DO NOT BUY A GALAXY (Ford Galaxy LX in general)

Member Name: slinkpink

Product:	Ford Galaxy LX in general
Date:	29/12/00 (339 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Carries 6/7 people

Disadvantages: Poor finish and service

Bought a GLX TDi in 1996 and it has not been a happy experience.

Had serious break problems from day one, with TWO official recalls. After 60,000 mile service at Ford Main Dealer, the same dealer did the MOT at 61,500 and failed it for catastrophic break problems. Took them 2 weeeks to sort this lot out at their expense - they replaced the entire breaking system. Beaks also pulling to one side constantly and tracking kept going out of line so the tyre got ruined.

Air conditioning blew up during a heatwave in France and need replaced. It has been problematic ever since and gives off a nasty odour.

Door handles jammed in the open position due to problems with central locking, and I mean all four doors at the same time. Other times the doors jammed open with the windows automatically opening for good measure.

Drivers seat gets stuck in one position and cannot be moved - happened 4 times.

Interior trim is very poor - plastic trays constantly fall off the back of the seats, cup holders break very easily - speaker covers have shattered when doors are closed and childs knees hit them.

Interior lights on sun visors would not turn off - this happened when I was working away and my wife did not notice until the sun visor began to melt with the heat.

Ford dealers were absolutely hopeless and every service bar the 1000 mile one was problematic. Jobs not done correctly, parts not available, no courtesy cars available, failure to pick up car from home and return it, and so on.

In late November my wife and daughter were involved in a major accident - when about to make a right turn into the estate where we live a large truck decided to overtake them and ripped the car open from back to front down the drivers side.

Thankfully they both walked away unharmed and the Galaxy - a total write off (problems with insurance claim is another tail of anguish and frustration.

Currently driving the latest
VW Sharan at the insurance companies expense and there is simply no comparison - it looks and feels a far better car than the Ford, although I haven't, and more to the point will not, look at the latest Galaxy.

As we need an MPV to get the family around the SEAT Alhambra 1.9 TDi PD SE looks the best bet, especially when you can get it for under 20,000 new.

Summary: