Another?Maybe!

Here's some pics of our Galaxy replacement, so far so good we've just turned over 100 miles...and we like the extra dark privacy glass & my wife like the heated seat, cold b***er she is! Don't know how successful these attachments will be, not done any on this forum b4 although I send them via email all the time. And thanks Cepheus for the tips.

Has anyone had a claim with Tesco? Friend of mine's son's car was with them, his car was written off while parked...other driver ran into the back, shunted it into the car in front...although it was the other driver's fault the insurers did a knock-for-knock so Tesco dealt with him. Took them quite a while to pay out & in the meantime he was without wheels. Just a thought, sometimes the cheapest isn't the best when you claim. Having said that I am with Esure, cheapest for me at renewal time!

If I stick some pics on can someone tell me how to obliterate the number plate first...serious answers please! And as for depreciation, the Gal went down from a purchase price of

Thanks for the good wishes, will post some pics provided the fog has gone after I collect the motor (and I've studied how to do the posting!), and will keep you informed on satisfaction and reliability. We had also considered a Freelander but too expensive new and has poor reputation for reliability & a C-RV but the local Honda franchise obviously didn't want to do a deal as they offered me at least

Well, I'm sorry to say that having had Galaxies for the last 5 years we are now getting rid! We have enjoyed our time with what my son calls an upmarket Tranny van but decided that we no longer have the need for 7 seats as there is never more than 4 in the car and usually it's only us 2. The back 2 seats live under the stairs gathering dust...actually they have been protected by the Asda barbecue covers we bought some time back after suggestion by another member (sorry, can't remember who but a great idea). As you know I was toying with the idea of buying warranty insurance as the current car is now 3 years old and out of Ford's warranty but I have been tempted by the 5 years warranty offered by Hyundai(!!) ...why don't all manufacturers have the bottle to offer 5 years? So we are going smaller & buying a Tucson Limited, collecting after Christmas. And we have 5 years free servicing as part of the deal. I'll be sad to see the Gal go but lugging the 2 seats back in on Sunday reminded me how user-unfriendly this is. I've had great fun being part of this site...I haven't found an equivalent one for the Tucson yet, not one thats mostly British anyway...had great advice when needed, pitched in with opinions on occasion and generally enjoyed reading all the stuff on here. The site is on my 'Favourites' and I don't intend to remove it as I will still be checking what you guys (and gals!) get up to from time to time. Thanks for the company. PeteR PS. Guess you will now take the opportunity to take the 'mick' off me but I don't mind. I have now returned to a local garage and have the great warranty/ peace of mind. Will keep you posted from time to time, especially if it all goes pear shaped!

dave-g...that sounds like a good result (and a recommendation). When I went on line I used a ficticious name, etc! as I didn't want them to contact me. They are still phoning me regularly from my original quote which went down to

Thanks for replies so far. Dave-G...they say the 90 day wait will be waved as I still have the remains of Fords 3 year warranty until middle of December. Wear & tear on consumable items, like tyres, brake pads is not covered but on unexpected events it is. Coincidentally, the 'Daily Mail' is advertising for W Direct today. I put in my details for an on-line quote & it was

My Gal is nearing the end of the manufacturer's warranty & I am toying with the idea of buying an independent warranty to cover any repair bills which might occur. I have just received a quote of

Don't use the "Brothers Grim", Ford dealers in Wigston nr Leicester. They are rip-off merchants as I found to my cost!

2.3 has chain, it's the diesels that need the expensive cambelt change...at various discussed intervals depending on year of manufacture!

Gosh! I agree with Strawdog, I hope it never happens to me! I know it says in the Handbook that there are more than one level in the fuse box but I'm sure it doesn't tel you how. I can see why now. PeteR By the way, there are no reassembly instructions!! :angry: Oh, I've just spotted the reassembly notes...sorry...was totally confused by then! Great post though, very useful. PeteR

Guess I will have to stick with a Dunlop to match the new spare otherwise it will cost me another c

Gal has done 16,000 miles & fronts have just over 1.6mm on them, ie. still just legal. Don't know how some of you get the mileage you do from the fronts. My previous gal had 2020s & did about 14,000 on the front. As I'm unlikely to do another 15,000 b4 the car goes I am looking for a 'cheap'/grippy compromise. Continentals look a good buy for mileage but how widely available are they...and how do they compare on price for the mileage?

