Thinking of buying an Altea

[onkster]

Hi all,

I hope that your all well?

I'm looking to sell my aging Vauxhall Vectra in the next month and pick up a shiny new or more likely nearly new Altea, before I part with my hard earned cash, I have some questions that I was hoping you could all help me with.

(1) I'm looking at getting a Reference Sport, but should I go for the 1.6l petrol or the 1.9l diesel? Obviously the diesel is going to be far better than the petrol at MPG, but should I be aware of noise or anything?

(2) If I buy one of these, how much am I likely to pay for services etc, guess I'll be going to a dealer for the first 2-3 years.

(3) Are there any problems with Altea's, is anything likely to go wrong that I should no about?

(4) Does anyone have any problems with visibility from the Altea's A pillars (a common complaint I've seen online).

(5) I'm hearing that some of the Altea's only shipped with manual mirrors, does anyone know what reg's that affected?

(6) Almost lastly, I've been married for a year now and kids are not too far away (although hopefully a year or three!!), has anyone got an Altea and kids, if so how does it perform.

(7) Finally, I'd be happy for any opinions on them.

Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these questions.

Regards

Onkster

 

[Tell]

(1) nope, you'll lack pulling power if you have petrol, 2.0 is reckoned better than the 1.9 but not sure whether that's available on the Ref Sport.... diesels aren't noisy and a growl when pulling past some one is always good fun

(2) ah well they do have boards in most places and you can read it yourself when in the garage, prices vary by place, competitors around. People have been exchanging these costs on here over a period. Some of the services can be expensive

(3) hey ho, the manual ones had a fly wheel thingey recall about a year ago, that will be sorted on new ones, can't remember engine mind you, DSGs were not affected so wasn't too concerned. Rear boot locks can play up on some cars requiring attention, the radio on some switches on by itself and the cruise control switch can need attention. Some people [a few] have rattles and creaks up front. Some Seat extra front mats weared out quickly in the past. The fitted speakers are crap, but the headend is good, so people change the speakers.

(4) you look around it

(5) pass on that [Ireland may be ?], get a nice internal auto dipping one as well, very nice

(6) pass on that but you can get 20 bottles of wine under the front seats .... people on here have in the past gone into all the pram stuff, the booster seats etc and so forth.

(7) well mine still contains the buzz value after three years when you get into it. I'd think about a 2.0 litre diesel if I was you. Get rear parking sensors if they aren't fitted since it's a big car and you don't want to crush the back on something. Well worth having.

 

[widdy]

1. I own a Ref sport in TDI format and I love it. Also driven the 1.6, courtesy car, and found it a bit sluggish. The petrol version is obviously going to be quieter but the plus side is far better MPG with TDI.
2. Service costs are cheaper if you get the MY2007 Altea. SEAT had a rethink on their costs and reduced them. You could possibly save £ 40 on a service for the MY2007 Altea.
3. Only problems I have had is to fix and replace the Airbag in the drivers seat, due to continual activation of warning light on dashboard.
4. I have got use to the A pillars as previously owned an Audi A2 and they are just as bad if not worse.
5. I have manual mirrors and mine is a 56 Reg MY2007.
6. We have 6yr and nearly 3yr old boys and find that everything we need goes in. Done a weeks holiday in Cornwall with no problems. I would just make sure the pram/buggy will fit across the back. Make sure you get one with the sliding rear seat, it will be a god send for you.
7. Any other questions please ask.

 

[sosidge]

1) I have a 1.6 petrol XL and it is neither particularly fast nor particularly economical (averaging low 30s round town, high 30s on longer runs, driving fairly smoothly. Driving hard knocks a few mpg off.). Sufficient for the roads though, you can rev it a bit if the other half is not in the passenger seat and make OK progress. Have not driven others.

4) They are an obstruction but you get used to it, there is a certain (fairly common) radius of corner where you have to move your head to see the oncoming traffic, don't even realise you are doing it after a while. Most modern cars have monster pillars so not unusual.

5) I believe XL References have a better spec than standard References, I have power mirrors.

6) With a 15 month old baby this is an excellent car, easy access to rear seats due to high roof, boot on the XL is cavernous and took a whole weekends stuff in the boot with the cover closed (including Bugaboo, travel cot, cool bag and clothes for all three of us).

 

[tuftylfc]

My first post having just become a Seat Altea owner

I've only had the car for a few days but fealt I should reply to this thread because I was in a similar position to you a couple of weeks ago

All I can say is that I am more than happy with this car, it drives like a dream and even my 1.9TDI version has plenty of grunt, seriously beginning to think the previous owner had it remapped because I've drove 105bhp diesels before that are nothing like this !!

I got the Stylance spec, I always buy nearly new rather than brand new and for the extra bit you get all the kit your likely to want

The MPG was one of the reasons I went for the 1.9 rather than the 2.0 and even 'urban' driving is returning nearly 50, I set the cruise the other night at 60mph and the computer stayed at around 67mpg !!

I am delighted with my car, can't say I'm having a problem with the A pillars but do intend to get the rear parking sensors fitted as thats the one thing I'm missing about my previous car ( MG ZT CDti 135+ )

The only thing I would change would be to have a seperate clock thats always there rather than being amongst the choices on the computer display, same goes for outside temp

I'm nit picking though, thats how good the car is

 

[140SPORT]

Altea

My mother has just bought a 2 month old 07 stylance 1.9 dsg it only had 50 miles on the clock and met paint & 17" wheels and over 2k off list.

As I have a Leon 2.0 dsg sport 06 when I went for a ride in the Altea I was surprised how much quieter and smoother the ride is I really like it and would recommend it.

The mpg is about 49 on a run.

 

[onkster]

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses!

I think the 1.9i is going to be the way to go. We'll be sticking with the standard Altea I think as opposed to the XL (Think it'll be a bit too big!).

Still a little unsure with the electric mirrors, done some more research and it looks like 56 reg ones only had manual, but the new ones are electric? I've e-mailed our local SEAT dealer (Letchworth) to ask them if that's correct, so will post again when I find out.

May look to book a test drive in the next week or so and we'll see where things go from there. Hopefully I'll be an Altea owner by start of November!

Thanks again for all of your help, and if anyone else reads this and would like to add something, please do, it's all really appreciated.

Onkster

 

[Jacey Boy]

Get the FR model, is has a 170BHP Diesel engine and gets over 36mpg combined

Seats are great, has electric fold mirrors, cruise, OBC, handles very good, looks good, what more do you want?

 

[L7 KVV]

reverse parking is a nightmare. And A-pillars are obtrusive too.

I got a £4600 saving on my 6mth old Altea fr tdi, had only 6k on the clock and was £2-3K cheaper than same spec leons (which are less expensive when new)

 

[tuftylfc]

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses!

I think the 1.9i is going to be the way to go. We'll be sticking with the standard Altea I think as opposed to the XL (Think it'll be a bit too big!).

Still a little unsure with the electric mirrors, done some more research and it looks like 56 reg ones only had manual, but the new ones are electric? I've e-mailed our local SEAT dealer (Letchworth) to ask them if that's correct, so will post again when I find out.

May look to book a test drive in the next week or so and we'll see where things go from there. Hopefully I'll be an Altea owner by start of November!

Thanks again for all of your help, and if anyone else reads this and would like to add something, please do, it's all really appreciated.

Onkster

Mines a 56 plate (Sept 06) and has got electric folding/heated mirrors

Another plus point, the night time cockpit looks the dogs !!

 

[charles_altea]

Hi Onkster,

I'm in Stotfold and have been going to Letchworth Seat for servicing/warranty work on my Altea. Didn't buy it from them though, as they showed no signs of being prepared to do a deal when I was buying mine. I had no part-ex, just cash, so took my business elsewhere (Motorhouse 2000 in Nottingham - can highly recommend them). To give Letchworth Seat their due, they have performed well with the servicing.

To keep the noise down (especially the 1.9) you want to make sure that the car comes with the plastic engine cover (sometimes called the acoustic hood).

I would also suggest you consider one with the DSG gearbox if possible. This will be 6 speed, as opposed to the 5 speed manual you get with the 1.9.

 

[SEATcarsdirect.co.uk]

all the 56 plate alteas that i have seen have had electric mirrors


i just checked the new refrance sport 1.9TDi we have in our showroom and it has them

there was a spec change recently to the refrance sport, it now comes with a full trip computer and cruise control


Irfan

 

[onkster]

Hi all,

Thanks once again for the comments,

I'm just back from our local SEAT dealer, they tell me that early 56 reg Altea's had manual mirrors if they were a reference or a reference sport, the spec then changed mid 56 - 07 to include the electric mirrors.

not sure how that fits in with everyones findings? Still it's good news for me that there are 56's out there with electric mirrors, as I'm going to probably looking at a year old.

Cheers

Onkster

 

[SEATcarsdirect.co.uk]

Hi all,

Thanks once again for the comments,

I'm just back from our local SEAT dealer, they tell me that early 56 reg Altea's had manual mirrors if they were a reference or a reference sport, the spec then changed mid 56 - 07 to include the electric mirrors.

not sure how that fits in with everyones findings? Still it's good news for me that there are 56's out there with electric mirrors, as I'm going to probably looking at a year old.

Cheers

Onkster

give me a call with what you find and i will see if i can better it for you


Irfan

 

[shads]

I have just purchased a 1.6 Stylance and am pretty impressed so far. The petrol engine is far quieter than the diesel but then the diesel has more torque and better MPG. I only travel 12 miles a day so the diesel was not viable but if you are travelling mainly motorway miles then go for the diesel. The 1.9tdi is'nt bad but the 140bhp is very good (obvious price difference). Build quality and experience are excellent and I have to say it's a very nice car.