Family car - replacement for ageing S Max
Discussion
As well as my desire to move my Civic on and get something new for myself, our family wagon is getting a bit long in the tooth with various niggly things starting to emerge.
It's a 2.5T S Max nearing 100k miles - it's been a great car but it's a) showing it's age now; and b) the petrol consumption is grim for a the use of the car.
We almost have our cars the wrong way round - I have the boring diesel hack for journeys I spend 99% of the time by myself; the wife has the sharp juicy turbo petrol engine to...ferry the kids around.
So criteria would be:
- big enough to ferry 3 children (including 3 high back boosters in the back - although theoretically our oldest boy could have a low-back booster)
- big enough to carry accompanying paraphernalia (youngest still in push chair etc)
- comfy and reliable
- reasonably low running costs (probably diesel or economical petrol)
- the wife "wants" an SUV....
- up to £10k
The obvious choice is to replace it with another S Max in diesel or EcoBoost flavour. Other thoughts:
- Santa Fe
- CRV
- Lexus RX (big enough inside?)
It's a 2.5T S Max nearing 100k miles - it's been a great car but it's a) showing it's age now; and b) the petrol consumption is grim for a the use of the car.
We almost have our cars the wrong way round - I have the boring diesel hack for journeys I spend 99% of the time by myself; the wife has the sharp juicy turbo petrol engine to...ferry the kids around.
So criteria would be:
- big enough to ferry 3 children (including 3 high back boosters in the back - although theoretically our oldest boy could have a low-back booster)
- big enough to carry accompanying paraphernalia (youngest still in push chair etc)
- comfy and reliable
- reasonably low running costs (probably diesel or economical petrol)
- the wife "wants" an SUV....
- up to £10k
The obvious choice is to replace it with another S Max in diesel or EcoBoost flavour. Other thoughts:
- Santa Fe
- CRV
- Lexus RX (big enough inside?)
The reality is that the Ecoboost isn't that much better on fuel so you could stick & treat you current car to some TLC, if you're doing lots of short journeys a diesel may not be the best choice.
In terms of space to match your S Max you'll need a full size SUV which doesn't equate to low running costs.
In terms of space to match your S Max you'll need a full size SUV which doesn't equate to low running costs.
ZX10R NIN said:
The reality is that the Ecoboost isn't that much better on fuel so you could stick & treat you current car to some TLC, if you're doing lots of short journeys a diesel may not be the best choice.
In terms of space to match your S Max you'll need a full size SUV which doesn't equate to low running costs.
All good points, however as well as the standard round town ferrying of kids etc, we do make frequent longer journeys to friends in London, Dorset and Banbury, as well as the annual summer holiday which is typically long-distance UK or France.In terms of space to match your S Max you'll need a full size SUV which doesn't equate to low running costs.
Hence why diesel might be the better balance. I know the issues surrounding short journeys in diesels but in fairness to my Honda, it has been used in that way for 6 years in my ownership and touch wood I have never had an issue with the engine itself.
Have similar issues myself! VERY limited choice for family of 5 (with car seats) unfortunately.
I have tried to persuade the Mrs about using a normal booster to open up some more options but to no avail.
I currently have a VW T5.1 professionally converted camper with 6 seats (albeit in reality a 5 + 1 emergency with the front bench seat).
It does the family duties well and still 'cool' but I do hanker after something better to drive.
If you are looking at the cheaper end for the wife, my wife has a Grand C max. Ex mobility car and we got it at 3 years old with 8k miles for £10k. Not as big as Smax though so you may miss the room.
I have tried to persuade the Mrs about using a normal booster to open up some more options but to no avail.
I currently have a VW T5.1 professionally converted camper with 6 seats (albeit in reality a 5 + 1 emergency with the front bench seat).
It does the family duties well and still 'cool' but I do hanker after something better to drive.
If you are looking at the cheaper end for the wife, my wife has a Grand C max. Ex mobility car and we got it at 3 years old with 8k miles for £10k. Not as big as Smax though so you may miss the room.
Legend83 said:
All good points, however as well as the standard round town ferrying of kids etc, we do make frequent longer journeys to friends in London, Dorset and Banbury, as well as the annual summer holiday which is typically long-distance UK or France.
Hence why diesel might be the better balance. I know the issues surrounding short journeys in diesels but in fairness to my Honda, it has been used in that way for 6 years in my ownership and touch wood I have never had an issue with the engine itself.
Well in that case take a look at the 2.2d S Max it'll tick the boxes in terms of space & better economy, as well as having a similar amount of shove around town.Hence why diesel might be the better balance. I know the issues surrounding short journeys in diesels but in fairness to my Honda, it has been used in that way for 6 years in my ownership and touch wood I have never had an issue with the engine itself.
Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Titanium X Sport (try to get the later 200bhp model if you can as it has a bit more torque)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I replaced an ageing ford galaxy with a Merc E350cdi estate with 2 seats in the boot.
Works well so far but you certainly don't get as much room or flexibility as the galaxy but then I'm in it on my own a lot of the time, and it's sublime.
Works well so far but you certainly don't get as much room or flexibility as the galaxy but then I'm in it on my own a lot of the time, and it's sublime.
