Have I made an expensive mistake? S Max powershift...
Discussion
Good morning folks
With baby number 2 due any day I made a somewhat rushed purchase of an S max this week. A 2014 Titanium with 52k on the clock for 7k. It's the 2 litre TDI powershift model.
The car has been clearly been used as a family car as the interior trim has suffered and it needs a bit of a tidy up.
Whilst I did some research and saw everyone raving about the S Max, what I didn't think to do was research the powershift- oh dear!!
The car drives very well but I am really worried I have bought a ticking timebomb with potential for a 3k meltdown! I see lots of high mileage powershift cars out there but apparently it can go at low miles....
The service history is patchy too (yep my bad). Whilst I saw at least 5 stamps in the book I missed the 30k gap. The paperwork that came with it did however show the owner at the time had the gearbox serviced at ford in this time as well as other bits so I imagine it had another service but wasn't stamped.
What should I do? Gearbox service now and hope it behaves for a couple of years before moving on? So stressful and worried I have made a terrible mistake.
Many thanks
With baby number 2 due any day I made a somewhat rushed purchase of an S max this week. A 2014 Titanium with 52k on the clock for 7k. It's the 2 litre TDI powershift model.
The car has been clearly been used as a family car as the interior trim has suffered and it needs a bit of a tidy up.
Whilst I did some research and saw everyone raving about the S Max, what I didn't think to do was research the powershift- oh dear!!
The car drives very well but I am really worried I have bought a ticking timebomb with potential for a 3k meltdown! I see lots of high mileage powershift cars out there but apparently it can go at low miles....
The service history is patchy too (yep my bad). Whilst I saw at least 5 stamps in the book I missed the 30k gap. The paperwork that came with it did however show the owner at the time had the gearbox serviced at ford in this time as well as other bits so I imagine it had another service but wasn't stamped.
What should I do? Gearbox service now and hope it behaves for a couple of years before moving on? So stressful and worried I have made a terrible mistake.
Many thanks
Thank you all I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me.
I've had a look online and doesn't appear my car is subject to a recall sadly.
I think I'll get a service done on the box and perhaps seek to move it on next summer once my wife is back from maternity leave. Then we will have had it a year which of course looks better to a potential buyer.
As you say, no one goes online to say how good their powershift gearboxes are! At least it's driving fine for now with no obvious issues apparent.
Interestingly a manual in similar spec is at least 2k more- I didn't even search manuals when I was looking but if I had this would have been a warning sign!
I've had a look online and doesn't appear my car is subject to a recall sadly.
I think I'll get a service done on the box and perhaps seek to move it on next summer once my wife is back from maternity leave. Then we will have had it a year which of course looks better to a potential buyer.
As you say, no one goes online to say how good their powershift gearboxes are! At least it's driving fine for now with no obvious issues apparent.
Interestingly a manual in similar spec is at least 2k more- I didn't even search manuals when I was looking but if I had this would have been a warning sign!
Folks,
I can't address each of your replies but I am genuinely so grateful for everyone's thoughts. I was pretty down about things this morning but having read though all the comments I feel more a little more optimistic now.
Some great accounts of the powershift doing some big miles after all!
So I purchased privately so no come back there. Saying that, in the 60 mile drive home and couple of town drives before I SORNED it on the driveway whilst I sell the Octavia MK2 it behaved just fine.
Used car purchases are a pain though aren't they- even down to things like discovering the arm rest cushion is held on with a bloody self tapper?! On visible by a tiny hole in the leatherette finish I investigated further. I assume a child has pulled it off in the past but honestly?!
In other news my friends Dad works for one of the big aftermarket warranty companies and has given me an incredible deal on a 36 month warranty which will cover the box as well- definitely thing I'll take this up.
Been phoning around today for gearbox oil change prices. Ford are £450 and two indys £420. Waiting for my trusted back street guy to give me a price but not convinced it'll be much cheaper. Damn thing is due a cambelt next year too.
I'll certainly get the gearbox oil changed as soon as I can and see how we get on. The box was serviced at 17k in 2017 so mileage wise we are fine, just a longer interval than ideal.
I can't address each of your replies but I am genuinely so grateful for everyone's thoughts. I was pretty down about things this morning but having read though all the comments I feel more a little more optimistic now.
Some great accounts of the powershift doing some big miles after all!
So I purchased privately so no come back there. Saying that, in the 60 mile drive home and couple of town drives before I SORNED it on the driveway whilst I sell the Octavia MK2 it behaved just fine.
Used car purchases are a pain though aren't they- even down to things like discovering the arm rest cushion is held on with a bloody self tapper?! On visible by a tiny hole in the leatherette finish I investigated further. I assume a child has pulled it off in the past but honestly?!
In other news my friends Dad works for one of the big aftermarket warranty companies and has given me an incredible deal on a 36 month warranty which will cover the box as well- definitely thing I'll take this up.
Been phoning around today for gearbox oil change prices. Ford are £450 and two indys £420. Waiting for my trusted back street guy to give me a price but not convinced it'll be much cheaper. Damn thing is due a cambelt next year too.
I'll certainly get the gearbox oil changed as soon as I can and see how we get on. The box was serviced at 17k in 2017 so mileage wise we are fine, just a longer interval than ideal.
Edited by SussexTrek on Monday 17th July 23:04
Edited by SussexTrek on Monday 17th July 23:06
I'm impressed I've generated a three page discussion on a gearbox! Loads more useful bits of info, thanks all 
Really reassuring to hear lots more good news stories.
So I am hanging on to it and giving it a chance. Gearbox oil change booked in with my usual garage for £335 and he assures me it's uses ford supplied oil and filter- still pricey but the cheapest I've found yet and I trust the guy. Ford nearly £100 more and nothing to say whoever does the work would be any good.
Dog guard and boot liner sourced on FB marketplace for a fraction of the new price so it's nearly ready to go!
I have signed up for a 36 month warranty too- the small print seems fine and should the worst happen a hefty chunk towards a repair.
Really reassuring to hear lots more good news stories. So I am hanging on to it and giving it a chance. Gearbox oil change booked in with my usual garage for £335 and he assures me it's uses ford supplied oil and filter- still pricey but the cheapest I've found yet and I trust the guy. Ford nearly £100 more and nothing to say whoever does the work would be any good.
Dog guard and boot liner sourced on FB marketplace for a fraction of the new price so it's nearly ready to go!
I have signed up for a 36 month warranty too- the small print seems fine and should the worst happen a hefty chunk towards a repair.
To update.....
Gearbox has failed 5k into my ownership. Car only has 57k on it now and had the box serviced 5k ago.
Will be a £3k repair which I am hoping the warranty will largely cover
Car felt fine until last week when it started juddering on pulling away. They lost all bar two years and a limited transmission warning. Turned on and off and it cleared until today when it failed altogether and left me stranded.
Anyone finding this thread and contemplating buying a powershift car- don't! Whilst you'll see optimistic posts where people say theirs has done 150k etc, I think most will fail at some point.
Gearbox has failed 5k into my ownership. Car only has 57k on it now and had the box serviced 5k ago.
Will be a £3k repair which I am hoping the warranty will largely cover
Car felt fine until last week when it started juddering on pulling away. They lost all bar two years and a limited transmission warning. Turned on and off and it cleared until today when it failed altogether and left me stranded.
Anyone finding this thread and contemplating buying a powershift car- don't! Whilst you'll see optimistic posts where people say theirs has done 150k etc, I think most will fail at some point.
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