That’s about it really, I like my VAG’s (8O) and will probably end up buying a Touran but i’ve just been looking at S-Max’s as well and they look pretty good. I love the garage I use (VAG specialist) so moving away from VW would mean the whole finding another garage i trust thing, which I hate more than actually buying cars!! But if the S-Max is much bigger inside I may be swayed!?!?!

I know i need to go and see some, which i will in the next week or so but just wondered if any one has experience of both or either?

I have a Touran. The bike front wheel needs to come off to load if that makes a difference? Otherwise roomy.

#nonpetrolheadanswer

If it’s a big deal I’d drive both.

Briefly looked at S Maxs a while back, but ended replacing the vRS estate with another. Didn’t actually drive one (that’s how brief the look was), but believe they’re meant to drive well for their size.

I have an S-Max.

It can take a bike with the wheels on.

It drives OK. The driving position is relatively low so it doesn’t feel like you are in an ice cream van.

Very comfortable for long trips.

Big enough to take 4 adults and 2 small kids away for a week’s holiday (with a top box, but no bikes) which is the reason why we got it.

Yeah, I’ve got a passat estate at the moment but we like the idea of the occasional extra seats in the back. I think with the seats down the Touran will be at least as big as the passat, but just wondering if the S-Max is bigger with the extra seats in use really.

I’m not a petrol head either just want a decent car!!

Edit: bikes will be on a tow bar rack any way.

With the extra seats up the boot space isn’t massive.

Extra seats are not really big enough for an adult as there is no footwell. OK for kids though. I think the extra row in a Galaxy are full sized, but I could be wrong.

Your best bet is to have a poke about inside one. Don’t know where you are but I take mine to all of the MNPRs, when I can be arsed turning up 😉 .

The Touran is my first car so don’t have to much to compare against, but it certainly drives well (I hated an Astra I recently rented). Good acceleration, very comfy and, as above, not too high. The first tier of rear seats are fine for distance, but second would be uncomfortable.

Yeah there’s probably not much difference really. I know the extra seat are only for kids really which is fine as mine are only 6 and 4 so have a few years where they can be shoved back there if needed!!

I’m in Leeds, but will start checking some out in the flesh soon. I really hate buying cars so we’ve been putting it off for a while but my trusty old passat is on 195k now and although mechanically sound it is looking a bit tatty round the edges!!

if you like you cars to be VAG try a Sharan

T1000 – Thats what I really want but new ones are a bit pricey for me at the moment.

Yes, the S-Max is much bigger on the inside, and in the boot space, both with the extra seats up and down. The extra seats are much more usable too, both because they are bigger, and the legroom available is so much more. I’d compare the S-Max to Sharan and Touran to CMax, Verso etc as more useful comparisons, but it’s obvious once you start clambering in to the things. Me and my sister have S-Max, she had a Touran before, I had a Honda Stream MPV.

Midlifecrahses – cheers for that. S-Max might be the way to go then, lots cheaper than new Sharans 2nd hand.

We have a VW Touran… bit pinched in the boot for a bike (esp. 29ers) so we tend to put them on a rack on the towbar. Take one of the removeable middle seats out and bikes will wheel in front wheel off.

But drives well, economical and driveable.

Currently up for sale if your interested (56 plate 82k) as we’re going up a size to a van to accommodate the growing kids!!

if you like you cars to be VAG try a Sharan

or a Galaxy or a Seat Alhambra. First generation of these cars were all basically the same thing with different trim, and they’ve been around for long enough for there to be plenty of them around.

For some bizarre reason near me (Baildon) there seems to be a jump from 2009 Alhambra with 81k at under £8000, to 2011 models with < 30k miles going at upward of £16k

Ford Galaxys start at about £600 for really ancient right up to £28k for nearly new

The SMax and Galaxy are based on the Mondeo estate flooran (same wheelbase and external dims in terms of length and width), but is significantly roomier than a Mondeo estate as the sides of the car are squarer and the roof is taller. Not sure what the Touran is based on. It might be comparable but I’d be surprised if they are bigger – they don’t look it when parked side by side, but looks can be deceiving.

there are some good deals to be had on both the new Sharan and Alhambras I paid less for ours than a friend did on a similar spec’d touran

I think the s-max is wider. That based on travelling in one. I’ve tried googling and the numbers seem to support this. Looks lik maybe 10 cm

file:///C:/Users/John/Downloads/touran-gp-ii-brochure.pdf

http://www2.fordconnection.com/fordconnection/multimedia/gbr_en/006/yyb/gbr_en006yybidimspc.htm

Width has a huge effect on volume

I know this from a surfer dude

He said buy the 7′ 6″ board I said what about the 7′ 4″ board

He said. “You’re looking at the ends so you can’t see much difference”. But the extra length is the middle. Imagine a piece of foam 2 inches long in the middle of the board acroos the full width. You need the volume of that foam to support you when your learning to surf.”

Great stuff from a youth who thus far in the conversation hadn’t shown much spark

I’m pretty sure that the width and length of my Mondeo are bigger than the smax it replaced.

However ….. the rear(not fully rear) seat space on the smax is massive compared to the Mondeo.

The smax boot is deeper.

I changed from the smax to the mondeo as most of the time we were not utilizing all of the space in the smax and its a big old motor to lug around.

Stay away from petrol models.

Yeah will be diesel all the way. Cheers all for the info though , very useful atm.

Sheep’s, I’m looking at sub 60k cars first but I’ll see what’s about. Cheers though.

The S-Max is the only people carrier I would vaguely consider

[helpful comment I know]

It is big on the inside because of the near vertical sides and the rear load area is above the wheel arch.

Did an impromptu run with 3 adults and 3 bikes. Just chucked them in (not the adults). No thought about the packing.

Can fit 2 adults and 2 kids with 4 bikes in the boot (wheels off on the adult bikes) with ease.

C-max = Touran
s-max = mini Galaxy/Sharan
Galaxy = cool dad car*
.
.
.
.
*this may or may not be true, but it helps me get through the day…

nah, Touran is more like the S-max. But a bit smaller.

C-max is like a golf plus but with a smaller boot. Basically a more upright hatchback.

My old one…………….

boot picture…..

new car because why not ……….

Some pictures.

My wife had a Touran (company car) she now has an S Max, cars are similar size but the S Max seems slightly bigger….

She much preferred the Touran !!

Yes S Max is much longer but usuable space is similar

The grand C-max must be more on a par with the Touran?

We had a touran and a mate got an smax. The smax is bigger and has a completely flat floor with seats folded unlike the Touran.

I would go for the smax for practicality

I would go for the smax for practicality

It’s where the cool people are at.

Nah, size is everything.
Galaxy, smax+20cm, is the big daddy…