Ford, Seat Or Vw?

[Guest pinbot]

Having had a somewhat unplanned family expansion I am now seriously considering an MPV. These cars are all high up on the list (along with Citroen C8, Renault Espace). I currently run a highly specified Volvo V70 (which I love). I have a few questions, any help appreciated:

 

1) What is the real difference between the Ford, Seat, VW? The VW salesman said "the quality was better with VW, better components". Good bluff but when asked for specific examples (eg. are the suspension components different) he was unable to help :o .

 

2) I like driving. The paper difference between the 115 and 130 TD is small. I have test drives booked next week, but considering the silly premium the 2nd hand 130s are commanding there will have to be a very noticible benefit. Any thoughts?

 

3) The VW has a sports suspension option. The Galaxy doesn't as far as I can see. Anyone experience of different types of suspension?

 

Many thanks,

Kneale

[Guest Andyjflet]

Well you have a tough decision to make, the V70 is a good car. However I changed my Alfa and my V40 for a Ford Galaxy Ghia TDI with Multimedia etc and leather. I havent felt the need for the 130bhp as I dont drive fast anymore, the 115 has more than enough torque for me thanks.

 

Driving the Galaxy changes your driving style and the family love it, I also enjoy sitting higher up with a more commanding view of the road.

 

Drive the vehicles but of all of them I think the Galaxy looks the best and has better options available.

 

Good luck

[italiastar]

In my view, there is very little difference apart from cosmetic. The Seat SE is very well specified and has all the extras that the others will charge for. My only complaint is that the internal fabric can be easily caught - look closely for damage. The SEAT comes with sports suspension as standard - slightly hard on the road, but very good roadhandling. I've only driven the 130BHP and can say it's VERY nice! The sales people will give you all sorts of rubbish. Whateever they tell you, these cars are all built in the same factory, the diesels all have VW engines and are all basically VWs apert from cosmetic differences - as my son said - if you look behind the SEAT badge it will probably have a VW logo!

 

My experience of Ford salesmens is that their not bothered in trying to "sell" you a car, only interested in making their commission and getting the highest possible price. VW salesmen are just not interested and SEAT salesmen vary from just like being like the above to extreamly helpful. From my experience the best deal was on the SEAT.

 

In my view, buy the one you like and are able to get the best deal on. If you are looking at about a year old, try negotiating a deal on a new one - this is a good time of year if you don't mind a reg which will soon be replaced. I bought my last two cars in the middle of June - it's a dead time of year and salesmen have targets to meet.

 

Gerald

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Welcome - boy the salesmen really know how to talk c@*p. All3 are built at the same factory in Portugal and use components of the same (dubious?) quality. Ford don't offer the sports suspension whereas SEAT offer it as standard on the SE trim - check www.seat.co.uk for info. VW are meaner with their trim levels - cruise control is an option even on the top-of-the range version, the Carat. Decide what bits and pieces you really want then try for the best deal on the version with them fitted. Personally I prefer the style of the Galaxy so went for it over the SEAT and VW, but I had salesmen from all 3 makes looking for a used example for 4 months, from Jan to April last year and none of them came up with anything - I ended up buying from an independent MPV specialist about an hour's drive away from home.

SEAT and VW are fitted with VW 2.0 petrol engine whereas Galaxy has Ford's 2.3 litre. All diesels are VW's as is the 2.8VR6 in either 12 or 24-valve versions (pre- or post-facelift determines the number of valves and power output). Torque of the 115 and 130 diesels is identical, the 130 has a newer design of the top part of the engine and produces more power whilst using less fuel - a clever trick!

[italiastar]

I concur with Ivor. The non-diesels drink fuel, but then your not paying a premium for them although the diesel will be much easier to sell. I too spent ages looking for a decent used one - shed loads of 2.3 galaxys and quite a few 2.0 sharans - nothing on the diesel front. As for extras - Cruise control is nice, electric folding mirrors a must for me (I have to fold them to get it in the garage), parking sensors essential. climate control very nice. Alloys look nice, but a pain to clean and I'm terrified of damaging them. Have a look at the SEAT SX trim level - it offers all the things you really need if you get a 7th seat thrown in.

[markie]

The Seat Alhambra has many more standard options for less money. The SE spec has basically everything you'll need (cruise control, fuel computer, full electrics, parking sensors, heated seats, etc.), plus the sports suspension, plus you'll get two keys and a parcel shelf !! Some people think the galaxy looks nicer aesthetically, but I'd say the Seat is just as good ! Not much difference, if any, betweeen the 115 and 130, as I've driven both.

[Danny Boy]

I've just brought a x reg Seat after owning an r reg Galaxy.

 

I would agree with everyone else that the Seat has god a good spek, better than the Ghia and Carat on the othetr makes.

 

Personnaly i like the looks of the facelift Galaxy and the Alhambra but am not too keen on the Sharan.

 

You mentioned the Espace on your firt post....i'd stay away!! there expensive motors to maintain (as with all french cars). :(

 

Good luck and happy motoring!!

[Ivor_E_Tower]

The latest Espace looks odd but is nicely finished inside - the screen pillars are much thinner than those of the Shalaxy, but it is very expensive and parking sensors are not fitted to all models as standard - and front parking sensors are not available even as an optional extra. The dashboard will no doubt take some getting used to - digital speedo in the middle of the car etc.

