Altea Help Please

[dpat]

Hi to all, very quick and to the point post. As a new daddy of two and currently driving an Alfa Romeo 156 which is now not practical will the standard Altea fit a buggy for two (toddler and baby - it is a Phil & Teds pram for those of you who know these things) and still have room for other luggage?

The capacity of the boot is 407L on the standard Altea - is this on the 04 models before the sliding rear seats were introduced - in the sliding seat models is the boot space bigger and will I still fit in my 2 year old (front facing child seat) and 4 week old (rear facing child seat)?

What model to choose if I decide on Altea - I can just about stretch to a '55' plate FR (~£14900) or do I go for 2.0 TDi DSG (~£12500)? FR looks fantastic but is it worth the extra?

Hopefully going to look at some later today (dealer has both). OR should I go for a new Altea XL and look for a heavy discount - will still want 2.0 TDi though!

Help please..........all advice gratefully received. One last thing - I read about a member getting a heavy discount on a special ed. Altea - anyone else experienced this - the spec on this model is very good.

 

[PhilOfCas]

Morning dpat, i'd say take the pram to be sure, the Altea boot is not that wide in my experience (which is what you're interested in) , though it is quite deep. It looks like the pram you have is fairly long and may be a problem.
As regards rear seat space, I haven't got the sliding rear seat but i think you'll have no problems with the seat fully forward or back on the cars that do slide, it's a good size in the back.
There's a much better choice now than when we bought ours (2.0Tdi Sport 6sp) and must admit the FR looks really well, whether it's worth an extra £2500 is debatable, good luck today !

 

[markirel]

Hi dpat, my 5-year old is still on a booster seat and our youngest (10 months) has just changed from a rear facing seat to a forward facing ISOFIX. I have the sliding seat option and with the seats fully forward the kids are comfortable and that is with the front seats set for me (5'11"). The boot space increase is about 70-80 litres I think.

PhilOfCas is right about the width. Our pram (Loola) fits in well but our Mothercare stroller just squeezes in between the false floor rails but can be totally hidden underneath. Best take yours along with you.

If the Special Edition is there and the discounts as discussed on other posts available, that's the one I'd go for, other wise the TDI DSG. The premium for the FR is a bit much I think considering what little you gain (a remap to 185 bhp is approx £550)

 

[adt]

It's also worth checking out the ride quality you would like for a family car. I have a 2.0tdi dsg and it's as firm as I would like, I believe the FR is harder still. Good if you're on your own mostly. With a family (from exerience) getting what you need vs what you want, can be a hard but important choice!

 

[PhilOfCas]

fair comment about the ride quality, though i think on the Sport it's just the right side of comfortable, the cornering ability more than makes up for any slight hardness.

 

[Tell]

The ride quantity on the Sport I call "Fiat" since it takes me back to the days of my Uno, bucket Seats are very good. After having a Citreon the Seat's ride was interesting, you get use to it.

Doubt the xl will be discounted for a bit. Sliding seats there are details on here how to convert, given the kids won't need the rear legroom, if your pushed and find you neee the boot space and get the second hand option, then there is that option. Brackets from a Golf Plus. Haven't done it myself, don't have prams.

The Altea is a fun car and the dsg is good.

 

[dpat]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Been doing more research and it seems like Perrys are offering a Special Edition Altea at £14999 as well, but they are far away.

FR looks great but I think I agree that I need to compromise on the ride and I would like the DSG box.

IMG at warrington don't have one but a dealer at Crewe has a silver(?) 2.0TDi DSG for just over £12000 - '55' plate - looks good to me but I would like 17' alloys - money seems right. Will try and see if this dealer has the SE and will do discount too. I am not that fussed it car is brand new or only one user but '55-06' plate. Do want a diesel and like the idea of the DSG.

Also Motorpoint has 05 plate Alteas 2.0TDi DSGs at £12000, don't know about buying from them though.

Need to take pram and see. Phil and Teds pram is wide and flat when folded not like a McLaren stroller or the Mamas and Papas we had with our first born. When did the sliding seats become standard on the Altea?

By the way you are all quicker to reply than other member sites I ahve joined to research cars so thanks again.

 

[Tell]

Sliding seats came in, in 2006 as I recall. They don't move much mind you, but it could make all the difference on the prams, may be.

 

[dpat]

Sliding seats came in, in 2006 as I recall. They don't move much mind you, but it could make all the difference on the prams, may be.

Any little will help - could go for a Toledo but not convinced about the looks - my Dad loves his though. No sliding seats though and looks like they are phasing it out with the Altea XL coming in - think in their own way Seat are admitting thye got it wrong with the Toledo - fine car, a little awkward on the looks IMHO. Hope Altea is big enough for me.

Sought advice on volvo forum about V50 and told by people there not to bother really as it is too small as family car. Could buy a Vectra estate but I like driving something a little individual , so Fords and Vauxhalls have little appeal. Audis, VWs, BMWs a little overpriced for me too - am I hard to please???

I keep coming back to the Altea so will have to take the plunge go and see them and decide.

 

[loadswine]

Glad the decision process is moving along. just thought i'd make a point about the ride,everyone has their preferences and I personally don't think its too harsh and I have 17s, but a useful thing I've found is that a slightly firmer ride is less prone to make kids travel sick.
2.0 TDi with DSG is a great choice, and if you want more oomph for when its loaded right up, a remap from Celtic cost me £360 and pulls like a train even when loaded with kids and kit.

 

[dpat]

thanks loadswine - didn't get out to look at any cars (or anything) yesterday as having a new baby kind of throws all plans out of the window so hopefully next weekend will be ok.

 

[Ruddmeister]

dpat At the weekend I took round our Mamas and Papas MTX Pram Chasis and tried it in a few cars and the Altea passed the test the chasis fitted with room to spare and the sliding seats really help too.

The Chasis acutally fits on it's side against the back seat which left the whole of the boot floor spare for changing bags, shopping etc etc etc

Sought advice on volvo forum about V50 and told by people there not to bother really as it is too small as family car. Could buy a Vectra estate but I like driving something a little individual , so Fords and Vauxhalls have little appeal. Audis, VWs, BMWs a little overpriced for me too - am I hard to please???

After the Altea I test drove the V50 and I would agree rear legroom is an issue as is the depth of the boot. It has the width and length but it's quite shallow.

Agreed on the Fords, Vauxhalls...BMW? (no thanks), A4 not huge either.

So after an Altea FR TDI My other consdierations (not tried yet) Saab 9-3 sportwagon, Passat Estate