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

[seatkid]

Interesting thread.

 

Been having moments on and off where I start to think about getting rid of the old girl - she'll be 15 years old later this year with 127k currently on the clock.

 

The reasons being very silly - another droplink going (£15 one from GSF lasted less than 18 months) - the a/c leakage rate seems to be getting worse - two blebs of rust spotted under paint on passenger side near sills - still have to unbend the damage that VW Hayseldens did last year :angry2: and annoying VED rate (£220 last year IIRC). Might need to replace front pads this year (still on original!!)

 

But on the plus side - it costs me virtually nil to maintain - just bought genuine VW droplink (much better than pattern parts) for £9 and a couple of genuine oil filters for £6 each off fleabay! And Full synth long life Dexos2 oil (505.01 spec) from local vauxhall dealer at £15 per 5L.

 

And it does everything asked of it from transporting family/kids/grandkids+ roofbox around europe at 85mph, to taking king size matresses/ all manner of rubbish to the local tip, and returning an average of 50+mpg. In total reliability and comfort.

 

I did look a couple of years ago at

 

C4 grand Picasso (quiet engine but rear seats for midgets, interior looks as if it will drop to bits easily)

 

VW Touran (incredibly low rent interior, rear seats/boot a joke - even our little spaniel would complain)

 

VW Sharan/Alhambra 3 (too big for my garage I suspect, feels and looks like a van with sliding door and passenger seat slide/tilt arrangement, yet interior feels so small and a bit spartan)

 

I know the MK1/Mk2 is criticised for the heavy removeable seats - but this is exactly what makes it such a great car. These stupid fold away seats rob space and mean you cant even put your feet under the seats in front!

 

No I'll be keeping her for a while yet - nothing else comes close as far as space, comfort and versatility goes. Plus the interior/materials on my 98 is/are plush/durable and easy to clean - why did velour go out of fashion???

 

And my wife wont let me get rid - she loves it.

[gregers]

seat kid,to be honest m8 i think your bang on.

even though i do like my smax,i loved my mk2 and if i didnt have my mid life crisis wouldve(shouldve)kept it,but no i went and got a lexus.even though it was a lovely car it just didnt tick all the boxes the mk2 did. :(

 

i did try to get another mk2 but the prices seemed on the high side for what was like an old car,so i settled on the next best thing the smax.

[Scorpiorefugee]

The consensus does seem to be that the Ford team have lost the plot somewhat. The VW/Seat alternatives are few and far between and the motoring press seems to be of the opinion that the new Galaxy is the best of the bunch but then when have they ever said anything sensible. I have yet to find anyone who thinks that the MKIII is a net improvement. The sad thing is that all new cars seem to be designed with the same mindsets. The phrase "Lunatics taking over the asylum" comes to mind.

 

Mine has now done 1000 miles from purchase and I still find it annoying to drive. I think it could have been and should have been a great car but it has been ruined by those with a total lack of understanding of what the MKII and MKI were about. However, I am now concentrating on what specifically annoys me about this one and am considering what could be done.

 

Rough ride, it really is like a 1930s corporation bus. I have asked about 16" wheels with more friendly tyres and these are available for £230 ish each and valves at £60 plus tyres of choice. Does anyone out there fancy a swap?

 

The throttle is programmed to be concentrated in the top 1/2" which could be reprogrammed. Does anyone know how?

 

The seats may be improved with the addition of a suitable cushion and ties. One for SWMBO. 

 

I now drive with the arm rest come storage lid in the up position to allow uncluttered access to the gears and brake.

 

It seems ridiculous that a car of this type and cost should be designed to suit the peculiar tastes of a minority group who are unlikely to want one in the first place but it does seem that the entire Ford range is targeted at the same group with no understanding of the real needs of those who drive responsibly and adhere to the laws of the land and that old rule book known as the Highway Code.

 

Ah Well! That's progress

[Scorpiorefugee]

Well, I've made some pretty caustic remarks about the MKIII Titanium and not one reply to disagree. Is that an indication of general agreement?

 

I had arrived at a point where I was beginning to think I was being a bit picky but I have just visited my son who now drives my old Ghia. He sat in the front seat and his very words were "How the bl00dy hell do you put up with these seats?" He sat in the back and his comment is unrepeatable.

 

I then sat in the old Ghia and immediately realised that everything that I had written about the seating in the Titanium was an understatement. It is truly awful and I am really struggling justify keeping it, especially on the ride back when it was like taking a trip in a 1930 corporation bus. There were 2 occasions where there was a bit of rough road and an approaching lorry. The back end was jumping about all over the place and I just locked the wheel straight and prayed. I was only doing 45. I travel this road regularly in the Picasso and had hardly noticed the bumps before and, yes I have checked the tyre pressures - twice on different gauges 32psi.

 

I have tried it with about 350Kg of paving slabs in the back and it is not much better.

 

Is this normal or is there any possibility that some idiot has "improved" the suspension?

Edited June 10, 2013 by Scorpiorefugee