Tuesday 12th July 2016

Ford S-Max: You Know You Want To

Dented and kerbed and remapped to 275hp - the ideal PH family hack!

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There's been a lot of talk on PistonHeads recently, mainly from the editorial team, about family friendly performance cars. From Porsche Panamera to Ferrari GTC4 Lusso to Audi RS6, fast four-seaters (or more) appear to be PH flavour of the month.

Cloth seats too? Bonus

Trouble is, they're all rather expensive. And what if you have the need to carry more people? Step forward the Ford S-Max. No, really, the Ford S-Max.

The Ford MPV was rather interesting at the time of its launch in 2006, taking the conventional seven-seat format and making it just a little bit cooler. It was sleeker than the average people mover, more stylish and better to drive, but not at the cost of practicality. It rightly sold very well, usually as a diesel.

But there was, for a limited time, the option to have your S-Max with the old Focus ST engine. Yep, five cylinders, 220hp and a healthy appetite for unleaded in your family bus. This was back in those care-free pre-recession days where, alongside the Ford, Vauxhall also made a 240hp Zafira VXR. Because why on earth not?

Unsurprisingly the S-Max ST (not the official name, but it sounds good) didn't sell in vast numbers, discontinued and then replaced with a more efficient 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. But, very occasionally, one comes up for sale. Consider it a budget R63 AMG, combining many seats with plentiful performance and, presumably, quite a lot of fun too.

This S-Max 2.5 appeals more than most. Not only is it pre-dented and pre-kerbed so your family doesn't have to, but it's also more powerful. It's been remapped to 274bhp (277hp) and 280lb ft with an upgraded intercooler, sports exhaust and new air filter as well. Given it was already fairly sprightly to start with (140mph, 60 in less than eight seconds), this S-Max promises to be a right giggle.

And proof from the rolling road

The suspension has been modified too, with Eibach lowering springs and Koni FSD Sport dampers. According to the seller the ride is "firm but not harsh". As well as this, when those in the back tell you to calm down a bit, the front brakes now use six-pot calipers with larger 345mm discs. Excellent!

The S-Max even stacks up reasonably well on the sensible stuff. The mileage is below average, the oil is changed regularly and it even has a tow bar. Though you may not want to use it too often, as even the standard combined mpg was 30...

Yes, a tuned five-cylinder S-Max probably won't be the most affordable family car to run. On top of the fuel costs, it probably gets through front tyres fairly quickly too. But for entertainment value alone, before its reputation as a decent family car, this S-Max must be worth £5K of a PH parent's cash.

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FORD S-MAX 2.5 TITANIUM
Price: £5,250
Why you should: Scare hot hatches with a people carrier
Why you shouldn't: Scare your family with the state of it

See the original advert here

[Witchfinder]

I had one of these previously and traded it in for my S8, a decision I later came to regret. Not that the S8 was bad, but the S-Max was just so very good. Large, comfortable, fun to drive, and with ample power even without a remap. Room for as much stuff as you are ever likely to want to carry (even taking a family of five on a week long camping trip).

The S8 has been sold, and I'm buying another S-Max.

[Witchfinder]

tankplanker said:

Personally I'd hold out for a Titanium X model, much better spec but I think that was only available with the less charismatic 2l turbo petrol?

Correct, that's the facelift with the bodykit. Sadly Ford had to kill off the 2.5T. All the 2.0 Ecoboost models come with Powershift gearbox as well, 200PS or 240PS. Standard kit on the facelift was pretty generous in Titanium X trim, and it looks a lot better than the pre-facelift model (IMHO).

You can also get the facelift with the more expensive 200PS 2.2 diesel, if you like sucking Satan's juice (or need the fuel economy). Still, the character of that 2.5T is very alluring.

How about this for an extra grand: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016... Full leather, sat-nav and 18" wheels.

Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 12th July 12:15

[Witchfinder]

chrislloyd81 said:

I don't see the point having a fast family car if...

It probably doesn't make sense for you, but as a one-car family, it makes perfect sense for us.

[Witchfinder]

I drove the 240ps 2.0 SCTi Ecoboost model today, with PowerShift transmission. It felt positively lethargic! I know I've been spoiled by V10 goodness, but I swear my old 2.5T had a lot more grunt. It just felt like it wasn't trying.

I don't think it was a duff car either - it was being sold by a Ford dealer, and had just been serviced.