Safety And Towing

[degens]

I have just replaced my 2.8V6 1996 galaxy with a 2001 1.9 TDi (115PS). Pick it up this week.

 

I notice that the EURONCAP rating exists for the 1999 Sharan and gives a 3 Star. There doesn't appear to be a rating for the new model. Does anyone know if there were significant changes made to safety. It is likely to be a 4 or 5 star or still a 3?

 

The other question is that I notice some people say they have towed successfully with the TDi, however I have 5 children and a large 7 metre, 6 berth caravan. We are obviously therefore carrying 7 people's stuff and 5 bikes. The 2.8 handled this fine even if I did only get about 10mpg. Does anyone tow a big heavy van with the TDi and if so does it do okay, particularly up big hills?

 

Thanks

[johnb80]

Its still a 3 star see http://www.euroncap.com/details.php3?id=vw_sharan_1999.

 

From the towing point of view there's shed loads of low down torque, if you compare figures for the ST220 Mondeo for instance its something like 270Nm@4400 rpm the 130 TDi has 330Nm@1800 rpm. (Please note these figures are from my aging memory which sometimes gets it a little wrong but I'm not far off)

 

Regards - JB

[degens]

Thanks for that JB.

 

I saw the 1999 Sharan but the model was replaced with the new one in 2000 wasn't it? So I wondered whether they introduced any new safety features. For example the one I am getting has side airbags which my current one doesn't.

 

I suppose a 3 star rating is okay - still better than the Kia (2 star) I was looking at.

 

Cheers

 

Phil.

[Guest Rammy]

We have just ordered our first caravan and have started looking at a Galaxy to replace our Focus which is not heavy enough to tow the van.

 

I had looked at a R reg 2.8 VR6 Ghia for about

[Dave-G]

The 110 bhp tdi's are all good for towing, but you may struggle with a 90bhp.how do you tell? The tdi badge at the rear is coloured red somewhere within it ,according to which brand the car is. the 90bhp has no red colour anywhere. thats as a quick check, examine the reg. doc's to confirm this. The 110's are sometimes referred to as "redeye's"...IE; they have a red "i" :rolleyes:

[degens]

Rammy - in reality I think the last check I did I got 11mpg but I am towing a lot. We have a 7metre 6 berth caravan and 5 kids. So we are towing 7 people's stuff, 6 bikes and a large awning, etc, etc.

 

We are replacing our V6 though purely due to the cost of petrol. The wife only tends drive to and from schools in the week with the ocassional further trip to the shops. Furthest school is only about 3 miles away and she seems to put

[Tigger]

I tow a small 4 birth caravan about 16ft with a 1.9 90bh Galaxy, and find it great. It tows like a train. Can take a little time to get to 60+ but once there will sit there all day. Get about 35 to the gal when towing. In fact I usely get held up with cars tha are not towing.Also carry 4 bikes and all the gear for a holiday. The extra space when the seats are out in the back is wonderful. I put a small infatable boat with outboard there. and the awning etc.

 

If the 115 is better then you won't get much better for towing. The caravan is so stable. I think it would be fine without a stabliser.

[Guest Rammy]

What year did the 90bhp become a 110bhp?

 

Is it the same for Seat Alhambra's?

[Guest kd035050]

I have a 2000 mk1 2.3 ghia, and I also tow a 23ft 6 bearth caravan and travel with 4 bike 6 passenger and a roof box and on a 1200 mile trip I get around 18 mpg sitting at 60 with cruise control on. It pulls like a train and the only things to slow us down are other vehicles and the occational very steep hill. Normaly just sit back in 5th gear and steer with no effort, no swaying, infact the time you realy know that the van is on the back is when you are accellerating hard (obviouse).

 

Cheers

 

Chris

[Guest The Doctor]

Careful with identifying which diesel unit you have. My Ford dealer was telling me that Ford make a brisk trade in red TDI badges and labels for the engine where appropriate (e.g. Focus) as dodgy dealers are looking to make a 115bhp appear to look like a 130bhp. My dealer ordered mine from Ford Direct but even then he didn't trust the spec, so he entered the ID number into Ford's database to check the engine power output. I saw it on the screen myself and so I'm confident mine is a 130bhp. I'd advice any potential customer to do the same thing. Why they don't just put the bhp on the log-book I don't know?