SEAT - Ready to make the next step

[IVO']

Ok , we've all heard reasnobly complimentary things about Seat's current range of cars with regard to styling, build, above- average VW handling albeit with mixed performance.
However, Mr Da Silva has big plans and I've seen recently where both the new Ibiza and new Arosa will now take their styling cues from the Salsa concept shown in Geneva this year.
He says he wants all Seat's to have the best handling in their respective segments and inject some real sporting flavour into what is supposed to be a sports brand.
This guy revived the fortunes of Alfa with the 156.
IMO (and many others) , he has a much stronger point to start from in this case with SEAT's inheriting better build and component quality from VW than Alfa di from Fiat.
My feeling is by the middle of this decade, people's perceptions of a SEAT will have changed dramatically.
Any other views?

[Joe]

Yes I agree to an extent. SEAT certainly have a fine bunch of cars in their range now. In fact, my Dad has just collected his new company car - a SEAT Toledo, which he choose over a VW Bora. The Toledo is a much better looking car than the Bora IMO and offers so much more for your money.

However, Alfa whatever about their dodgy reliablity/build quality have a very strong sought-after "sports" reputation, something SEAT certainly do not have - yet.

[BeCos]

While few,if any, have the "sports" reputation that Alfa Romeo enjoy, I think the Seats will always outsell them 3 or 4 times to one!

Its kind of funny that Seat , who used to build cars under license from Fiat, can now provide a far superior product, albeit with substantial help from VW.

The better cars get in quality though, the more they loose their traditional feel...assuming they had some in the first place. In this world of shared platforms/engines/owners , or whatever, all cars are slowly going to end up feeling and driving the same as eachother. That is DANGEROUS for the enthusiast, as, although the quality is better, the individuality is lost.

[BeCos]

While few,if any, have the "sports" reputation that Alfa Romeo enjoy, I think the Seats will always outsell them 3 or 4 times to one!

Its kind of funny that Seat , who used to build cars under license from Fiat, can now provide a far superior product, albeit with substantial help from VW.

The better cars get in quality though, the more they loose their traditional feel...assuming they had some in the first place. In this world of shared platforms/engines/owners , or whatever, all cars are slowly going to end up feeling and driving the same as eachother. That is DANGEROUS for the enthusiast, as, although the quality is better, the individuality is lost.

[Astraman]

I didn't know that Seat were meant to be a sporty brand and I'd say alot of other people don't know it either.Their new range of cars is good and they're quite stylish much nicer than VW's.
Are they cheap to buy like Skoda or are they considered more upmarket.They certainly look better.
You can't compare the name Seat to that of Alfa.Alfa Romeo has a history and tradition of building beautiful cars and a heavy involvement in autosport.That name carries a reputation thats 60 or 70 years in the making.Alfas name alone means nearly as much as Ferrari's.When you think of the classic names Alfa is one that springs to mind quickly.

[Chancer]

The Seat brand would be my choice over all VW offerings. VW's are overpriced, Skoda's are a bit on the tacky side + that badge, but the Seat appears to be a good mix of quality build and value for money. The brand is being pushed as the sportier side to VW, and its image can only improve. The styling of their cars also have a Latino look and feel, just like the Alfa's, minus the questionable Alfa build of course ;). So IMO, Seat are indeed a noteworthy alternative.

[Tony]

What’s all this bull about Seat being a sportier car then? This is an image that they are attempting to portray, and it’s a feeble attempt at that too. I haven’t seen one review of the new Toledo that hasn’t rejected the cars ‘sportier’ claims. They’re trying to be another Alfa, but they won’t succeed by simply building on a Golf platform. I mean it’s a joke that this so-called ‘sportier’ cars biggest engine is a 1.8 125bhp effort. Big wow, so what. It’s certainly not even verging on exciting, let alone sporty. They only sporty looking car I’ve seen from them so far the new Seat Leon 1.8T. This, on paper at least, makes the car look somewhat sporting I must agree. Now whether it handles as good as an Alfa remains to be seen, but at least it puts the 150bhp Golf GTi to shame. A step in the right direction, but they’re still not quite there yet.

[Justin]

Not for me, yet. I can't remember any SEAT models or what they look like, because I skip over magazine articles about them, except the new Leon 1.8 Turbo which seems good if you like hot hatches. Keep at it SEAT, if it works I may think again in a few years. I think (could be wrong) that resale value is a lot below VW, which would influence me. Mind you, trade in value of anything seems to be lousy right now (the Celtic tiger only wants new cars) so why pick on SEAT.

[Phil]

I have to say Tony that I'm a big fan of the SEAT Leon. From certain angles of the car it looks like the old version of the BMW 3 series. One of the best SEAT cars made so far.

<IMG SRC="http://www.seat.co.uk/leon/images/hub/leon.jpg" border=0>

Cheers Phil.

[Anders]

I'm with you Tone. I think the whole Seat-is-sporty is somewhat contrived. Seat's image is non-existent in fact, and that's being kind. At least Skoda means cheap and reliable. But at the end of the day it's down to product. If Seat can get a nice driving car out of whatever platforms VAG provide then they will succeed. VAG definitely desparetely needs to distinguish the brands or I think VW will suffer.

[Tony]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phil:
I have to say Tony that I'm a big fan of the SEAT Leon. From certain angles of the car it looks like the old version of the BMW 3 series. One of the best SEAT cars made so far.

Cheers Phil.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

HE HE, don't make me laugh! :D IMO this car's more like a Toyota Corolla / Renault Megane http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/sick.gif The nearest BMW this cars comes to is the measly BMW Compact. I'm surprised at you Phil making such a slanderous comparison to a BMW, considering that you own one.

Does anyone else agree, or do I need my eyes tested?

[Michael Power]

I think Seat have a significant and difficult marketing mountain to climb in order for them to be perceived as a first class manufacturer.

In my mind, rightly or wrongly, I associate Seat with compromise, money saving, relative anonymity and poor residuals.

They make good cars now, but then if they did not, they would not exist these days. One problem for them is a legacy of extremely poor build quality and cheap interiors in the previous Seat generation. The old Cordoba, for instance, is a study in flimsy tackiness inside.

Key to success of a brand is acceptance in the company car sector (40% of all new car puchases). The only contender here is the Toledo, which, while a good car, will not attract company car people with the option to spend £20K plus. And again, Seat do not have a more "executive" level car, underlining the "cheapness" of the image.

As in many things, and especially in product selection, perception is reality.

Michael