craig1410
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| posted on 23/9/05 at 10:18 AM |
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I can't speak for Skoda's but the Seat's that I have seen have many of the same interior parts as the VW/Audi equivalents and the
bodywork is of equivalent quality. To be honest I would say that your comments may have been true 5 years ago but Seat (and probably Skoda too) have
come a long way in the last few years in terms of quality and in my opinion the only reason for the difference in price is branding and image which do
not interest me in the slightest. In fact I prefer the sportier image of the Seat compared to the VW or Audi. Having said that, I couldn't see
myself buying a Skoda because someone might mistake me for a Taxi... 
Oh and by the way, the last time I looked at residuals, the SEAT Alhambra had the highest residuals in its class - higher than the Sharan or Galaxy
too!
Cheers,
Craig.
[Edited on 23/9/2005 by craig1410]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 23/9/05 at 12:48 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by craig1410
snip
Oh and by the way, the last time I looked at residuals, the SEAT Alhambra had the highest residuals in its class - higher than the Sharan or Galaxy
too!
Cheers,
Craig.
[Edited on 23/9/2005 by craig1410]
Only because it starts out cheaper than the almost identical Sharan/Galaxy which are built on the same production line a drop of 62+% off the
purchase price in 3 years is hardly good. The Sharan (and more so the Galaxy) don't have great reputations either but they don't have that
much serious competition. All the car companies I can remember that have set up car plants in Spain has had a tough time getting decent quality off
the end of the line.
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Gav
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| posted on 23/9/05 at 10:54 PM |
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Yeah say that perhaps the longevity of seats of the last generation may be questionable but if you were plonked in a 2000+ seat leon then a golf
you'd be hard pressed tell the difference (as long as the marques badge was removed from the steering wheel  ) also after inspection of a few
high end audi's in the company car park the leather seats are one and the same.
Still im happy i paid less than for the equivilent golf
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speed8
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 posted on 24/9/05 at 07:16 AM |
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Is it just me or is a cambelt change at 40k a bit early. Is that normal for diesels, petrols are usually about 72k or 60k at the earliest.
What's the difference?
Some of these prices are astounding, if I was chopping in the tvr for a normal car I'd be tempted to keep it.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/9/05 at 09:46 AM |
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Hondas are only changed at at 96K
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davidwag
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| posted on 24/9/05 at 03:21 PM |
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Hi,
Some of the belts on later ford zetec engines are changed at 100,000 miles.
As for the cost of replacing the belt on the alhambra you've answered your own question, because you can't even see where it is!!,
it's a B***ard of a job.
£520 for a service and cambelt at a main agent sounds like a good deal to me.
David
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craig1410
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| posted on 26/9/05 at 12:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Only because it starts out cheaper than the almost identical Sharan/Galaxy which are built on the same production line a drop of 62+% off the
purchase price in 3 years is hardly good.
I didn't comment on the 62% figure earlier because I read it the wrong way around. By the figures I have, the Alhambra RETAINS just under 62% of
its value after 3 years. When my car was bought by the original owner it cost £18500 (discounted from the RRP of £20595). I bought it in May 2004 with
17800 miles on the clock for £14650 with FDSH and in literally showroom condition. It is now worth £11445 according to Parkers.co.uk (private sale) so
is now worth 56% of RRP or 62% of original purchase price which I think is pretty damn good!
Compare this with the VW Sharan and you get £11120/22275 = 49% or the Galaxy which is 11770/22740 = 51% and you may get an idea of why I went with the
Seat! Also, the Galaxy has a design flaw which causes electrical fires every now and then whereas the Seat uses the VW wiring loom and isn't
affected.
Read reviews on the parkers.co.uk or topgear websites (amongst others) and you will see a trend which highlights the Seat as having the same quality
as the VW but with better equipment, better handling, better value and better residuals. 'nuff said!
Cheers,
Craig.
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