S-MAX and Galaxy extended test drive

[LittleDonkeyCarriemumsnet]

Hi all

By now you should all have received your new Ford car - hope you are enjoying it. Below are some of the questions we'd like you to cover in your feedback. 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 and Happy Christmas!

Here are the questions:

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?

If it has in car entertainment, what is that like?

So far is it economical to run?

How does it cope with different road conditions eg town, country, motorway

How did it cope with the snow (if you had any)

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

Which model have you got norah?

1.8 titanium

sliding doors would be bloody marvellous i must say.

I have a ford galaxy, and would like easier access to the back when I have two iso-fix car seats in the middle row. At the moment I have the middle seat down in the second row, but would be great if there were sliding doors that went all the way to the back seats. Then it would be almost perfect!

See, Mr and Mrs Ford...? My sample of two other MNers agree with me .

i THIRD the sliding doors. Personally I think they are mandatory on all MPV's. If you can't find a parent and child space which, let's face it, is most of the time, it is ridiculously hard trying to get children out and not damage the car next to you! Also you can't leave a big gap on one side and tiny on the other if you have kids to get out both sides. The other major reason is that I am terrified of the doors blowing shut in the wind while a little one is trying to get in or out- as they do blow shut very easily- happens a lot here and sometimes on me while I am strapping them in.

MrCSWS- there are no sockets, the red/yellow/white sockets are at the bottom of the screen but no other sockets anywhere. The manual says nothing about other headphones- only wireless so I'm guessing that's the only way, or have it playing through the car audio system but I can't work out how to do that, I tried today!

We had more snow today so we went sledging again. Only other thing is that the windscreen wash keeps freezing up- maybe it has no antifreeze in it

Wilfsell- My 3 normally fight/hit/pull etc in the back of the car but in the galaxy with the DVD they have been quiet as mice with the little one in the middle, and that is without putting any of them in the back row!

I am really enjoying driving a automatic too- so smooth and so easy, it feels weird but in a very good way!

Only one thing seems a bit strange to me is that our top of the range Ghia doesn't seem to have heated seats- have any of the others got these? I would have thought they came as standard? I have looked but can't find any switches. In this freezing weather would have been quite nice

I must try putting the back seats up and seeing if I can fit the buggy in...oh and the seats are very easy to put up and down. Can do it in a about 1 minute.

I hope we get a chance to try out the bike rack and drive with the bikes on but it's not going to happen unless the snow goes away soon.

You mean it comes with a bikerack...?

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease put sliding doors on and I will buy one, I promise!

Lol, I don't think it comes with a bike rack but they put one on for us as we are mountain bikers!!

You can get a retractable towbar as an optional extra and fit a bike rack and you can also buy an accessory with enables you to fit bikes inside the car- cool if you don't have too many children taking up all the seats .
They have put a roof one on for us. Wouldn't be my first choice on a galaxy as I think I will struggle to lift my bike on and I am 5'8". I struggle to put them on dh's audi A3 so the Galaxy will definitely be harder!

We had a trip out in the S max yesterday and went to a zoo.So the boot was laden full of stuff and there was still oodles of space.
The ride was a really comfy ones and DH enjoyed the acceleration as he was joining the busy roads from the slip roads.
When we arrived our friends were already there and there were a lot of "ooohhhhs" and "aarrrrrssss" when they were looking inside and out.
They were eimpressed by the sheer space inside and the high spec though they were surpsised there wasn't a sat nav.I showed them our map to prove we had one .
When we got back in the car it would have been a really nice touch to have had heated seats to defrost our bums.
I'm trying really hard to find some bad points but there are so few!!!

i braved the parking sensors this morning and went to a retail park near us that has dredfully small and difficult to get into spaces. and i did fine!

i feel so sorry for our 2 normal cars, sitting around looking cold and unloved. dh reluctantly took dd out in the clio, as i was going out with ds in the S-Max. well you should have seen their faces. like, ho hum, lets squeeeeeeze ourselves in this little thing. and it's a blimmin nearly top of the range very nice and comfy (ish) model too! we have been well and truely spoiled i fear.

i'm getting really far to used to it now. so much so that..dare i say it..dh has gone out to a ford showroom to look at the C-Max. we're thinking that will be more affordable for us that the S-Max. it would be lovely, but rather like having a spare bedroom that gets used just a few times a year. mind you..if Ford want to give us a juicy discount off an S-Max then i wouldn't say no.. (awaits email from Mr Ford thanking norah for such diligent review reporting and dh's fantabulous directorial exploits)

So testers which would be better SMAX or Galaxy?

There will be 2 adults, 4 DC, 2 in highback boosters, one in a Stage 1 and a newborn car seat, will also need space for double buggy.

Is the SMAX big enough?

Have seen footage of a Zafira being rear ended and the dummies heads going out the back windscreen as there is no boot with the boot seats up, it's kind of put me off boot seats.

We are currently thinking Galaxy or Sharan, I am frightened as I have a parking disability as it is.

