Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and Focus extended test drives review thread

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 15 Mumsnetters who are reviewing over the next couple of months the all new C-MAX, Grand C-Max and Focus cars from Ford. Each tester and their family will have the car for three weeks and will also be making a video review - look out for these on site soon. All the cars being reviewed feature "Active Park Assist" and Ford recently asked former MP Ann Widdecombe to put this feature to the test - .

Here are the review questions - don't feel you have to answer them straight away - some of them will make more sense once you've had the car for a week or so. We'd like you to give us your initial thoughts, first impressions - both from you and the rest of the family - and then add feedback at least twice a week for the next three weeks until the car is collected - though please feel free to give more regular updates if you'd like to, and don't feel you have to stick to the questions too rigidly - they are just a guide.

Thanks for volunteering. Safe driving.

Here are the questions - please do state the model of car you're testing (first up was the C-MAX tests)

What were you/your partner's first impressions of the car?
What do the children think of it?
Do the children fit comfortably in it?
How easy is it to fit car seats/ adjust seats etc
What's it like to drive?
Is it a comfortable ride?
What's the boot space like?
Does it have any useful extras - cup holders etc?

There are various features of the 3 cars - let us know what you think of these ones in particular:

C-MAX
~ Five flexible seats
~ Power operated tailgate
~ Active Park Assist
Grand C-MAX
~ Seven flexible seats
~ Power operated tailgate
~ Sliding doors
~ Active Park Assist
Focus
~ Active City Stop
~ Active Park Assist
~ Lane Keeping Aid
~ Traffic Sign Recognition

So far is it economical to run?
How does it cope with different road conditions eg town, country, motorway
What do your friends/ family think of it?
Has testing this car made you more or less likely to buy a Ford?
Has testing this car changed your perception of Ford cars at all?
What one thing do you like best about it?
What one thing would you change about it ?
Please add any other comments and don't forget your video diaries!

Any queries please email [email protected]

Thanks again,

MNHQ

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like the parking sensors- it's a shame because I did find them useful to start with.

Another thing I have found, when ovetaking, you only need to tap the indicator once lightly, and it will indicate 3 times for you. Just enough to get past the vehicle in front- thanks Ford!

I drove at night last night and notice how strange other vehicles' lights look in the rearview mirror, almost dimmed and far away- anyone noticed this? Can't say I liked it...

it is a lovely drive on the motorway we have been to Warwick Castle today and the C Max was such a smooth comfy ride.

yes Ineed the rearview camera would be good, has anyone seen how much room you actually have when the sensors start to beep - theres loads of room TBH. even when the noise is constant there is still plenty of room.

i definitely would not choose to have the automatic boot opening, today i pressed the button to close it, got into the car ready to drive off. then DD told me the boot was still open - i get out and it has only gone 1/2 way down i press it again and it closed properly.

i do like the computer dash that keeps telling you if a seatbelt is not fastened or passenger door is open

there arent many of these around are there??? i have only seen two other C Maxs in all the time we have had the car ...... is this a reflection on where i live, has anyone else been looking for the C Max?

Newlyconverted I noticed that about the rearview mirror too - when I read the manual it says the mirror has some kind of anti-dazzle thing - so when bright lights shine onto it it goes sort of opaque so the reflection of the lights don't dazzle/distract you. I'm not keen either - it distorts the view a bit.

I'm afraid I have to disagree about parking sensors - I love them! There's a house opposite my drive, about 2 or 3 cars' width away, so I've found the sensors handy to stop me reversing into the house as I can't see much out of the back window. It's also good in carparks as it bleeps if a car drives past/someone walks by.

aristocat have you noticed the bleeping gets more and more urgent the longer someone's seatbelt is off? DH took his belt off to go through McDonald's drive through and it started bleeping, then stopped, then bleeped more urgently, stopped, then more urgently again, until he stopped in the carpark!

My car is due to go tomorrow wondering when I will hear what is happening...Ooohh maybe they have forgotten I have it ssshhh.

Hi all C-Max testers who were asking about car collection - here's the response from Ford:

"the demo centre will be in contact with each of the Mumsnetters the day before each pick up in order to give a 2 hour time frame in which the vehicle will be collected. All the mums confirmed the date which suited them best for pick up, so they should already be aware of the date."

Any further queries, please post 'em here

Yeah my email said tomorrow thought would have heard by now because the day is marching on a bit. Mind you an extra day would be nice.

