Seat Altea 1.6 or 2.0 petrol?

[Karganeth]

I have a family member that likes the Altea and would like to purchase one. He's bothered by MPG and would like the petrol car to return about 35mpg. He has insisted he wants the 1.6 because as he says he doesn't 'race'. This is not true though as everytime I'm with him in the car he cannot help but give more juice than needed for smooth acceleration. So I'm thinking with the 2 litre fsi since it's more powerful he might feel less inclined to slam the accelerator. I just have this feeling that because the 1.6 might just be adequate for a car of this size, he'll go about flooring it more often to get the sort of response he wants and this will neglect any MPG savings. As much as he denies it, when he has power he is less inclined to throttle slam but when he doesn't he drives 'angry'. What sort of MPG could I expect from these cars? We drive in London and mainly do short trips of 3-15 miles per day.

Originally we were supposed to go with the 2.0 litre Diesel but he worries about turbo failure, and that the diesel variant seems to be far more expensive for a similar year, mileage and spec of a petrol Altea. We'd be looking at a car 2005/06 with around 50-70k miles on the clock. He has no interest in DSG/Auto and remains insistent on manual transmission.

Thanks in advance

 

[Viking]

There's a reason the TDI is more expensive than the petrol. It's a much better drive. I did 140k miles in my 2.0ltr TDI and nothing went wrong other than the IMF (which is fairly common).

The 1.6 is too weak really for a car of this size, so I'd dismiss that straight out. How about a compromise with the 1.9TDI? Fairly bullet proof, and should be cheaper than the 2.0ltr.

 

[kevlaa]

1.9tdi feels faster than it is due to the torque yet easily manages 45mpg +
Best all round car in my opinion and no dpf problems to worry about, so I agree with Viking.

 

[Wimbledonian]

A diesel might not thank you for short trips about town. We have a petrol model four that very reason. No reason you shouldn't get 35 mpg, except in the worst of rush hour.

 

[ritch_b]

I'd take the diesel (of any variety) over the petrol any day of the week, but my journey to work isn't particularly short and it always gets a good run out. As Wimbledonian points out, diesel isn't for everyone and the type and frequency of journeys may well dictate which way to go; if it's petrol, I'd certainly be inclined towards the larger engine, but that's down to me again. That said, it's a big lump of car for that 1.6 to haul around!

R.

 

[SNAP-ON]

Wouldnt get the underpowered 1.6 , id get the 1.9tdi as mentioned . Think u will be lucky to get 35mpg out of the 2.0fsi as ive found there firsty

 

[bertandernie]

I have had the 1.6 petrol and it was very under powered for the car didn't seem to have it when needed for overtaking,but now on my 2nd Altea but the 2.0 TDI what a difference love the car,just wondering if a new model is gonna ever come out and go for my 3rd lol