Large car (Touran, Galaxy, C4 Space Tourer)

[casualdriver]

Hi,
I do like camping etc and thinking about getting a bigger car. For next 5 years or so. I went to Cargiant yesterday and I am not impressed. My limit is 13k. I need an ULEZ car - live to close to London and I am there at least once a week....
Now, I might be paranoid but I am bit picky about certain engines. I am afraid of 1.2 Puretech (Citroen), apparently problems with wet cambelt, 1.5 HDI - problem with 7mm chain .
Those are cars I would consider:
https://www.cargiant.co.uk/car/Citroen/C4-Grand-Pi... - relatively cheap and I know 1.6 HDI is quite solid, I am not too fussy about 80k milage as I know they could be going to 150k without bigger issues.
https://www.cargiant.co.uk/car/Volkswagen/Touran/B... - I think 1.6 TDI is solid as well.

Or other direction:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502249... - and just sort it out. I can do some things in cars (eg. I have resoldered dashboard connector in my Focus - same dashboard as here), and in general, I am used to running older cars - not many issues really. I am bit reluctant of 1.6 turbo, but at that price I would be OK with paying 2-3k to have the car sorted for several years.

Or just I should stop being paranoid by horror stories as there is so many of modern cars around?

The thing is my 2010 Focus is very trusty, its just too small but as you see I am bit reluctant due to 'modern technology'. Whyyyy there are no simple, solid engines anymore....

[blue_haddock]

The VW 1.6 isnt particularly great - injectors are pretty much a consumable on them and its easily £500 bill for each injector.

[casualdriver]

Thanks. And this one?
https://www.cargiant.co.uk/car/Ford/S-Max/YR18LTU

[blue_haddock]

casualdriver said:

Thanks. And this one?
https://www.cargiant.co.uk/car/Ford/S-Max/YR18LTU

The engine in that one is fine enough and as long as you stick to manual the gearboxes are ok. Ford powershift boxes are dreadful though and are known as powersh!te in the trade.

[HughG]

Worth considering something with the VAG 2.0TDi 150 engine, either a Seat Alhambra or Skoda Superb Estate?

[casualdriver]

HughG said:

Worth considering something with the VAG 2.0TDi 150 engine, either a Seat Alhambra or Skoda Superb Estate?

Are DSG gearboxes reliable past magic 100k? Or if not, what are the costs of fixing typical issues?

[blue_haddock]

casualdriver said:

HughG said:

Worth considering something with the VAG 2.0TDi 150 engine, either a Seat Alhambra or Skoda Superb Estate?

Are DSG gearboxes reliable past magic 100k? Or if not, what are the costs of fixing typical issues?

I did 90k+ in a 2020 VW caddy maxi life 2.0 TDI and the gearbox didnt put a foot wrong, it just needs a gearbox oil and filter change every 40k

I've now got a 2015 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi DSG and that works perfectly although is due a gearbox service as i dont know when it was last done

[Gas1883]

Brother had a touran as a mobility car , I drove it a lot and really liked it , it’s a fair while ago but I think it was 7 seats , but could be wrong , drove nice
His daughter brought one and has never mentioned any issues with it .

[Skodillac]

How's about an Approved Used Toyota from a main dealer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503120...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501087...

Skoda Octavia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501218...

FIAT Tipo estate (bet you didn't think £13k would stretch to a 2021 car with 15k miles on the clock):

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502219...

Edited by Skodillac on Wednesday 19th March 16:32

[ZX10R NIN]

Hyundai i800:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411256...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502279...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502209...

[edc]

Do you need the 7 seats capacity and 3 individual rear seats? These can be important with young kids but you may be better off with a different car if your use is a couple of people for camping, biking etc. I have a 1.6 diesel C4 Grand Picasso but perhaps a 1.4/1.5 petrol Touran would be a better bet.

[casualdriver]

Thanks for suggestions. What do you think about 1.4 TSI?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502219... - slightly below market average though. And 99k.

[was8v]

I have a 13 plate galaxy 2.0 tdci powershift and love it

It handles outrageously well for the size of it

The engine has plenty of poke

The powershift is a fab gearbox, fast changes suits the car perfectly

They have a bad rep as every 20k couple of years they need a very expensive gearbox service with oil that costs more than liquid gold which nobody does, so they fail expensively. Like all of them because nobody thinks to service the gearbox, Same box fitted to Volvos but Volvo owners service theirs so never have a problem.

Get one with freshly reputably rebuilt box or evidence of regular service going back to day one.

[ZX10R NIN]

casualdriver said:

Thanks for suggestions. What do you think about 1.4 TSI?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502219... - slightly below market average though. And 99k.

That'll be working hard in that car.

[Skodillac]

ZX10R NIN said:

casualdriver said:

Thanks for suggestions. What do you think about 1.4 TSI?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502219... - slightly below market average though. And 99k.

That'll be working hard in that car.

I wouldn't be so sure. I have the similarly powered 1.5 TSI in a Skoda Superb, another big heavy car. It bowls along very nicely indeed, in an enormously dignified manner. I tried the 2.0 before buying, and it really wasn't worth the increased running costs as it was barely noticeably different in day to day driving over the 1.5.

[occasionalranter]

The Touran has an impressive amount of interior space for its footprint on the road. Great for camping, tip runs, etc. If it's a 7 seater, the 3rd row is a real squeeze but ok for kids, or adults in a pinch. I loved ours, no that's a lie, it was incredibly boring and sensible and I liked it for that. We've also had S-Max, Sharan, which I also liked but the Touran was lighter and more compact on the outside.

1.4/1.5 140/150ps petrol engines easily up to the task in that vehicle. Touran is light on the front though, and that engine with DSG box is prone to being a bit bipolar: turning out of junctions in the wet tends to provoke wheelspin very easily.

[casualdriver]

In the end I went for Toyota Verso 1.6. It drinks a lot it could have a little bit more space (I am planning to remove 3rd row of seats). But I know lot of happy Toyota owners and with garage prices being up the roof I feel happy with it. Being 6'1'' I can lie down in the back, put a lot of things to the boot - which is much smaller than Galaxy, but its almost half of price!