The previous generation Espaces apparently have a known problem with their diesel engines where the crankshaft thrust washer is prone to failure causing a huge bill for a replacement engine. Don't know if this has been fixed for the latest engines, but I suggest that you need very deep pockets to run an Espace!

As to the Citroen C8 and its Peugeot/Fiat sisters, there are a few serious electrical glitches on those too, as witnessed in some of the motoring journals - would you like to buy a car where all the windows may open themselves when it is unattended? - and personally I think they look like converted vans, almost as bad as the Mercedes V-class.

[Guest ianwatson001]

Hi

 

Ive just bought a 1 yr old 2.3 LX ford Galaxy from Motorpoint its uk registered has 2 yrs warranty left and only done 9500 miles the car supermarkets are worth a look only paid

[Guest pinbot]

Many thanks for all of this > gold-dust! If my new twins behave tomorrow I will go down to the Seat garage. Sounds like the SE may have what I am looking for. I agree with the majority view that the looks of the new Galaxy are better than the Seat than the VW (with a big step down to VW). The VW salesman was already talking big reductions for new which attracted me. He is also willing to let me have one for half a day without the hassle of me arranging an insurance cover note. The Ford man wasn't interested and seemed to want me to choose a "new old stock" car off his computer (

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Brokers are OK so long as you pay their supplying dealer and NOT the broker himself. If you use a "reputable" one you shouldn't have any problem but if you are using one to buy second-hand, make sure that you impose a time limit that if they haven't found you a car within x weeks, they are off the case and any deposit is returned in full to you.

NB I'm a member of the CSMA and also tried to use their car-buying service last year but they too drew a blank after 2 months.

[Guest neildicko]

My tendancy is one / two year old. There seem to be alot of base models out there. As soon as you talk leather, cruise, climate, sat nav (?) you narrow the field somewhat.

This is exactly what I was after (and eventually bought with advice from this site). I had to wait around 8 weeks to find one, it ended up being a Ford Direct car bought from Derby (100 mile drive away) - but it was shipped up to Derby from Kent!

If you do look on FORD DIRECT website try inputting different town locations - you'll be suprised at the price differations for the same cars (I paid

[Guest pinbot]

Many thanks. Looked at Ford Direct with more success than elsewhere.

 

I had a test drive today in a Sharan 130 TD (SE), and Galaxy 115 TD (Ghia). The comments would be:

 

1) 130 > nice. Good low rev power, smooth. VW felt sold. Nice ride. Fitted 3 adults and 3 children easier than anything tried so far (an understatement!).

 

2) Galaxy. Was 2y older. Felt not quite as "quality". Hard to put your finger on. ?seat fabric. It was noisy and felt more like my traditional image diesel. Slightly stiffer in ride than the Sharan.

 

Have drives booked later in week in Sport VW, and 130 TD Galaxy.

 

Would anyone have any comments about noise / vibration levels between the 115 and 130, or is this a VW Ford difference?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Engine and its mounts are the same. May be a difference in soundproofing?

[HJT]

Strange, I test drove the Sharan and thought that was noisier. Looking at the postings on this forum and the differences in noises that people have in identical cars, it's probably down to the individual car in the end.

If you do go for the Galaxy, I would definately recommend at least the Zetec. The LX is very cut down by comparison and it's worth the extra just for the parking sensors!

 

Howard

[Guest SA Intruder]

The 130 TDi is prone to a little more noise/vibration at 2500 rpm than the 115 Tdi. They are basically the same engine, but there are minor differnces in the engine top end.

 

The Seat version tends to be quieter in terms of road noise. Whether this is down to the sports suspension (recommended!) or the tyres is something I cannot say.

 

The Galaxy always feels "wobbly" on the road to me. The softer suspension is prefered by some.

 

I would have extended test drives in your choices, then decide on bangs per buck.

[bushm]

Hi pinbot,

When I was choosing a Shalaxy there were virtually none around for weeks then a SEAT and a Galaxy appeared, the former at a SEAT dealer and the latter at an independent. Both were 110bhp TDi's with ~50,000 on the clock, both the same price. The SEAT was better spec'd but the engine sounded like a tractor when I test drove it. The engine in the Galaxy was so much quieter that we chose it for that reason alone. So the test drive comparison is vital and make sure that you check EVERYTHING works. Even check the keys for damage: one of mine...the one the salesman kept in his drawer until we'd bought the car...was slightly damaged and would stick in the door locks, replacing it cost about

[Taliska]

Just like to add... bought a new 115bhp Ghia Galaxy from a car supermarket at a price that was very hard to beat (for me anyway). This is the first time in my life I've had a new car but Ford garages were selling 1 year old LXs at the same price as what I paid for mine!

 

Driving one changes your attitude to the road, journeys are just eaten up comfortably.

 

I'd personally say that Cruise Control is essential these days with the number of speed cameras - click it on at the limit and don't worry about your speed creeping up (it will rise going down hills though!).

 

Best of luck finding one,

 

Taliska

 

P.S. I figured that I'd find a better deal on Galaxies as there are more of them around - Sharans were simply too expensive for what they were, and Seats, though well speced, were harder to find and dealers were few and far between.