What they said when new (2000)
“Entering its fifth year as undisputed king of the UK people carriers, there was never going to be a danger of Ford letting sleeping dogs lie.
With just a fiver change from twenty grand the 2.3 Zetec is hardly cheap. But it has a definite quality feel and is sharper, more spacious and has re-tuned suspension.”
What’s it like to live with?
The Galaxy takes the stress out of family life, acting as a versatile tool that this inexpensive to keep on the road. Most services should cost less than £200.
The children all have their own seats, so squabbling is minimized. There are seat back tables for the occasional Happy Meal treat.
The seating plan and boot space is very flexible. The back two rows of seats can be removed completely. They can also be folded flat and the front seats both recline and swivel.
The driving experience is car-like. Little roll, plus flexible and refined engines make long journeys a pleasure. The steeply raked bonnet and vehicle size make it a little difficult to park, but no more than any of the competitors.
Standard kit includes twin airbags, ABS, immobiliser, air-con, front electric windows, remote central locking, CD player plus front and rear parking distance sensors. There are also two power points in the back.
Which one to buy?
While Ford offered many specifications, buying patterns mean that on the used market, there are only four main choices. 1.9 diesels and 2.3 petrols both in Zetec or Ghia trim. The petrols only achieve 28 mpg, so most people have gone for the diesels which can achieve 44 mpg.
Sadly most people will have to buy a diesel as there are so few petrols in the market. The diesels give much better MPG, saving the average family £200 a year. The depreciation is also lower (by up to £1,000 some years). But the average mileage is so much higher that a break down is more likely. If you can find a petrol , you get a lot more for your money and the extra fuel is negligible on low mileage.
What’s the market like?
With a budget of £5,000 you can buy a 2003-registered 1.9 TDI or the petrol 2.3 Zetec. While they are the same price, buyers must be aware that a clean diesel model at an independent specialist should have around 75,000 miles if a diesel but only 50,000 miles if a petrol.
Families with more to spend can look in main dealers for 2006 year diesels with 33,000 miles for around £9,000 and petrols with 23,000 miles for around £8,000.
3 key checks to make before buying:
Rear lights
Check that the rear lights work. If the lights are faulty, the electric wires in the trunking (plastic pipes) that runs from the car to the tailgate have usually broken and need to be replaced. Negotiate a £50 discount.
Cam belt
Check the paperwork to see if there is a record of the cam belt being changed at 65,000 miles on diesel engines. Petrol engines are chain driven so this is not an issue. If the cam belt has not been changed, and the mileage is over these boundaries the cam belt is likely to fail soon and will cause expensive damage to the engine. Ensure the cam belt is changed before driving the car. Also have the plastic-lined tensioner pulleys and tension spring changed at the same time or the new cam belt will fail early negating the effect of having it changed.
ECU
Turn the engine on and leave on idle. If the engine doesn't run smoothly (misfires) or won't start then there is most likely a problem with the ECU (Engine Control Unit). You need a new ECU. Negotiate a £530 discount or have the repair completed.
For the rest of the common faults to check, click here to register