I notice Boxterboy has become another S-Max owner. Anyone else?
Which model is yours BB and what kit do you have on it?
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Yes, picked it up just yesterday.
It's a 9 month/5.5k old 2.0 TDCI 163 Powershift (twin clutch) Titanium X-pack with quite a few goodies (turns out it was used in Ford's press photos at launch). Apart from the X-pack (xenons, panoramic roof, 18" alloys, alcantara seats) it's also got DVD navigation, DVD player with screens in the front headrests, keyless-entry, adaptive cruise control radar, tyre pressure monitors. (Just more to go wrong, I hear you all say ...). I'm still firmly in 'RTFM mode' at the moment.
When I started looking for a 7-seater, I said to myself I'm not going to buy anything which doesn't have a spare wheel, but I also wanted better economy than the Merc it replaced. These requirements limited my choice somewhat including ruling out all 4x4s (not that I ever wanted 4x4, but a lot of 7-seaters happened to be 4x4 - Disco, XC90, etc.).
The choice boiled down to an S-Max/Galaxy, new Sharan (too new and expensive and still no spare) or a Peugeot 5008 (a bit too small). The Sharan felt very big on a test drive, didn't drive a 5008 (but have driven a Grand Picasso on which it was based) whereas the S-Max felt just great. The kids have given it the thumbs up due to the much increased space in the rear seat ove rthe E-class (and possibly the DVD screens might have something to do with it ...)
The S-Max was big enough (compared to a Galaxy) and drove so well that I have resigned myself to fitting Puncture Seal to the tyres and getting a Mondeo space-saver for those longer trips. It's interesting to see that a space-saver is an option on the new C-Max ...
Penty of room in the boot for the surveying ladder and toolbox, and less 'showy' than a Mercedes when it comes to meeting clients. Are you happy with yours Espada?
Last edited by: Boxsterboy on Tue 1 Feb 11 at 15:56
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...and getting a Mondeo space-saver for those longer trips...
Boxterboy,
Well-researched, if I may say so.
I didn't realise until a few months ago all Ford five-stud alloy wheels are interchangeable.
I was burbling on to a tyre fitter about how the CC3 didn't have a spare, not even a spacesaver, when he told me to flag down a passing Mondeo driver and ask to borrow his.
I'm told it matters not the size of the wheel, because they all have the same overall circumference - the larger diameter wheels have lower profile tyres to compensate.
You will need a jack and a wheelbrace, of course. I bought an extendable breaker bar type from Halfords for about a tenner.
Best to check if you have the right alloy wheel locking nut key, in a lot of Fords it's in a recess under the boot floor.
Good luck with the car - an S-Max with lots of toys sounds like a smashing piece of kit.
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>> I didn't realise until a few months ago all Ford five-stud alloy wheels are interchangeable.
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Hmm, the hole spacing might be though I really doubt, say, Focus 15" wheels would fit over the brakes on my Focus ST.
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...Hmm, the hole spacing might be though I really doubt, say, Focus 15" wheels would fit over the brakes on my Focus ST...
Smallest wheel on the 2010 Focus is a 16" steel which is standard on the lowest-spec Style model.
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BB
I am very happy with my S-Max. It sounds like you bought the facelift version of my car. I have the 140bhp with a 6-speed slushbox but its fine and fast enough generally. I would love to get my hands on the new 2.2 202bhp with Powershift though!
I have all the toys bar DVD screens, keyless-entry and adaptive cruise. I have full leather and the body kit though and seats that are electric with four memories, heaters and fans to cool you down in the summer - they really work. The DVD Sat-Nav is a bit sluggish compared to my old Outback, but a guy on the S-Max owners club forum told me it was down to real time traffic info being downloaded.
As you may recall I had a slight diversion via an XC90, but after three months saw sense and the kids are happy. Espadrille finds it a bit heavy to drive, but I like the slightly heavier more positive steering. Like you, its a good surveyor's car (although I don't have a ladder) but my box of tricks fits neatly behind a back row seat that is permanently up (the other is always down unless needed). Clients appreciate a nice but non flashy car.
What sort of surveying do you do?
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>> I would love to get my hands on the new 2.2 202bhp
>> with Powershift though!
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They're not stupid, these manufacturers, are they? Always dangling more carrots to get us to part with our hard-earned.
>> What sort of surveying do you do?
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Residential. Block management related repairs (others in my company do the day-to-day stuff), refurbishment of other investment properties, leasehold enfranchisement, some structural and homebuyers, but absolutely no mortgage valuations. And you?
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They used to do a 5 seater S-Max. That appeals to me. I don't need the 7 seats but I do appreciate a big boot. I seem to recall it had a slidey outy platform thing to aid loading. Also you could bolt special bike racks to the slidey outy thing I think. Might be wrong.
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No, Humph, you're not a meringue - or however that old cake shop joke goes. There was an option exactly as you describe when we were considering the S-Max. I've no idea if they sold many like that; I'd have thought they'd be hard to sell on compared with the 7-seater. As I recall the folded third-row seats take about 100mm of load height compared with the slider-outer.
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I do commercial valuations for the large banks and also some expert witness valuations.
I am the senior partner so I have an assistant who also does valuations and a partner who does a mix of property management and valuation. I spend the rest of my time doing company administration and monitoring our commercial property management department (which takes a lot of time). Life is always interesting!
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>> I do commercial valuations for the large banks >>
One of my brothers does that for Drivers Jonas in the West End.
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I suspect his valuations are larger than mine then!
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It's not the size it's the quality ...
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Ford S-MAX - Who has one? - Boxsterboy
