Looking At Buying!

[Guest sharky]

Helo all (great site) can anyone give me advice(thoughts) on Xreg 1.9tdi(115psi) auto ghia with 77000miles on clock. :lol: :o

[Guest JBrannan]

Im a new Galaxy owner and to be honest I would never buy a Ford again...see my recent forum message re changing a bulb! Whats your price range? and do you really need 7 seats?

 

Jeff

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Why never buy a Ford again? The Galaxy is a VW design and is built in the same factory on the same production lines as the Sharan. Ford entered into a joint-venture agreement with VW to produce a 7-seat MPV. All Ford have done (in general terms) is to have some different body panels, light clusters and parts of the dashboard manufactured to their designs. The cars are assembled by AutoEuropa, and Ford sold their share to VW a couple of years ago. Hence the next Galaxy due in 2006 will be a completely "Ford" vehicle, likely to be made in Belgium and not in Portugal (where all Sharans, Alhambras and Galaxys have been made to date).

[Guest sharky]

Yes I do need 7 seats thats why I didn't post this on a site about minis! price up to 11k, being a mechanic by trade I think I might be able to change a bulb if required so that dosnt really bother me .Some other views from people who have had Galaxy for more than a short while would be good thanks :D

[Guest MATT]

i have had a 1.9TDI Auto Zetec X reg (new shape) for a while now. and i have to say i think its the best MPV going (some my prefer its sisters, but they are basically the same car) its a great engine, great choice of modes on the gearbox, nice to drive, very comfy on long drives. mechanically i have had no problems with her, (although some women (including the wife) have put some scratches and dents in it :D) i get 40 mpg at best, 27 mpg when towing a 1,300KG caravan, which it pulls no problem. i have twice removed all the seat, for taking junk to the tip. remove the two rear seats and you have a massive boot, have all the seats, and you can carry your mother in law.

 

over all, its an excellent vehicle, which ime keeping, and might upgrade next year (to a new one, and a ghia with cruise control, and climate control, and EBDC, TSC, ESP, TCA, XD, lol :D

 

MATT

[Guest MATT]

i wouldn

[johnb80]

I've had my Galaxy for 21 months now. It has been very reliable only being let down by a dead battery. Around town I ALWAYS get 40+ mpg and have regularly seen 50+ on longer journeys. I would have another galaxy but would prefer something with a little more space and one that the seats will fold down and be stored onboard (they're bloody heavy and awkward to handle and store). From every other aspect the Gal is brilliant, plenty of power, frugal on fuel, easy to drive and comfortable.

 

Regards - John

[Andrew T]

After 12 months and 20,000 miles I can say the Galaxy is both the best and worst car I have ever owned.

 

As a design there is little wrong with it, yes the rear seats are heavy and tricky to fit (although they get easier with practice). The front seats that feel shapeless and unsupportive when you first get in, feel exactly the same after 15 hours so they must be quite good. Road noise is high on Dunlop tyres but there is a suggestion that other makes are better. Wind noise builds rapidly above the mid 70s. For a big lump of a thing it handles very well, although some of the latest generation of MPVs may be better. Some members who have test driven the Galaxy against newer models still bought the Galaxy, confirming the integrity of this ten year old design.

 

Having previously owned a Citroen Xantia I thought I knew about unreliability, but owning a Galaxy has really opened my eyes! I won’t bore you with the details but they are there in my posts if you care to look. The annoying thing is that most of these problems are design flaws that go back to day one, but that VW have chosen to do nothing about.

[HJT]

Had my Galaxy for 2 and half years now with no problems until last weekend when the aircon packed up. The condensor is leaking and will cost me about

[tim-spam]

I have a manual Alhambra TDI (115 PS), and it's absolutely brilliant. I must say that I have never heard of anyone not buying a certain car ever again because he found changing a bulb difficult (which actually isn't), so don't be put off.

The worst thing about these cars is the dealers, who are generally crap, but as you're a mechanic by trade, that's the worst feature gone. All the best with your purchase!

Tim

[Lyle Waters]

I've had 2 Galaxies. Excellent.... Bit lacking on toys but i am not much of a gadget boy anymore.

 

Only this I hate are the drop links banging all the time.

[Guest Libby100]

Great to read your opinions and advice, very helpful. Looking at buying Y plate Galaxy 2.3 Ghia. Test drive today - very impressed. Mileage on the high side at 84000 but otherwise seems in good nick. Any Galaxy quirks we should be checking for before purchasing? Also, 2.3 petrol: have been told if buying petrol engine this is the one to go for. Agree or disagree? :)

 

Thanks!

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Any Galaxy quirks we should be checking for before purchasing?

Just the usual - working air conditioning, no noisy drop links (clonking from front suspension over bumps), all electrical items working, carpets under front seats dry; with that mileage on it, check that it has been serviced regularly. The 2.3 engine has chain-driven camshafts, so no worries about belt changes, but make sure that there are no undue noises coming from under the bonnet.

