General Questions About The Mk3

[acecard]

So sad- my trusty MK2 has been written off - only had 58k on the clock and I am sure it had many years of useful life left - plus I regularly got more than 50mpg on a good run. Thankfully wife and daughter well protected by the airbags when some smackhead ran a red light straight in front of them.

Anyhow, now looking at Alhambras, Sharan or MK3 Gal. Not really enticed by the S-max and other offerings.

Really surprised that the Alhambra doesnt have a heated front screen as standard though its well equipped otherwise. Must be a reall problem in the winter?

 

Quick questions guys - does the MK3 have an auxiliary heater or doesnt the duratorq engine need it?

Does only the titanium x have electrically folding door mirrors.?

Any other useful comparisons between alhambra and mk3 gal?

 

thanks for any responses

(still want my MK2 back :( )

 

PS - sorry post should have been in MK3 questions- you can see how its affected me!

Edited February 6, 2014 by acecard

[gregers]

sorted ;)

thought the heated screen was a 'ford' idea so perhaps they havnt allowed it??

 

iirc auto express rate the Alhambra better then the mk3.

afaik the mk3 does not need a booster.

 

why have you ruled out the smax?is it because you need the size of a full 7 seater?

test drive 1 before you rue it out completely.

funny isnt it i test drove a mk3 and didnt like it,mind you it was just a basic model so maybe that was the reason. :rolleyes:

[acecard]

hi gregers

Can't see how Ford can stop others providing a heated frontscreen - same would apply to other features on cars like heated mirrors, rain sensors etc etc.

In any case, would be difficult to see how they could get a patent seeing as heated wires embedded in the glass is hardly new.

 

You can get the heated windscreen anyway on the Alhambra but only with the Winter or Leather pack. But to me its essential on a screen that size jusging by the times I have needed it on my MK2. Not all the Alhambras are in Spain!

 

Re the aux heater on a MK3 - if it doesnt have one, does that mean the Duratorq is less efficient (allowing more spare heat) than the VW unit on the MK2 or does the MK3 take an age to reach operating temp in the winter?

 

I can get pretty loaded at times so the Gal still seems preferable to the smax though I can see theres not much between them.

I do like the idea of the sliding doors on the Alhambra though I can foresee them getting frozen up in the winter.

 

Still musing :glare: and using a quirky little Punto in the meantime with intermittent wipe feature - sometimes they dont work lol

[davewill]

Folding Mirrors are available as an "option" as part of the "Seat Pack".. This gives the memory electric seats + folding mirrors.  I have this on my Titanium model

[acecard]

Thanks for info guys

Just got hold of the Ford MK3 sales brochure and on all models it refers to "Thatcham 1 perimeter and volume sensing alarm"

No mention of immobiliser which is normally stated in the same breath as Thatcham 1 alarm.

Is there an issue here? Surely the MK3 is fitted with an immobiliser?

[Scorpiorefugee]

Re the duratorq engine, I'm not convinced about any of the claims for it. It is supposed to have lower emissions but it is more thirsty than the old 115 MKII unit and it does seem to heat up more quickly. Most seem to get 42 ish against 45 -50 in the older ones. I'm not at all convinced about the claimed 140BHP and the power all seems to be at the top of the pedal and gear changing is a pain in lower gears. The front seats are hard and heavily bucketed so I have a special cushion and the rear seats are very hard and flat making cornering unpleasant and forget adults in row 3. I don't think I shall ever stop apologising to anyone who has to get in the back. Having looke around before and since I got mine I think the seats in the Zetec are better than the Titanium and the leathers in the Titanium X look better. If you find one with runflat tyres, walk away or change them immediately, even if they are new or in good condition. Other than that they seem to be marginally better than VWs and Seats although 1-2 year olds lose value pretty quickly. I gave my old MKII Ghia to my son and bitterly regret it but it's all a matter of taste I suppose. They do grow on you after a while - but it's a very slow process. Maybe in a couple of years or so... :(  :(  :( .

Like you, I just couldn't take to the S-Max, possibly because I kept banging my head getting in and out because of the lower profile front and I still have sudden urges to upgrade back to a MKI..

Edited February 11, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[davewill]

Does this answer the question re Thatcham Alarm?

 

What is Thatcham Category 1 alarm

Thatcham category 1 is an insurance approved combined alarm and immobiliser security system offering a high standard of vehicle security and lowing motor insurance premiums..

[davewill]

Sorry, also this below from the RAC

 

What is a Thatcham Category car alarm?

27 Jun 2013 at 10:56

 

Many new cars are fitted with alarms, immobilisers and other clever devices to improve vehicle security. They both protect your possessions from opportunist thieves and your car itself from being stolen.

But the number of different car alarms and security features on offer, and the corresponding level of protection they give, can be baffling for a new buyer. That

[acecard]

Thanks for all replies - I knew my MK2 but a total virgin on the MK3.

 

Cheers davewill- that indeed does answer my question - though I find the bit about the tilt alarm interesting.

I once drove an old transit for visionhire back in the '60s' fitted with that sort of thing which never failed to go off when there was a faint breeze around. Those were very early days for car alarms though.

 

Scorpio - from your comments, you would make a great salesman for any Ford competitor :D Very useful tips and actually makes me want the Alhambra with the VW unit even more though I just don't think I can live without a 'quickclear' windscreen. Up here in the Pennines I'd never get moving in the winter. :39:

Edited February 12, 2014 by acecard

[Scorpiorefugee]

Acecard, does your reply indicate that you, like me, are are a refugee from Visionhire? AKA Titanic Rentals. I blame them for making me a lifelong skeptic.

 

Re the Galaxy. Now I've ditched the runflats, it is growing on me and the engine management does seem to be learning and evolving 'cos it has still only done 13K so I recommend a good iong road test for any of them and take your time as there are bargains to be had and some overpriced ones too. There still do not seem many about and those that are seem to be in the car supermarkets. Unfortunately, for all of it's faults, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of competition. Certainly, most of the MKII and MKI owners I have spoken to, including a long standing employee of our local Ford dealer, seem committed to hanging on to their Galaxys until they die. 

 

It will be interesting to read your progress reports. 

Edited February 13, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[gregers]

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