon. As well as having bags of power it is very smooth running and very forgiving for a driving instructor.

“My pupils love learning to drive in it because it is very difficult to stall with the stop/start technology offering great clutch recovery. It’s powerful enough too to allow pupils to pull away from a stationary start in second gear if they have missed a gear change.”

Paul’s impressed pupils have also commented favorably on the “very comfortable” ride while other equipment such as automatic lights and rain-sensor windscreen wipers all help to build their confidence on the roads. “I constantly hear from my pupils about the ease of driving this car and its great visibility,” added Paul. “I haven’t met one pupil who hasn’t been impressed with it. If you make a mistake there are no delays. Also of great help to learner drivers is hill assist for those moments they forget to put the handbrake on.”

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Paul, who has been a driving instructor since 2006 since retiring from Devon & Cornwall Police on medical grounds, added: “This car ticks all the boxes for what I need too for my personal use. It has presence on the road, looks sporty and is fun to drive, and as a five-door it’s great for trips with the family.

“I am clocking up a mileage of up to 30,000 miles a year and working up to 12 hours a day, but I know I can always rely on Croyde Motors to keep me on the road. I have never been off the road for anything other than a service.”

Roy Thackray, Customer Services Manager at Croyde Motors, knows only too well about the track record of Paul’s awesome “green machine” as daughter Danielle, 18, a service receptionist at the family dealership, recently passed her driving test thanks to Paul’s expert tuition, while sister Chantal, 17, has just started a course of lessons with Excel Driving School.

Roy said: “If you are targeting a youthful market for lessons you need a young-spirited car so the new SEAT Leon is ideal for this purpose. The car holds its value well, is reasonable to insure, offers great fuel economy and has an impeccable safety record. Youngsters clearly get a feel good factor learning to drive in it.”

The SEAT Leon SE 1.2 TSI 110 PS can presently be snapped up at unbeatable value. It is available on 0% HP (hire purchase) at £239 per month or on Solutions PCP (personal Contract Plan) 4.9% at £175 per month. Both deals include, free of charge, a Technology Pack worth £1,930 and comprising full LED headlights, Satellite Navigation and DAB radio.

For further information contact Croyde Motors on (01271) 890260 or visit www.croydemotors.co.uk

Picture caption: Green machine…Danielle Thackray at the wheel of the “Green Machine” with father Roy Thackray and Paul Marquardt (right).

(Ends)

SEAT is the only company in its sector with the full-range capacity to design, develop, manufacture and market cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in more than 75 countries. In 2013 SEAT achieved a business volume of 6,473 million euros, the highest figure in its history, with worldwide sales of 355,000 units.

SEAT Group employs 13,500 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon, amongst other models. Additionally, the company produces the Alhambra in Palmela (Portugal), the Mii in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the Toledo in Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic).

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The Spanish multinational also has a Technical Center, a ‘knowledge hub’, bringing together more than 900 engineers whose goal is to be the driving force behind innovation for the number one industrial investor in R&D in Spain. In line with its declared commitment to environmental protection, SEAT undertakes and bases its core activity on sustainability, namely reduction of CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, as well as recycling and re-use of resources.

For more information please contact:

Jonny Sharp, Account Manager, SEAT Dealer PRTel: 01827 875700; mobile 07921 511155 ; email: jonny.sharp@wlpr.co.uk

Sean Lees, SEAT Dealer PRTel: 01827 875700 ; mobile 07775 861628 ; email: sean.lees@wlpr.co.uk

http://www.seatpress.co.ukhttp://www.seatleonmedia.co.ukhttp://www.seat-mediacenter.com

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This news release and illustration are issued in accordance with Clause 1.2J of the British Codes of

Advertising and Sales Promotion and therefore cannot be the subject of a transaction of any kind.

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