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 26th February 17:25
Replace your ageing S Max for another S Max! Simply the best family lugger in the business and a nice drive too as you well know. My view would be to stretch to the 240 bhp (ie c 2011) Ecoboost Petrol Titanium X Sport facelift (standard powershift box) with all the toys. It's not as frugal as the diesel but it's a lovely engine, very flexible and is likely to give you less grief. The whole package is so well thought out.
I had 3 full sized seats in side by side in mine and I found nothing else on the market that could do that (except perhaps the Discovery but I didn't want one of those). The new shape Santa Fe was no where near wide enough, the last shape XC90 was like driving something from the neolithic period and the X5 wasn't wide enough either and would have been 5 years older for the same money.
When I eventually got shot of my 2010 TItanium X Sport I replaced it with.....a new shape 2016 Titanium Sport X Pack which is even better. I'm struggling to think of a better family car.
I had 3 full sized seats in side by side in mine and I found nothing else on the market that could do that (except perhaps the Discovery but I didn't want one of those). The new shape Santa Fe was no where near wide enough, the last shape XC90 was like driving something from the neolithic period and the X5 wasn't wide enough either and would have been 5 years older for the same money.
When I eventually got shot of my 2010 TItanium X Sport I replaced it with.....a new shape 2016 Titanium Sport X Pack which is even better. I'm struggling to think of a better family car.
Dapster said:
Replace your ageing S Max for another S Max! Simply the best family lugger in the business and a nice drive too as you well know. My view would be to stretch to the 240 bhp (ie c 2011) Ecoboost Petrol Titanium X Sport facelift (standard powershift box) with all the toys. It's not as frugal as the diesel but it's a lovely engine, very flexible and is likely to give you less grief. The whole package is so well thought out.
I had 3 full sized seats in side by side in mine and I found nothing else on the market that could do that (except perhaps the Discovery but I didn't want one of those). The new shape Santa Fe was no where near wide enough, the last shape XC90 was like driving something from the neolithic period and the X5 wasn't wide enough either and would have been 5 years older for the same money.
When I eventually got shot of my 2010 TItanium X Sport I replaced it with.....a new shape 2016 Titanium Sport X Pack which is even better. I'm struggling to think of a better family car.
Cheers Dapster, good advice. I may check out the old shape Santa Fe in Premium spec and see if we can fit 3 across the back as my wife did like them when we tested one back when we only had 2 kids...I had 3 full sized seats in side by side in mine and I found nothing else on the market that could do that (except perhaps the Discovery but I didn't want one of those). The new shape Santa Fe was no where near wide enough, the last shape XC90 was like driving something from the neolithic period and the X5 wasn't wide enough either and would have been 5 years older for the same money.
When I eventually got shot of my 2010 TItanium X Sport I replaced it with.....a new shape 2016 Titanium Sport X Pack which is even better. I'm struggling to think of a better family car.
My biggest challenge is my wife wanting an SUV/4x4 for no discernible reason other than she wants one!
OP what was your full economy like in the 2.5T?
I've just bought a 57 plate S-Max 2.5T Titanium X but haven't really driven it much yet. Its a second car for lugging the family about so it won't get too much use but I'm curious as to what its like on a long run on the motorway and chugging around town etc?
Glad to hear there's so much love out there for the S-Max, and residuals look strong for the 2.5T based on what I paid and other advertised cars. Seems they're in high demand.
Thanks
I've just bought a 57 plate S-Max 2.5T Titanium X but haven't really driven it much yet. Its a second car for lugging the family about so it won't get too much use but I'm curious as to what its like on a long run on the motorway and chugging around town etc?
Glad to hear there's so much love out there for the S-Max, and residuals look strong for the 2.5T based on what I paid and other advertised cars. Seems they're in high demand.
Thanks
paps said:
OP what was your full economy like in the 2.5T?
I've just bought a 57 plate S-Max 2.5T Titanium X but haven't really driven it much yet. Its a second car for lugging the family about so it won't get too much use but I'm curious as to what its like on a long run on the motorway and chugging around town etc?
Glad to hear there's so much love out there for the S-Max, and residuals look strong for the 2.5T based on what I paid and other advertised cars. Seems they're in high demand.
Thanks
Hi Paps, my OBC says 24.3 mpg....but how reliable a figure that is I'm not sure. It's pretty terrible but then it used more for the chugging around town and sitting in traffic commuting in the morning for my wife.I've just bought a 57 plate S-Max 2.5T Titanium X but haven't really driven it much yet. Its a second car for lugging the family about so it won't get too much use but I'm curious as to what its like on a long run on the motorway and chugging around town etc?
Glad to hear there's so much love out there for the S-Max, and residuals look strong for the 2.5T based on what I paid and other advertised cars. Seems they're in high demand.
Thanks
On a single trip run down to Dorset on the motorway we saw 35.1....
It's a thirsty beast but then I remember I paid just shy of £8k for it 3 years ago - it's a lot of car for the money!
Legend83 said:
Nice! Mine is 56 plate on 85k - assumed it would be pretty worthless.
Enjoy!
I think you may be pleasantly surprised, the seller of my car said she had a lot calls specifically because it's the 2.5T (could have been just a bargaining ploy on her part but all the 2.5T I've seen are up around £6.5k).Enjoy!
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