Galaxy or smax

sarahv

Trying to decide between these two cars, we need to fit 3 car seats and have a decent boot, anyone know which of these is better?

b318isp

We have a Galaxy. They are effectively the same car - same wheelbase, lenght, width, etc. The only difference is in roof height and some details. Seats and boot are the same.

If you don't need the height, go with the S-Max and save yourself some money!

sarahv

Great, thanks for that. We are renting a car next week so we have the opportunity to pick one of them for a good test run before buying. Will try get an smax

whowantstwoknow

Didnt realise they were the same size. Went I sat in the smax, it felt not much larger than a normal car and when the seats are up, little boot room left. But I cant say our galaxy feels that way. perhaps its all down to the height?

W.

b318isp

Or more light!

gallag

I think the Smax looks a lot better!!! Far more sporty.

bazz26

Galaxy and S-Max actually use the same platform and share most engines. Galaxy would have a little more space being a full size 7 seater MPV, S-Max drives and feels more car like than the Galaxy. I suggest you go test drive both and see which one suits you best.

R.O.R

I always thought they were the same size, but the Galaxy is actually a little longer.

Had a new S-Max here last week, and brought a Galaxy in to the garage, so parked them side by side.

It's only 2-3 inches between the 2, but the Galaxy does feel much more spacious than the S-Max inside, and with all seats up, will have a larger boot. If it's mainly going to be 3 car seats in, then go S-Max as it's big enough, will fit the 3 seats in the 2nd row so with the 3rd row down, gives a pretty massive boot. Also means you can take the Grandparents out alond with the family (but you might not get the buggy too....)

Currently the Galaxy is lot more expensive than the S-Max, if looking at brand new.

magentis

try to stay away from the 1.8tdci if buying used.
they have two timing belts and have an issue with snaping the wet belt before its due.

sarahv

Great, thanks

b318isp

magentis wrote: »

try to stay away from the 1.8tdci if buying used.
they have two timing belts and have an issue with snaping the wet belt before its due.

Not really, there are two different designs (one chain/one belt, two belts) and from my experience, there is little evidence that this problem is so common that it is worth avoiding.

The 1.8 is based on an ancient design, and is known to be quite reliable.

magentis

b318isp wrote: »

Not really, there are two different designs (one chain/one belt, two belts) and from my experience, there is little evidence that this problem is so common that it is worth avoiding.

The 1.8 is based on an ancient design, and is known to be quite reliable.

search "1.8tdci issues" here and you will see what i mean.
Ford switched from a belt and a chain around october 2007 to a two belt system one of them being a wet belt which has a well documented history of snapping before its change interval.
the 2l engine is a far better engine if available,the 1.8tdci is too laggy and indeed is based on an ancient 1.6l engine that used to be found in the likes of the orion and escort.

b318isp

Yes, I'm aware of this, but I don't believe it is a more common failure than other timing belts, given the number of them that are out there.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd still go for the 2.0 unit, I don't think it has any of the problems that affect the 1.6 even though it is obviously related to that engine.

The 2.0 TDCi 140 is very nice to drive (by the very low standards set by diesel engines, of course - obviously a petrol is much nicer) in the Mondeo but isn't especially fast, so I think anything smaller would struggle in an S-Max or especially, a Galaxy.

baz.snn

I have a 2008 2.0tdci Galaxy Ghia. It's a great car, has loads of space and plenty of comfort. I can get up to 42mpg average.
But I have to say it's the dullest car to drive I have ever owned and I even owned a Citroen Xantia. From what I'm led to believe the S-Max is a much better car to drive. If you're not going to be using the 2 rear seats a lot then I'd go for the S-max if you enkjoy your driving.

b318isp

Wow, I'm really surprised you say that - perhaps you consider slowness a factor in it being dull?

For me (other than the acceleration), I find it great to drive. It has a well damped suspension, turn in is good, there is plenty of feedback from the front and understeer is very well controlled. Compared to a number other MPVs I have driven (and the Alhambra/Galaxy Mk 2 we owned before), it is remarkably good to drive - most of these washed out the front tyres in any kind of spirited driving. That said, I'm on 225/17s. My everyday car is a BMW E30, so I'm comparing the handling to that.

BTW, the Xantia was one of the better FWD cars of the 1990's that I remember driving - but not sure about owning one!

baz.snn

It's nothing to do with slowness, although the 2.2 would be a lot quicker I suppose. Its just I don't find it very exciting to drive.

