Thinking About Getting One......

[Guest eviltwin]

Hi, I've been looking for a car to replace my tired passat estate.

 

So I have started looking at my options, and the galaxy/sharan seems increasingly to look like a good prospect. (having had a couple of VW's TDi's it would be good to have the reassureance of buying a VAG built car) I've read online reviews, used the search facility to find several answers, and now i feel its time to ask all you who own them for advice, on the few questions that remain unresolved (sorry if some of these questions seem a bit dumb, but i'd like to be sure before i make a move on anything).....

 

Is there much diffrence price wise on used early model Ford, VW or Seat models? or do they all hold similar values? (budgets a bit tight, so i'd like to get the most for my money)

 

I'd like to have a 7 seater, as opposed to a 6 seater, but its not too important. Do the number of seats alter the prices much?

 

I've read on the site about an integrated child seat. What sort of age range of child are they good for? whats involved in fitting one?

 

Whilst I'd like diesel I'm open to any option, but a few reviews seem to say that the 2.0l petrol models are gutless (aren't all petrols?). As I'm wanting to take the family + caravan away what engines are reccomended? (cant afford to feed a V6 so thats out of the question)

 

Could i expect to be able to get somthing good for about

[seatkid]

As I'm wanting to take the family + caravan away what engines are reccomended? (cant afford to feed a V6 so thats out of the question)

 

Could i expect to be able to get somthing good for about

[Masked Marauder]

What age of vehicle were you looking at? Diesels are the only version of the car worth having if you won't run a V6. Unfortunately for you they hold their value for just that reason.

 

With the budget you suggest your probably going to have to settle for a 1998ish model unless you go for a high mileage car.

[mumof4]

Hmm....Neils got one going hasnt he????you know for sure that ones been looked after!!Cant remember what it is though.hmmm...brain dead today. :lol:

[neilb]

Go for a diesel deffo, and a SEAT if you can find one, you tend to get more gadgets on a SEAT that the other ones. Ive seen a V reg VW Sharan in the Essex area on a forecourt for about 3.5K.

 

Try www.autotrader.co.uk

 

 

Also, go for a private seller if poss, cheaper than dealer or garages.

 

GL.

 

Let us all know what you manage to find.

[Andrew T]

What age of vehicle were you looking at? Diesels are the only version of the car worth having if you won't run a V6.

Oh I don't know.......whilst the 2.0 is slow and thirsty, the few of us who run 2.3s seem quite happy with them, a smooth 145BHP, no cam belt replacement, no MAF or auxlliary heater problems.......There is also a 1.8 20 Valve Turbo available in the the Sharan and Alhambra with 150BHP which sounds a useful bit of kit.

[NikpV]

I've read on the site about an integrated child seat. What sort of age range of child are they good for? whats involved in fitting one?

 

its more a weight/size range - up from 9kg up to about 2/3 years(depending on size) they sit on an elevated seat(built in) with a 5 point harness and downward extended headrests, from then they sit on the elevated seat with the normal 3 point seat belt with extended headrest. When they are tall enough the elevated seat drops (pull one strap - and the cushion unfolds to become a normal adult seat) and the extended head rest can be removed (pull out headrest remove extension - replace headrest). The beauty is that it takes seconds to convert from one to another. As for fitting - they fit just like any of the middle/rear seats - pull lever to fold flat, pull strap to tilt vertical and then squeeze two bar and lift (mind you they are solid and about 35kg to lug around).

[lazyb5]

If your pulling a caravan its got to be a diesel they make it effortless :rolleyes:

[sanjsanj]

If your pulling a caravan its got to be a diesel they make it effortless :lol:

 

eh? the petrols have a 0-60 time of around 10-15 secs whereas the diesel has a 0-60 time of around 20 secs....why does a diesel make it effortless?

[Guest 3.5bullet]

If your pulling a caravan its got to be a diesel they make it effortless :lol:

 

eh? the petrols have a 0-60 time of around 10-15 secs whereas the diesel has a 0-60 time of around 20 secs....why does a diesel make it effortless?

