Altea 1.6 petrol buying advice

[Marc81]

Hi All

I currently own a Fabia VRS tdi which i love, but as my better half is pregnant I am on the lookout for something that will fit the pram in. I've come across an Altea 1.6 reference sport at a local dealers which seems to fit the bill nicely and is a decent price but I know nothing about them at all hence i need your expertise

Are the petrol pretty reliable? Id love a diesel but cant afford one at the minute. I do around 10k a year and the car I've seen is on 42k (57 plate), ill probably aim to keep it 2-3 years. Should i expect to have to do much in this time other than the usual service schedule? Also realistically what should i expect mpg wise?

Any tips on what i should look out for is much appreciated - I plan to view the car this weekend.

Marc

 

[skard]

Hello, welcome and congrats!

I have no experience of the 1.6 petrol but I think they are now cheaper for a reason, economy will be low 30s I'd imagine on a big lump like the Altea. Coming from the VRs you will notice the sluggishness but if you can live with that then no problem.

On the plus side you won't suffer from turbo & clutch/DMF issues of the tdi.

The Altea itself is a very nice family car, it will be spacious and comfortable for you guys.

 

[Marc81]

Thanks for the quick reply skard. Low 30s is a little depressing coming from my VRS, mid 30s would be nice but I think i could cope. I know it will have no where near the grunt i just hope im not too used to my 228lb/ft of torque haha. I do occasionally drive the wifes 1.2 tce clio and it doesn't annoy me too much! I did guess that the low price would be down to the less desirable economy and tax band :-\

Marc

 

[CharlieRCupes]

Don't think I'd want such a gutless engine in an Altea. Diesel for low range torque and MPG.

 

[Marc81]

Don't think I'd want such a gutless engine in an Altea. Diesel for low range torque and MPG.

If i had the money there would be no question - id be getting a diesel, but im having to compromise due to my low budget :-( I do usually keep cars for 3-4yrs but if i get a petrol i will reduce this to try and revert back to a diesel when i have more money. At the moment my priority is just a car that has plenty of room which i can px mine with and not have to put too much extra to it.

Marc

 

[CharlieRCupes]

Fair enough. I just have a feeling that a 1.6 petrol in a car like the Altea could be a bit of a struggle to drive with the lack of torque. Give it a test drive and see if it fits the bill

 

[skard]

Is the option of selling and buying privately not possibly? You might get more for your Fabia, and get a tdi Altea within budget?
A friend of mine got a 1.9 tdi last year for £2700 locally, in very good condition.

 

[Viking]

Not a petrol Altea. The 1.6 is an engine which likes (needs) to be revved to get any sort of performance from it, and in a car as big as the Altea it's going to be chronic on fuel. 30 - 35mpg is about all you're gonna see I reckon, and that's being canny driving. Also, the 1.6 engine is known for the pistons and bores going pear shaped and losing compression, along with fuel getting into the oil and poor economy as a result.

The gearbox on earlier ones is a bit ropey also, and all things considered I'd look for a diesel 1.9. Same engine as your Fabia but with a bit less power.

 

[Viking]

On a budget of £5k, this one is a much better choice I'd say.

Or this one perhaps.

 

[skard]

I'd sell mine for 5k!

If you get a 1.9 a remap sorts it out nicely.

 

[Marc81]

Viking - i might have a look at that first one, thanks very much. Its a tad older and more miles than ideally wanted but it looks pretty decent.

Thanks

 

[snaps]

If your looking at getting one for space etc for kids i wouldnt bother lol as boot is tiny and cantt even fit a small buggy in my altea unless i remove parcel shelf and stand pram at an upwards angle ! If your having a baby and need space as you will prob get a travel system u wont get it all in trust me lol.
Ive just had my honda fr-v 2.0sport petrol wriiten off by an old fart and that was a loverly car to drive and masses of boot space and 100% honda reliability . Better then piccasos and zafiras etc . Have a look around and try the honda and altea and i bet you will prefer the honda .

 

[snaps]

Oh forgot to mention the 1.6 petrol engines are not powerful and suffer with em probs all the time on the alteas same as beetles and audi a3 etc etc

 

[bobbycfc]

When our kids came along, we had a Renault Clio and managed to get the mothercare pram in it no problem although we had to remove the parcel shelf. With plenty of pracrice we perfected the art of getting pram and baby stuff in the boot using every square inch.

Since then we have had a succession of cars from Citroen ZX's to Scenics, Fabia vrs and now the Altea XL. When I see modern buggies or travel systems as they are now called, I realise why the cars have all got so much bigger!!

Remember however, within a relatively short space of time, your need for a big pram / buggy will change to a smaller one which would easily fit in the Fabia!!

And then you get to keep the car .... might take a bit of persuading the missus though!!

But seriously, if you are looking to buy a used car because yours is knackered then its not too big a risk. However if your car is doing fine, you love it, and you are chopping it in for another used car, there is always going to be the risk that the used car you are buying was traded in for a reason!!

As for petrol v diesel, I have the 2.0 140bhp and lucky to get more than 42/43 mpg so a low thirties might not be hugely different. Throw in the issues with dmfs and the risk of possible refuelling issues then the petrol might not be too bad.

But having been there, nothing is going to compare with the vrs unless you go for an Octy vrs?? Huge , huge boot??

 

[iain1970]

Ditto. Buy a fully umberalla-ing pram and keep the vRS. We bought a Streety buggy and it was light weight and fitted in the Ibiza nicely.

The time you need a bigger car is about 2.5 years or until your little one refuses to get in the pram and can sit in a booster seat.

 

[Marc81]

Thanks everyone for your advice and help. I've took on board peoples opinions and after looking at a few cars at the weekend including one of the diesels mentioned above, i did end up buying the original one id seen. I worked out that due to the mileage i do even doing 30 odd mpg i won't be much worse off fuel wise. The Fabia was getting to the stage that i would usually change a car, I've actually gone a year longer than usual so i am now looking forward to the change. I was impressed with the feel of the altea having not really looked at one before, and i really like the inside. Its plenty big enough and i like the fact that the rear seats move too if needed. I think ill be picking it up this weekend after the dealers have done a couple of minor cosmetic jobs... but ill still be spending a full day no doubt to detail it to my standard, i have my cleaning gear at the ready - can't wait

Thanks again, im sure ill have plenty more questions when i get it!

Marc

 

[adrian t]

well I got a 1.6 altea and have to say mpg was never a issue with me for once
yes have slight issue with a miss fire but other than that theres nothing to moan about

but was told that tdi s clutches are very costly to replace (don't know how true that is but was quoted 220 for the 1.6 don't need one yet )

and also theres all them little pockets hidden away .. now where did I put my wallet love !!!