S Max or what other options?

FISHGUTS · 25 Jun 2015 at 18:21

I'm thinking of getting a Ford S Max 2.2TDCI Titanium X Sport.

I need 7 seats, although only for carting kids short distances occasionally.
I need Auto.
Budget is Max 22k. I'll buy from auction if possible.
Used S Max prices seem to be dropping now the new model is due. I'm wondering if they will drop some more over the coming months.
I'd consider a 4X4 although I don't need it.

What other choices are there in 7 seats?

Thanks in advance

FirebarUK · 25 Jun 2015 at 18:39

Mercedes E class with rear facing seats

unrealrocks · 25 Jun 2015 at 18:48

I wouldn't bother with the 2.2, I have driven both the 2.0 and 2.2 and neither were particularly different.

Personally in that category the S-Max is about as good as it gets, I certainly enjoyed the few times I have driven them far more than the equivalent Zafira!

FISHGUTS · 25 Jun 2015 at 18:58

What's the powershift like?
I've read about problems if they are not serviced properly?

iaind · 25 Jun 2015 at 18:59

How much Volvo XC90 can you get for the money?

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:03

Volvo XC90 would be my choice. I have one and they are superb. £22K would buy a nice one.

Citreon Grand Picasso
LR Discovery
Audi Q7
Ford Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharan
Minibus of some description

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:04

iaind said:
How much Volvo XC90 can you get for the money?

A lot.

Go for the D5 SE or R Design, both of which you should be able to get with Nav.

iaind · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:07

In which case that's my vote too. If I had 22k and the misfortune of needing 7 seats then that's what I'd go for. Possibly a Discovery

Or what's the R class like? A guy I work with who seems to have a new child with him every week looked at those and really rated them before his wife vitoed and he got the disco instead.

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:22

iaind said:
Or what's the R class like? A guy I work with who seems to have a new child with him every week looked at those and really rated them before his wife vitoed and he got the disco instead.

Underpowered in standard fare. A friend has one, but in most other aspects it is (apparently) nice. Very spacious inside and usual Mercedes level of refinement.

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:25

So something like this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506194461909 or this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505023130475 or this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506174388999

[TW]Fox · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:28

iaind said:
How much Volvo XC90 can you get for the money?

The model that came out in 2002... IMHO i cannot see how it makes sense to spend big money on these, they are fairly ancient now (Look at those links above, one of them appears to have a two line monochrome LCD as the primary interface in the car, its like going back in time!). The S-Max is getting on but looks like a spring chicken alongside the XC90!

IMHO the 7 seat E Class makes an interesting case for itself at this money.

rodenal · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:31

Be sure that you want /are happy with an S class type car.

No matter how many reports I read of how they have "really car like handling" its a short sharp bump back down to earth when you get in one and realise how much of a barge they still are.

It's still good for its type, but its type are terrible to drive.

Something like a big 7 seater E class would be an infinitely better thig to own if you don't regularly carry around many many children

iaind · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:32

Yeah I was just about to point out the age of the xc90. The 7 seater market isn't one I'm too familiar with but I know the XC is generally very well regarded so it's something I'd instinctively look at.

An estate with fold out seats in the boot would indeed be a good idea, especially if it's only occasional use - I didn't know the E class came with this as an option

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:34

[TW]Fox;28229511 said:
The model that came out in 2002... IMHO i cannot see how it makes sense to spend big money on these, they are fairly ancient now.

I can't argue that. Technology wise, there are more modern options. I am obviously biased, but I would just add that despite the age of the design, they are incredibly reliable, absolutely perfect for the OPs needs and wonderful to drive. They are also an incredibly safe place to put your little ones.

The S-Max is getting on but looks like a spring chicken alongside the XC90!

Forgive me for being a snob, but the Ford isn't in the same class regardless of age or technology. It's a small MPV, not a premium 4x4.

IMHO the 7 seat E Class makes an interesting case for itself at this money.

That's a good call IMHO. I was looking at some just the other day; a good alternative.

The Discovery is also worth considering, but technology wise it's also getting long in the tooth, it's a little too agricultural for my taste and reliability is a concern.

[TW]Fox · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:34

iaind said:
Yeah I was just about to point out the age of the xc90. The 7 seater market isn't one I'm too familiar with but I know the XC is generally very well regarded so it's something I'd instinctively look at.

When launched the XC90 was an excellent and revolutionary car but Volvo suffered with the whole Ford/sale thing which presumably starved them of development cash, ideally a new XC90 would have appeared after the standard 7ish year lifecycle in about 2009 but it didn't, they kept facelifting the old 2002 model for years and years and only now is a replacement finally on the horizon. I'd be surprised if the all-new XC90 wasn't a brilliant car.

iaind · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:36

Valid point, I retract my "reccomendation"... At 5-10k it seems they would be a good idea but at 22k there's probably better out there

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:37

[TW]Fox;28229511 said:
(Look at those links above, one of them appears to have a two line monochrome LCD as the primary interface in the car, its like going back in time!).

You don't need a fancy TFT to make a good car Mister! It's just a display and a car isn't crap if it doesn't have a 50 mode, colour changing display

George Hincapie · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:39

[TW]Fox;28229549 said:
When launched the XC90 was an excellent and revolutionary car but Volvo suffered with the whole Ford/sale thing which presumably starved them of development cash, ideally a new XC90 would have appeared after the standard 7ish year lifecycle in about 2009 but it didn't, they kept facelifting the old 2002 model for years and years and only now is a replacement finally on the horizon. I'd be surprised if the all-new XC90 wasn't a brilliant car.

The new XC90 has been released and the reviews are online to read. Generally very positive. The price has increased regrettably, but it has a lot of additional safety technology and the interior has definitely moved up a notch.

HEADRAT · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:50

Had a test drive in a new XC90, certainly a big step up from the old XC90.

That said while the new touch screen controls are nice and de-clutter the dash they are a complete pain to use, I'd much rather just have a "nob" for certain functions

Alibaba99 · 25 Jun 2015 at 21:31

George Hincapie said:
Forgive me for being a snob, but the Ford isn't in the same class regardless of age or technology. It's a small MPV, not a premium 4x4.

The Discovery is also worth considering, but technology wise it's also getting long in the tooth, it's a little too agricultural for my taste and reliability is a concern.

So a Discovery has old in the tooth technology which appears to be a problem for you but an XC90 which is also positively ancient (the platform it is based on came out in '98) with equally old technology isn't a problem.

The S-Max really does drive very well for what it is (it is after all a Mondeo underneath) and certainly is better than an XC90 from that point of view, helped by lugging substantially less weight around.