[Guest MATT]

i think the 2.3 petrol is the prefered engine, i had a 2.3 once - very good motor, bit heavey on fuel when towing though.

 

i dont agree with what she says at the end of the video!

 

MATT

[Davetheref]

I'm on my second Galaxy in a row , both deisel. Couldn't affrod to run the petrol version. :lol:

 

Anyway, I just love it and I'm just wondering what to get next time as they are on their way out and I just can't seem to find another car with the same fit, so to speak.

I'm also lucky ast not having any of the numerous posted inherent faults a lot of people get and you have to remember that you mainly only get to hear about the bad things on this site and for every complaint you get there is more than like 10 happy owners (just made up that stat but it sounds good).

[Guest MATT]

...the thing is, most people find the site because they have a problem they need to solve, most of the time its miner, like 'how do i...' the fact is they are very good cars, and are reliable if they have been looked after...

 

MATT

[Guest JBrannan]

Libby, you can have mine for 10k, 20K mile F/F/S/H 2.3 Zetec immaculate condition, only floor is that I have a break light out!!

[Guest JBrannan]

oh its on an 02 plate!

[tim-spam]

You really are selling the car because you found the tail light bulb difficult to replace????!!!!

[Guest JBrannan]

To be perfectly honest, me and the Galaxy really dont get on - this is not to say that it is a bad car, its just not for me. We have 3 kids and can easily get away with an estate or smaller MPV. The Touran or new scenic are very tempting buys.

 

The car before the Galaxy was an S80 so as you can imagin, it was a huge culture shock from driving a smooth, luxury filled Volvo to a relatively sparse Galaxy.

 

Like I say, its just not for me.

 

Jeff

[Ivor_E_Tower]

a huge culture shock from driving a smooth, luxury filled Volvo to a relatively sparse Galaxy.

Should have gone for a Ghia with all the toys ! I still prefer mine to my parents' new V70 D5 (but only just); try to get a Volvo Freedom test-drive day; 45 minutes in as many new Volvos as you can manage (Even if the website leads you to believe that it's limited to 2 or 3).

[Ivor]

I have owned Shalaxys for the last 6 years.

 

First a Galaxy 2.8 GLX auto.

No air-con, no cruise and petrol cost made me swap it for a 1.9 TDi Alhambra with all the toys. (Climate Control, Cruise, 6CD changer, parking sensors, programmable heater (wake up to fully defrosted warmed up car on winter mornings), 6 gears, all leccy windows, autodimming rear view mirror, etc. etc.).

 

I've had trouble with the aircon but that was fixed under warranty. I've never had trouble with drop links. I cannot seriously see me buying anything other than another one as my next car. It's wonderful.

 

I get around 40MPG pottering about, 27MPG towing the caravan @ 60MPH, and at the weekend I drove from Halifax to Manchester and got 54MPG including climbing a long steep hill out of Halifax to get to the M62.

 

I'm one happy chappie with my Alhambra, it's mine, you can't have it, it's NOT for sale, find your own. :)

[mikethegas]

Having done 55k in my tdi galaxy I still think it a good motah. My wife drives it daily to school, weve done several trips to the south of France almost none stop and quite a few long trips Glasgow, Plymouth etc in the UK. IT fast enuf, quiet enuf (at speed) If we can afford a new one when she turns up her toes we will buy one.

Of course we have had our share of the magic self opening locks and windows (pleased to learn that others have the wet floor syndrome, bluddysilly place to put electonics) It has lots of sillycrappy bits of plastic that come undone or break, but so did our collection of 505's and similar problems with a legion of other motahs. worst being the Maestro where almost everything broke. I swore I'd NEVER buy another blmc or whateverthey were called. No wonder they went down the tubes.

 

Nah Mate the galaxy is a fine machine, dont be put off!

[Guest JBrannan]

Ivor,

 

Dropping me in deep to a load of Volvos mmmmm...I could be the Hugh Heffner of the car world! I have had a few motors in the 13 years I have been driving and its the Volvo which came out trumps. I did have a 406 SRi Turbo which was a close second but I have to say the Galaxy has really been way down rock bottom of that list.

 

Jeff

[Andrew T]

' the fact is they are very good cars, and are reliable if they have been looked after...

 

Hmmmmmm.......Reliable if looked after ? Do you mean by a dealer ? What dealer is going to clear scuttle drains, check rear washer pipes, change the battery before it fails prematurely, Check the A/C condensor for cracks, keep tyre fitters away from the spare wheel winch and strip and lubricate the wiper assy ?

 

My own extended maintainance schedule now has to include bi-annual clearing of the scuttle drains, checking for a leaking washer pipe, lubricating the wiper pivots through the hole I've had to drill and jet washing the rear brake calipers so mud doesn't build up on them and seize the Handbrake. This is like looking after a 1950s car which needs greasing every thousand miles!

 

Lets face it if the Galaxy was anything like reliable it wouldn't come at or near bottom of every reliability pole I've seen. And it's a shame because it is a good product ruined by niggling problems which the manufacturer is too tight fisted to do anything about.