Faults:

Front bush went at around 20,000 kilometers.

Starter motor, air-conditioner compressor went at 35000 kilometers.

(The above were covered under warranty)

General Comments:

This is a good car if you want to have something sporty and definitely cheaper than the VW Golf - the car is more or less a mix of Audi, VW and Seat technology, and you see several parts from these three manufacturers under the hood.

The car's performance is quite good, and at the time I bought this vehicle, the features were better than compared to other rival motors. If you're looking for a better car in Dubai today, a Nissan Altima would do better when compared to the Seat Altea.

You may not want to compare these two cars since they're way too different, but my comparison is in terms of features and a similar price range.

The Altea is brilliant when it comes to quick pickups and it is sporty and fast. The tiptronic gear system is excellent, and you enjoy pushing the car as you drive in both normal (D) and sport (S) gears. The tiptronic is brilliant and intelligent. I must say using it delivers excessive power, and is better than driving the car in sports mode.

I do not warranty that the car is cheap to maintain, and I also believe the quality is excellent but the durability is something that I would caution a buyer about. Having owned Seat cars from 2001, I must say the warranty does cover several problems during the early years, but as that runs out, you'll have to deal with higher part prices and a dealer who really doesn't sit down well with me - at least.

I recommend the car if you are an enthusiast and would like to drive something for the thrill and enjoyment. If you're looking for a durable car that runs well for years, this may not be a great option.

I do say that I would buy another Seat car, but this may be my last Seat due to their overly similar designs and expensive parts.