Any opinions on VW sharans?

feesh

I don't know why, but they are the same as the Ford Galaxy (as well as the SEAT Alhambra), which I know sounds weird as Ford is not part of the VAG group, but anyway....

Having driven both as hire cars for work fairly regularly, I much prefer the Ford Galaxy (despite being a lifelong VAG fan!).

It handles better, and has a much nicer interior and stereo. I imagine the Galaxies can be found for less on the 2nd hand market too.

withabix

feesh wrote: »

I don't know why, but they are the same as the Ford Galaxy (as well as the SEAT Alhambra), which I know sounds weird as Ford is not part of the VAG group, but anyway....

Galaxy, Sharan and Alhambra are the same vehicle, with different interior/exterior trim, some different panels (around the lights in bonnet and tailgate areas) and some different engines.

All share the same VW diesel engines, but the 2.3 Ford petrol ones have Ford engines and gearboxes, whereas the others have VAG ones. V6 Petrol ones have a similar VR6 engine to that used in the Golf VR6 etc - it's a thirsty bug*er!

The vehicles are (or were in the case of Ford) made in a factory near Lisbon in Portugal, the building of which was financed by VAG and Ford as a joint venture. VAG bought out Ford's share of the factory in 1999 but production of the Galaxy continued until the original (10 year) agreement expired in 2006.

Much of the styling work was done by Ford, which is why they look more Ford than VW, but the parts are nearly all VAG and are covered in the Audi OOOO rings.

The factory still makes Sharans and Alhambras and now the VW Eos.

The current Galaxy is 100% Ford and has nothing to do with VW.