Which Should I Buy (and Other Questions)?

[SteveB]

Hi everyone (please excuse the long winded post..),

 

This is my first post here as I'm looking to buy a Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra. The big question is which?, having been the owner of a Fix Or Repair Daily Granada for the last two and a half years (and having spent more that 3 times the initial cost of the wretched thing keeping it going) I swore never to buy anything with that little blue oval again. However the Galaxy is (effectivley) a VW / Ford Hybrid (correct me if I'm wrong folks) though from reading this forum it seems that Ford have still managed to make a mess of things which VW and Seat don't (as in the little footbath under the seats with the electronics in it, and the rear light bulb fiasco). Still I'm always ready to give someone a second chance so I hired a Galaxy last week to take on holiday (a TDi Auto) and was pleasantly suprised by it's handling (though not at all impressed with the Auto Box or the Seats, why give Cruise Control but no Lumbar Support on the seats?).

 

So since my first choice of an Alhambra SE Tdi seems to be as rare as rocking horse poo I have found a T Plate Galaxy Tdi Ghia X (94,000) for

[Andrew T]

Check the Aircon works properly, Big

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Load cover was always an extra on Galaxys. Later Alhambras come with it as standard. It's not that easy to fit (but it is simple) but very expensive to buy the bits from a dealer - load cover blind, the catches on the side panels and the fixing screws. Both rear side panels need to come out to fit the catches that hold the blind in place over the load area. I found it easier and cheaper to make my own from some wood and a blanket.

 

Parking sensors - try the "famed" JML oned from Woolworths etc at around

[SteveB]

Thanks guys, I'm going for a test drive tonight. I'm a bit suspect about it cause the battery was dead when I saw it on Sunday, also it has a broken tail light so IIRC thats an MOT failure which I think Mr Trader legally has to fix (I don't think their allowed to sell vehicles which they know will fail an MOT, not sure need to check).

 

Regarding the luggage cover, the interior fixings are all their (the locators in the sides etc), just no cover so it's been there at some point and has gone walkabout. Is it stored under the floor perchance? (the Granada has the roof bars stored in the boot on top of the spare wheel for instance).

[johnb80]

Ref the Lumbar support, there was a suggestion on here a while ago that it's not fitted with the Auto.

Not so, it's fitted on mine.

 

Regards - John

[Andrew T]

This is the thread I recalled

[Davetheref]

Blimey.

 

I thought for a second there that Ivor was going to get the 'made it myself' pictures out again for the parcel shelf. <_< <_<

[gregers]

steve b dont rush,seems a little on the high side for a t reg(i no its a tdi) <_ but a garage near me had sharan x reg tdi mk2 for>

[malcolm.dobell]

If you're offered an Alhambra SE especially with 17" wheels check you like the ride; 2004 ones at least have sports suspension as well as low profile tyres and it's a lot harder then the non sports/16"wheels. I like it, you might not

[SteveB]

Thanks for the advice guys, just to let you know I won't be buying this particular one for several reasons :

 

1) Extremely tatty, the dealer has made very little ,sorry, no effort to clean it up also one of the front cup holders was broken (drivers side, the cover had been removed at some point rendering it useless). The passenger side visor clip was broken, seats were in the wrong place, holes in the upholstery and marks all over the backs of seats.

 

2) Exterior has what looked like rust on the inside of the Alloys (dealer maintained it was break dust, but I've not seen brown brake dust and certainly not caked on like that) also a few signs of rust and general abuse around the wheel arches. Rear light lens was smashed and two bulbs needed replacing.

 

3) The heater plug light flashed continuously (so there was a fault somwhere) though all the ancilliary electrics worked (now there's a first for a ford for me anyway <_< ), however power steering belt slipped on full lock and the brakes where very noisy to start with (though this was probably from standing on the forecourt), most alarming was the knocks bangs and rumbles from the front suspension (Anti Roll bar loose?) , though Cruise control and Air Con worked well.

 

Generally it drove well but when I asked the dealer about all the little bits he said (and I don't understand this one...) "Oh well we get an RAC INspection and do all the work once we've sold the car , otherwise we're wasting our money". What this said to me was "We'll make some vague promises to sort out odd things, get an inspection done and claim we've fixed them all but only once we've got your cash and after that buyer beware!".

 

So Sorry Mr Dodgey Deal Man, your gonna have to make a bit more of an effort to sell me THAT car. Especially at that price <_< I fully expect to see this car coming to an auction house somewhere near you soon <_<

 

It was an intersting experience, I'll keep my eyes open and I definatley want a Ghia X, love the electric rear quarterlights, especially as we have two dogs who'll be in the back so getting them ventillation is important.

