Altea FR opinions

[baldrick]

Hi,

I am considering the Altea 2.0T FSI FR DSG. Having driven the Golf GTI DSG I am really taken with the engine/gearbox combination and liked the handling, ride and sound of the GTI. Unfortunately my company car scheme loads petrols and gets such poor discounts on GTIs that despite being a cheaper car than the standard Audi diesel benchmark is unavailable to me.

I currently drive an Alfa 156 V6 and find the SEAT styling the closest match (the co car scheme includes anything from the VAG range) to the Italian styling.

The Altea offers some advantages in cabin space and boot over the GTI anyway.

My questions are:

Has anyone driven bit a GTI and FR and can compare the ride & handling?
How comfortable are the seats and are they restrictive?
How does it sound?
Any other comments, recommendations, concerns?

Thanks
Baldrick

 

[dpat]

Hi there

I have just joined and was also thinking of an Altea FR, 2nd hand though! Haven't driven one though but by all accounts from people here the ride is quite firm.

I am also driving a 156, bit of a lesser model than yours - 1.8 TS but great handling car nonetheless. Had a 147 previous to this...

I agree that the Seat are the closest thing to an Alfa in terms of styling and carrying family in more room - I am only changing because of my growing family and want somethng as distinctive as my Alfa. walter da Soilva designed both cars so maybe that is the reson for Alfa drivers liking the Altea.

Best of luck in your research and purchase. Are you a member of the Alfa Owners forum?

 

[baldrick]

Thanks for the reply. It is always handy to get opinions of like minded people as the motoring journalist represent a huge cross section of the general public. The 156 is often described as having a poor ride yet whenever I drive arguably more comfortable cars I yearn for the tautness of my 156 (even after driving a 159 I felt the 156 was the more sporty feeling car).

My family have never complained about the ride in the 156, indeed they have been bought up with firmer riding cars and tend to get car sick in softer sprung vehicles.

Of course there needs to be some compromise and in my view the 156 is a fine compromise between reasonable comfort and good handling, but it is very subjective, it wouldn't meet the requirements as an executive saloon where comfort & refinement are a key criteria, which I guess Alfa are trying to do with the 159.

As long as the Altea FR can match 156 levels of ride then I will be content, others may wish to sacrifice some tautness for a softer ride.

I am not a member of the Alfa owner forum but do frequent the usenet Alfa forum.

 

[dpat]

See this link for some discussion on the ride of FR vs 'lesser' Alteas. Interesting that you think that with the 159 Alfa have gone soft - I think the sportwagon looks fantastic but I can't afford one - but have Alfa sold out with the 159? As you say it is trying to compete more in the mainstream now. I never thought my 156 was a poor riding car but maybe I don't know any different after having 2 Alfas in a row!

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=112607

 

[baldrick]

Thanks. I had seen that thread too, though I have yet to see an FR owner post about the ride quality. I think the ride quality of the 156 is fine for a sporty saloon, but plenty of motoring journalists have described it as being a weakness of the car (possibly more so the heavier V6 and JTD models). Hence I take some general motoring press comments with a pinch of salt. The reviews seem pretty split about the ride, some describing it as harsh, others as supple and unlike previous sporting SEATs.

I have requested a test drive, so hopefully my local dealer will be able to get hold of one as they didn't have that model when I went in.

I think it looks pretty good here in black:

http://joe-fr.moj-album.com/album/2666002/

 

[dpat]

that looks great - i had decided that i wouldn't go for one but having seen those pictures i am again undecided.

which part of the country are you in? if you test drive before me please post and let me know what you thought - perhaps i can convince my wife that the FR is THE Altea to own and is worth the extra outlay.

A lot of reviews question the reasoning and validity of this car, saying it is just an over grown hothatch/MPV which falls between the 2 stools.....

 

[baldrick]

I am in the South West (near Bristol).

Having driven the Golf GT TSI & GTI and sat in the Leon FR and Altea XL in the SEAT showroom, my wife was taken with the interior of the Altea and found the Leon claustrophobic, the Golf was ok but she preferred the Altea. It feels a bigger car and therefore gets the nod as being ok for the family. It has a bigger boot than the Golf and the 156 whilst adding the versatility of a hatch for the Ikea run. Plus also if you have small children you can slide the back seats forward to get over 500 litres of boot space.

It is a compromise but then so is being a boy racer and a parent

The TFSI & DSG combination in the GTI manages to combine poodling around town with a country lane blast with aplomb, so I was hoping the same package in the slightly more versatile Altea would do likewise. I am looking for a bit of fun from the family car rather than ultimate track times and the Altea FR may just fit that bill. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much in the way of reviews of the petrol version.

 

[dpat]

looks like you are in a similar position to me, needing a bigger family car but still want a little fun when by oneself! I know I drive differently when alone and with family and mine is only a 1.8 156 but it just feels soooooooooo good to drive!

i am recently Dad of 2 - one 2 year old and one 4 week old, I am in cheshire.

my Dad has Toledo and loves it, me - the back does put me off so Altea I hope will be big enough for a pram for 2 (it is wide when folded not long). need one with sliding seats and i shold be ok. It is my money i am spending so i need to decide on new - FR vs Stylance with Sport pack or used FR vs Sport. I am going derv though.

Seat have dropped the Sport variant from the line up.

Didn't consider VW as too dear for not a lot and Seat makes more sense - stealth car - public still hasn't cottoned onto them and it suits me - I like having something different. what was the XL like?

 

[cupra tdi]

hi,i picked up our new fr tdi,last thursday and find the ride quality pretty good.it certainly feels softer and not as harsh as the leon cupra tdi that we had previously,but it is by no means soft and rolly.

 

[Nathanio]

I am in the South West (near Bristol).

Having driven the Golf GT TSI & GTI and sat in the Leon FR and Altea XL in the SEAT showroom, my wife was taken with the interior of the Altea and found the Leon claustrophobic, the Golf was ok but she preferred the Altea.

My partner and I went into the seat garage the other week and sat in the Altea, Leon and Ibiza as replacement cars for both her and I in the future (her - Ibiza FR 130 and the 140 DSG Altea for moi hopefully!) and she said the exact same thing as your wife about the Leon.

She felt it was smaller in side and didn't like the fact she couldn't see the extermities of the car. She prefered the loftier seating position of the Altea and the higher roof. As we are considering a family soon it seems logical to go with the Altea.

The other nice thing is that is far more of a Q car than the Leons and havign seen a spangly 170TDI FR absolutely ruin some barry boy in his scooby certainly seems the way forward

 

[cupra tdi]

just back from a trip to the nevis in scotland and i am very impressed with the handling of the fr through the twisty sections of the mountains.The car was a real joy to drive,it turns in great and stays level throughout the corners giving good feedback through the wheel.Well pleased with our latest seat purchase

 

[nebbers]

Had an FR (in black) for about 8 months now. The ride quality is a little firm but is fine. I use country lanes every day and have no problems..

The seats are great. Some of the best I have sat in. Keep off the pies though as they are a little snug!

The performance is great. I have the TDI and the mid range pull is fantastic. Only problem is that you don't feel as if you are going fast as it is so smooth. Keep an eye on the speedo. There is an alarm that can be set to sound at a given speed - handy.

Go for the bluetooth kit.