S-Max are nice. Friends have one. Interior space measured in football pitches. I would have bought one as our family wagon, but it got veto'd as mrsm wanted a CRV at the time.
Recent model Zafira probably worth putting on the hitlist if you like the idea of an S-Max.
Many moons ago I test drove a Passat with the DSG. It was all very nice to drive, no oddly timed changes or anything like that, but as an out-of-warranty ownership prospect it proper put the willies up me.
Whilst we're on the subject of rodents, it should be noted that a weasel is weaselly identifiable, whereas a stoat is stoatally different.
Well despite what I said earlier it appears that not all DSG boxes are the same ..there are a few different variants ..so I guess it all depends which one you have got in your particular vehicle ..
All I can say is that the S-tronic 7 speed in an A6 Allroad 3.0l V6 diesel ( 272) ..is pretty awesome and makes the flappy paddle option as well as the manual forward/ back option on the " gearstick " pretty much obsolete !
https://axleaddict.com/cars/DSG-Transmission-Variants
Whilst we’re on the subject of rodents
Mustelids.
Whats your budget?, thats the crux!
We are thinking max £15k - less would be welcome obvs.
I can get a good spec 2017 Grand C-Max for that, like this:
£13.5k Titanium X trim (Pano sunroof) 1.5 TDCi Diesel Auto (120bhp) with 22.6k miles on clock.
or this:
£14.5k 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium trim Petrol Manual (125bhp) just 3k on the clock
Or a lower trim, higher mileage 2017 S-Max like this:
£14.3k Zetec trim (bog standard), 2L TDCi Diesel Manual (150bhp) with 31.2k on the clock
We're mostly looking at 2017 because they got a bit of a facelift that year and that's when the Ford SYNC "infotainment" (spit) system started supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which seems useful.
Likewise that budget gets a nice trim 2017 Octavia Estate like this:
£14.8k 2.0 TDI CR Diesel Manual (150bhp) SE L trim with 15.9k on clock
Mind you, I am kind of aware that sort of money could also buy something much more fun:
£12.5k 2014 Jaguar XF 2.2 D SportBrake (163bhp)
😂
I have an Octavia which I have on personal lease. Whilst I don't actually own the car I'm leasing it for quite a bit less than I'd lose in depreciation if I'd have bought it.
For the two years at 10k miles per year I'm paying the equivalent of £166 per month. (I put £2400 down and actually pay £66 per month).
The car I have is the 1.0 SE Technology. Yes it's not fast but it's better than you think. It produces the same power and more torque than the 2ltr engine did only a couple of generations ago and it does return 60 mpg on a run.
Lease deals have gone up since I leased mine but similar deals are out there. Search for 'Octavia' or 'lease' on hotukdeals.
I'm just about to collect another Octavia estate. The one's it's replacing is a 2009 1.4 TSI with more than 133k on the clock. I've found a manual 2017, 1.4 TSI. It's a no frills car, and it does the job.
Does the collective have any thoughts on this 2017 Grand C-Max?
https://www.carshop.co.uk/used-car/FORD/GRAND%20C-MAX/BW17SLU
Seems to tick a lot of boxes for us. And the price is good for 2017 Titanium X with 17.7k miles
Must be able to get a 5 Series for £15k?
The Ford will be fine while it's still new... But being a Ford, they don't stay new for very long. I'd avoid.
My Superb 2.0 140tdi is just back from a loaded up drive to the Alps and breezed through it's MOT on returning. 56mpg overall for the journey, achieving over 60mpg on some motorway sections and happily managed the 56 at a steady 130kph/80+mph on the French autoroutes.
It's quick enough, very smooth and quiet; a pal's 2 year old grand C-max doesn't come close for comfort and is already showing it's age.
Space in the Superb is simply huge, everywhere. Including when parking it..
10 years old this month, now with 59k on the clock it still both drives and looks like it's brand new. I agree with comments above about wheel size, 17" is probably the best compromise.
But being a Ford, they don’t stay new for very long. I’d avoid.
I call shenanigans.
In six years of Focus ownership, the only non service items I had to have replaced were:
one rear calliper
the alternator
Also, 2.0 diesel, it got around 55mpg at motorway speeds; rarely under 45mpg for town driving.
I hypermiled it at nearly 90mpg a couple of times (down at 50mph for an entire journey).
Yeah as I said at the start, this car is to replace my (t)rusty Ford Focus which was 12 years old and had done close to 130k before she finally died on me. So I'm not too worried about opting for C-Max which is built on a Ford Focus.
diesel estate is 70mpg at 150bhp and 106g/km CO2, that doesn’t seem bad compared to the 1.5L petrol estate’s 54mpg at same bhp and 119g/km CO2)
That's a big difference between the petrol and diesel - much more than there is in our VW Caddy.
It looks like you're doing less than 10k per year. 142gallons diesel. 185gallons petrol. A gallon of fuel (WTF is going on with economy in mpg and fuel sold in litres?) is about £6. So the petrol could cost you £250 a year extra to run but you've got to look at purchase price, servicing, parking permit costs.
I'm really liking the DSG in the Caddy. In 'D' mode it gets into very high gears and the revs are nearly always low enough the turbo's not running so there's a bit of a pause to accelerate. Was the same in the auto BMW I drove. Doesn't happen in S. Any delay from standstill doesn't affect me the way I drive and I'm absolutely certain you gain it back on the 1st to second gear change.
One thing to think about is that several cities will be introducing congestion charges in the next few years. This may have a significant impact on used car prices, especially diesel.
But being a Ford, they don’t stay new for very long. I’d avoid.
I call shenanigans.
Likewise, I'm not sure what this is based on. I had a Focus for 7 years and 75k miles. For me it was a case of 'just add fuel'. Great car and 100% reliable.
Passat?
Like an Octavia with slightly bigger trousers on.
I have a 1.4 TSI Passat estate. It is vast (though not actually any longer than the Avensis saloon it replaced). Adaptive cruise is a thing of true wonder.
If I was buying again, I’d have the lane to make motorway miles even easier. And the HUD…
Thanks all
We went for the Ford Grand C-Max in the end.
The ability to carry extra kids when necessary but still have ample boot space the rest of the time won is over. Reclining rear seats and a panoramic sun roof also helped.
Thanks for your help.
Anyone want to buy a lovely 2007 Ford Focus with a slightly knackered engine?