more Altea Help please

[dpat]

Hi all again

I have found an Altea I like. - when will I get to see it is another question - new babies heh

It is 2006 55 plate, TDi Sport DSG, silver (not my first choice) 1 owner. I have a question - Will this car have the sliding seats? Will it have auto-dimming mirror, rain sensing wipers and lights?

I take it this is MY06 car and wondered if anyone else has one and what bits and bobs they have on their cars.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[aceman]

It will probably have the sliding seats but unless the mirror and auto wipers were added as an option at point of original purchase they may not be fitted. Best thing will be to look for yourself to be sure.

 

[dpat]

It will probably have the sliding seats but unless the mirror and auto wipers were added as an option at point of original purchase they may not be fitted. Best thing will be to look for yourself to be sure.

so other than sliding seats other stuff was optional on 2006 cars - okay thanks.

Why have Seat dropped the Sport model for 2007 - Stylance now gets everything added to it but to make it sporty a sport pack costs £510.

Configured the car on line, 2.0TDi without DSG, metallic black + Sports pack + Rear reversing sensors = £17650..hmmmmmmmm, its £18550 for the same + DSG.

Special edition is £16995 but also get bluetooth, ESP/EBA, leather, rear sensors..........I just dunno

XL model, 2.0TDi metallic black paint + 17' wheels =£ 17545

SE looks the best new I suppose.

what are seat dealers like in general for discounting cars?

 

[agynjo]

I traded in my 05 2.0 TDi Sport for a new SE, and collected on Sat. It's got practically every option other than DSG and SatNav (inc. sliding seats, auto-dimming mirrors, rain / light sensor etc...), , but cos it's a "special edition" you can't change the spec. Like I mentioned on a previous post, a Golf with the same options would be over £22k.

I paid £14,345 (Coupers, St Albans) and Perrys are offering the car at £14,995. It'll be a 56-reg, but you'll save a few grand.

I think the Sport was dropped because the marketing people saw it being too close to the FR.....

 

[dpat]

thanks for that agynjo, that is some deal and car sounds fully loaded. I will need to contact dealers near me and ask will they do a similar deal and see what I come with.

Best of luck with you Altea - post some piccies soon please. How are you finding it so far? They do look lovely in black

 

[agynjo]

I'm really pleased with it. Obviously I was driving an Altea previously, so it hasn't been much of a culture shock, but the metallic black and leather makes it feel much more upmarket (and it'll be a b*tch to keep clean !). Plus it has that lovely new car smell......

Performance-wise the engine feels quite tight (only done 70 miles), but I've noticed a few little differences - for example the wipers only go behind the A-pillars when you switch them off fully, and the head-unit sounds better....

Only negative thing is the seats. The Sport had nice "wrap-around" seats but on the SE they are standard ones. Consequently, you sit "on them" as opposed to "in them", but they do look really nice in leather (plus they're heated too).

 

[dpat]

just been chatting to people on Alfa Forum and of course they are dead set against me giving up my Alfa for an 'MPV'

Needs must I tell them - buy a sportwagon they say, the 156 sportwagon has less boot space than my saloon - more user friendly but less space and it isn't just about boot space but the cabin in my car feels tight with me, my wife and 2 children in car seats. The rear seat belts are barely long enough to wrap around the rear facing new born child seat.

Also someone on there said the Altea is tiny inside and boot wise - I know I have has this discussion but is it practical for families like mine.

 

[Tell]

The "problem" with non MPV cars is that you sit too low and it gives you back ache, you wouldn't sit on your low arm chair in a car [aka Citreon, Pug etc], but the likes of Top Gear and Fifth Gear try to tell you that sitting with your bum six inches higher than your feet is natural motoring, well how do you expect Clarkson to get back ache, and all that he moans about in the last series if he spends hours in that posture. Still if he enjoys pain then let him suffer is all I can say.

I can't say I was impressed with the Alfa 156 I sat in, they look nice cars from the outside but far to low inside, ditto the 159.

 

[baldrick]

As a current 156 owner too I can say I find the 156 has a comfortable driving position. The Alfa GTV I had before that was a lot lower position but still comfortable and previously I have owned a VW Sharan. The Sharan was a bit too sit up an beg for me. Having sat in the Altea it felt a natural position.

The extra height of the Altea gives a bigger car impression, I wouldn't say it felt any way smaller than the 156, if anything the opposite.

The 156 has been great but I do want the practicality of a hatch again. My wife has a 147 and we always use that for difficult to load stuff but it is a bit too small.

My kids are getting older - I have done the Astra Estate, Rover 800 and VW Sharan stuff for carting around prams and stuff. The Altea XL may be a better choice than the standard Altea for doing that, I think it is a good shape too. The XL will be a far more practical choice than a Sportwagon. I tried to convince the wife we should get one long before I finally got the 156 I have now when we still had small kids to ferry around with all the gear and it just wasn't big enough with the seats up.

If I needed the extra space I would seriously look at the XL. Practicality without having to go down the dull looking mini MPV or Estate route and a reasonable drivers car with it. If you like the Italian styling the SEAT seems the next best choice IMHO.

