Galaxy 130bhp

[Guest Rick]

I am about to buy a new Galaxy Zetec 130ps from Jamjar. Does anyone have any comments on this engine or Jamjar for that matter.

[Guest SA Intruder]

Look for entries from myself and Jakey247

 

Both of us have 130s

 

There are photos and various first impressions

[asimons]

I have a 2-month-old 130. My first diesel, and I love it. 4000 on the clock, it's reporting 40+ mpg, depending on the roads.

 

I nearly bought mine from Jamjar, but their delivery date slipped to the right and I found a dealer with one in stock (delivery date was critical to me). No problems with jamjar - they even refunded my deposit without a question. But I did discover that some Ford dealers were even cheaper (and some were much more expensive).

 

If you want any extras, like the load cover, order with the car as they're extortionate afterwards.

 

Surprised SA Intruder didn't mention it, but consider the Seat Alhambra. Same basic vehicle and engine, different fittings, generally more gadgets for your money, depending on the deal you get (I got a Galaxy Ghia for less than I could get an Alhambra SE for, despite a list price difference of

[Guest SA Intruder]

Forgot you had one!

 

I wasn't bothered which of the 3 I had.

 

The VW was 12 week delivery and

[f1racer]

My Ghia took 2 weeks and 1 day from order AND the car was still in Portugal (6 days old) when I placed the order.

I too looked at JamJar and TCS (even cheaper) but the idea of an import, 1 yrs warranty and long delivery times put me off. Ford are currently offering

[asimons]

On the issue of Galaxy / Sharan / Alhambra, it seems (to me at least) to be quite difficult to compare the differences. The Ford brochure has a longer list of standard equipment than the Seat, some of which (I think) Seat don't bother to itemise.

 

On the Ghia, Ford give you the CD multichanger and side curtain air bags; on the SE Seat give you more instruments, dipping mirror, tonneau cover, heated front seats.

 

The tonneau cover (load cover) is useful (or would be if I had one!), but would be even more useful if there was somewhere sensible to stow it when you have all the seats in!

[grifjl]

SA Intruder

 

Re what the Alhambra has against the VW/Galaxy

 

Six instruments, Fule to go, Sports suspension - VW Sport has that. I think I saw a ppicture of your dash on here recently and it looked exactly the same as mine??!

 

Admittedly it cost 18.8 and was six months old with 9K on the clock. Had the dual air con as an extra. Made sure spec was up with Seat other than that as parking sensors and climate control are not standard.

 

Seat was our next option, but distance to the dealer and the general state of the dealer showroom (Seat was a bit rundown and a couple of strange people worked there) swayed our decision. Plus a poor delivery time (we wanted integral child seats!)

 

Either way we would have happily bought any one of the three.

 

Very happy with the car. Wife likes it better than our 3 Series which I sadly traded in !!!

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Alhambra 115SE has sports suspension as standard - latest info from SEAT site appears to indicate that SE is now 130bhp standard for SE trim, and auto is older 115bhp engine.

Do any of the 130bhp drivers know if the insurance costs increased over the 115bhp version?

[Guest JonathanK]

Our project manager got a 115SE Seat about a year ago to replace a '99 110 S which I then bought as a second car from the company.

 

The spec on the new model is great and I'm seriously thinking of getting one but I don't find the sport suspension as comfortable as the standard suspension on the 110S. On long runs with 6 up, I find the Sports ride a bit twitchy when what I really want it relaxed, especially on the motorway.

 

I think the standard suspension is much more suited to the nature of the car.

 

Anybody else notice this?

 

JK

[Guest SA Intruder]

I don't find my Seat 130 particularly twitchy unless I have the tyres at the 41/38 stated.

 

I run them at 38/35 and have no problems.

 

I find that the sports suspension prevents the kids from barfing......which they did in my previous Sharan. And I can chuck it around more...

 

I also notice that the high tyre noise from the front is MUCH less with the sports suspension...

[Guest JonathanK]

Must be me. I'm probably turning into my Dad.

 

Jonathan

[Guest p1948040]

don't use Virgin cars!! - we did and had a long wait. However our 2002 2.3 Zetec Galaxy automatic with some options cost around 16.4k ish all in so was a good price, albeit at a wait.

 

We also found it very confusing comparing all the different models/marques, as you can't go on list price as everyones giving different discounts.

 

Also bear in mind I heard that the car is to be discontinued - not sure if it's just Ford that are ending the line or all of them - anyone else heard this ?

