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Original poster

cars - anyone got a seat Alhambra?

30 replies

Kelly1978 · 25/01/2006 10:24

I think the steering rack has gone on our car, and if I'm right I also think it will cost about £1k to replace so we're thinking about replacing the car. We've only had it less than a year but it costs a fortune to run now we've moved and we're using it a lot more. We're considering the seat alhambra, any experiences? Or any other recomendations? We think ours is worth about £10k so looking it that region.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 10:32

The Alhambra is lovely. It's basically the same car as the Galaxy and the Sharan but it's an awful lot cheaper, so you get far more for your money. I thought it was going to be a van with electric windows but it was the nicest car we've ever had. Comfortable, roomy, dh found it a pleasure to drive and as a passenger I was always comfortable. The seating position is high and upright, which I like, there's plenty of space for storage and a reasonable sized boot even with the seven seats in. The seats are a doddle to change around, or take out completely, and they're nice and wide so child seats sit well on them.

The only negative thing that I can say is that it wasn't hugely economical on petrol - it managed about 30 to the gallon. But we would both have another in a flash, if dh was able to get another one (he has a company car and at the moment can't have the Alhambra).

Original poster

Kelly1978 · 25/01/2006 10:37

can you see the front when driving that? It looks like it dips a lot.

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WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 10:48

It dips a bit but it's quite a short dip, if you see what I mean, so it's not too bad. We have a Picasso now, and the front was easier to see in the Alhambra than it is in the Picasso.

Original poster

Kelly1978 · 25/01/2006 10:50

Oh, Ive been in a picasso. It can't be too bad then. Dp is gettign carried away now, I think he wants the seat even if ours can be repaired! I like our current car, but it's not always pratical. Ours is a bench at the back and no boot space. The seat sounds a lot better.

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WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 10:53

The Seat has a huge boot when the rear row of seats are taken out. It's much smaller with the rear seats in, but if you're only going to be using those occasionally then boot space is not a problem. And there's still room for a fair amount even with them in.

Original poster

Kelly1978 · 25/01/2006 11:25

i need 6 seats, so I was thinking I can take one out and have room for the dts buggy. ATM I have to take all three wheels off it and put it on the back seat! Or I take the stroller but that blocks my view out the back. Dya reckon there is room for buggy and shopping with one seat out?

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WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 13:08

We used to be able to get dd's buggy and a certain amount of shopping in, even with all 7 seats in, so I'd say yes, you should be OK with one of the seats taken out.

Auntymandy · 25/01/2006 13:21

I was going to ask about the galaxy as I get mine tomorrow, so if the seat is ok the ford should be too!!
Excited!!!

WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 13:25

They're basically the same car with a different badge on ... hope you enjoy it, AM!

foxinsocks · 25/01/2006 13:25

There's not much room for luggage with all 5 seats in the back but if you need 6 seats and can take one out, what a lot of people do is leave the 2 outer seats in the front row in (with the 2 second row seats directly behind them) and leave a gap down the middle of the seats. That way, you get quite a bit of space and can plonk the double buggy down the middle and the kids can't get close enough to fight

I loved our Seat Alhambra - we had the diesel and it had a huge tank and went for miles. I just couldn't justify running such a big car once my two stopped being babies and having vast amount of stuff!

ggglimpopo · 25/01/2006 13:26

Message withdrawn

Auntymandy · 25/01/2006 13:31

space wise anything has to have more room than my Zafira!

Lucycat · 25/01/2006 13:33

Aren't you happy with your Zafira then Aunty?

WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 13:37

ggglimpopo, we never found that the Alhambra lacked punch; dh found it a joy to drive, and it had a remarkable amount of poke for something that looks like a large and heavy car. We didn't find it particularly tinny either; the Picasso is far more tinny and rattly than the Seat was. The level of trim on the Seat is probably slightly lower than the Galaxy or the Sharan, but given the price, the extras that we could afford over what the Galaxy or Sharan would have given us for the same price made up for it.

foxinsocks · 25/01/2006 13:41

it has FAR more room in the back than a Zafira but it is a bigger car. With just 3 seats in the back, it has an enormous boot. I miss ours badly for trips to the dump!

Auntymandy · 25/01/2006 13:41

I love my zafira, but its too small!!
Ideal if you have 3 children and occasionally need the extra seats. Love the way they fold down easily etc. I need all 7 seats most of the time!

ggglimpopo · 25/01/2006 13:42

Message withdrawn

WigWamBam · 25/01/2006 13:43

Foxinsocks, that's one of the things that dh misses it for - trips to the tip! That and getting large pieces of wood and flat pack furniture and so on into.

Lucycat · 25/01/2006 13:45

Oh good, you had me worried then, we really liked a Kia Sedona - in fact we tried to buy it - but then found it had been sold. After much thought we decide that we didn't need (and couldn't afford to run one all the time!) so have opted for a Zafira.

6 months old, black 1.8, 5k mileage for just under 10k - picking it up next week -

catj · 25/01/2006 13:46

I got a diesel alhambra in october and I love it!. I've found it very economical on fuel and I even tow a horsebox with it! In fact Which recommend it as one worth considering in their 2005/06 car guide.

Auntymandy · 25/01/2006 13:48

I am sure you will be happy with it! hope I like the galaxy as much!
Wanted to buy an eight seater really but too hard to come buy!

Lucycat · 25/01/2006 14:08

Don't Toyota do an 8 seater? one of those imported jobbys?

chjlly · 25/01/2006 14:55

I've got an 8 seater - it is a toyota Lucida
it's like the previa but imported & a lot cheaper! plus a decent amount of space with the seats down

ggglimpopo · 25/01/2006 14:55

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Kelly1978 · 25/01/2006 16:14

I'd love a chrysler but out of our price range, plus it eats petrol. I went to see dp at luch and drove miles to an MPV dealer that was supposed to have two seats, but it didn't have any when we got there! We're going to go and see one we like on friday and have a test drive, so will have a test drive then. The only MPV I've ever driven is the renault espace on holiday, and I wasn't keen on that - wasn't really comfy enough.

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