Help. Need A Replacement For Mkii Ghia. Where Do I Go?

[Scorpiorefugee]

Having done 1M miles in Gannie MK I,II III and Scorpios I discovered a '98 110 Galaxy, bought from ebay and was so impressed I got a MKII 115 Ghia and lived happily for the next 8 years. At about the same time we bought a new Picasso but that will never be accepted as a main choice although it is a useful runabout and shopping trolley. It has done 30K in 8 years but it isn't a real car. 180K miles later it now seems that SWMBO fancies a change and that is getting difficult. Before I got the MKII we looked at the Zafira and found is seriously wanting. In the last couple of years, just to test the future options, I looked at a Jag X type and recoiled at the thought of asking anyone to sit in the back. I looked at the new Mondeo and got in the passenger seat and immediately felt claustrophobic and screamed to be let out. More recently I went back to the Zafira and it now looks much improved. While there I checked out the Vectra replacement thingy and the first time I tried to get in the roof hit me just below the ear. It is relevant to know that I stand just 6' in stocking feet albeit a little short in the legs. We lowered the seat and it hit me just above the ear so I got dragged back to the Ford garage to look at a MKIII Gal. I got in and thought I'd gone to heaven. Leather seats, nice layout and I just sat there with a silly grin on my face. I then remembered that, as what used to be referred to as "Derby and Joan.", we didn't really need 7 seats apart from space for 2 golf trolleys, assorted accessories and the compulsory 5 suitcases of luggage packed by SWMBO, so the salesman wheeled us around the S-max and C-max. Not bad but why are the bucket seats so horrible. So - back to the Gal and it all went down hill.

No Spare - Which numpty thought that one up - fuel saving??? has anyone got figures? I doubt it!

Fold down seats. The old ghia has carried a three piece suite, half a ton of bricks, sand, cement, sideboards and all sorts of old junk and 10 mins with the vac and it's as good as new. I can't see the fold down seat backs coping with that!

Low profile tyres. What the h*** do I want with low profile tyres? I get 50/60K out of the fronts and I've never had to replace the rear (apart from when some low life amused himself by sneaking up and screwing all sorts of destructing items into the tyres overnight.) and never had any problems with road holding .

Performance..... What's the point with existing road conditions and speed limits?

There are probably options which I could learn to live with but I just can't see any of the available choices replacing the old Ghia.

Can anyone suggest anything or point out any redeeming features of the MKIII apart from losing the insanely positioned and unreliable climate control of the MKII as well as assumed improved comfort reliability and fuel consumption. (I did a round trip of 250 miles yesterday and returned 53mpg driving at the speed limits apart from multiple motorway hold-ups.)

[gregers]

hi m8,read my sig.

been there done it and wear the t shirt at weekends, :wacko: :wacko:

 

zaffy mk1 imo is better then the mk2.AND god knows why they have a 1.6l in this car.oh and no temperature gauge, :o

 

personally any car will not live up to the galaxy,see below on my flirting with the LEXUS :wacko: and that was 1 of my all time favorite cars,

lasted 5 mths.

done my best to get back into another mk2 gal,but in my area the 1s i found were far to bloody expensive for the age.

 

then tried the smax,the missus has 1.but hadnt really thought about getting 1 for myself.

anyways went and looked,drove and thought car like tendencies goes like stink(143 bhp)and titainium model.oh and tdi.

so bought it,and 10 mths later still think its a great car.

BUT i do agree with the fold down seats and size of the new cars compared to the old mk1 and mk2.

takes me ages to hoover mine out because of all the little crevasses etc.

and will struggle to get doors in,where as my old gal managed 6 with passengers.

oh and no where near as good fuel economy as the old gal tdi.yes i know its a 2 ltr and 143bhp compared to the gal at 1.9 and 115bhp,

but all in all a lot better car.

 

never driven the mk3 gal,chrispy has 1 no doubt he will give you a good comparison as he also has a mk2 aswell.

