Decisions decisions

[dreddfan]

Ok the time has come to change the car due to increased family size so it's a regretful goodbye to my reliable A4 B5 and a giant leap into the world of MPVs.

I want to stay in the VAG world so it's the Alhambra or the Sharan. Both good cars with an engine that is well known to me at this stage but I'm wondering if anyone has any recomendations of models and versions to avoid and why.

We've also been looking at the Ford Galaxy which has the same engine.

Any thoughts??

[Dieseldoos]

My brother in law was in a similar position to you, and ended up selling his A5 and getting a 2010 Ford Galaxy.

Its not a bad car and to date, (over a year-and hes not one to really look after a car like me!) the only issue he has had is following a flat battery, the stereo is asking for the code (which is not in the book where it should be!) and he wont pay ford £80 to re-issue it lol!

[Lukenkarl]

Ok the time has come to change the car due to increased family size so it's a regretful goodbye to my reliable A4 B5 and a giant leap into the world of MPVs.

I want to stay in the VAG world so it's the Alhambra or the Sharan. Both good cars with an engine that is well known to me at this stage but I'm wondering if anyone has any recomendations of models and versions to avoid and why.

We've also been looking at the Ford Galaxy which has the same engine.

Any thoughts??

Had a 2005 Sharan 1.9 with PD engine. Good reliable and had no issues at all in the 4 years I owned it. Can't say anything about Seat or Ford but would imagine Ford build quality may not be as good as VW. It had done 63,000miles when I traded it in for the A6

[towcestervag]

galaxy/alambra and sharan were all built on the same production line
the only differences were trims
the one to get is the 1.9pd engine preferably the 130bhp
i look after several and as a whole they are not a bad car
they suffer from track rod ends/strut top mounts anti roll bar drop links dualmass flywheels
early ones get rusty at front jacking point
outer and inner cv boots do split

[Doctle Odd]

All pretty much the same but I'd think the Ford badge would put some people off when selling again, on the other hand they should be a bit cheaper to buy....

[zollaf]

i had a 53 plate sharan 130 pd working for vw assist. i had it for 4 months and 20k miles. in that time it needed only rear pads and 3 sets of front tyres. 10 years on and they seem to age well, but watch for chassis rust.

[dreddfan]

Well I bit the bullet and put a deposit on an 06 sharan.
It's the 90BHp ANU engine (which will be chipped in a few months when funds allow)
Drives very well, had a full service inc gearbox linkages and all new breaks so I'm happy. I've to NCT my A4 for trade in but it was due so I would have had to do that anyway.
It's missing the spare wheel carrier assembly but I'll pick that up at a scrappy hopefully.
All in all it seems like a good buy and at least all the kids (3 of them) will have their own seat and be a lot safer in the back. I never liked the oldest lad having a lap belt.