Galaxy 2.2 TDCi – Any Experiences?

Right. Finally biting the bullet and getting a decent people carrier. Tried several and hated all of them. The gearbox on our Alhambra 2.0TDi decided to munch itself at Christmas.

The ONLY thing that fits the bill in terms of accommodation and driveability seems to be the Galaxy. I’d love an S-Max but the kids don’t seem to be getting any smaller and the amount of bike/kit/dogs we often carry shows little sign of abating either.

We have £12k to spend so I’ve been looking around for a 2.0 163bhp Titanium X Powershift Leather/Panoramic Roof with 40-60k and there are plenty of options in the 2011-14 age ranges.

Then I saw a couple of 2.2 versions pop up. Fully loaded with goodies and similarily priced to the 2.0s. 197bhp sounds even more appealing but real world MPG figures reckon 30 mpg vs 40+ for the 2.0 and the VED is higher too.

Anyone had one or had both?

I do like to “push on” on twisty roads. Purely for the enjoyment of driving but within the capabilities of the vehicle. Would the 2.2 be worth it over the 2.0?

I do like to “push on” on twisty roads.

Buy an S-max then.

Having had both, the S-max is much more car like to drive with little in terms of sacrifice  of practicality  unless you’re putting adults in the rear seats

I think you need a reality check.

Both of those are bingo buses and handle as such, don’t be under any illusions that the extra horses will be useful in anything other than a straight line. Unless you live in the US midwest I wouldn’t bother.

163hp is plenty, my C8 is 120hp from the same derivative 2.0 engine and could use a bit more grunt but not 70hp, it would frankly be terrifying to drive if I tried to extract that amount of power out of it.

Actually the SMax does handle well. It’s based on a Monday estate which Handel’s well for its clas. It’s a bit more top heavy then a Monday sobrolls a bit but grips and drives very well for an MPV.

I had the 2.2 and thought it was a great engine. Far superior to anything similar i’ve Driven or owned in the VAG stable. Refined, bags of power and feels pretty SpriteKit, more so than the on paper stats would suggest. It returned 37mpg for normal works commute and bumbling around without paying too much attention to eco driving but returned a lot more on a steady mirror way run. I could get an additional 100 to 120 miles out of a tank on long motorway stretches at normal motorway speeds on cruise control, so not bad of fuel really.

Thanks for the input people.

Yeah I’m under no illusions but I’ve driven the recent Galaxy and it handles way better than the Sedona/Voyager/Alhambra alternatives I’ve tried.

I know the S-Max is even better but bigger kids and those teeny rear seats ain’t gonna cut it over the next five years.

I realise the extra power won’t make it better on twisty roads but I’m just asking whether the extra costs of the 2.2 can be justified in any way?

Wobbliscot – was it the 2.2 Galaxy you had?

…and that, kids, is why you should read back before posting from a mobile device with autocomplete.

Isn’t it the same 2.2 engine used in transit vans etc etc? So long as it’s been serviced I think they are pretty bomb proof, and while not the most refined it’s not too bad.

2.2 is apparently the best Diesel engine Ford have made – my bil’s view, he designs them
We have had a 2.2 Galaxy for 8 years and it’s been great for hauling kids and dogs about
Smax is a deceptively decent drive but the boot was too small for us. Galaxy is more barge like, but it’s also the one we kept

Transit 2.2s and Galaxy/S-Max/Mondeo 2.2s are not the same engine. Transit version has its origins in the Ford Puma engine series. Galaxy/S-Max/Mondeo comes from the partnership with PSA – DW12 families depending on age.

Had the 2.2 (200hp) in a Mondeo Titanium x sport 2011 vintage and piled over 220,000 miles on it in the 6 yeasts I had it. Loved it. Never used a drop of oil between services. Great engine. Think it is PSA base though? It’s still about too.

Have an 11 plate 2.0 diesel 163bhp titanium spec (manual) galaxy for 3 years now.
Day to day it averages about 42mpg which I don’t think is too bad given it’s size.
I’ve never driven a 140bhp version but Ours shifts along really well.
I love driving it. I just find it quiet and relaxing.
It hasn’t cost us anything other than tyres and discs/pads and it’s coming up for 78k now. Hopefully it’ll continue to prove reliable.

As TedC says Transit engines are ZS blocks whilst the rest are PSA DW blocks. I have two DW10’s between my two cars and to be honest they have been good enough but the bingo bus is beginning to suffer obviously worn injector seals (oil bath cooled) and they can be a complete nightmare to remove (20 ton lifter was mentioned in a group where there’s a guy stuck out in Morocco with seized injectors right now). My advice would be whichever one you go for make sure you start it from cold and check the exhaust for bad smoke, you will easily smell it. That said it did just pass its MOT so it’s something I can live with for the moment.

Dunno about Galaxy’s but the back of the block is not easy* to work on with a scuttle panel ending halfway over it, if you have any intention of spannering it yourself I’d check that. IIRC SMAX’s may have/ had a fairly common issue, possibly handbrake. Best check Talkford for that sort of stuff.

*hilarious understatement

Thanks for all the input everybody.

IN the end, got a 61 Plate Galaxy 2.0 163bhp Powershift Titanium X with 6oK and FSH for £9.5k with 6 months warranty.

I didn’t realise the 2.2 didn’t have the DSG type box and the lower VED and better fuel consumption of the 2.0 won out. Besides, I’ve got a reprogrammable BlueSpark tuning module I can put on that’ll give it 200bhp anyway so happy days.

*like*