147 150 or Leon Cupra 180. Which would you choose?
Discussion
I don't really have much preference, just something nice, comfortable & a bit of power.
When i weigh up the pros & cons they both seem very similar. For example the 147 has more luxury items that actually add a lot to the comfort like the Armrest & cruise control but then has niggly issues like frequent cambelt changes, electrical issues & so on. It also doesn't help that cambelt is a very pricey job on the Alfa, so even if the variator fails (i had one fail) then it's a cambelt off job.
The Seat has the 180bhp engine which could be fun (plus remapping later down the line), the Alfa 150bhp which is decent enough. I really like the styling of both. The Leon is around £150 more to insure & probably around £1,500 more to buy.
I guess it's the reliability that's putting me off the Alfa, even tho my last car was 147, first long road trip i was greeted by the engine warning light & following that over the next few months i had various airbag, bulb & other warning lights, but as an Alfa owner i think you get used to little things like this but it's still not very nice. It's the price/insurance that keeps drawing me back.
Opinions please?
When i weigh up the pros & cons they both seem very similar. For example the 147 has more luxury items that actually add a lot to the comfort like the Armrest & cruise control but then has niggly issues like frequent cambelt changes, electrical issues & so on. It also doesn't help that cambelt is a very pricey job on the Alfa, so even if the variator fails (i had one fail) then it's a cambelt off job.
The Seat has the 180bhp engine which could be fun (plus remapping later down the line), the Alfa 150bhp which is decent enough. I really like the styling of both. The Leon is around £150 more to insure & probably around £1,500 more to buy.
I guess it's the reliability that's putting me off the Alfa, even tho my last car was 147, first long road trip i was greeted by the engine warning light & following that over the next few months i had various airbag, bulb & other warning lights, but as an Alfa owner i think you get used to little things like this but it's still not very nice. It's the price/insurance that keeps drawing me back.
Opinions please?
Edited by beatngu on Saturday 1st October 23:13
Thanks for all the replies. Mixed feelings then.
With the 147, the cambelt intervals aren't too bad but as in the original post, if the variator goes then you're paying a lot to remove everything again.
I do prefer the cosmetic looks of the Seat & the fact it's easily remapped gives you much more choice down the line.
As above, dodgy Alfa owners also scare me. My one had a recent cambelt but the other belts/variator were left for some very strange reason.
With the 147, the cambelt intervals aren't too bad but as in the original post, if the variator goes then you're paying a lot to remove everything again.
I do prefer the cosmetic looks of the Seat & the fact it's easily remapped gives you much more choice down the line.
As above, dodgy Alfa owners also scare me. My one had a recent cambelt but the other belts/variator were left for some very strange reason.
Edited by beatngu on Sunday 2nd October 17:02
rllmuk said:
Do everything you can to get the Leon Cupra R instead - if you don't you'll just wish you had when you see one. You can pick them up for under £5k now.
As nice as they are, as soon as you raise a budget you tend to keep raising it as you always see something else. So don't tempt me! Think i've made up my mind. And i'm hopefully going for the Alfa.
Not just because of the price tag but small things like steering wheel controls, arm rest & cruise control. The Seat comes with none of these. And then you have the leather seats which you may as well say were standard as there's more leather seats then fabric in the 2.0.
The engine noise is fantastic, performance is spot on. I would obviously like more power then the 150 but i've got to think about the money side of things. My 147 averaged 20mpg & no more then around 25mpg (driving like a nun on A-roads) after changing the thermostat, so obviously something was still playing up.
Reliability was my main issue but i'll make sure to find one with a recent cambelt/variator change. If not i'll hopefully get some money off & get it done myself for peace of mind.
Not just because of the price tag but small things like steering wheel controls, arm rest & cruise control. The Seat comes with none of these. And then you have the leather seats which you may as well say were standard as there's more leather seats then fabric in the 2.0.
The engine noise is fantastic, performance is spot on. I would obviously like more power then the 150 but i've got to think about the money side of things. My 147 averaged 20mpg & no more then around 25mpg (driving like a nun on A-roads) after changing the thermostat, so obviously something was still playing up.
Reliability was my main issue but i'll make sure to find one with a recent cambelt/variator change. If not i'll hopefully get some money off & get it done myself for peace of mind.
Edited by beatngu on Tuesday 4th October 19:46
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