 

I guess you have concidered and ruled out other MPV's, but personaly if we buy another MPV it will have to have sliding rear doors, having borrowed various freinds MPV's which have these they are so so much more user friendly in car parks with the kids!!

 

Enjoy your car hunting and let us know how you get on!

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Can't believe that the Galaxy is about to be discontinued. Focus C-Max goes on sale soon with only 5 seats, no 7-seat option to rival the Zafira since Ford consider that those who really want 7 seats will buy a full-size MPV such as the Galaxy, their (Ford's) only 7-seater.

[Guest SA Intruder]

Ford have their own MPV/7 on its way.

 

I suspect they don't wish to sell badged VWs any more...

 

The current Portugese MPV/7 is due to be replaced shortly for VW/SEAT/Skoda

 

I believe it has a V6 Diesel option.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

SA I - are you sure? Do you work for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier? None of the motoring mags are indicating that a replacement is imminent. I thought that the new VW Microbus, due in about 2 years was going to replace the Sharan with the new Touran being a lower-priced 7-seater Zafira rival; SEAT will allegedly drop the MPV from their range as they concentracte on sporting cars and Ford must be developing their own 7-seater.

[Guest p1948040]

fraid so, Ford sold their share to VW ages ago and VW are bringing out a new better model replacement next year called microbus or something, better spec cheaper etc . Seat and Ford will no longer sell the model. bound to happen I guess - it's had a good run.

[iainkirk]

I heard the Galaxy was not being discontinued/replaced until Late 2005, when it will be based on the next Mondeo, as a Mondeo "D-Max".

 

If it happens before that and there is a manufacture/supply gap, presumably our recently purchased second hand ones might keep their values even better???

[Guest mick]

Took delivery of new TDi130 two weeks ago after a wait of approx two months. Probably could have had the car a week or two earlier, but held on for new reg, and also the time to get across to UK to collect it. Am staggered by ease of driving / comfort / build quality etc. So far have racked up over 500 miles on UK A roads and European autobahns, have put less than Eur60 of fuel in it (77 cents /ltr), and still have half tank left! Averaging about 40MPG - at least double what I got from my last MPV, and on cheaper fuel. Only gripe so far is the multifunction s/wheel which feels a cheap and nasty afterthought.

[Guest JIMSTDI]

what spec and options do u have

 

james

[Guest mick]

TDi130 Ghia with Multi function s/wheel & versatility pack. Only bit of the V pack I really wanted was the rear cover - coat hangers aren't exactly a good option with kids heads in possible striking distance, and as for the little bag, I thought it had been dropped in by mistake! Pity the cover doesn't fit behind the rear seats as an alternative position - probably due to shape of cabin. Oh, I took the met paint as well.

 

I would have been better using the money sorting out a second remote key. Reading the correspondence within this site on the hastle of obtaining / programming additional keys, this is something definitely worth trying as a bargaining point.

[Guest Dave]

The question at the start of the thread was 115 over 130. I am about to buy a 1.9 is ther much differance between the engines?

 

I see fuel figs are better on the 130?

[Guest JIMSTDI]

hi mick

 

what colour did u go for i the end

i bought some after market coat hangers,much better than the ford ones and a lot cheaper u get 2 hangers for a little under

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Dave - don't have experience of the 130 but:

torque figures are identical, and at identical rpm. 130 is obviously more powerful and uses slightly less fuel according to the official figures.

Some vibration issues have been reported with the 130 engine - I think SA Intruder knows about these. 130 is a different engine to 115, not just an ECU upgrade. It uses different injectors and the "top end" (head etc) parts are different.

[Guest mick]

Hi Jim, Dave

 

Got the Satin Silver (think its satin) which looks pretty good when contrasted by the black grill and bumper bottoms etc. I think the met blue with chrome (mentioned elsewhere in this forum) looks superb.

 

Took the manual, but I was tempted with the auto - my previous MPV was auto, and I do miss the 'lazy' driving of it.

 

The 130 Galaxy feels pokey enough - OK, its not a sports car, but its not really designed to be that. Its cetrainly no slouch from the lights nor does it feel as if your wringing every ounce of power out of it when zipping along the autobahns at 95mph+. Again, I only know the car I have now, not any other model, but I've certainly no complaints so far.

 

I think the main thing that swayed me to the 130 over the 115 was that its an upgrade. Newer engine (at least to the range) and so in theory should be more refined / more sorted than previous model, as I'm sure the next engine upgrade will be over this one.