Was thinking though that DD1 would have to go in the third row at weekends when DP is driving as I could have 3 along the middle row during the week and DD1 in the front or DB4 with air bag disabled?

you'd fit them all in an S Max (can't speak for the galaxy, unless ford want to send me one of those ). i have dd in a high back booster and ds in a newborn car seat and have had them both in the car with MIL and FIL, and me and dh. haven't tried dd in the booster in the front seat though but i have in the boot seats.

double buggy would fit in fine. possibly even with boot seats up. i can fit bugaboo bee in plus small amount of shopping. then when boot seats are down, well you could fit a small country in the back so no worries there! you can also have just one boot seat up, so have half the big boot left.

as fior parking, well the titanium comes with parking sensors as standard (gosh i sound like an advert!) and they are just bloody marvellous. if you aren't used to them it takes a while to 'trust' them, but then it's fine, a big help.

hth! (i will try dd in the front seat and report back)

we are on the waiting list for an S Max

seems like they are so popular, we cannot find one for love nor money!

will have to go investigate the SMAX

that's the only thing with them being so new and so popular, not many second hand ones aroung

Sweetkitty, we have the S-Max and have had the following combinations in the seats: 2 adults in front seats. 4yr old & 3yr old both in high back car seats with a 10 yr old between them in the middle seats, a 6yr old with a high back car seat and a 13yr old in the boot seats. All had plenty of room and felt comfortable, especially the teenager in the boot seat which surprised me. A bonus on the boot seats is that they have an adjustable head rest with I think provides an extra bit of safety. There is still boot space behind the boot seats, certainly room for a buggy, although not sure if my Phil & Teds would have fitted when I had one. Have also had a 4yr old and 6yr old both with high back car seats in the middle seats with 6ft, 19stone DH in the middle. He was really comfy and amazed at the leg room that he had. I was just amazed that he fitted in width ways (sorry DH ).

Did more motorway driving again today. Used Cruise Control which was a first for me. Wierd in a wonderful sort of way... I kind of just sat there whilst the car glided along. A few clicks on the steering wheel and the car went faster, a few clicks and it went slower. Bloody amazing or am I just easily pleased?

Getting to grips with the parking sensors a bit more. Sometimes feels like the car is bleeping from all angles. I really want to hit something so that I know what sounds it makes then. Guessing that might not be a good idea . Haven't got round to using the voice activated commands yet but think I might try and set some when I have a moment tomorrow. Just love the display on the dash, its so easy to use, very menu driven. All sorts of info, have found so much without having to dip into the manual. It really is easy to pick up and go as it were. Might even be really daring and sneak a look under the bonnet tomorrow and check out where the window wash etc goes. Should also check out how to change a tyre I suppose and want to have a bit more of a play with the boot seats. So much to do, so little time left.

I would only have one in the boot seats so would still have half a boot

What's the difference between the SMAX and the Galaxy then? Galaxy a bit bigger?

Off to mooch round autotrader will be back all depressed no doubt.

i've looked at 2nd hand S Maxs too online, really very very few about. dh getting more and more keen to get either a new C Max or a 2nd hand S Max..still no word from ford about that juicy discount on a brand new (or ex demo model) S Max..

features i have still to try are the cruise control and the voice activation and the bluetooth. we're off up to my auntie's next weekend, 2 hrs up to durham, so should be able to have a good go then.

next week it's back to the nursery run and normal day to day driving. dh back to work..and back to his fiesta

Do the Bluetooth NOW Ruddynorah! DH did mine, only took a few minutes, there was a code to add, think he got it from the black folder in the glove compartment. He is out but can ask him when he gets back. Its brilliant. Comes up on the dash who is ringing in...... er, do I want to speak to them, yes, Oooh click on OK on my steering wheel... 'hello' marvellous .

Was very pleased with the parking sensors today. Had to tin-open the car out of a space that I had been pinned in. Put my trust in them and was out after a few backwards and forwards. If they hadn't been there I definately wouldn't have driven out at one point, but no beeping so I crept forward and the car was out.

Saw a Mum from school who noticed the new car. Was full of questions about it as she is interested in one. Have to say there seems to be a lot of people interested in them and looking to get one as their next car. Have a friend who already has one and loves it to bits. Am really struggling to have any dislikes about it. Only one really I mentioned in an earlier post is that the wing mirrors don't pull flat against the car electronically. You have to hoik them in yourself. Thats pretty much it at the moment. Still a week and a bit left but my love for the S-Max grows everyday , think at this rate DH will be getting pushed out of the house and S-Max having a warmer slot indoors. My lovely car deserves the best

Gulp, just looking at the Ford website to see how much my car would cost. The DVD system they added for the kids is an 'extra' at £1500

yes the list price of the one we are testing is pretty much totally out of our league..but they rarely sell at that price do they? there's always some offer on..isn't there? hence why we're looking at the C Max too.

not been out in mine today. ds is feeding non stop so i'm kind of marooned on the sofa. might take him out for a spin later.

i have sent dh out to set up the bluetooth..

My Mum keeps badgering me to find out how much we could buy it for. Bless her she keeps offering to lend us some money. She said 'I am sure I could get £5000 together to lend you'. Not sure where she thinks we would get the rest from . Sounds like there aren't many around on the second hand market either

Well fellow testers happy new year!!!

Interesting thread for me because I bought a S max in september.

I can recommend it after the teething problems.

Comment to Ford though this research is not picking up on the dealership issues that go with buying a new car. To be honest the dealership both prior to the sale and post sale have been terrible and downright rude. At one point they almost got the car handed back due to their attitude.

Have fun driving the test cars

Interesting thread for me because I bought a S max in september.

I can recommend it after the teething problems.

Comment to Ford though this research is not picking up on the dealership issues that go with buying a new car. To be honest the dealership both prior to the sale and post sale have been terrible and downright rude. At one point they almost got the car handed back due to their attitude.

Have fun driving the test cars