Ford S-MAX (2006 - 2014) 2.0 TDCi Titanium 5d (2007/57) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
That I hate 4WD but need space for kids, dogs and other family detritus
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
It's so boring I don't think anyone has noticed it
Would you buy this car again and why?
Not a chance and I find myself constantly considering alternative options, but I suspect the resale/trade-in will be abysmal
What are you likely to buy next?
I am considering or have considered: - Volvo XC90 or XC60 - yes I know they're 4WDs - Merc R Class - BMW 5 Series - Audi A6
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchise
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£14,000
When did you buy the car?
November 2008
Did you get a good deal and why?
Difficult to say - I always feel I am getting a rough deal and will haggle extensively. I don't think I got a great trade-in on my 03 BMW 530d estate
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Needed to carry an adult in the back alongside two child seats
What was the dealer like?
OK, not quite upto BMW or Audi standards, but the servicing is a lot cheaper - so I have no complaints
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Pretty poor really. The engine is gutless. The handling is just about OK but nothing more. The brakes are odd, there's about an inch of travel when nothing much happens then they snatch on pretty hard. This is ok when going at speed, but it makes driving smoothly at low speed harder than it should be. I find the car noisy and unrefined. The traction in even moderately slippery conditions is appalling. Twice in the summer it became stuck when the nearside front wheel was on the mud at the side of lanes. And in the current snowy conditions you can merrily drive along twirling the steering wheel from side to side while having no impact on the direction the car travels in. I have had to resort to using the handbrake to get the thing to turn on several occasions.
What's it like to park?
OK for a large car. Parking sensors at both ends take most of the stress (skill) out of it. The sensors also seem to look down so high curbs are recognized.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
A couple of times the car has warned of an engine fault and reduced to 'get-you-home' power. However on turning off and restarting this clears. The dealer wasn't able to to find anything wrong. Very slight hesitation from the fuel injection at times - even when on cruise control
What's most practical about your car?
The size
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Nothing much
