View Full Version : Refinement at high speed
Can anyone tell me if the Altea cruises well at motorway speeds?
I am looking to buy the 2.0 TDI but am worried about desiel rattle and comments over wind noise.
Thanks
Dudemeister
04-02-2005, 10:01
Can anyone tell me if the Altea cruises well at motorway speeds?
I am looking to buy the 2.0 TDI but am worried about desiel rattle and comments over wind noise.
Thanks
hi mate - there is a little wind noise on ours at around 80mph but it cruises superbly on the motorway. You would not know it was a diesel. The only time you know you have a diesel is on idle and low revs.
Very quiet and comfy (my opinion).
hi mate - there is a little wind noise on ours at around 80mph but it cruises superbly on the motorway. You would not know it was a diesel. The only time you know you have a diesel is on idle and low revs.
Very quiet and comfy (my opinion).
I would second that. The wind noise is just a slight russle which you only notice since the rest is so silent. You also get a nice growl from the engine when pulling away quickly which is rather pleasent, my old Citroen gave no growl. At motorway speed, I have hit 100 without any problem and it's a very willing car to drive. Altea 2.0 TDI DSG. I reckon you'd get to 140 without any problems if you felt the urge looking at the rev counter and speedo. Should say hard not to drive fast in fact, but as others say you can slap the cruise control in to keep the speed down within those 30 MPG areas.
The wind noise is a slight problem but the worst thing i have found is the steering seems to wander a bit at high speeds,might be something to do with the powered steering being electronic and not mechanical,but otherwise it is a quite nice cruising car.
Also set your radio to auto volume increase as the drowns out the wind noise as you go faster.
hibitdat
05-02-2005, 15:11
Yep I can support the comments about the excellent high-speed cruising ability, at least with the 2.0TDI. The 1.9 and petrols are less good at high speed, being shorter geared.
The wind noise is a little more than you might expect for a car of this price but the engine noise is very well controlled, being more refined especially at speed than an Audi A3 packing the same engine.
I have no such steering problem as mentioned by achjeep so maybe you have a slight tyre pressure imbalance or wheel alignment issue? Ours (and the others I have driven) track straight and feels totally confident even at highly illegal (in this country!) speeds. Infact the Altea makes an excellent long distance companion, and I guess it would be ideal on an autobahn where it feels like it would cruise all day in excess of 120...
Personally I hate the auto-volume control on the stereo but then I hate the dire sound of the stereo anyway!
The wind noise is a slight problem but the worst thing i have found is the steering seems to wander a bit at high speeds,might be something to do with the powered steering being electronic and not mechanical
Well you do have to keep a steady hand at high speed since the power steering sensitivity adjusts to the speed, a sneeze at 80 MPH would have more of an effect than at 30, for sure. I am still getting use to compensating for the number of wheel turns at slow speed to high speed. I would not say that it wanders at high speed but more at slow speed where you have to tuck it in more at corners since one doesn't rotate the wheel sufficiently and that one is me.
Guys, thanks for all your comments. They have been a great help. I better see if I can get a stereo upgrade! (Does it really sound tinny?)
Nice to know that wind noise aside, the car is virtually silent.
Just leaves me to test drive a golf 1.9TDI v Altea 2.0 DSG. Judging by remarks already made, I think the Seat will win hands down.
I don't think it does sound tinny myself but then I'm not into boom boxes and base units in the back. You just got a devil of a job with factory fitted component car stereos to change speakers and it's probably this that people regale about.