Is S-max The Answer

[AndeeeH]

Go here for for some of the details: http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr...-Ford-S-Max.htm

[Guest MATT]

its a mini version of the new galaxy lol

 

i like the new galaxy, would love to have one

 

MATT

[AndeeeH]

Not all that much smaller: S-Max is 4.76 m long, 1.85 m wide and 1.61 m tall, this makes it 6 cm shorter and 7 cm lower than the Galaxy. :ph34r: Andy.

[Guest memorandum]

If I had the choice of the new galaxy or the s-max, the latter would win :ph34r:

[delboyt]

i would go for the new galaxy

what's the point in going smaller

was the reason for getting a galaxt because of the room

& cumfort in the firt place ?

mine was as i got 3 kids growing up fast

[Ivor_E_Tower]

"Existing" Galaxy is 4.64m long. I would love to have the new Galaxy, given sufficient money, but it won't fit in my garage or under the car port. Even the S-Max is doubtful because of its size, and TBH I don't like its looks as much as those of the new Galaxy. Just as well I don't have the money then!

[tim-spam]

Wait for the new Sharan / Alhambra - bound to be better.

[Guest MATT]

Wait for the new Sharan / Alhambra - bound to be better.

mmmmmmm, not sure about that. this new galaxy seems pretty good lol.

 

i am currently teaching a lad from a BMW garage how to drive, and he was saying that everyone in the garage are talking about it (in a good way for ford). although i'm not sure why the BMW lads are worried, as they don't do an MPV? do they?

 

the one thing i hope, is that they do a decent range of diesel engines!! as the current one is 1.9tdi only, and if you want auto - you can only have the 115 version.

 

a 2.5 or 2.8 diesel engine would be perfect for me - and I'm sure my son wouldn't complain about it lol

 

MATT

[tim-spam]

Ford Duratech diesel - that's it.

[Guest MATT jr]

the duratech engines have won awards, but what engine sizes are they doing?

 

MJR

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Duratech diesel is available as a 2.0 and 2.2 litre - so far, all the info I have seen on the new Gal and S-max indicates that the 2.0 will be the only diesel offered, in c138bhp format. Bearing in mind that the Ford Group's Volvo 2.5 petrol 5-cylinder T5 will be offered in the S-max, it's a bit of a disappointment that they will not also offer the Volvo D5 engine in the Gal or S-max; 5 cylinder 2.4, 185bhp. mmmmm

 

(The Volvo D5 and the T5 engines are dimensionally the same - basicallt the same block etc )

[tim-spam]

New Galaxy 18cm longer than the current one? That will make it somewhat unwieldy for everyday use - more like a Grand Voyager.

 

I just hope the new Sharan / Alhambra doesn't go that far - the current models are, in my opinion, ideal. They seat 7 in comfort when required, and are hardly any larger than a mid-range saloon such as the Passat. The only reason for needing a larger car would surely be if you require seven seats and luggage for seven at the same time.

 

In terms of engines, the diesel engine designers where I work reckon the PD engines still lead the way. There are some that may be slightly more powerful, and some others which may be more refined, but none that better it overall. The Honda engine comes the closest. For example, Mitsubishi benchmarked all manufacturers' diesel engines for use in one of their vehicles, and chose the VAG PD engine, despite it costing more than some of the competition.

 

The VAG group spends more on R & D than any other European manufacturer, and more than the 2nd and 3rd combined. This is one of the reasons why the current cars (yes, I know they have their faults - all cars do) are so good, and still competitive after all this time.

[malcolm.dobell]

I know that 6" makes all the difference in some circumstances, but when a car's already 15' long, 6" is nothing. If in doubt go for parking sensors

[tim-spam]

It's not a case of ability to park or judging the length, it's more a case of fitting it into normal car parking spaces. For example, where I work, the Alhambra sticks out around 6". Another 7" will make over one foot.

[Guest stevebrowne]

we're looking to get the new galaxy, as until we see the new SMax, we're assuming that there won't be any luggage room behind the seats. With 4 kids, we need the room!

 

But not sure if the launch models are what we want. I don't want to get the 2.0 or diesels that will be offered, and then find a 2.5, 2.8 or whatevere announced soon afterwards. It is going to be with us for 5+ years (replacing a Y reg 2.3 ghia), so want to make sure it is right form the start.

 

I like the beefed up on in the Ford galleries. The one is Autoexpress looked a bit weedy to be honest. Wheels and colour make the difference...

[Ian in Northampton]

The S-Max is a non-starter for me because, IIRC, it really one has five 'proper' seats: my understanding is that the last row of two would not be suitable for anyone to use on a long distance journey.

[Guest blatters]

I also thought the Sharan would be a better proposition than the Galaxy when AutoExpress published early photos of the front end.

 

But then I saw the rear and, boy, do they pay designers to come up with something so ugly?

 

I know people carriers are designed from the inside out but drivers still want something they don't end up apologising / defending! The current Galaxy has been a decent looking motor. Better looking than the current Sharan and slightly more upmarket than the Alhambra (which I thought always looked the sportiest of the bunch).

 

The new Galaxy is not bad at the front, less so at the rear and the side profile is truly van-like. Reminds me of the old Peugeot 806.

 

Here are the links to the new Sharan - see what you think, not my cup of tea. You need to scroll down the page to find the Sharan.

 

http://www.3harts.nl/scoops/

 

Attached is the front end but I can't copy the jpeg of the rear end (I wonder why?)

 

Regards

 

Blatters

 

PS. 2.4 D5 185bhp Volvo unit would be a perfect match for the Ford Galaxy. It has so far returned (gulp) 34mpg on a combined cycle so far but the XC90 is a heavy car.

[mumof4]

My first impression...cosmetically i dont like it...the front looks...funny to me!..

[Masked Marauder]

My Bammer is a van with seats in. Nothing smaller will replace it as long as something bigger or the same is available.

 

Being able to take the whole family away for the day seated in comfort, then the following day remove the seats and put half a dozen double glazed windows and a couple of doors in the back is something that can not be replaced with what is basically a seven seat estate car.

[Bigjeeze]

I don't know - Looking at the back it's not a million miles away from the current one albeit somewhat smaller in aspect. It looks Ok to me.

Let's wait and see what kind of prices come out - I have a suspicion we will see a whole new ball game there!!

[Guest MATT jr]

dont like that new VW - jut doesn't look right.

 

i like the new galaxy - just the rear end looks a bit off, but the rest of it looks and sound great!

 

MJR

[tim-spam]

Personally, I can't really say whether or not I like a car from pictures. They tell you nothing about the way a car drives or handles, or how comfortable / practical it is. In addition, cars often look significantly different in the metal (I once saw a picture of the old S Class Mercedes that looked quite nice). My guess is that both the new Galaxy and Sharan will be well styled, although there will obviously be some who like the styling, and some who do not. However, style is only one aspect to consider - there are many others - and fashions tend to change more often than I change my car.

The new Sharan is very likely to be based upon the latest Passat platform, and if it is anything like as good on the road as the Passat, it will be very hard to beat, whatever it looks like.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I think you will find that blatter's photo is a "photochop" based on the current Sharan. I have seen another spyshot of the new Sharan somewhere else but cannot rememebr where :-(

[Guest blatters]

Ivor E:

 

What's a photochop?

 

Education time!

 

Regards

 

Blatters

[delboyt]

welcome back ivor

where have you been ??