My personal view is that Alfas are trying too hard to compete with BMWs right now and have lost a bit of the Italian personality in the process. As its new German Chief Exec, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, a former director at BMW stated; "you cant find financially-minded people in this company it's full of engineers, who all want to launch new cars and dont want to deal with the boring bits in between. Perhaps Alfa has a little too much spirit for non-Alfisti, in its appearance, driving style and temperament." That is what I loved about Alfa, being run by guys who love to make cars rather than make shareholders happy, though I guess to survive maybe Kalbfell was a must, I just hope they continue to make cars as stylish as the 156 was back in its launch days.

 

[Nathanio]

Pah rain sensing wipers, auto dimming mirror and auto lights...are you that lazy!

Personally I rain-x all my cars and so rain sensing wipers would just annoy me too much! It just adds complexity and problems in the future.

Much rather hav Xenons than those bits!

Nice choice of motor though

 

[dpat]

Pah rain sensing wipers, auto dimming mirror and auto lights...are you that lazy!

Personally I rain-x all my cars and so rain sensing wipers would just annoy me too much! It just adds complexity and problems in the future.

Much rather hav Xenons than those bits!

Nice choice of motor though

I don't really mind if it has them or not but was wondering what the spec is on MY06 cars is all. If it has them great if not I can live without them - I would have 17' wheels and reverse sensors on it though, Xenons nice but steep at over £800. Oh maybe I will just but a new XL instead.......

 

[dpat]

As a current 156 owner too I can say I find the 156 has a comfortable driving position. The Alfa GTV I had before that was a lot lower position but still comfortable and previously I have owned a VW Sharan. The Sharan was a bit too sit up an beg for me. Having sat in the Altea it felt a natural position.

The extra height of the Altea gives a bigger car impression, I wouldn't say it felt any way smaller than the 156, if anything the opposite.

The 156 has been great but I do want the practicality of a hatch again. My wife has a 147 and we always use that for difficult to load stuff but it is a bit too small.

My kids are getting older - I have done the Astra Estate, Rover 800 and VW Sharan stuff for carting around prams and stuff. The Altea XL may be a better choice than the standard Altea for doing that, I think it is a good shape too. The XL will be a far more practical choice than a Sportwagon. I tried to convince the wife we should get one long before I finally got the 156 I have now when we still had small kids to ferry around with all the gear and it just wasn't big enough with the seats up.

If I needed the extra space I would seriously look at the XL. Practicality without having to go down the dull looking mini MPV or Estate route and a reasonable drivers car with it. If you like the Italian styling the SEAT seems the next best choice IMHO.

My personal view is that Alfas are trying too hard to compete with BMWs right now and have lost a bit of the Italian personality in the process. As its new German Chief Exec, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, a former director at BMW stated; "you cant find financially-minded people in this company it's full of engineers, who all want to launch new cars and dont want to deal with the boring bits in between. Perhaps Alfa has a little too much spirit for non-Alfisti, in its appearance, driving style and temperament." That is what I loved about Alfa, being run by guys who love to make cars rather than make shareholders happy, though I guess to survive maybe Kalbfell was a must, I just hope they continue to make cars as stylish as the 156 was back in its launch days.

Baldrick get on over to Alfa forum and tell 'em! I love my 156 and it is wonderfully comfortable for me and my wife in the front, pity those in the rear though. Sportwagon just won't work, cabing too small and boot while more practical than saloon 156 is not really any bigger. I agree with your sentiments about Seat being closest to Alfa in terms of styling but try telling that to a diehard Alfisti. Need to get to a dealer check out Altea and XL,work out some deals and then decide.

 

[Tell]

It was the same designer Walter De Silva who designed the Altea so what are they complaining about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_de'Silva

I must say that I loved the Alfa lines when the 156 came out and the Altea gives me the same buzz although the Telegraph said that the TR7 has the same sculptured panels . Creases which is what old Walter uses to get the car lines.

 

[dpat]

It was the same designer Walter De Silva who designed the Altea so what are they complaining about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_de'Silva

I must say that I loved the Alfa lines when the 156 came out and the Altea gives me the same buzz although the Telegraph said that the TR7 has the same sculptured panels . Creases which is what old Walter uses to get the car lines.

I know I know.......I think some there are a little too caught up in the Alfa way. As I say I loved both of mine and would love a 159 estate if I could afford it but I can;t so I am look at the best alternatives and I think the Altea looks very good.

 

[baldrick]

Baldrick get on over to Alfa forum and tell 'em! I love my 156 and it is wonderfully comfortable for me and my wife in the front, pity those in the rear though. Sportwagon just won't work, cabing too small and boot while more practical than saloon 156 is not really any bigger. I agree with your sentiments about Seat being closest to Alfa in terms of styling but try telling that to a diehard Alfisti. Need to get to a dealer check out Altea and XL,work out some deals and then decide.

Well I guess the front wheel drive FIAT engined Alfas were once heresy to the alfisti. Look out for me there under the name balders (there is another baldrick!)

 

[Tell]

I use to drive an Uno that explains why the Altea has the Fiat bumpy ride .... 10 years after leaving the Fiat racing ride and the luxury of a French easy chair I return to the sporting ride, biased the Alfa, for one thing the garage closed.

 

[dpat]

Well I guess the front wheel drive FIAT engined Alfas were once heresy to the alfisti. Look out for me there under the name balders (there is another baldrick!)

funny how you are advised to go for the Seat - it must be the way I posted! or else the mentio of the words 'FR'.

See you here and 'there' soon.