Been looking for over a year now for a new car.

The wife has a 2008 Scout which we love. Looks brill and saved our bacon a few times in the recent bad weather.

Always wanted a vRS, 170bhp, good mpg (on the diesel) and great value for money.

So, which one to get?

If only the Scout had a bit more oomph, if only I could find a low mileage vRS with the right spec (xenons, maxidot and rear PDC).

Then stumbled across this, a Seat Altea Freetrack. Scout platform with 4x4 Haldex system, 170bhp and fully loaded as standard - and cheaper than an equivelent Scout or vRS.

I know opinion will be divided in terms of its looks, but with an 8.7 second 0-62mph time, 41 combined mpg and loads of standard equipment (that are cost options with Skoda) should it be a serious consideration!?

Been looking for over a year now for a new car.

The wife has a 2008 Scout which we love. Looks brill and saved our bacon a few times in the recent bad weather.

Always wanted a vRS, 170bhp, good mpg (on the diesel) and great value for money.

So, which one to get?

If only the Scout had a bit more oomph, if only I could find a low mileage vRS with the right spec (xenons, maxidot and rear PDC).

Then stumbled across this, a Seat Altea Freetrack. Scout platform with 4x4 Haldex system, 170bhp and fully loaded as standard - and cheaper than an equivelent Scout or vRS.

I know opinion will be divided in terms of its looks, but with an 8.7 second 0-62mph time, 41 combined mpg and loads of standard equipment (that are cost options with Skoda) should it be a serious consideration!?

Sorry but its fugly

Scout and vRS in one car; that will be a Yeti

TP

Sorry but its fugly

I agree - looks small too compared to a Scout.

Get a Scout and a remap - simples

Looks terrible, reminds me of a whale on wheels! :p

The general concensus seems to be that the 1.8 tsi is pushing out 180bhp. Mines done just over 1000 miles now and it certaintly feels nippy enough for that to be the case.

They aint bad cars, short lived, went out of production fairly quickly as they never really caught on. Nice drive though, as for small? Its bigger than the Octavia as its an Altea Estate effectively with usefull split boot floor etc. Interior which is Altea is brown however, inc the dash etc, rather odd.

Does it have the same size boot as the Octy?

Does it have the same size boot as the Octy?

Would have thought its bigger, will have a look at specs.

Altea XL 532 litres

Cant find Skoda specs for boot.

(make - seats up / seats down)

Octavia hatch - 560 / 1420

Octavia estate - 580 / 1620

Mondeo hatch - 528/ 1448

Mondeo estate - 542 / 1733

Golf hatch - 350 / 1305

Golf estate - 505 / 1495

Passat estate - 603 / 1731

Suberb estate - 633 / 1865

So Octavia estate quite a bit bigger - 48 litres bigger. I'm quite suprised at this!

Me to, I should imagine the Altea is maybe higher though.

They aint bad cars, however its not a good looking as the Octavia. Worth taking a test drive if you can find one.

Your right, the floor seems quite a bit higher...

Neat screen in the back is standard though...

Its got the all important steering wheel mounted stereo controls, why oh why aren't these available on non DSG Octavia vRs's!?

Thats a split floor as well, there is more uner that.

I meant the roof line being higher, not sure.

Its bigger inside with more headroom, like a Golf+ over a regular Golf.

Scout and vRS in one car; that will be a Yeti

Too expensive still :'(

These Seat Altea Freetrack's can be had for around 10K for an 57/08 with less than 30K miles, maybe I'll wait a few years for Yeti prices to drop into my price range

Scout and vRS in one car; that will be a Yeti

.....with a small Halfords Trailer being towed behind to make up for the small boot! :p

Get a drive in a Freetrack and see it in the flesh. It may look a bit better in real life (you can but hope!) and in all reality, when you're driving it on the inside, does it matter what it looks like?

Their unloved and discontinued status sees them discounted on the forecourts in comparison to anything else from the VAG stable that's remotely comparable (which isn't much!). You'd certainly be quite unique on the road!

It doesn't have the understated looks of the Scout that seems to be quite a hit with clients, for me, but if the good lady's Mk1 Leon died I'd consider one as daily car no.2/long distance holiday car thanks to that DVD screen. In all reality though the Scout will probably become car no 2 when I put it out to grass around 150k miles. We're certainly going to keep it till it dies as its just such a competent all rounder.

Niall

Hi All

Good cheap cars.

Got a new Altea XL 2.0 D Stylance new and had it remapped to 170bhp for a grand total of £15500!

Saying that Seat UK are USELESS and dealers are even worse.

If you have any warranty issues expect Seat to say 'on your bike we are not covering that!'

I would not buy another Seat, test drove a Yeti last week and will be PX Seat for a new Yeti !!!

I would say not all SEAT dealers are useless, I had a lot of good feedback from my last place.

If its a warranty fault then SEAT will pay for it.

Edited 29 August, 201015 yr by Lummox

i,ve been looking around for a facelift scout tdi but they are like rocking horse poo to get hold of , my next option could be a freetrack not that keen on the look but the spec is really good & the rear dvd will keep the kids quiet / trays on the rear of the seats come in hand too mmm

Edited 29 August, 201015 yr by smog monster

If you find one with xenons, hands off, its mine!!

Have you thought of the oil burning 140 bhp Scout with DPF removed, I believe its around 167 bhp

Fun to drive as well I understand, no more of that lag

I already have a DERV Scout, the wife nicked it though so never get to drive it :'(

Looking for something to replace my trusty 1999 Peugeot 306 that I'm currently sat in for the best part of 3 hours a day on my lengthy commute

I'd consider another Scout but prices are on the up. Paid £14K for my 2008 8K mile Scout this time last year. Same cars with more mileage are now nudging £16,000!

Are you saying by simply removing or bypassing the DPF on the Scout you can raise the BHP up to that of a vRS!?

I already have a DERV Scout, the wife nicked it though so never get to drive it :'(

Looking for something to replace my trusty 1999 Peugeot 306 that I'm currently sat in for the best part of 3 hours a day on my lengthy commute

I'd consider another Scout but prices are on the up. Paid £14K for my 2008 8K mile Scout this time last year. Same cars with more mileage are now nudging £16,000!

Are you saying by simply removing or bypassing the DPF on the Scout you can raise the BHP up to that of a vRS!?

I understand by removing the DPF & a remap those figures are possible, it also I understand is far less laggy.

YELLOW mmm! Shame Skoda didn't offer it, but v.v.v. glad they don't do brown interiors - nobody would see my flat cap....

This one's been on the forecourt of my local Skoda/Seat dealer for well over a year now.

Starting to feel sorry for it

Was £15,999, now its £13,495.

Still out of my price range but the wife is adament, we ain't having a yellow car!!