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
I'm leaning towards the Cupra. Simply because, as much as I like Alfa, the Seat just strikes me as a far better car, at least if you're after something that impresses as a drivers car, and not just a means of getting from A-B. A friend of mine had a Cupra R and it was quite frankly incredible. It put many of our other friends' cars to shame in a variety of ways, other serious items like Astra VXRs etc etc.
So I'd lean towards the Leon for those classy looks, great engines and well balanced handling. Of course, I'd recommend the 'R' model is you can afford it. They can be mapped quite easily to be sickeningly fast too!
So I'd lean towards the Leon for those classy looks, great engines and well balanced handling. Of course, I'd recommend the 'R' model is you can afford it. They can be mapped quite easily to be sickeningly fast too!
Perhaps you were just unlucky with the 147 or bought a lemon? I've had three Alfas, all of which were faultlessly reliable. Buy one which has just had its belts done (there's plenty out there) and your worries are put aside for the next 3yrs/36k. And its not particularly bank breaking to have the belts done, even on the 2 litre.
I've driven countless Leons and they just don't have the same appeal. The 180bhp is a nippy old thing, but the extra performance is far outweighed by the Alfa's character, enthusiasm and soundtrack.
I've driven countless Leons and they just don't have the same appeal. The 180bhp is a nippy old thing, but the extra performance is far outweighed by the Alfa's character, enthusiasm and soundtrack.
I remember looking at a number of 147s back in the day and two things struck me - how lovely the interior was on what is effectively an 18k car, but also how every single one I looked at was owned by someone who didn't 'get' the required Alfa servicing. All of the ones I viewed left me with the impression that it was going to break on me in an expensive way, so I bought an X308 XJ8 instead...
Go for the Alfa.
SEATS are for people who don't have the balls to buy an Alfa, I'm pretty sure that used to VWs aim for SEAT but it didn't really work out from what I've read.
I would agree that the 147 is owned mostly by people who don't understand alfa servicing hence most 1.6 and 2.0 twinsparks will probably suffer either bottom end failure or cambelt failure which is a pity!
No such problems for the Diesels are the engines are awesome especially the 150bhp model (don't forget remaps!)
My Audi TT is better built and more solid but my 147 handled better. The Seat will be worse than the TT...
SEATS are for people who don't have the balls to buy an Alfa, I'm pretty sure that used to VWs aim for SEAT but it didn't really work out from what I've read.
I would agree that the 147 is owned mostly by people who don't understand alfa servicing hence most 1.6 and 2.0 twinsparks will probably suffer either bottom end failure or cambelt failure which is a pity!
No such problems for the Diesels are the engines are awesome especially the 150bhp model (don't forget remaps!)
My Audi TT is better built and more solid but my 147 handled better. The Seat will be worse than the TT...
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
Jamz3k said:
Its not until you've driven a more modernish car does one realise how incredibley awful the Alfa 147 is to drive.
Some call it character, I call it being a poor car with poor components.
The engine note of the twinny's is very impressive thou.
Nonsense. What exactly is poor about the way a 147 drives? Fair enough, the brakes are a bit wooly, but they're hardly "awful".Some call it character, I call it being a poor car with poor components.
The engine note of the twinny's is very impressive thou.
robsco said:
Nonsense. What exactly is poor about the way a 147 drives? Fair enough, the brakes are a bit wooly, but they're hardly "awful".
I will sum up why the 147 is an awful drivers car in 2 words.The Suspension.
Pushing a 147 to the limit is preparing the push up daisies. I had a VW Scirocco muller me down a twisty B-road all because of severe understeer and suspension not being able to keep pace and if i'm really kicking the car when its down, the steering wheel becomes nothing more than something to grab hold of(when pushing on).
Pentoman said:
TonyTony said:
I just test drove a Cupra TSI (180) this morning.
It is good.
That is all.
Even though the Leon is bigger than the Ibiza, still decent space in the back as well!
I'm pretty sure you're talking about a different car to OP.It is good.
That is all.
Even though the Leon is bigger than the Ibiza, still decent space in the back as well!
Edited by TonyTony on Sunday 2nd October 14:49
beatngu said:
paulmoonraker said:
Are you not comparing apples and oranges here. They would see to me to be entirely different propositions?
I don't think so, especially not for my preference. They're both FWD hatchbacks.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff