Disappointing Altea XL problems

[Teeza]

Would appreciate any views on the following re my 2m old Altea XL 2.0TDi DSG, which arrived to great anticipation but has so far disappointed:

- Awful mpg - typical combined returns around 28mpg per computer - have checked via fill-ups and its about right. This is normal driving not heavy. Driving with some enthusiasm drops it to around 26mpg. Have never had such poor mpg from any car I've had, inc Mk1 Leon Cupra. Dealer so far have said it needs to run in (! done 2000 miles now) and on taking it in "reset the ECU" to no effect.

- Lumpy DSG - not the smooth, 8ms shifting the ads describe - huge delay between gas pedal and motion when pulling away from standstill / low speed e.g. at junctions; really jerky changedown between 4 and 3, 3 and 2; when driving gently, noticeable pause between changes as if it is not engaging the second clutch until a second or so after disengaging the first; delay between moving stick and gear change in manual mode - about 1-2 seconds.

Add this to the faulty climate control which has been diagnosed but currently awaiting repair after parts order, very noticeable / annoying rattle / buzz from plastic screen over cockpit dials and fact that it arrived without integrated TomTom even though dealer said it would - all in all, very disappointed with it so far. Having had two Seats before, would now think again before another...

Would welcome any comments on the mpg and DSG.

Cheers

 

[LewisM]

Albeit not an xl but our altea dsg is getting around 40-42 mpg (45 computer) on a mixture of short journeys (less than 5 miles) and b roads.

DSG is really smooth, you have to look at the dash to know what gear your in if the radio is turned up. manual mode lightning fast.

Can't really say what it was like when new cos we got it at 32k but yours should only be a few mpg down till its run in, not 12.

 

[Tell]

I get 39 MPG from my normal Altea DSG on tank to tank fillup. Had it since late 2004.

When the engine / gear box is cold it is a bit lumpy changing but after a couple of miles to warm up it's fine. The lag, that's been reported, you get use to having the confidence to put the pressure on the accelerator and let it change, if you start pumping it, it gets more confused than just waiting. In sport mode as Lewis says, it's faster. I keep mine in normal.

I hardly ever put it in manual mode except on down hill drags where I want to stop it running away and having to use the break and that's a long drag into a German town down the embankment of the Moselle twice a year, never feel the need otherwise.

28 MPG doesn't sound good and I wouldn't think that the extra weight leads to that one. Pass on your next step. Run in ?. Short journeys and mine isn't too efficient.

"on a mixture of short journeys (less than 5 miles) and b roads" - that could be your issue I suspect.

 

[xlray]

Hello Teeza.

I have a 2.0L TDI DSG XL Stylance which is 6 weeks old and 1000 miles. Driven gently on a motorway type run it will gives about 46+mpg, on a trip to work on mixed driving with 10 miles of dual carriagway it drops to mid forties. Overall the average clock shows 44mpg. Having said that I could easily see the potential for reduced consumption if short journeys with a not so economic driving style was used. Not sure I could get it as low as yours seems!

My gearbox is very smooth, but as you say the take off is sometimes a bit slow, try using sport mode at junctions and roundabouts.

No other problems with mine yet apart from a loose earth lead on the battery which I spotted.

XLRAY

 

[JonTelfer]

My FR TDi Altea (non-dsg) has fairly dire economy until it's warmed up - which is a good 15 minutes. Try it on a longer journey and see what you get. I usually get ~500miles per tank (although I fill up when the thing says 50 left).

Jon

 

[muddyboots]

To me an average of 28mpg suggests there is a faul; even if you only ever drove a few miles from cold in stop-start traffic you should get more than that.

It could be you have a fault somewhere - duff coolant or fuel temp sensor, binding brakes ?

 

[aceman]

My thoughts are that if you are having issues with the DSG box maybe that is the route cause of your economy problems as it maybe sucking power from the engine.

 

[Jacey Boy]

My FR TDi Altea (non-dsg) has fairly dire economy until it's warmed up - which is a good 15 minutes. Try it on a longer journey and see what you get. I usually get ~500miles per tank (although I fill up when the thing says 50 left).

Jon

My FR says 425 miles to empty when filled up, mad that you can get 500 miles?

 

[JonTelfer]

I have a photo taken on my phone of my car saying 105 miles done and 500 miles remaining.....
As far as I'm aware the fuel usage figures are adaptive - so if you've been spanking it on the previous tank then the estimate will go down for your next fill up.

Jon

 

[Jacey Boy]

We have only done 20 miles since buying it so wouldnt know yet what we get to tank....

 

[Teeza]

thanks all for your comments - seems that most are getting 40+mpg - what i would have expected. have tried some longer runs and best is still only 37/38 in normal drive mode and being careful

went in to the dealer - they have beenunbale to fault it (having plugged it in to the computer) and have forwarded the query to Seat. think this could take a while to sort out...

even worse, they weren't able to repair the aircon fault as they'd ordered the wrong part - beginning to lose faith in both the car and dealer

will post again if i get sorted

 

[Tell]

I only get 39 MPG out of my Altea DSG and that's tank to tank fill up. So 37 / 38 isn't bad given that it's an XL, extra weight etc.

I think as has been said in the motoring press the cars are twigged to give you good figures on the government cycles, real motoring it's less than that. I use to get 56 MPG on my Uno ES, 48 on my ZX 1.9 TD, and 39 on my Altea 2.0 TDI DSG. The numbers are running in the wrong direction but the comfort is going up over the years.

As I said the engine may loosen up. You are suppose to drive new TDI's hard and if they are DSG even a bit more else they are suppose to burn oil and the engines never bed in [source Honest John]. I use to do a bit of sport mode with mine, my excuse.