Road test: Cat-II Leasecars

If during the coming year you need an affordable, attractive, well-driving car to lease, you are not exactly spoiled for choice. It's pretty hard to find one that satisfies even two of the above-mentioned characteristics, let alone all three. Personally I like cars with a little more speed and explosiveness under the hood, but not at the cost of me having to sleep in the car, or driving a cardboard box.

It means I end up driving cars that fit these criteria:

• maximum car value of around EUR 26.000, which keeps the tax hit a bit manageable
  
• top speed around 200 km/h, acceleration 0-100 km/h around 10 s
  
• diesel engined-cars
• I have to like the look of the car inside, outside; and the drive has to be good, taking corners has to be brisk and sharp

At the moment two cars satisfy these criteria, the Seat Leon 1.9 TDI, and the Alfa Romeo 147:

The Leon by itself is a beautiful car, since the upgrade last year made it look more zesty. The streamlined look, the bubble-shaped back of the car all contribute to a great look. Inside the Leon is solid, if just a little bit uneventful. And the same goes for the ride: uneventful. The Seat drives solidly, but is very much like a Polo, a 206, a Clio i.e. unsurprising. It does exactly what you think it should do, it behaves completely according to your steering, and generally doesn't leave you hanging.

And that's a bad thing, because in that case I need to justify why I should pay EUR 26k for a car that drives pretty much like a car that's worth EUR 17k.

The Alfa drives a lot less predictable than the Seat. A 147 is a strange car that has a certain temperamente, and a mind of its own. For example it cannot make up its mind what temperature it is outside (5 degrees Celsius... no 3... now it's 4... oh now it's 0... err... 2, no wait 3... etc.). The exterior is beautiful, but in a more classic and chic way, rather than the brash and bold shape of the Leon. The interior is gorgeous at the first impression. However a closer look reveals that the gear shift stick is about as thick as a pencil, and the glove compartment is held together with two pieces of string.

Which one would I choose? I think I enjoyed the drive more in the Alfa than the Seat, and I think the extra nine thousand or so euros I can easily justify. Of course, I got suspicious about the over-reactive thermometer, the flimsy interior design, but in the end you have to know just one thing... which car pulls more women? Exactly...

Truly, to quote the guys from Top Gear, you cannot be a true petrol head unless you've driven - for any length of time - an Alfa Romeo. To experience the joy of driving it, the agony and frustration when you go back to the garage to have something or other fixed... this is what true motoring is all about...

...and besides I'm only gonna be driving it for a year or so.