[chrispb123456]

Our Mk3 2.0TDCI 163ps Titanium is a Motability car as we needed to carry a mobility scooter and has a hoist in the back to lift it in and out.

First impressions driving the car compared with Mk1 & 2 is the very firm ride and coupled with the poor road surfaces quite uncomfortable, having said that the car is now nine months old and 8500 mls on the clock and have grown to like it.

I still drive the MK2 occasionally as I passed it on to my daughter but am glad to get back into the Mk3, we went for the six speed manual box in this one but next time will go for the powershift auto.

Hoovering out is not so easy as Greg said because of the recesses nooks and crannies but we have ours done for us (long story) so not a problem for me.

There's a few inches more knee room in the front which was a main feature for choosing a Galaxy, my wife tried getting in the new C max but the dash was rubbing her knees.

MPG still not as good as the MK2 but it's getting better, time will tell averaging 38 mpg at the moment mixed driving.

I wasn't convinced the Mk3 was a better car and I still think it's early days but it does grow on you, not had any problems with it but ask me in two years time I may have a different view then lol.

Edited September 28, 2012 by chrispb123456

[Scorpiorefugee]

Thanks Gregers and Crispb. Your comments are useful and confirm my worst fears. Given a choice I should go for a MKI ghia. I know where there is a beauty but I can't convince the owner to part with it. I wonder why. :wacko: :wacko:

It does seem that the designers have lost their way somewhat. They are creating bigger cars and filling them with useless clutter. My old MKI had a steering wheel that worked beautifully without an array of levers and buttons. 3 knobs to control the heating without taking your eyes off the road and which did what I told it without waiting for a bl00dy computer to make up it's mind and comfortable seats that didn't assume I was an overactive speed mad teenager and not covered in something with the rubbish collection qualities of velcro. AAAGGGHHH!!!

Anybody got an old Ford Anglia van :wacko: :o in good condition?

Edited September 28, 2012 by Scorpiorefugee

[Scorpiorefugee]

I am getting seriously miserable about this new car thing. My 10 year old Gal Ghia has now lost a bit of it's new feel at 150K and we have been touring around looking for replacements. Perhaps we have been spoiled as it has comfortable seating for 6 fully grown adults little in the way of wasted space and no clutter of unwanted extras. The good news is that none of the competition seems to come close but the MKIII can no longer compete with the seating layout of the older ones as the back row seems unsuitable for anyone over the age of 7 and the middle row, while being better than the park bench seat in the Zafira, or for that most of the other competition, is still a long way below that in mine. The Zetec feels basic with uncomfortable front seats and, while the Titanium's front seats are much better we still have the problem that any one sitting in the back would feel that the car was a backward step. On top of which I just don't need or want any of the expensive additional extras or potentially expensive to fix unnecessaries.

We looked at the S Max and found the front cramped and uncomfortable in comparison with what seems to be an undersized steering wheel so I guess we shall just have to see if the old Gal can last us out, unless we can convince our friends to part with the MKI Ghia.

[Scorpiorefugee]

I am getting seriously miserable about this new car thing. My 10 year old Gal Ghia has now lost a bit of it's new feel at 150K and we have been touring around looking for replacements. Perhaps we have been spoiled as it has comfortable seating for 6 fully grown adults little in the way of wasted space and no clutter of unwanted extras. The good news is that none of the competition seems to come close but the MKIII can no longer compete with the seating layout of the older ones as the back row seems unsuitable for anyone over the age of 7 and the middle row, while being better than the park bench seat in the Zafira, or for that most of the other competition, is still a long way below that in mine. The Zetec feels basic with uncomfortable front seats and, while the Titanium's front seats are much better we still have the problem that any one sitting in the back would feel that the car was a backward step. On top of which I just don't need or want any of the expensive additional extras or potentially expensive to fix unnecessaries.

We looked at the S Max and found the front cramped and uncomfortable in comparison with what seems to be an undersized steering wheel so I guess we shall just have to see if the old Gal can last us out, unless we can convince our friends to part with the MKI Ghia.

