Thinking of buying Altea XL 2.0tdi

[bobbycfc]

Hi, just a new member here. Currently drive a Scenic dci and thinking of changing to the Altea XL 2.0tdi Stylance. Had lengthy drive in one yesterday (its the dealer demonstrator that is for sale).
Found it totally different drive to my Scenic, and more like my other car, a Fabia vrS. Maybe not as practical as the Scenic in the way of cubbyholes, seat flexibility etc. However it has cruise, mp3 connectivity and the "integrated" TomTom that also has handsfree bluetooth operation.

Anyway, thats just to fill you in on the background.

My questions are, what is current owners feedback on this car, anything I should be aware of, anyone out there that has owned a Scenic as well that can compare the two for me?

I noted that the car I am looking at does not have an engine cover fitted and I believe there is a story with these being delisted by Seat as a cost saving exercise. I believe you can buy them though and it is probably the same ones that do VW etc. Phoned the dealer and they are quoting £60+vat for it, its called "tdi sound deadening cover", quoting part number 03G103967F or L. Anyone know anything about these?

Car is jan 07, 56 reg and I need to decide tomorrow whether I am going to buy it so any input would be appreciated whilst I read through the rest of this forum for information.

Also, car has reversing sensors on it. If I get a towbar fitted will this interfere with the sensors?

Thanks,

 

[DAN M]

I have a XL 1.9. Bought it as a pre reg with only 7 miles on the clock. I find it a nice drive. It may be worth looking around as my local dealer had a demonstrator but it was £3000 more than the pre reg (OK it was a 2.0, but same spec). I bought the 1.9 over the 2.0 as i don't think i would get anything above 40mpg in the 2.0 (mainly stop start driving), i'm seeing up to 45 in the 1.9 ~(with less than 500 miles on the clock).

 

[dlm2310]

Also, car has reversing sensors on it. If I get a towbar fitted will this interfere with the sensors?

It will if you have got a caravan on the back

 

[aceman]

Don't quote me on it but I think the reversing sensors deactivate if you have anything hitched to the back.

The wife has a Scenic dci and I agree with you regarding the practicalities of all the cubby holes on the Scenic. You are also right regarding how they drive, totally different would be my take up on it, the throttle response on the Scenic is alot more progressive and you have to floor it to get the engine going whereas the Altea and all VAG TDI's have quite a sharp throttle with most of the oomph coming in the first quarter of the pedal travel. Build quality is obviously better on the Altea and it is a far more refined car allround so I don't think you will be dissapointed.

 

[xlray]

My XL TDi

Hi.

Been watching the forums since ordering my XL back in March. Have now registered to post this reply.

Had the car 2 weeks now and nearly 700 miles on the clock. Its a 2.0L Tdi - DSG stylance. No major problems to date, but it goes in to the dealer on Friday to have the free TomTom fitted, as this did not come through in time for fitting before I collected the car. The car is a revelation in terms of the handling, in fact it has similar traights to the SAAB 9.3 Sportwagon we also tried and it is also far superior to the Octavia estate similar spec which was our other choice.

The fit and finish is very good, fuel consumption has averaged to date 45.8 and the run back from Bournemouth to Kent on Saturday produced 48.2 mpg with the air con on. Obviously it is not being thrashed yet, but neither is it loosened up yet.

I agree the speakers are poor, and there are issues getting used to how long the front is and where the kerbs are, however my other car is a VW caravelle whis has above average visibility.

I got about £1500 off from my local dealer, but I did see a demonstrator XL even cheaper (with DSG) at Sidlows.

I don't think you will be dissapointed with the 2.0L Tdi in terms of its power and flexibility, a small price to pay for maybe slightly higher fuel compusion when compared to the 1.9 This is our first SEAT and I think its a good choice.

Ray

 

[bobbycfc]

Thanks for all your words of support, you have convinced me to go ahead with the purchase.

A couple of things I need to sort out before committing is how to transport 4 bikes. Currently on my Scenic I have a towabar with a Thule 4 cycle carrier.

Having phoned round, there does not seem to be many suppliers of towbars for these and the cheapest is £400 whereas the Scenic was less than half that price.

Anyone got any experience of either towbars, or of fitting roof bars and carrying 4 bikes up there? I see the Altea XL has roof "rails" so not sure how the bars fit on etc?

Any experience of this?

 

[xlray]

XL Tow bar and roof bars.

I have seen a flange non-removable bar for about £90 and a removable bar for about £260. Neither are fitted prices check E-bay.