 

 

sorry for the Ramble I just thought you'd all like to know.

[SteveB]

If you're offered an Alhambra SE especially with 17" wheels check you like the ride; 2004 ones at least have sports suspension as well as low profile tyres and it's a lot harder then the non sports/16"wheels. I like it, you might not

Alas my budget Maxes out at 7000 so a bit out of my price range, also I really want a Diesel (Petrols just too expensive and since it's used mostly for long runs that where it pays off).

[Guest vr6galaxy]

Seats in the wrong place? where exactly were they? on the roof? back in the workshop?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Wise move; for the price you were being asked to pay, I would have expected a near-immaculate vehicle, not something with a host of faults that may not get corrected before you are asked to drive it away after handing over your hard-earned cash. Good luck for the next one you look at.

[SteveB]

Seats in the wrong place? where exactly were they? on the roof? back in the workshop?

<_<

 

No the centre seat was at the back left and the back left was in the centre.

 

I have spotted an 2001 plate for

[Guest vr6galaxy]

[

:D

 

No the centre seat was at the back left and the back left was in the centre.

 

I usually find that there is one just behind the steering wheel (the most important one <_< ) then there is usually one on the left of that one? then there is a either two or three behind those in the second row, and then possibly two more behind them? if you find one that different to that lay out please let us know <_<

 

on my old mans new truck :lol: the center row seat/s can spin! <_< you can face either towards the front, the rear or to either side! in order to travel in these positions the seats have several latches for the seat belts or have lap straps fitted, luckily the grand children have not found out how to rotate the seat! YET!

 

Good luck in your search :D

[steve67car]

:P B) know it you dont just look old you are old :D

you got grand kids then al :)

[Guest vr6galaxy]

:D :D know it you dont just look old you are old :P

you got grand kids then al B)

OIH LEAVE IT OUT! :D The grand kids are my kids :D you cheeky s#d halfords here we come, anyone know of a good online ICE shop that dont give you cheek with the service? at least the cheek is free? isnt it steve? :)

[Guest lewisn1]

I to was looking for the Seat, Sharan or Galaxy, but with a budget of

[SteveB]

Well just to keep you all posted....

 

Test drove a loveley W reg Ghia X 110 TDi last night! 54,500 miles on the clock, regular service (once a year needed or not). Only negative point was that the cam belt hadn't been changed (though it's possible this wasn't due to 60,000). For a reasonable 7250, so I've stuck a deposit and hopefully should get it sometime next week (once the moneys sorted). Still not counting chickens yet cause the HPI check came out with and intersting entry (and if anyone can shed any light on this I'd be most grateful). Under condition it said (and this may not be word for word) "Category : Insurance total Loss 17/12/2000 reason EXPORTED" , so I've asked it to be looked into, though since the person I'm buying off is the Second owner then this would have been something to do with the inital owner. My guess is is that it spent some time abroad in its early life.

 

So could be a Gal owner soon! Then I can pump you all with questions like "How do I squeeze my 12CD Changer in where the 6CD Changer is" and "Where can I get a load cover?" :D

[HJT]

It was an intersting experience, I'll keep my eyes open and I definatley want a Ghia X, love the electric rear quarterlights, especially as we have two dogs who'll be in the back so getting them ventillation is important.

Note though, that if it has the optional dual aircon, only one of the rear quarterlights will open as there is no space to fit the fixings for the second one, due to the rear aircon pipes running past there. You can tell if it has dual aircon, if it has two rows of adjustable vents in the roof lining.

 

Howard

[Andrew T]

Cam Belts should be changed on time interval if the milage is not reached, so it was due at 5 years anyway.

 

I've heard of write-offs going to the Republic of Ireland, has this been repaired and then re-imported ? That said, it would then have been a total loss on a less than year old vehicle, it

[SteveB]

Not sure about the Chassis number (TBH I'd neglected to look at it but I will check before any money changes hands). I think it's genuine since the previous (or current) owner brought the car from a car supermarket so it may well haev ahd a check then.

[SteveB]

Well this is turning into a bit of a BLOG now! :D

 

Anyway just heard back from a lovely lass at AA Car Data Check and alls fine and pucker since the car was simply exported for a while, I was told it's nothing to worry about and to ignore the Total loss bit apparently they have to put it down as something! (sheesh!).

 

So thats one hurdle hurdled!

(will need to find a reliable garage to do the servicing. I don't trust Mr Fraud!).

[Guest sufc38]

Good luck with the new motor.

 

There are absolutely loads of Luggage covers on ebay all the time.

 

I got mine for

[gregers]

ive got 1 and i want