MN, I filled up the car today but I need to use it for a couple of short journeys over the next couple of days, so I'll probably use about 50 miles' worth - does the tank have to be filled to the top for collection?

Have you watched the videos yet?

Just got in from work and have an email saying for collection tomorrow morning has to be ready for 9am.

edwardcullensotherwoman, my delivery driver said not to worry about refilling it or cleaning it. Was anyone else told that?

Not heard anything yet but ours is not due to go until thursday.
I wasn't told to fill mine up...........in fact the guy told me he was leaving me extra fuel as should only leave me 1/4 tank but actually let me 1/2. However, on the e-mail it said we would have a full tank of fuel .

Anyway, I too like the parking rear sensors. I thought they were really irritating at first but like edwardcullen, cars park opposite our drive so have found it very handy. It's also good for when people walk (stroll) behind the car as you are about to reverse out of the supermarket car park!

Aristocat I've only seen one other on the road in the last few weeks.......any reason why so few?

I have decided that I like the automatic boot - in fact I've become very used to it, particularly when loaded down with shopping, baby and 3 y/o! The integrated window shades are fab and I agree aristocat, all cars should have these. I usually end up pinging my 'stuck on' ones across the car as I put the window down, forgetting that they are there!

The other thing I like is how high the back seats are and that I don't have to bend down to lift DS and DD out of there seats.

Will do final review in a few days - must remember to do photo of us with the car and send to MNHQ!!

I'm quite glad about the cleaning thing - I will do the inside but I have to drive through a building site to my house at the moment, so washing it is pointless. I took it to a carwash last week, it came out all shiny and new, then brought it home and it was covered in mud again!
Eek I hope they don't want mine at 9am, I have a docs appointment down the road

hello - i have had the email too ..... car needs to be ready from 9am.

vodka i asked my delivery driver about fuel, and he told me just to ensure that there was at least 1/4 tank for their return journey.

will be back to post here tomorrow

OMG photo I forgot a photo I will chuck the kids out in the morning to stand next to the car someone remind me.

Have asked about the fuel for you edward and yes, we've watched the videos and turned them into a compilation - we're really pleased with them and so is Ford so well done everyone!

Did you like the bot of my video that ds1 filmed... upside down
Hope you don't need to fill it up I was told not to bother and the guy will be here soon to get it. hope not I have dc all over the place to round up if I need to go to garage.

OMG Ineed i did one clip upside down too

::high fives Ineed:: hurrah that we both did it!

::Returns High five::
We're so cool we don't need to worry about silly things like getting the camera the right way up
Well that is my car just gone on it's merry little way I will do some last thoughts in a little while.

Mine's gone too . I gave it the farewell gift of a wash this morning - an honour not bestowed on any car I've owned in the past 4 years! Ooh I can't wait to see the video compilation - mine is definitely going to sound worst! (unless anyone else has a more common welsh accent than me )

So, who's had their Grand C-Maxes so far then? I need exciting stories to help me recover from my loss!

edward i have a Midlands accent

driving my own car was very very strange today and so different to the C Max - has anyone else thought this?

I got my Grand c-max today so decided we should give it a test run and went for a day out. It was an hour and a half drive each way. DH drove there and I drove back. I have to say, I LOVE it (helped by the fact we got a fully specced 2.0 diesel titanium with all the extras). Really comfy as a passenger, really nice to drive. I didn't find it at all sluggish and it was very light on the steering. The satnav was good too, we put our tomtom on at the same time and ours couldn't even find a signal due to the cloud but the ford one could. The kids think it is cool and I found the sliding doors a real advantage in the carpark. The only thing I did find that I didn't like was the turning circle, it is crap. In the multi storey DH couldn't get it round the in/out ramps in one go but said the galaxy we have would have done it easily.

I tried the active park assist but my first attempt wasn't successful. We live on a one way street and cars park on the right (outside the houses, no houses on left) and i went to use the active park assist and it was trying to park me in the fence on the left. DH took the car to try it somewhere else and came back to say that it will only park you on the left hand side of a road so has limited use on one way streets if cars park on both sides.

lso I'm not too sure about the speed limiter. It is a good idea to keep you at the speed limit but if you need to put your foot down to get away from a hazard (e.g a lorry jack knifing behind you or something) it doesn't let you. I didn't feel safe not having that control and would rather use cruise control to keep me at 30 but to be honest I manage to stay at 30 in my galaxy without any extra gadgets so it is not something i would probably use.

