Gigondas, weblette, other Sharan drivers - are you there?

[fatsatsuma]

Think we may have found our sharan

But it's a DSG gearbox

We've never had an automatic, and didn't really want to get one. Do you have one (DSG)? I think Gigondas you do? What's it like? Is it easy to adjust to one after a manual?

Bump

Hi. I used to have a manual but I LOVE the auto I have now. Means I can shout at the kids without having to worry about changing gear too!! Seriously i think it is safer and more fuel efficient. However, someone told me auto not so good for overtaking on motorway, but I don't do a lot of that! From a sexist point of view, I think men are less keen on automatics cos they can't get the same acceleration.... but I think auto is great!!

Thank you SuzysZoo. That's good to know. Did it take you long to get used to the automatic?

Hi again. No - it took about 5 mins. Then it was great. No more handbrake. Hill starts a doddle etc. It's great! You'll love it!!

Hello fellow sharan-seeker

How's your search going ?

not too great!
can't really find exactly what we want. they seem to be a bit thin on the ground right now

A dealer said something yesterday to DH about how there aren't many out there, that unlike some car manufacturers VW deliberately don't flood the market with cars. Makes them more desirable I guess.

We had a Passat auto a few years ago, no probs whatsoever. Dh is actually rather pissed off that I always buy manuals

I imagine the fuel economy will be ace, think it's more cultural that they're not as popular here. Tbh I've always found autos to be more expensive than I'd like.

The Honest John website (on phone so can't link) is great for notes about reliability etc.

Thanks weblette. I'll have a look at Honest John. I'm coming round to the idea of an automatic and amazingly so is DH!

the seat alhambra is apparently the exact same car with a differnet badge though... so another thing to keep an eye out for!

Yes, I'd heard that about the seat Alhambra.

Normally we are totally not interested in certain labels or brands, but having been hit so hard maintaining a c**p car, we are holding out for a make which we are told is über reliable

We've decided to go for the one I mentioned, 2.0l 140bhp DSG. Found one only slightly over budget. No park assist but it does have sensors. Picking it up next week

Am ridiculously excited
We don't buy new (to us) cars v often and aim to keep this one until we don't need a huge car any more, so I'm relishing the thought of a lovely clean new-smelling car - for a few weeks at least...
A bit nervous about the size, but the pros outweigh the cons.

Good luck with your car hunt.

VW own Seat though, so it is literally the same car to the same spec just a different badge

even the Euro NCAP thing said it's the same car, so the results of the Sharan safety test can be applied to the Seat!

i just really want a vw cos i am still sad i had to sell my beetle lol

glad you found one though! do update when you pick it up... let me know what it's like

how many children do you have to fit in?

Only 3, but teens as well as a littlie. We have a smaller 7-seater at the mo, and use the extra seats when granny's with us, school run, kids parties etc. We went for the sharan cos there's more space in the middle row We do lots of long journeys on holiday and hope more space will = less fighting and grumpiness

Excellent, very glad to hear you got one

yeah we have 3 too, atm got all 3 across the back of a volvo v70, which i LOVE. but I need more space to stop the fighting!!

Does anyone with a Galaxy, alhambra, Sharan etc know if you can turn the seats round in them so they are back to back with drivers/passengers?
Ta

no, you can't

OK -- ta

thisisyesterday I don't know if you'll see this, but here's the update: I love LOVE the new car

Feel like striking it before I get in.

It feels really solid and well-made - v superior to our previous cars.

There's loads of space, esp for the children, but it actually doesn't feel huge to drive, and parking is really ok.

I could waffle on boringly for ages. The only thing I'm not sure about yet is fuel consumption. We were getting 47.5 mpg out of our old Peugeot, and were expecting something similar with the sharan, but it currently seems quite a lot less May mention that to our local VW garage.

But generally delighted
How's your car hunt going?

Actually, I don't feel like striking it all - I feel like stroking it

am glad you're loving it!

i am having a big dilemma an actually came on to ask about tax bands for various cars

auto trader reckons the sharan is £245 for 12 months
it says the ford galaxy is £210 for 12 months

our volvo v70 is £210, and I really don't want to be paying any more!

so now i am leaning towards the galaxy. also in part because the rear seats fold flatter on them than they do on the older sharans (sadly we can't afford anything newer than about 2008 i don't think)
gah
the galaxy also has more torque! if auto trader is correct htat is

No no no - the tax on ours is £130ish I think. Can't remember the exact figure but it's a lot less than our other much older and smaller car.

It prob depends on the age of sharan you're looking at. The newer ones have loads of 'green' features and low emissions.