Galaxy to Sharan

[Chrispb]

Well our MK3 Galaxy is nearing the end of it's Motability lease so it's time to order our new car, was hoping the new Galaxy for 2015 would have the rear sliding doors as this would help our situation with the loading of wife's mobility scooter.

The new VW Sharan has the sliding rear doors so we have just placed an order for the Sharan SE 2.0TDI 140ps with the DSG gearbox

Can't wait to compare to the Galaxy should be arriving in late January watch this space.

[blue metal]

enjoy it when you get it
does it have heated front window?
I found the galaxy better specced

Tony

[Chrispb]

Hi Tony
Not really something I had thought about as I must admit I hardly used it on the Galaxy.
Have just looked at the brochure and cannot see a reference to heated front screen at all only heated front washer jets.

Will enquire when I pop back to the dealer.

[blue metal]

I dont think vw do them
mine is 07
wondered if they had started doing
heated front windows now
I  get quite a bit of early am frost
being in Sunny Scotland and miss
the quick clearance

Tony

[gregers]

blimey chris has it been 3 years already,where does the time go?

[Chrispb]

Tell me about it, the dealers coming to pick it up next week for it's first MOT, it's driving better now has 31.000 on it, should be a good buy for someone.

[gregers]

when the better halfs smax went back it had about 23k on it,and the fuel economy was still dire.
her tiguan was better straight out of the box compared to her smax.

[insanitybeard]

I dont think vw do them
mine is 07
wondered if they had started doing
heated front windows now
I  get quite a bit of early am frost
being in Sunny Scotland and miss
the quick clearance

Tony

That surprises me that the Sharan's didn't/ don't have heated front windscreens, if anything I thought the VW's would have been better specced than the Fords!

[Mirez]

Don't forget that the heated screen is a Ford Patent - it's one of things they bought to the table during the original Gala-Shara-Bamma project - to use it outside of this venture would require a licence which is probably cost prohibitive to most manufacturers.

If you think about those that do (or have) used the technology - Aston Martin, Range Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Mazda - they've all been owned by Ford at some point (or still are). Its only a few like Subaru and MB that presumably have used a licence.

I suspect that when Ford pulled out of the project in 2006 there would have been something in place that meant VAG had to start paying a royalty for the use of it which is why it became very expensive to spec a heated screen on a new Shara-Bamma after that time.

[insanitybeard]

Ha, well I didn't know that! That's something I've learned today! 

[blue metal]

Thanks Mirez
I wondered if the licencing problem had been sorted
obviously not

Tony

[Chrispb]

Well had the new Sharan a week now and the first thing I have noticed is the ride comfort on rough roads it is much smoother, the galaxy was very twitchy on the back end on a rough surface.
The sliding doors certainly make it easier getting the scooter seat in and out, the front passenger seat is also more adjustable (goes up and down) like the drivers.
I was a bit apprehensive of the DSG box but it's a great drive, also has electric handbrake (small flipper switch) although I can see that being problematic perhaps it's much easier than that handle thing in the MK3 Galaxy
On a down side there is no voice control for using your mobile so you have to use the phone book using the steering wheel buttons apparently you only get voice control when a NAV unit is fitted doesn't say that in the handbook , annoying though when all the buttons are there.
And of course there's no heated front screen but it's got a Webasto (booster heater) same idea as the MK2's starts automatically when outside temp is below 5deg c it's now mounted behind the O/S foglight and the little exhaust stick out through the plastic covers underneath.

[attachimg=2]

The headlight bulbs (halogen) are really easy to change, just pull off the rubber cover, twist and pull, the bulb comes out in a plastic holder simple.

[attachimg=1]

You would have thought they learnt a lesson with the MK2 battery fuse box still no soldered joints

[attachimg=3]

[bigdave982]

Blimey Chris pulling it apart already

[Stumuzz]

I was wondering what the difference was between the two. shame about the heated front screen.

I've had two mk2 gals and a mk3 while i was on mobility a few yrs back before a back operation. i still prefer the mk2.

Stuart.

[Chrispb]

Agree even with the known common faults of the MK2 I still think it's a good car.