Ford Galaxy - manual or auto?

JennyMacaroney

Hi all,

Looking at trading in my 08 C4 Grand Picasso for a 11/12 Ford Galaxy. I'm planning on getting at least a 2.0L engine but not sure whether to go for manual or automatic transmission. I do a lot of stop start driving on the school runs but also long runs on the motorway at the weekend so not sure which would be better as I've never driven an automatic before. Definitely set on the Galaxy as I've got 3 growing boys who are already outgrowing the Grand Picasso and all my 4 kids are still in car seats.

Any advice/recommendations welcome! TIA!

Loves_lorries

JennyMacaroney wrote: »

Hi all,

Looking at trading in my 08 C4 Grand Picasso for a 11/12 Ford Galaxy. I'm planning on getting at least a 2.0L engine but not sure whether to go for manual or automatic transmission. I do a lot of stop start driving on the school runs but also long runs on the motorway at the weekend so not sure which would be better as I've never driven an automatic before. Definitely set on the Galaxy as I've got 3 growing boys who are already outgrowing the Grand Picasso and all my 4 kids are still in car seats.

Any advice/recommendations welcome! TIA!

I hate manuals so I'm admittedly biased but are there any reservations you have about an automatic?

They are harder on juice ( not really on motorway driving though) but other than that, have no negatives relative to a manual

pah

Considering the same myself. OH has zafira tourer manual atm and we want to change to galaxy in next few months. Currently drive an is250 myself and had a DS5 before that, both auto.

We had an smax manual before which was great to drive. Haven't driven the ford powershift but it's a dual clutch system I think? went to test drive one today that I spotted locally on donedeal from small garage but was parked up and marked sold.

kerten

I guess s-max/galaxy shifted from traditional auto to powershift around 2010. Powershift wouldn't be worse than manual fuel economy wise.

For me MPVs should be auto considering number of demanding people in them most of the time

JennyMacaroney

Thanks for the responses! I guess my reservations about the autos are related to the fact that I've never driven one before, never known anyone other than my grandmother to own one back in the late 90s. I'll have to get out and test drive both, very curious to see what the dual clutch is like!

Shefwedfan

Have a auto Galaxy. 2014, which replaced an auto Smax. The smax was 08 and had old auto gearbox...was ok

The Galaxy is great, loads of space. Had to get a uk one to get decent spec with low mileage, the auto is brilliant but then I won’t drive manual anymore if possible

We do lots of short trips, school runs etc, done 20k Km in it last year, it doesn’t be long adding up, mostly sits at 8ltr/100km....not fantastic but very decent due to the size of it

Go 2ltr, the 1.6 will eat diesel as it’s too small of an engine

Jimmy.

Auto, even considering a manual is ludicrous

Loves_lorries

JennyMacaroney wrote: »

Thanks for the responses! I guess my reservations about the autos are related to the fact that I've never driven one before, never known anyone other than my grandmother to own one back in the late 90s. I'll have to get out and test drive both, very curious to see what the dual clutch is like!

Automatics are much easier to drive than manuals.

You would get used to them in no time.

Shefwedfan

One thing to note, if you have 2 cars and both are manual....if you plan to swap to automatic just expect to swap the other car fairly soon to automatic as well.....