When it was parked up next to my galaxy it looked small in comparison but when i got inside it felt spacious. There was plenty of leg room in the front and the back and i didn't feel cramped or closed in like I do sometimes when I have gone from my car into a much smaller car.

So first impressions are good and I am positive I will not want to give it back. I will come back on later and answer the questions. I just wanted to get my first thoughts down while they were fresh in my mind

So, the CMax has gone .

I'm off to the garage tomorrow to see about buying a new car, not sure anything will compare to the Ford!

My car feels very small now and basic, I miss the extras like Bluetooth and satnav already.

I'm back to answer the feedback questions so here goes, This is for the 2.0 TDCI Titanium Grand c-max with all the extras

What were you/your partner's first impressions of the car? looks good, very modern, quite abit smaller than our current galaxy. The extra gadgets were good
What do the children think of it? They think its cool and don't want to give it back. They like the panoramic roof and sun blinds and the fact that their drinks bottles fir easily in the cup holders in the back doors
Do the children fit comfortably in it? Yes, plenty of leg room
How easy is it to fit car seats/ adjust seats etc We have two Cybex high back booster seats and these fitok but we did have to remove the headrests of the rear seats to enable them to fit properly. Adjustment of the drivers seat was easy as it is electric, and the rear seats adjust easily forwards and backwards and recline by use of a lever
What's it like to drive? Nippy and quick, no sluggishness uphills for us, also very quiet engine
Is it a comfortable ride? Yes, the leather heated seats are very luxurious and comfy
What's the boot space like? Not had a chance to test this fully yet
Does it have any useful extras - cup holders etc? The cup holders are good, especially in the back doors but the ones near the gear stick are abit in the way so we tended to use the ones in the doors. The glove box is cavernous and the seat back trays are very handy. The sunblinds in the doors are a great idea but will have to test if you can open the window with them up. If not then I would find windowsox more useful. The satnav was good and easy to read but a bit fiddly to navigate the menus
So far is it economical to run? It seems to be but it is abit early to tell so will come back to this later
How does it cope with different road conditions eg town, country, motorway? Motorway and country are great, good power and comfy ride. Town is not so great due to a rubbish turning circle
What do your friends/ family think of it? No one has seen it yet so will answer later
Has testing this car made you more or less likely to buy a Ford? We would probably buy a ford anyway as we already have one and like them. I would be very tempted to buy one of these if we could afford it but it would have to be this exact spec as ford have spoiled us with all the extras.
Has testing this car changed your perception of Ford cars at all? No, we already like them
What one thing do you like best about it? That it is deceptively spacious. I also like the sliding doors (great in tight car park spaces) and the fact that you just press a button to close the boot and walk away so you can be strapping children in their seats while the boot is closing.
What one thing would you change about it ? a better turning circle and also power sliding doors (these come as standard on the mazda 5 Sport, which is basically the same car but different company, and would be very handy when loaded with shopping and kids to be able to open the doors to get the kids in the car by pressing the button and not having to put everything down to get them safely in the car while you put bags in the boot)

ok I have had abit more of a play today and the sun blinds are fine being up when the window is down, so thats a good thing.

after playing around with the speed limiter I have found that it does let you go over the set speed to avoid a hazard but you have to put your foot to the floor quickly.

A small but very handy feature i used today is a little plastic clip at the side of the windscreen to hold a pay and display ticket.

Turning circle still seems rubbish, lots of manouvering needed to get it into a space that our galaxy would have got in first time. Having said that, this alone would not put me off buying the car.

One thing we did notice today in the carpark was when we pressed the auto boot open button when we were walking to the car, someone nearly walked into the bootlid as it was opening. As we weren't standing right by the boot as you would be if you were opening the boot by hand the people had no warning it was going to open so maybe an audible sound on opening would be a good idea to act as a warning.

I still love it and am already trying to persuade DH to let me have one next year.

Has anyone else had theirs delivered yet? It seems very quiet on hee at the moment.

I have just been on the ford website to check what they say the fuel economy should be and it says 55.4 on combined. we are not getting near that. The on board computer thing says so far we have averaged 42.6mpg and that is driving normally on a mix of town, country and motorway. To be honest at those figures it is the same economy as our 2002 1.9 diesel heavy galaxy. I would have expected it to be better than that with it being a newer car.

Oops just found this thread and my Grand CMax is coming tomorrow! Doesn't Ann Widdecombe look pretty these days?

One quick question - in the videos do we use our real names or MN nicknames? Or just avoid referring to ourselves at all? Sorry if this has been covered before.