S-Max = Max Stupid
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Discussion

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

169 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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It was in 2017 that a routine visit to the hospital turned my world upside down when my wife was diagnosed with twins!

We already had 1 child, and the clobber that comes with keeping children meant that the lovely Volvo V50 family wagon we had needed to go.

It was replaced with a Citroen C4 Grande Picasso, in "Executive" spec, fitted with the hateful actuated auto manual gearbox. My wife can drive a proper manual car, but she suffers from "baby brain", so she drives automatic now.

Healthy children were delivered and the generic frog box Citroen has served its duties just fine. But boy is it a hateful thing to drive!

The little cherubs are now in need of the next size car seat up. And they won't fit across the back of the Citroen, they won't fit across the back of the Range Rover either.

THIS, and other threads seem to suggest the s-max as the only viable option.

A quick scout around suggests that I really do need the "Titanium" spec, and I could like the facelift version.

However... and... call me tight. BUT... 6k ish for a 10-year-old MPV with 100k on it? WTF!

And that's for a manual version, the powerst versions seem to cost even more.


I needed a drink... and after a Sunday afternoon bottle of wine purchased a non-runner from eBay. it's the right colour and spec, alas, it doesn't work. (How hard can it be?)


I am now arranging the collection. I will update with pictures if / when it arrives and if I survive my wife.

joropug

3,030 posts

217 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Isn't the new Dacia a 7 seater for £15000 brand new?

Could be a very viable, cheap to run alternative despite being more to buy.

Munter

31,331 posts

269 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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joropug said:
Isn't the new Dacia a 7 seater for £15000 brand new?

Could be a very viable, cheap to run alternative despite being more to buy.
I think the OP already blew is wad of cash on a broken S-Max. I can only imagine the financial ruin that awaits, and feel it might be worth us all pulling up comfy seats to watch...

ingenieur

4,643 posts

209 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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The wife keeps saying she wants another (we already have 2). I've already pointed out that our 5 bedroom house is the right size for 2 children and that the cars only have 2 full size seats in the back so the amount of upheaval required to accommodate another one is mad.

In the old days when I were growing up as one of three we used to roll about in the boot of the Volvo 240 estate without a care in the world but for some reason that's no longer acceptable. Each child has to be ratcheted down to their own plastic and polystyrene FIA approved child seat.

joropug

3,030 posts

217 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
Munter said:
I think the OP already blew is wad of cash on a broken S-Max. I can only imagine the financial ruin that awaits, and feel it might be worth us all pulling up comfy seats to watch...
Missed that bit. Brave.

si_xsi

1,315 posts

223 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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My brother ran one of these for 3 years with the 2.5T 5 cylinder from the ST,said it was the most reliable car he had owned so there might still be hope OP! It was as quick as my 08 Golf GTI at the time.


jamiem555

812 posts

239 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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My twins will be 8 this year. I’d love an S Max to replace the B Max we bought when they were 6 months old. Our big car is a Mk3 Focus ST and if we need to go anywhere I stick the 400l roof box on. Managed a weeks holiday in Ireland with that and all the gear when they were 5 months old!

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

169 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
joropug said:
Isn't the new Dacia a 7 seater for £15000 brand new?

Could be a very viable, cheap to run alternative despite being more to buy.
The number of seats isn't the issue, it is having the width to accommodate 3 kiddy chairs in a row.

phil y

567 posts

150 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Also, there's currently no auto option for the Jogger on Dacia.co.uk

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

169 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.




Carlososos

976 posts

124 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Prizam said:
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.



That doesn’t look to bad just needs a good going over. Big fords drive lovely when they work but none of them I’ve had before very rarely did. I had galaxy of the same vintage and it was a proper lemon although a very nice drive. Hateful thing. What’s wrong with this one?

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

169 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
Carlososos said:
That doesn’t look to bad just needs a good going over. Big fords drive lovely when they work but none of them I’ve had before very rarely did. I had galaxy of the same vintage and it was a proper lemon although a very nice drive. Hateful thing. What’s wrong with this one?
No idea. I have always had good luck with Ford.

the advert mentions a potential immobiliser issue. It's from a main dealer, trade in stock. Not sure if that's good because they won't have bothered with it, or bad because they won't have been able to get it going. Apparently "it ran when it came in".

ingenieur

4,643 posts

209 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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I'd say it's the sort of thing the main dealer doesn't have time for. So probably easy enough to sort depending on skillset.

James_33

671 posts

94 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Prizam said:
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.



Might just be me, but when i see it looking a state like this inside, i wonder what state was the previous owner allowing the rest of the car to get like?

Fastdruid

9,340 posts

180 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Have to say that if I'd sunk so low as to need an MPV the S-Max would be the pick of the bunch (2.5T and damn the fuel costs!)

Wouldn't risk one with the Powerst though. Utter lottery as to *when* (not if) they'll go bang.

If you must get one with the Powersts then ensure it has been serviced (every 37.5k) with documented history and there are *zero* drivetrain issues as they won't get better by themselves, any issue will get worse until it's expensive repair at best or new gearbox at worst.

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

169 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
ingenieur said:
I'd say it's the sort of thing the main dealer doesn't have time for. So probably easy enough to sort depending on skillset.
I like the optimism here!

Chris x

279 posts

216 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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This was on my watch list on eBay!

Nice and cheap if it turns out to be an immobiliser issue!

anonymous-user

82 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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James_33 said:
Prizam said:
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.



Might just be me, but when i see it looking a state like this inside, i wonder what state was the previous owner allowing the rest of the car to get like?
I take it you don't have kids or dogs then, collectively my lot can bugger a car interior within a few journeys. We both work as well so don't generally have the time or arsed to clean it out regularly. especially this time of year.

Fastdruid

9,340 posts

180 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Newarch said:
James_33 said:
Prizam said:
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.



Might just be me, but when i see it looking a state like this inside, i wonder what state was the previous owner allowing the rest of the car to get like?
I take it you don't have kids or dogs then, collectively my lot can bugger a car interior within a few journeys. We both work as well so don't generally have the time or arsed to clean it out regularly. especially this time of year.
We have both kids and a dog. Neither our cars look anything like that. Yeah sure the kids kick fk out of mine particularly and do their best to destroy it (and wipe mud everywhere) but there is no excuse for letting it get to that level of utter st-pit.

I could go take a picture of mine right now, I've not cleaned the inside since about October last year and it would look a million times better than that car which lets not forget has been prepared for sale by the previous owner!

James_33

671 posts

94 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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Newarch said:
James_33 said:
Prizam said:
A couple pictures, just to figure out what im letting my self in for.



Might just be me, but when i see it looking a state like this inside, i wonder what state was the previous owner allowing the rest of the car to get like?
I take it you don't have kids or dogs then, collectively my lot can bugger a car interior within a few journeys. We both work as well so don't generally have the time or arsed to clean it out regularly. especially this time of year.
I have 3 kids, work 12 hour days and like to look after things rather than let them turn into st tips.

Again maybe that's just me (I suspect not) but always surprises me when people also supply cars they are trying to sell with photos filthy inside as if it's meant to draw you in?