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

[oldenglishspangles]

I have a ford galaxy with folding seats, waiting aaaaages for it when the folding seat model first came out. I really liked the Chrysler Grand Voyager but a mega crap euro ncap score put paid to that. I also liked the S Max but not suitable for a tall family. We will be keeping car for 8 years and expect all children to be 5'7+ by then - even though the oldest will only just be a teenager.

Our criteria was :-

1. It needed to carry a family of 5 ( 3 under 3 ) and luggage (common sense you would think in an mpv....)
2. Need to be able to carry adults in rearmost seats
3. Seats must fold - eliminating hassle factor or storage in garage/ gives flexibility of last minute lifts etc
4. legroom legroom legroom
5. Must be able to fit 3 age 4+ car seats side by side across middle row (not just boosters).
6. ESP was essential
7. Heated seats for driver and passenger
8. Decent Euro ncap rating.

The galaxy was the only car that -all- fitted this criteria.

Only a couple of very small gripes are

1. that you cannot fold the middle seat in the middle row whilst you are using the reamost seats. It would be nice to have a 2x2x2 configuration sometimes.
2. A couple of the things that would have been nice were only available on the ghia. I have a Zetec.
3. It comes with a puncture repair kit not a spare tyre.....

All I can say is I luuuurve my Galaxy. There is even an extra charging point in the boot. So we plug our travel dvd players in there.

[oldenglishspangles]

Forgot to say small thing but the the armrest are so comfy!

[nobodysfool]

Nevergoogle- i did laugh at your pointy finger moves, which dance school did you go to

[Nevergoogledragonbutter]

Juilliard of course.

Oi. dancing while driving is quite tricky actually. they don't appear to have kept in any of my review at all, just me dancing and making a joke about the school run.

i don't even do the school run btw. they edited out that bit.

[Nevergoogledragonbutter]

which one of you gives your DH a dirty look when he talks about the hill assist. that made me giggle.

[nobodysfool]

The hill assist had me in fits as well....no words needed there!

[ruddynorah]

that's me doing the hill launch assist! i was bloody worried there, concentrating. then dh pipes up 'ooooh we're doing hill launch assist' grrrrrr!! love it

[jennyftm]

We have had a Ford S-Max for two years and its been great. We have taken it camping where it has our full tent etc plus three bikes on back and we still have room to sit and it still accelerates really well. Great car. Only negative we have found is that part of the reason it has so much boot space is there is no spare wheel. It comes instead with a rubber thing you inject into a punctured tyre to rescue temporarily the tyre. However I find this a bit unnerving especially when abroad. To know we dont have a spare wheel and might need to find one etc.
But I would recommend the car to anyone. The back seats easily take a 6 foot plus adult aand the extra boot seats are comfortable enough for me at 5foot 4.

[ruddynorah]

ooooh videos online! flippin eck.

oh, and guess who is now driving a shiny new C Max??? oh yes that'll be MEEEEE

[Nevergoogledragonbutter]

you bought one????

[ruddynorah]

yes i sure did! please note it's a C max, not an S max..but still

and it does not have hill launch assist

[nobodysfool]

erm........the links not working to watch the vids.

[Nevergoogledragonbutter]

the link from here works

[nobodysfool]

nope...still cant watch them.aarrgghhh...i need to see your other moves

[Nevergoogledragonbutter]

haha at my 'other' moves.

[haze36]

Looking for a new family car that is not only kid friendly,cool to drive,affordabl,safe and comfortable is a mammoth task.There are so many cars on the market to choose from and it's going to be one of the most important decisions you make when choosingthe right car for your families needs.Families grow and change so if you are purchasing a car i would personally look ahead when investing in a new car as i would buy it with a view to last many years.Safety features would be high on my list as a mother that is my main concern,driver comfort is also a welcome addition.It would have to be roomy and easy to get the kids seat belt on.The more room at the back the better there is nothing worse than the children sitting'on top of eachother' and fighting.The boot needs to be roomy enough for essentials such as shopping,buggy,luggage,picnic baskets etc.Drinks holders and lights in the back would be fab.Affordable and reliable are important too.I worry about the economy and would like enviromentally friendly cars.Also one that is roomy but doesn't guzzle petrol or diesel etc.Also enough room between the driver and the childs seat so they can't keep kicking it lol thats just wishful thinking.It has made for interesting reading what the volunteers think of their car that they are testing and helps make decisions on what to go for as we are looking for a new car and i haven't found many articles and tips about what to go for when i have researched it on the net.

[Butterball]

Hee hee, my DH has just come across all the videos on the Ford website (we are looking to buy an S-MAX). You lot are FAMOUS. He was all, "Look, look, there's women from that site on here!"