[Scorpiorefugee]

This is getting seriously sad. I am just recovering from an act of sheer desperation. I actually got as far as considering a C4 Picasso. Thankfully, I am now fully recovered but still dispairing about the prospect of finding a MKIII I can live with. Having moved from considering a 3/4 year old one I am now considering anything up to £20K but they all are funereal black or silver with black upholstery and it just makes no sense at all to part with that amount of loot to end up wit a car with all of the features that I hate about my current MKII Ghia. I have seen an older Zetec with a lighter coloured interior but it now seems that even that only comes with black upholstery and dash. Has Henry Ford been revived? The salesmen only seem to spout on and on about all of the totally unnecessary and pointless electronic gadgets but all I want is a comfortable seat, a cruise control and a heater that I can control without having to fumble around with 20+ buttons while peering at something between a video mixing desk and a musical instrument only to have to wait until some bl00dy computer decides whether to do what I asked or not. Whatever happened to simple and safe designs which didn't make it necessary to take your eyes of the road to make simple adjustments? 

Actually, I could live with loads of useless gubbinry ( and no spare wheel AAAGGGHHH!) if I could find one with an interior which didn't make me feel suicidal but they seemed to stop doing that a few years ago. Sadly, every manufacturer seems to be going the same way and the Gal is still the only realistic option. 

The only ones I've found so far were a 59 Ghia in Midnight Sky (Sold before I could get the wife to look it over) an 18 month old TitaniumX with cream leather but petrol and Auto (No way!) and a 9 month old TitaniumX with a 1.6 diesel and Cream leather  but that was 100 miles away and I'm not convinced with the reports of that 1.6. The rest were all either wannabe hearses or Silver with depressing interiors and I refuse to start wearing sun glasses just to look the part a mafia boss or other hoodlum.

 

I've been back along the S-Max and B-Max route but they all seem to be following the same theme and I bang my head every time I get into an S-Max so, unless anyone has any helpful comments it's back to Citroen. At least they do have interior designs which are not depressive and somewhere to put a spare wheel.

 

I'm just stepping outside. I may be some time.....

Edited March 12, 2013 by Scorpiorefugee

[gregers]

picasso................................stupid boy pike.

have you looked on ebay?thats how i found my smax,garage advertised and was about 50 miles from where i live.

or auto trader etc.

[Scorpiorefugee]

'Stupid boy!'     'Ere, I resemble that!  Don't you have better things to do than respond to nonsense from poor old duffers like me?

I said I was getting desperate - or did I?  I've spent hours on the Internet and annoyed a lot of salesmen and lost the only one I liked 'cos SWMBO said she didn't want one as old as an 09 forgetting that the current gal had more miles and was noticeably more tatty when we bought it and now looks better than it did then, but then that's women for you.  :5:

It's a bit like the mobile 'phone thing. All I want is something that allows me to talk to folk a long way away to replace the one I have now.

I don't want the pleasure of driving ruined by sitting in something designed by someone who thinks all of the dubious 'improvements' are some sort of fashion accessory or status symbol and having to cope with endless buttons and LCD displays because the same numpties like the new digital and have no concept of the simple beauty of analogue. Oh! and did I mention I HATE Black! :)

[gregers]

well dont rush into it m8ty.

i tried for ages to find a decent mk2 when i wanted rid of my lexus,and when i found 1 i liked it was going for far too much dosh.

1 thing you will need to decide on is that YOU both agree when you FIND 1 that you dont hesitate or your lose it.

[Scorpiorefugee]

I didn't exactly rush but just closed my eyes and jumped and now have a 12 reg Hypnotic blue Titanium with 9K miles locked in the garage - just. I didn't even get to test drive one and, when I picked it up, I even had to ask the man how to start the thing. It was simply a case of accepting that there really isn't anything else on the market that remotely appeals so I just acted under the direction of SWMBO. I have to admit that the drive home was a genuine relief in that it is obviously much more refined mechanically than the old MKII Ghia but was a little worried when I discovered that it was considerably bigger. It just fits in the garage with a whole 8 cm total clearance so I am now creating a foam pad with pressure plate...

