New Driver needs MPV!

AdrianC

Much of the reliability complaints about the C4 Picasso relate to the 1.6HDi engine. The 1.6TDCi in the Ford is exactly the same engine.

Bewar3them00n

I think I'll just test drive both, I'm torn between the better equipped and better looking C4 Picasso, and the C-Max, and it's better road handling, driver experience.
Decisions, decisions !

jk0

If you just went to the effort of learning to drive with gears, it seems rather a waste to have an automatic in my view.

My stepfather, a manual driver for 40 years, drove my mother's automatic for two years, and forgot how to drive a manual. I gave him my old manual Saab, and he kept stalling it.

Bewar3them00n

I think I might go with the manual, there's far more choice buying manual, and to be honest, I quite enjoy the process of driving manual

Bewar3them00n

I finally went for the C4 Cactus, after realising how big some of the cars actually were, getting one for everyday use with the occasional day trip / long drive didn't make much sense!
I test drove the C4 Cactus 1.2 pure tech, found it to be very smooth ride, extremely nippy, even with 3 adults. It has a nice blend of great looks, practicality ( 2 isofix, big boot, decent legroom in back,) and price.
I do admit that the looks drew me in, but the wife said go for it when she saw it, and how great a deal it was,I wasn't going to argue with the wife!
After driving it for about an hour, I was even more convinced I'd made the right choice!

FreddieFrugal

fred246 wrote: »

I have had a VW Galaxy for the last 11 years and it's been the most fantastic family car you could ever imagine.

I think you must have imagined it, seeing as there's no such thing as a VW Galaxy...

Suspect you've either been driving a Ford Galaxy or a VW Sharan.

You'd think you'd know after '11 years' of ownership :rotfl:

fred246

Well it's a car made up almost entirely of VW parts. At the last moment someone stuck a Ford badge on it. Does that make it a Ford? I don't think so. You can't make a VW engine into a Ford one just by sticking a cover on it with a Ford badge. When I go to the VW dealer for parts it is indeed a VW Sharan. I have the engine code but unfortunately I have forgotten the registration. If I accidentally own up to it having had a Ford badge on it they tell me to get lost and go to a Ford Dealer. VW parts bought from the Ford dealer are a 'special order' item and are at least twice the price and take days to arrive apparently (I have never waited and get them from VW). Galaxys from 2006 onwards are actually Fords. I don't think VW are better than Ford - I just know my car is a VW.

bigjl

AdrianC wrote: »

Much of the reliability complaints about the C4 Picasso relate to the 1.6HDi engine. The 1.6TDCi in the Ford is exactly the same engine.

Here's a strange point.

The same 1.6 Diesel engine in Volvos doesn't have such a bad record of failure.

When I had a V50 and frequented a Volvo forum somebody said that the 1.6 Volvo diesels were built in a different factory, not Dagenham.

I don't know how much truth there was in that or if there are differences with the way the turbo pipe work is plumbed in or even if the oil specs are different as I have never checked.

But I can't see it being because Volvo owners are less likely to complain about an engine or turbo failure!

bigjl

Bewar3them00n wrote: »

I finally went for the C4 Cactus, after realising how big some of the cars actually were, getting one for everyday use with the occasional day trip / long drive didn't make much sense!
I test drove the C4 Cactus 1.2 pure tech, found it to be very smooth ride, extremely nippy, even with 3 adults. It has a nice blend of great looks, practicality ( 2 isofix, big boot, decent legroom in back,) and price.
I do admit that the looks drew me in, but the wife said go for it when she saw it, and how great a deal it was,I wasn't going to argue with the wife!
After driving it for about an hour, I was even more convinced I'd made the right choice!

I suggested the Cactus 1.2 to the wife, she wants a Fiat 500L next!

I would only have a diesel now if it was under manufacturers warranty and in a Lease or Contract Hire deal through our Company.

AdrianC

bigjl wrote: »

Here's a strange point.

The same 1.6 Diesel engine in Volvos doesn't have such a bad record of failure.

When I had a V50 and frequented a Volvo forum somebody said that the 1.6 Volvo diesels were built in a different factory, not Dagenham.

I don't know how much truth there was in that or if there are differences with the way the turbo pipe work is plumbed in or even if the oil specs are different as I have never checked.

But I can't see it being because Volvo owners are less likely to complain about an engine or turbo failure!

Or Volvo owners are more likely to spend the money on getting their "premium-brand" car serviced properly.

AIUI, the 1.6TDCi DLD/1.6HDi DV6 was only ever built in France or the UK, though, not in Volvo's Skövde engine plant. Even if it was locally assembled for Volvo, the specification would be the same.