Looking For Another One!

[singh]

Hi guys, new to the forum

 

Back in the summer, we had a 2000 Galaxy Tdi Zetec and it was unfortunatly written off. Since then we have had a Vw Passat which we sold due to my Dad realising that he misses a 7 seater car.

 

So next year, we will be looking for another 7 seater and of course, a Galaxy is an option.

 

We will be looking to spend anything up to about 9 grand i suppose and I was wondering about all the other ones...Seat Alhambra and Vw Sharan?

 

Is there anything about any of them that make them better then any of the others? Ours had just done 80,000 and it was fine apart from it needing a new clutch.

 

I know the Volkswagen diesel engines are renowned for being very reliable, so would it be worth getting the Vw Sharan instead due to the engine?

 

From what I can see, the interior in the Galaxy looks much better!

 

Another question!...The Ford Automatic gearboxes on the Galaxy, how are they? how reliable are they?

 

Also, when the the new registeration plate comes out in March '08, will the prices drop even more?

 

Thanks to anyone who can answer these questions

 

 

 

Ricky.

[stevie m]

Hi singh welcome to the forum. I have a 2001 tdi galaxy. Mine has done 162000 miles still going strong. Ok the odd thing or three, but they are VW built. My engine is VW underneath a ford plastic cover. The fuel economy is great. It's a manual and to be honest i prefer that to an auto. The Seat & Sharan are pretty much the same motor. So either would be good. If you like the interior of the Gal then thats the one. You should be able to get a good one for

[singh]

Hi Stevie, thanks for the quick reply...so im assuming that the galaxy engines are just as strong. One type that I don't want is LX and then theres the zetec and ghia and then theres some 130bhp ones.

Should I hold out for a ghia or 130 bhp one?..What much extra does a Ghia have?

 

Thanks. Sorry about all these questions!

[stevie m]

Mine is the 115 . The 130 is a good motor but you will loose a bit of fuel economy but you will gain a bit more power. Im happy with mine i get enough straight line speed. The road tests state about 113 mph for mine (thats true but i wouldn't promote speeding) i don't know what it is for the 130 but people say there is a better acceleration. I think the ghia has cruise control and climate i think. Mine hasn't but i have reversing sensors front and rear which makes mine easy to park. To be honest i would just take your time looking around and you will get one that suits your requirements. If i was to get another the 130 i would try but the 115 must be best value for money (this is only my opinion).

[davec]

we have the 130 with most options except satnav,got DVD xenons leather child seats m/f steering wheel luggage cover chrome pack it flies and get over 40 to gallon on a run you should get similar for 9g we paid 27k new and its 3 years old heavy depreciation but you wont have to worry about that

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Maybe we need to get one thing quite clear - in the Mk 1 and Mk 2 facelifted Galaxy, all the diesel engines are made by VW. It's only in the latest Mk 3 (the one with no spare wheel) that the diesel engines are made by Ford. The auto boxes fitted to the diesels have a bit of a reputation for expensive failures.

The 115, 130 and 150 bhp diesels all produce the same amount of torque (pulling power) and there is little to choose in acceleration differences. It has been said that the 115 runs smoothest of the 3, with the 130 and 150 having "rough spots" in the rev range.

 

The Alhambra and Sharan are basically the same vehicle with minor trim/specification changes. All facelifted (mk 2) Galaxy Ghias come with cruise control; the Alhambra SE also has these; the Alhambra SE underwent some updates and IIRC went from 15" to 16" alloys on the manual transmission versions around the time that the SE gained the 130bhp engine instead of the 115 that continued to be fitted to the lower-spec S version. Then SEAT mucked up the trim levels by giving them weird names.

VW - I think they updated their specs several times too since they didn't used to fit parking sensors as standard but then made a decision to fit front & rear sensors as standard on all trim versions (again, IIRC).

[zeplin43]

galaxy.sharan or alhambra are very much the same car in the diesel verson (vw/ford) joint venture produced in Autoeuropa portugal.The alhambra is usually the one that runs cheaper and has a lot of extras especialy in the auto version.

[El Dingo]

Interesting points here!

I agree with Zeplin about the Alhambra - and you'll get more for your money in Badge Snob Britain, especially as the cars get older (the other side to this is worse depreciation). So, buy Sharan, buy new; buy Seat, buy old (or buy newer and keep it forever).

IMO the generic four pot VW diesel engine is nasty, but the 115 is the best (smoothest) of the bunch. It all depends what you want to use the car for, and whether you want manual or auto. Sound insulation isn't the best, so you'll hear those engines in all their glory.

Depreciation is everything, unless you are a very, very high milage driver, and then it must be a 115 manual. Prices will drop and will continue to drop - the best time to buy is now!

[adrianf.]

Ive had a Galaxy Ghia & an Alhambra SE both in 115bhp and to be honest theres very little between them.

The Alhambra does hava a few extra bits added to it, the best being heated seats but nothing else worth talking about.

I would just look to get the best deal and not worry which model it is.

[Emily's dad]

I've got a 115 TDI Seat which is auto with the Stylance level of trim.

My brother has got 2.3 Manual Galaxy which is Ghia spec.

 

When you get in one from the other they both have pretty much the same amount of "toys".

The petrol engine is smoother and quieter and is quicker, but you pay for that at the pumps.

To be honest the diesel engine isn't bad and on the move not that noisy.

 

Specification wise theres really nothing in it between a Stylance trim Seat or a Ghia Ford. I was happy to buy the seat to save some cash.

 

Petrol or diesel, manual or auto is a different matter.

 

Good luck in your search.

 

Dave.

[tim-spam]

Ignore all of the anti-diesel nonsense - once you've tried one and looked at the figures (fuel costs and depreciation for example), you'll come to the same conclusion as the vast majority of other forum members and go for a diesel. Unless you do a very low mileage and don't mind having a car that is virtually unsaleable after only a few years, diesel really is the only sensible choice. Drives much better too, especially when loaded. By the way, the VAG Group TDI engines have won more industry awards than virtaully all the others put together - and this is from within the automotive industry and not from journalists writing in magazines.

[adrianf.]

Yup ill second that.

 

Would never buy a petrol for many reasons besides the economy issue.

 

Ok maybe it wont do nearly 140mph :D like some but hey i can live with that.

 

Just the other day i had to do a quick return trip from Plymouth to Bristol and id challenge any petrol owner to do it faster and i still got nearly 40mpg

 

Im not saying that speeding is ok but in todays congested roads you will find the Diesel plenty fast enough.

 

Whenever you see any Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra have a look to see how many have the TDI badge on the back and then make your own mind up

Edited January 2, 2008 by adrianf

[stevie m]

I agree too. Whatever i have in the future will never be a petrol. In my case tho i just can't get the fuel economy out of one. God knows how much extra my fuel would cost when i can do 30000 per year. Plus the quality of most diesel engines are good. They seem to last longer (i just know someones got a petrol car out there that will prove me different). I don't want the speed anymore afterall you are only suppose to do 70 mph and on most motorways you are lucky if you get that for any length of time. Oh by the way i'm not turning in to a pipe and slippers man although the older i get the more attractive a volvo looks. :D

[El Dingo]

Actually, when I change the Galaxy, it'll most likely be a Volvo diesel auto. I quite fancy an XC90 D5 - nice engine.

I've loved the Galaxy, and despite what others may say, it's been cheaper to run overall than a diesel would have been thanks to the very low initial cost and reasonable depreciation. It's also not true that petrol Galaxy's are unsaleable - look at how many new members have 2.0 or 2.3's. Neither petrol or diesel is the most 'sensible' choice, and we'll just have to disagree about which is nicer to drive.

[teresa]

nope definately not unsaleable i bought my Mk 1 for 6K later sold it for 3995 but it was in good nick and low milage Edited January 3, 2008 by xxteresaxx

[El Dingo]

Anyway, we've gone a bit off-topic. OP made it clear that he wants a diesel, and he's been given some good advice IMHO.

Singh, please get back to the forum and let us know what you buy.

[singh]

Okay I'm back, but with a revised budget of around 7 grand!

 

I'm looking at roughly an 02 plate with no more than 70,000 miles and its so annoying, the quick ones are getting sold so quick!

 

Aahh, the quest is still on