[gregers]

:35: :rolleyes: nice 1,bet that cost a pretty penny.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers - You're a busy chap.

 

It was certainly the biggest debit card transaction I've ever done. It was largely down to SWMBO. We had a bit of a windfall about 15 years ago and it was a choice of a Merc SLK or ISAs and she decided ISAs as advised by that berk Brown and they nose dived. They eventually recovered so it was cash in time and try the other plan and since we are now Galaxy addicts and it is quite probably the last car we shall buy it seemed a good idea. The silly thing is that we were getting offered 3 and 4 year old ones on a basis of "We can get this one in for you.." from Ford Direct at only £2K to £3K more than we got this one so it seemed too good to miss with low mileage and 2 years Manufacturer's warranty and nearly £11k off list price. Time will tell.....

[gregers]

wow 11k cheaper,seems silly to buy a brand new 1 and suffer the loss yourself doesnt it.

 

busy chap??

[chrispb123456]

Is it the manual box or the powershift and is it the 140 or 163hp will be interested how your MPG goes.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Busy chap Gregers 'cos you seem to pick up new posts very quickly.

Oops!, I said "more" , should have said "less"

It is a bit of a gamble. Bought from a car supermarket - no haggling but nearly new motors at lowish prices and a choice for inspection. Probably ex - executive taxis but very clean, non smoker and unmarked so hopefully worth a punt against a 3/4 year old with 40/50K for an extra £3k.

 

Just picked up last post....

 

It is a manual (I hate anything auto and that includes a lot of the standard auto lights/wipers that I suppose I'll have to live with) and a 140 with £135 tax. I shall be reporting back on MPG and other bits 'cos as in my first post on this topic I expressed some doubts about the 'improvements' but for now it's in the garage until the snow has gone - and I've finished reading the 350 page handbook.

 

I am hoping for good MPG as I typically get 48-50 out of my 115 bhp Ghia but that does depend on air temperature and wind direction.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Scorpiorefugee

[gregers]

your reading the instructions,WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU? :rolleyes: real men dont read the instruction book.

they just cock it up as they go, :lol: :lol:

[chrispb123456]

So your the same as mine except the engine mines the 163, i'm running at 38.5 at the moment after a weekend in Nottingham, wasn't hanging about so may have done better at a steady 56MPH how do you get on with the pull away/hill assist?

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers - If I'm going to cock it up I intend to do it according to the book :49: .

Chrispb - "Pull away/hill assist" ---  Is that what we used to call a handbrake? Strewth man! I haven't worked out how to use the radio yet. I thought I was doing well getting the damned thing started. :5:

According to the data the 163 and 140 should be the same on fuel but time will tell I suppose. I have only put about 50 miles on a full tank so far and the projected mileage has gone from 475 to 513 if that means anything. 

As far as MPG generally goesI have 2 regular trips, 200 miles each way to Plymouth and 65 each way to Burton and it is very noticable that if there is any wind and driving to the speed limits I can get as much as 10MPG variation on return trips with the overall average remaining reasonably constant although any temperature below about 3 C can have as much as 10 MPG reduction but all of that is in the old MKII - which I intend to hang on to.

 

One question - This has run flat tyres on one of which has a corner scrubbed and has only 25psi which I am assuming is the explanation. What are the rules on mixing run flats with others on the same car - presumably not on the same axle? 

[Scorpiorefugee]

More questions....

I've been trying to look into servicing and warranties etc. and,  while I shall probably be a long way down from the 30K miles/ year of working life and nearer 8K the thought of an electronic  fault or, as it is a Ford and requires the questionable skills of some Ford garages, anything beyond a blown fuse brings on serious nervous tremors, I fear for my wallet should anything go wrong.

I don't have a code for the Sony radio - should there be one?

The Service booklet may be a duplicate as it has no supplier stamp - any comments please?

