Petrol vs. Diesel

[m4ttl]

Just looking for some opinions / advice;

I've got an '04 Altea 2.0TDI Sport, engine unmodified. My Bro-in-law has a '52 Leon Cupra 1.8 20VT, again engine unmodified.

We have talked for some time about doing a driving holiday thru Europe, and watching TG last night gave us some impetus to think about it a bit more.

BUT - am I going to be outperformed / outhandled on some of those twisty roads? I've owned a Leon Cupra myself previously, and I don't think I will but that was a few cars ago so I'm a little unsure.

Any views / opinions welcome.

 

[Richie D]

You may be slightly out performed but while he's refuelling every few miles you can drive on by. He's got to play catch-up then.

 

[shads]

Nah little in it for me in real world driving.

 

[cupra fan]

Have both cars sat on the drive, both unmodified!
Straight's roads - cupra, twisty roads - altea The difference between a mk1v chassis and a mk5 is very apparent from the word go!
Motorways the cupra will easily leave the altea behind, even on hills,
country roads very close indeed!
(better drive = altea)
(more smiles per mile =cupra)
overall impression - cupra excels on dual and motorways
- altea on country/twisty roads

 

[m4ttl]

So I'd better make use of the extra range the Altea gives me, and then show him a clean pair of heels on the twisty stuff then!

 

[markirel]

I'm the same as cupra fan with both the Altea TDI Sport outside and the Leon Cupra (for the moment cos I have just done the deal on a VR6). As said the Altea chassis is much better and a more involving drive. The Cupra certainly has the legs on the Altea and pick up when the turbo is spinning is great although you're up and down the box more.

For twisty's I too prefer the Altea and gave a few (fellow) bikers a suprise over the weekend by keeping up. The Leon is better on fast roads and has the advantage of a quiter cabin as I suffer a lot of tyre noise in the Altea which is on 17's.

As for a run down Europe you're going on a fair mix of roads and whilst you might arrive at the same time there will be some difference in driving pleasure (speed) according to road conditions. If I were going I'd pick the Leon (well someone else's because mines a heap).

 

[cherryone]

As your's is diesel you'll be quids in too, as its 20-30p cheaper per litre than it is here at the moment especially after the last taz hike last week.

Go and enjoy the pleasures of Autobahn/autoroute/autostrada driving.

One of my best ever trips was to Austria for a ski trip, driving from Calais overnight through Germany - it's the best sight on a mway when you come
out of a built up area where they restrict you to either 110 or 130kph then you
see the nolimit sign up on the gantry..... Then whoosh, speed at your cars limit....... (without getting points!! or worrying about patrol cars !!)

Cheers.
mark.

 

[Tell]

I've been taking my Altea DSG 2.0 [unmodified] Altea to France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Germany, Lux and France and back home for the last three years [we fitted in Italy this year as well ]. No problems with power obviously, satnav takes us on some interesting routes when I say "no toll" roads coming back through Switzerland since £20 is a bit steep for 15 miles of motorway, so Ms Becker takes us up yonder hillsides up one valley and down the next whilst we hum the sound of music for what seems like three valleys or so, then we hit the main road just after the motorway finishes to get us back in Germany...

I use to take my old Citreon on these long trips but in May when it's hot temperatures reach 30'c heading down through Germany and you can't hear the music with the windows open, aircon it's a luxury. You fully brim the diesel tank in Luxembourg where diesel is the cheapest across Euro, Belgium is cheaper than France, Italy is more expensive than Austria.

Never mind about getting baby stuff in the Altea, you can get about 20+ bottles of wine under the front seats, wine bottles stuffed behind the drivers seat and those expensive chocolates stacked on top. Hence why I reckon the sliding passenger rears seats are no good since the protection for the fragile European shopping trips [cough] I mean holidays and educational experience etc is behind the front seats in the foot well, loose that and you loose protection from getting stuff crushed. I can recommend Promarkt for all your electro / audio / photographic gizmos whilst passing through Germany .

Altea taking in the Austrian air [probably stuffed with a few bottles of Grüner Veltliner]:

 

[Icehquk]

Looks stunning and I think we should all try it sometime
Think I'd have more fun in my S3 I had previous. For a longer drive through with twisty roads maybe the Leon, as gear changes could get tedious and there is always the fuel figures on the Leon's dash to put the smile on the face

 

[m4ttl]

Might have to "invest" in a chip upgrade then to get the best of both worlds!! Anyone already chipped a TDI 140? Would be interested to know what effect it's had - I've changed from a BMW 325i Sport to the Altea and am not feeling shortchanged on performance so far......

 

[Tell]

Loadswine is your man for the TDI 140 chipping which he had done about 18 months ago.... it tends to wear out his fronts . I drive too fast without getting it chipped although I'd be interested if it does really does improve MPG.