Front end grip is almost non existing on wet roundabouts, but that could be partially due to the tyres fitted, never heard of them, not Chinese crap, bit still cheap I'd say. It's on my to do list to change all 4.

My last car, even though it was a far bigger 7 seater, a 06 VW Caravelle, was brilliant to drive, loads of power and really good handling. I really enjoyed driving that car but had to sell it after 3yrs as it was just getting to expensive to run.

gallag

My wife has the 2.2 200bhp smax titanium x sport and its pretty rapid and handles pretty good!

magentis

gallag wrote: »

My wife has the 2.2 200bhp smax titanium x sport and its pretty rapid and handles pretty good!

Now thats an engine!

tin79

b318isp wrote: »

Yes, I'm aware of this, but I don't believe it is a more common failure than other timing belts, given the number of them that are out there.

I think the wet belts on the 1.8 tdcis are snapping a lot more prematurely than other dry belt systems.

baz.snn

tin79 wrote: »

I think the wet belts on the 1.8 tdcis are snapping a lot more prematurely than other dry belt systems.

The mileage for changing the timing belt on the 2.0 tdci is 125k miles. That's a huge interval,they must have a lot of confidence in it.

baz.snn

gallag wrote: »

My wife has the 2.2 200bhp smax titanium x sport and its pretty rapid and handles pretty good!

Nice. The X-Sport looks pretty decent too. I must try and get a drive in a decent s-max

The Dagda

gallag wrote: »

My wife has the 2.2 200bhp smax titanium x sport and its pretty rapid and handles pretty good!

I'm kinda tempted by the S-Max 200 X Sport.

Can you tell me what the tax is for it?

And what kind of MPG or L/100KM it returns?

Thanks.

gallag

The Dagda wrote: »

I'm kinda tempted by the S-Max 200 X Sport.

Can you tell me what the tax is for it?

And what kind of MPG or L/100KM it returns?

Thanks.

It's £200 a year to tax and I have no clue what milage it gets, she only does about 4000 miles a year all short journeys, her last car was a vectra vxr and I fancy petrol turbo again because of her low miles!

The Dagda

gallag wrote: »

It's £200 a year to tax and I have no clue what milage it gets, she only does about 4000 miles a year all short journeys, her last car was a vectra vxr and I fancy petrol turbo again because of her low miles!

Thanks.

Are you based in the UK or NI?

clogher71

I brought in a 2.2 (175PS)Titanium X S-MAX, all the toys, sat nav etc etc panoramic roof was a must for for other half, its tax is on par with her previous 2.0 (pre 2008) jeep and fuel economy is better, I hate this co2 based tax system!!

baz.snn

gallag wrote: »

It's £200 a year to tax and I have no clue what milage it gets, she only does about 4000 miles a year all short journeys, her last car was a vectra vxr and I fancy petrol turbo again because of her low miles!

With that kind of short mileage you could DMF trouble very quick. £200 for tax? I presume you are living in the UK. Not a hope of paying as little as that in Ireland

The Dagda

clogher71 wrote: »

I brought in a 2.2 (175PS)Titanium X S-MAX, all the toys, sat nav etc etc panoramic roof was a must for for other half, its tax is on par with her previous 2.0 (pre 2008) jeep and fuel economy is better, I hate this co2 based tax system!!

Can you give me some figures for the tax and fuel economy?

Will it do better than 40mpg?

I'm on the phone so can't check myself easily. Cheers.

gallag

This is the wife's, n.i based.

clogher71

Tax is €750, but for me we were paying that anyway, I cant honestly give you fuel figures as I rarely drive it, it would be doing 40mpg at least, its comfortable and fast, previous poster mentioned tyres, when we got it it had Continental tyres on it, we replaced all 4 with a lesser brand and the handling it a little worse, nearly sure the continental was original spec from factory, but we could not justify the price of them. Kids love the built in blinds in the doors, and the little tables at the back of front seats.

navara man

b318isp wrote: »

Not really, there are two different designs (one chain/one belt, two belts) and from my experience, there is little evidence that this problem is so common that it is worth avoiding.

The 1.8 is based on an ancient design, and is known to be quite reliable.

very true when i change timing belts on my own focus few month back the wet belt look as good as new for a car with 165,000k/m on it

baz.snn

gallag wrote: »

This is the wife's, n.i based.

Lovely car. Looks really good.
Better tyre are definitely worth the money in my opinion. I can even feel that back of my yoke start to slide occasionally on wet roundabouts.

Casati

The 1.8 is an older design, but doesn't have a DPF, so thats a real positive if doing a lot of town driving