There is no mention of cam belt replacement in any documentation I can find but read somewhere that it is now 125,000 miles/10 years. Is that right?

The supplier gave it an interim service and stamped the book but is that enough to maintain the manufacturers warranty or should I take it to Ford for a check/repeat service within the 13 month window? i'e before April 8th.

P.S The tyre mentioned in the previous post is scrubbed not feathered so I am not concerned about tracking. 

[gregers]

get the dealer you bought the car from to get you the radio code.

give fords a call and ask them about the history of your car and what is recommended in keeping it within the so called warranty?

as from info i have found then yes to the cam belt,but again might be best to get confirmation from fords themselves.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers.... Thanks for the reply, but 

 

Yes...... right!

When I bought the MKII form our local ford dealer with 69K on it I was told that it had a timing chain and needed no maintenance. Research proved them wrong and they reluctantly agreed to replace the belt since they had serviced it from new and could find no record of it having been changed.  A short while afterwards the water pump went and I took it to my own friendly local garage and their comment was that they didn't know who did the cambelt but it wouldn't have lasted anything like until the next scheduled change. 

 

I think I'll try Bristol Street Motors 15 miles down the road, at least they talk like professionals.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Finally, for this topic anyway, a reply for Chrisb.

MPG is at the moment nowhere as good as the old Gals. On a return trip of about 220 miles almost all dual carriageway and keeping strictly to the limits it reports 41.5. Doing the same trip in the MKII Ghia I get 48 - 50 regularly and this is verified by the almost 800 miles full to empty. The MKIII is almost down to 1/4 after 350 miles - not good.

The suspension is very firm remarked by all passengers as is the comfort level of the seats reported as a bit hard to not very comfortable. In fact the general view is that the MKII is a much more pleasant ride. Drive wise, the clutch is a bit fierce and the throttle is all at the top making smooth take offs very edgy and the overall power again compared to the 115 on a long uphill (Birdlip in Gloucestershire) seems if anything a bit down.

 

It's better looking than the earlier models and it certainly feels and looks like a new vehicle, if not a particularly well thought out interior, which is a shame because it feels as if it could have been brilliant. Little things like the arm rest between the front seats which I bang my elbow on every time I apply the handbrake or change gear are just plain annoying bad design. I've started to leave the lid up which solves the problem.

 

What do you think of the upholstery? It seems to be a combination of velcro and nylon stockings. I got a few cat hairs on one seat (not my cat - hate the damned creatures) and the only way I could get them off was with a fine pair of tweezers.

 

It's early days yet but I'm not particularly impressed.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Scorpiorefugee

[chrispb123456]

I was in two minds whether I was going to like this car after the MK1 & 2,

I agree with all you have said, that unnatural angle of pulling the handbrake it's so awkward, and pulling away have never stalled a vehicle so much as this one.

Seats not that inviting although the fold flat idea for myself is brilliant as I constantly need the loadspace for the scooter and then up with the seats without having to remove them.

Give it time I think you will grow to like it but do think it should have been called or named different, not a Galaxy don't compare it to the  old Galaxy. :)  

[Scorpiorefugee]

Thanks Chris, I was beginning to think is was just me being grouchy. A thought about you scooter - I used to have a similar problem with the old Galaxy which I used for work and it had to cope with van type use. I made a removable wooden tray which fitted tightly in the back with the back seats removed and pushing the 2nd row seats forward an inch or two gave me a rugged tray about 44 x 40" and sides about a foot high with a lid which could be popped on to give a clean look when the back was clear. I have managed to adapt it to fit the new Gal as I dread to think what it might be like to clean around the fold down seats. fixings are a bit of a problem as the new one has a sloping bit at the back and the side panels are angled giving a taper effect.

I've also looked at getting a new set of 16" alloys with tyres  which will possibly improve the ride and allow use of one of the others as a spare to be fitted in the well where the 3rd row of seats is as they are pretty useless anyway. A set of alloys with tyres works out cheaper than replacing the factory fitted boneshakers but the problem is the valves as they are now subject to the new loony regs.