Which big tow car to go for on moving?
We are moving from the UK to Ireland soon and are gobsmacked (for the want of of a better word) to find that our two trusty vehicles, the 2005 Chrysler Grand Voyager (diesel) and 2005 Mercdes C-Class Elegance (petrol) are going to cost in excess of €6,000 jointly to tax! The cars are not even worth a fraction of that, so we sadly have to replace them (in this throw-away world we have always been proud to keep our vehicles beyond their life expectancies).
So, what car can you recommend for a family of six, that would be able to tow a horse box, but would be the cheapest to tax as we relocate to the Emerald Isle?
Jo Sheedy
Surrey, UK
Joanna Sheedy (Epsom)Jun 2020 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Joanne,
If it’s just the one car you want, then I think your best bet would be a Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or possibly a SEAT Alhambra. All three cars do all the important family hauling work really well, and the two Fords will tow a maximum 2,000kg load, while the Alhambra can haul as much as 2,400kg.
If you want to go down the two-car route, then maybe go for a Mercedes E-Class Estate, with the fold-down seats in the boot, as the family machine and a Volkswagen Amarok pickup (the early model with the 2.0-litre turbo engine so as to keep the tax costs down) as the tow-car. It can haul a whopping 3,500kg, but is also comfy and refined enough to be a daily driver.
Read our Mercedes E-Class reviews
Ford Galaxy or Hyundai Santa Fe?
Ford Galaxy or Hyundai Santa Fe? I have not been able to do test drives yet, but would appreciate your view as well. I need something to drive in the city as well as for family trips (kids are 4, 10, 12 and 14). I know kids would be happiest with a V-Class, but I need something for daily commute as well. Am trying to find the right type of car. SUVs are not large enough, MPVs seem a bit big and not as fun to drive (or perhaps not), while vans are only suitable for longer trips, I think.
Thank you.
Emir Cehajic (Sarajevo)May 2020 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Emir,
You’re quite right — with kids of those ages, most seven-seat SUVs simply aren’t roomy enough, unless you go for something genuinely massive and expensive, such as a Land Rover Discovery. So, I’d say the Ford Galaxy is indeed your best choice — lots of space, seven proper seats for seven proper people and it's good to drive too. Other options well worth looking at are the VW Sharan and SEAT Alhambra, and — if you can afford the running costs — the old Mercedes R-Class.
How much to register imported Ford Galaxy?
If I was to import a car from the UK and it was a 2007 Ford Galaxy with the OMSP of €2,928 with mileage of 72,360 leading to a rate of VRT at 28% making that VRT payable at €819, how would I go about finding the total cost of registering the vehicle in Ireland?
David Murphy (Dublin)Jul 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi David,
Well, basically you take that VRT cost of €819 and add it to the money you’ve actually paid for the Galaxy, converted into Euro. On top of that, there’s the NCTS fee for having the vehicle inspected (€55), the cost of a year’s motor tax (that will depend on the engine that’s in the car) and the cost of getting new number plates made up and fitted (shouldn’t be more than €30 or thereabouts).
Which new seven-seat MPVs would you go for?
I currently have a Ford Galaxy and looking to get a new/nearly new seven-seater. Have you done a review on seven-seaters? What would you recommend?
Luke Tyrrell (Dublin)Jan 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Luke,
We certainly have done a few reviews... The closest cars to your Galaxy in terms of size and space are the Ford S-Max (a little smaller, but still very roomy) and the SEAT Alhambra (not as swish to drive as the Galaxy, but very spacious and with sliding side doors). There's also the Volkswagen Sharan, which is basically identical to the Alhambra, but a little more expensive. It wasn't on sale in Ireland for a while but it's back now and there are a few second hand ones knocking about.
If you fancy something a little smaller, then try the Opel Zafira Tourer. It's a really underrated car - nice to drive, well made and with decent cabin space.
After that, you're into the smaller MPVs such as the Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens and so on. Good cars, but much smaller than your Galaxy so you'd be trading down in size terms.
With our practical hats on, we'd go for the SEAT - it's big and useful and those sliding side doors are great.
Here are the reviews themselves if you'd like more detail:
A few others worth considering as well:
What's the value of a 2008 Ford Galaxy?
Hi,
Can you tell me what the market value of a 2008 Ford Galaxy 1.8 is for benefit in kind purposes?
Marie Doody (Kilkenny)Aug 2016 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Marie,
At current values it should be worth in the region of €8-9,000.
What SUVs have three Isofix seats?
What SUVs have three Isofix seats in the middle row? Thinking of putting two Maxi Cosi seats in middle and putting buggy in one seat's position if it's down, as I need the back two seats for children ages five and three. Most SUVs won't take buggy in boot space with seven seats in use. Is this idea viable or a non-runner?
Jim Donovan (Mallow)Jun 2016 Filed under: child or baby seats
Expert answer
Hi Jim,
I think unless you’re going to go for a full-size SUV, such as a Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90, you’re going to struggle to find an SUV with three Isofix points in the back. Even the family-friendly Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe only have two outer seat Isofix mounts in the middle row. I’d suggest having a look at the Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or a SEAT Alhambra. These would seem to be the only cars that have the necessary Isofix points and the boot volume you’re looking for.
What's the Ford Galaxy 1.6 TDCi like?
What is the 2012 Ford Galaxy Zetec 1.6 TDCi like? Is the engine strong enough?
Gerry
Gerry Lee (Sligo)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Gerry,
It's fine, and is good for motorway or city work, but if you habitually carry a full load of people or cargo and need a bit more oomph for overtaking then consider an upgrade to the 2.0 TDCi.
Ford Galaxy or Citroen Grand Picasso?
Which is a better seven-seater: Ford Galaxy or Citroen Grand Picasso?
Daniel Lenihan (Limerick)Nov 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Daniel,
Two very different cars there. The Galaxy is bigger and has seating for full-sized adults in all three rows. The Citroen is considerably smaller and, realistically, you're only going to be able to fit kids, and not very tall ones, into the third row seats. The Citroen will be considerably cheaper to buy and run than the Galaxy, however.
How much to tax a 2006 Ford Galaxy diesel?
How much is road tax on a 2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi diesel?
John T Jamieson (Kilmarnock)Sep 2015 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi John,
The 2006 model is taxed according to engine size, and it fits into the '1,901- to 2,000cc' band, which costs €710 per year.
When does the new Ford Galaxy arrive?
When is the all new Ford Galaxy going to be released?
Frank Treacy (Limerick)Jun 2015 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Frank,
It just so happens that we will have a first drive of the new Galaxy on the site in the next few days. Prices start at €38,760 and it'll arrive later this year in Ford showrooms.