Drove A New Galaxy

[El Dingo]

...and I have to say that I quite liked it.

 

The ride is good; less crashy over bumps than the Mk2, and the handling nice - steering is a little more direct than the Mk2. The car is a little quieter on the road, but there's really not much in it, however, this car was on winter tyres (and my Galaxy is on Dunlops, which many on the forum say are noisy).

 

The engine pulls well, and has a slightly sporty 'rort' when revved - it's about as powerful as my 2.3, but not as smooth at high revs (but to be fair this car had a low mileage). The torque curve seems flatter, so there's more pull lower down the rev range, but less go at higher revs.

 

The interior - well, the dashboard and door trims are 'of acceptable quality' (not as nice as Mk2 IMHO). The front seats seem a little weak and not very supportive, but when I came to put the third row of seats down to put our luggage in the fun really started. These seats, trimmed in a nice black smooth faced cloth, are lightweight (easy for lifting out) but the controls are fiddly and the seats reluctant to fold flat. Surprise surprise, the cover that creates a flat floor was broken. (Someone can make some money by designing a rather more robust aftermarket replacement.)

 

I like the look of this car. However, someone had bumped this one backwards into a wall by the look of it, and the rear bumper looks awfully thin.

 

Last summer I drove an S-Max with the 2.5 petrol engine, and that engine makes all the difference! The 5 cylinder has a real character to it, and being turbocharged has more than enough pull as well as being more free-revving than the 2.0l. Why don't they fit this to the new Galaxy?

 

Would I buy one? Yes, but I'd look around for a car with a more robust interior first. Maybe leather would help? Also, I'd wait until they fit that 2.5.

[Guest MATT jr]

nice & interesting report, thanks for that :)

 

MJR

[Littlematt_2007]

We have been to see the mkIII galaxy in dealers and we have test drove the ford s-mas 2.0 TDCi zetec (6 gears) it was really smooth but the inside was far to small to accomodate 7 people and their luggage in comfort.....

 

Regards,

 

Matt

[Ivor_E_Tower]

the 2.5 is a Volvo 5-cylinder engine - just wish that Ford would fit the D5 diesel version to the Galaxy - 185bhp would be fun in an MPV !

[Guest Cepheus]

the 2.5 is a Volvo 5-cylinder engine - just wish that Ford would fit the D5 diesel version to the Galaxy - 185bhp would be fun in an MPV !

 

the 2.3 5 pot engine from the old T5R would be nice too .... 240bhp would keep me happy :)

[El Dingo]

the 2.5 is a Volvo 5-cylinder engine - just wish that Ford would fit the D5 diesel version to the Galaxy - 185bhp would be fun in an MPV !

 

Yeah, the D5 is an nice engine as well.

[Guest gooner52]

help please :)

[Guest Cepheus]

Are you needing help with your usual problems James or something in particular?!? :)

 

BTW - Saw my FIRST new Galaxy on the road yesterday - a black 56 plate Ghia in the car park of Asda in Wolverhampton. Looked very nice! Illuminated yellow taxi sign on the roof kinda spoilt it though!

[Higs]

Would I buy one? Yes, but I'd look around for a car with a more robust interior first. Maybe leather would help? Also, I'd wait until they fit that 2.5.

Was talking to a guy at a conference last year. He'd just left Ford R&D and told me this version of the Galaxy will be coming out as a Volvo variant at some point. I guess that would have a better interior and the D5 engine?

[NikpV]

BTW - Saw my FIRST new Galaxy on the road yesterday - a black 56 plate Ghia in the .......

 

saw one in Gladwyns body repair shop (ours was having door and sip repaired care of someone elses insurance) - the new galaxy appears to have been driven though a gap 3 inches too narrow <_>