 

 

it's all to do with the torque

[tim-spam]

eh? the petrols have a 0-60 time of around 10-15 secs whereas the diesel has a 0-60 time of around 20 secs....why does a diesel make it effortless?

Where do you get your figures from??

Diesel 0-60 is 12 - 13 seconds (assuming you have a PD engine) - even the older 90 bhp versions are comfortably quicker than 20 seconds. In addition, the diesels are hardly any slower if you change up at 3000 - 3500 rpm, so in normal day-to-day conditions, they are quicker than the raw figures suggest - certainly much quicker than the 2.0 and 2.3 petrol engined versions.

[mumof4]

All i know is that mine goes fast!! :lol:

[Masked Marauder]

What age of vehicle were you looking at? Diesels are the only version of the car worth having if you won't run a V6.

Oh I don't know.......whilst the 2.0 is slow and thirsty, the few of us who run 2.3s seem quite happy with them, a smooth 145BHP, no cam belt replacement, no MAF or auxlliary heater problems.......There is also a 1.8 20 Valve Turbo available in the the Sharan and Alhambra with 150BHP which sounds a useful bit of kit.

 

Yes, but he wants to tow a caravan. Sure you can do it with the petrol versions but at a price. In his case diesel is the way to go.

[El Dingo]

 

Yes, but he wants to tow a caravan. Sure you can do it with the petrol versions but at a price. In his case diesel is the way to go.

 

I don't agree. :D The 1.8T engine (with a manual gearbox) would make a fine caravan puller, thanks to it's flat torque curve, better acceleration rate change and larger rev range than the diesel versions.

Thanks to the fact that diesels are more popular, the petrol engined versions are currently cheaper to buy.

[tiny]

I paid a lot less for my petrol than I would have paid for a similar diesel. I know im talking the lower end of the spectrum here but ours is a second car, one to take me to work 90% of the time whilst still being able to carry 6/7 plus luggage (or fishing gear!) the other 10%, at the same time letting wifey & kids run about in my new(ish) mondeo.

 

The thing I considered when buying my old bus was just how many miles I would be doing, and wether the increased cost of running a petrol would balance out the increased cost of purchasing a diesel.

 

Speaking hypothetically here

 

If Petrol & diesel cost

[Guest MATT jr]

i cant comment much on the petrol Vs Diesel - as i have not yet driven a petrol car! :D --ooo acutally, i have test drove a new fiat punto (1.2l) but where do i start with that!!

 

1) who would want a fiat?

2) its crap

3) no torque

4) poor fuel economy (compared to a 1.4 diesel fiesta)

 

 

our 1.9TDI Automatic galaxy, tows our 1,350 Kg caravan no problem. infact when its empty (1,100Kg) you forget its on!

 

my dad said the 2.3i towed better, once it was moving. but because a petrol engines max torque is higher up the rev range (and its max torque is lower than a diesel), thus making it harder to move off.

 

asin the diesel, max torque is at 1,900rpm, and it tows well at that - also get better economy while towing.

 

no cam belt replacement, no MAF or auxlliary heater problems.......

 

yeh...but what about coil packs, HT leads, Spark plugs?

 

i would go for diesel,,,, diesel = torque = pulling power.....diesel = more MPG (esp if manual)

more MPG might (MIGHT!) mean cheaper to run, but like already said, theres fuel prices & servicing to take into account.

 

i would be tempted to go for a newer car - thats done higher mileage (motorway mileage) and goes with out saying - full service history etc etc.

 

--------- oh and dads just said---------

i have had a 2.3 petrol, and i have got, at the moment, a 1.9 diesel automatic. i really liked both galaxys, but i prefer the diesel, because of the economy.

 

petrol = 18mpg towing, 24mpg solo (T reg 2.3 galaxy, manual)

diesel = 26mpg towing, 36 - 42mpg solo (X reg 1.9 tdi galaxy, auto)

---------- end of what dad just said-----------

 

MJR & MATT