Thule do a foot kit for the roobars which allow their standard cross bars to fit. and from this all of their bike and ski fittings. On the inside of the bars on the roof are two sets of two holes which I presume are for some form of locating pin to prevent the fittings sliding back down the roof with a headwind. You probably did not notice these.

I expect the wiring is quite difficult as I believe it has CAN bus. I tried to order a pre-wiring kit for mine, but was told by the dealer (confirmed by SEAT) that it was no longer available, but I have yet to discover if it has some form of built in facility fitted as standard now.

Hope this helps

Ray

 

[bobbycfc]

xlray, thanks for that info. I did notice the holes on the bar but wasn't sure of their purpose as they did not have screw threads in them but it may be as you suggest.

Have checked the Thule website and they seem to have all the eqot required to put the bars on the XL. I have contacted my local Thule dealer to get an overall quote for everything required. I have never used roofbars before (always had a towbar cycle carrier) so am wondering am I able to leave it all built up and just lift on and off the roof in one go? I would hope so!

Can I get 4 bikes wide on the roof? Again, I would hope so, Thule bars are described as being 120 cm. My Thule towbar rack takes 4 bikes and it is only 70cm so logic says 4 should fit. As long as the weight is ok?

Thats where I am at so far, I will keep you posted of developments!

 

[cardaft]

I dont have an altea but ive had them numerous times as loan cars. My parents did have a scenic 1.9DCI (new shape) until last recently, which i used. Comparing them, i would say the altea is a more sporty car, handles much better and i felt more intouch with the road.

Over all id say the altea is a much much better car, the scenic has so many fualts that are bound to crop up during its life. Like it scrubbing tyres off every 18K on the rear, which is totally normal according to the dealer, replacing the hub, disc and wheel bearing when it needs new brakes as its all one unit, It not a very well thought out car and will become expensive to keep once it gets older. Hence why we have just sold ours on Monday.

The alteas i got from the seat dealer were both 1.9TDi Stylances. And i got the MPG figure up to 60MPG, mind that was trying wuite hard. But with normal driving it stayed around the 50MPG mak, i was really impressed, its about the same as the scenic.

Hi.

I agree the speakers are poor, and there are issues getting used to how long the front is and where the kerbs are, however my other car is a VW caravelle whis has above average visibility.

Ray

I found that, going from my little arosa to a altea loan car for two weeks was a bit daunting. The front is much longer than i thought it was, going on what our scenic was like i thought it would have been shorter.

And whats with the little flap under the front bumper? I dont think the XL has this though.

It grounded out once when i was on a bit of bad road and then when i came to park upto a curb i got stuck on the pavement, as its curved backwards it lets you on the curb and when you reverse off it has to bend the other way . And the front is so long i didnt even realise that the front was hanging over the curb. I did this a few tims until i got used to it

Hi, just a new member here. Currently drive a

Anyway, thats just to fill you in on the background.

My questions are, what is current owners feedback on this car, anything I should be aware of, anyone out there that has owned a Scenic as well that can compare the two for me?

Also, car has reversing sensors on it. If I get a towbar fitted will this interfere with the sensors?

Thanks,

Well im not totally sure if this will answer your question but anyhow:

The loan car i had was just the usual Altea hatch, not an XL. It had rear parking sensors too.

Which were great. However when i reversed upto my parents car on the driveway, which has a towbar fitted. The sensors stopped beeping, so i parked it and got out. Then i noticed it was anout half a cm off the towbar of the other car, it obviously hadnt noticed it.

So going on that, the sensors will let you get cloer to things than you want to be as it doesnt know about the towbar.

I thought i would try them out to see how good they were, so i reversed up to a post, with the post exactly in the middle of the back of the car, it didnt even notice the post!, so they arent foolproof

Probably lots of useless info for you there, but there we go

 

[bobbycfc]

Cardaft, information was very helpful, not useless!

I have phoned my local Thule delaer and can get all the bits to form the roofbars for £132. Four Thule cycleracks will add another £124 (I know I can probably get them cheaper from ebay or wherever). So total will be £256.

Dear, but probably cheaper than getting a towbar fitted and then this way I can sell my cycle carrier and maybe recoup most of the cost.

 

[cardaft]

Cardaft, information was very helpful, not useless!
QUOTE]

Nice to be of some use

Oh, post some pics up of your XL when you get it I like them and carnt remember seeing one in the pictures forum.

If i had to buy a family type car, thats exactly what i would buy, very nice