SEAT ALTEA HATCHBACK READER REVIEWS

My car

Well what can I say... I have had my Altea 13 months now its a 56 plate, it has had great economy I can around 600 miles with a full tank (Diesel), but its been cost after cost. My engine has broken at 48000 miles, just about everything has gone wrong I need a new cam and barings as they worn or heated so much they could of set alight. Clutch fork (snapped), fly wheel (exploded) also because the rivots at the end of the cam exploded out oil pressure was lost and I need 2 new pistons (3+4) and other things too bill currently standing at £3000, and still have not got the car yet. Its meant to be a VW, Even though I did not get the car from SEAT they wont even help at all even though I got the car at 22,000 miles a year ago! For what you get car wise is pants stay away from VW cars. But inside the Altea is lush. Its your choice but I really would not go for this car. If only I knew how bad the customer service was and how expensive the cost of repair was I would of gone for something else!!

My car

I have had my Altea 6 months now. One day the ESP light came on and wouldnt go back off. Took it to the garage who read the code as brake pressure sender 1 or brake pressure sensor 1. They said it was a hard code that couldnt be cleared and wasnt sure of the exact problem. They recommended taking it to SEAT. Looking at the code online i was extremely worried, some saying it was an asb fault and could cost £1400 plus labour! Took it to SEAT who confirmed the code and that this was now a recognised problem with SEATS and that they would pay a percentage. They also said it used to be £1400 for the part which was reduced to £700 after finding another supplier, and now there is something very new in which they can just repair the part. Any way they have called back saying it will cost around £370 inc labour of which SEAT will pay 50% of the cost. They may have covered more but my car has now covered 80k miles and as 2 service stamps not by SEAT. Therefore after the horror stories of £1400 i am very relieved to find it wont cost anything near that! Just wanted to share to stop others worrying so much!

My car

I have the special edition. The handling is very good for a MPV and comes with loads of kit, Bluetooth, leather parking sensors, 17 inch alloys.

The servicing by Johnsons of Braintree has been extremely good.

I'm very happy with the car and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a sporty MPV that looks good and go well

My car

Having visited this site regarding a change of car I decided upon a new Altea, the deal was good. While some of the reader reviews rave about volkswagon quality I cannot say that I consider the quality to be on par with the rest of the group for fit and finish. My greatest disappointment with this car has been the economy or should I say lack of it. I find that easy driving within legal speed limits I struggle to get 42mpg. When driven at an indicated 10mph over the National speed limit economy has gone down to 35mpg. I just cannot understand how poor a return I am getting. My last vehicle an Audi A4 avant with roof rails and the 2.0d engine and driving at legal speed limits would give me 50-55 mpg in mixed driving and pushed hard 45mpg.I used to get 36mpg from a Skoda VRS 1.8 Turbo when driven with spirit!! Friends who have had the same engine in VW cars claim to have averaged 45-50 including the Touran!!I find the car rather bland, it just doesn't put a smile on my face.I have found no problems with the visability issue, well okay as others have said reversing in dark places can be interesting with the poor light. The engine I find starts to get 'buzzy' or noisy when cruising at an indicated 10mph above National speed limit and can sometimes leave me with a slight ringing in my ears after many motorway miles. Inside the car it feels a little like a tardis plenty of room but it does come complete with harsh plastic and a dash that rattles when cold.