Hi Bagpus..just checked your Tyretec site, thanks... the Michelin W rated tyre is good for 168mph but the Dunlop H rated is only 'good' for 130mph, speeds I will never reach so I reckon another Dunlop will be ok. Thanks for your info, just got to seek out the best deal now. Last time I replaced tyres Kwikfit did a (well-hidden) price match so just need to find lowest quoted price locally and then probably visit them as they are just down the road. PeteR

As I'm about ready to put new replacement front tyres on my Gal & the spare is unused I had it off today to check details as I knew that, for some reason, it doesn't match the other four, they are Michelins, spare is a Dunlop. (car was a Ford Direct at 7,000 miles so I assume all the wheels/tyres are the originals) My intention is to buy a similar Dunlop for the front + have the spare taken off its steel wheel (!), and transferred to the other front alloy. Anyway, on closer inspection the existing 4 tyres are Michelin Pilot HX 215/55 ZR16 97W MXM extra load (guess this means reinforced) and the unused Dunlop spare is a Sport 2020E 215/55 R16 95H Reinforced which I am going to match to get 2 new ones on the front. But...what's bothering me is the 97W on the Michelins & the 95H on the Dunlop as I think this refers to the speed rating? Can anyone confirm this & say what each means...and, if this is the case, will it matter that I will have tyres on the front with different ratings from those at the rear? PeteR

Guess I may be ok then, but how do they know?? Is it better to be burnt than scalded? The recall dates would indicate that I continue to drive in ignorance at what might happen in the future rather than let the Ford "technicians" loose on the car to right one problem and cause several more which has always seemed to have happened in the past. Why do I always have the sinking feeling that my car is used for the Techs to learn on whilst still charging their maximum hourly workshop rate?!

I hope and assume that although mine is a 2003 model, as it was built in Nov 03 and the recall ends at cars built up to 31/08/03 I will not be affected. But what happened after Aug 03 to make later vehicles ok if Ford have only just issued the recall? PeteR

PS. It seems you have to attend the Speed Awareness course in the area in which you were caught. Couple of folks on my course had travelled over 100 miles to be there and this was only the second time in the area!! Be warned! There are also these average speed cameras being used, particularly in motorway roadworks. They clock your time when you enter the roadworks + your reg no., then time when you leave. Can then work out your average speed through the restricted area. The French also use this system to fine you on their motorways as the toll ticket you pick up has a time on it. When you exit the motorway the police can check your time, know the distance you have travelled so can work out your average speed. Particularly keen to use this system on us Brits so watch out! PeteR

I agree with Bigjeeze who appears to have been to the same "Speed Awareness" course as me...or one very similar as I was given the same facts re injuries/deaths of pedestrians. I was caught by a mobile speed camera van in January on a local 30mph road which I use a lot & know that van is there sometimes. I spotted the van & looked down at speedo which read just over 30mph so thought ok. Then received summons for 36mph so guess my speedo reads a bit low. I was told on the course that you are allowed 10% for speedo inaccuracy, ie 3mph + 2mph agreed by the local partnership, thus up to 35mph. I was given the option of

I've just been told by 'Motors' @ Coalville that it's not possible anymore to extend a Ford Direct warranty so can someone post more details on here if they know otherwise. Maybe what is being sold is an insurance-type warranty where you claim your money back after repairs have been done & paid for...not connected to Ford? Help please as I would be very interested at the prices quoted above. PeteR

Can you find details of this on the Ford website somewhere or is it a dealer-specific thing? Considering the regular faults some of the members on here seem to have,

But you can't fit them if you have airbags in the sides of your front seatbacks! ...thank goodness!! P.

Ivor E Tower seems to have become absent as well? P.

When you get the 'Log Book' through the post the previous owner + address will be listed. My Ford Direct was not listed as owned by FoMoCo but by an individual c/o a FoMoCo address. As I found some CDs in my car after collection I wrote to prev owner & we spoke for a while via email. Seemed like a genuine chap who assured me that the vehicle was ok when he had it. In fact, I believe, if these Ford management bods don't take care of the vehicles they are provided with the privilage is withdrawn...and 9000 mls is nothing for a diesel, good for it in fact. P.

MOF...is the new personal pic one of you then??!! Or...where do you get them all from? Guess it's a secret, eh? P. PS. Was it hubby with the dirty hands anyway??