Flexifuel engines may be more friendly to the Irish environment but these days motorists are looking for more wallet-friendly buys writes Paddy Comyn
THERE COMES a point in a family's lifetime when their choice of car becomes more reflective of circumstance rather than real desire. A young couple may have enjoyed their early 20s driving impractical sports cars or small runabouts. Then they have their first child, and suddenly realise that nothing will ever be the same again.
This one little bundle of joy, packaged as Satan, consumes food, nappies and your social life as quickly as it drains your bank account. Your family saloon, which seemed enormous when it was in the showroom and was more than capable of swallowing your golf clubs, seems to have been shrunk in the wash when a kid comes along.
The boot belches under the strain of carry-cots, travel-bags and buggies. The rear bench seems to dissolve before your very eyes when you place a child seat in there.
Then a second and third child arrives, and provided this doesn't leave you bankrupt altogether, you soon realise that the standard family car just isn't going to cut it.
With a budget of €40,000, you don't have enough money to buy a Volvo XC90 with seven seats, and, if you have a pulse, the current crop of seven-seat SUVs don't do much for you. You want something that doesn't drive like a truck, but will still cope with all your new belongings - including the ones that need constant wiping.
Enter the full-sized MPV or people carrier - a right of passage vehicle for thousands of Irish families every year. Swallow your pride and buy one of these hopelessly uncool vehicles.
Although thankfully the pain and resignation may not be all that necessary. The Ford Galaxy may be the answer to your prayers.
The Galaxy has been around since 1995 and since 2006 the second-generation model has been on sale on Irish forecourts.
It has been a great success. Not only did it take the concept of the Galaxy to a new level with better design, interior quality and more space, but it offered a range of engines that was more palatable to the Irish buyer.
The latest of these - a petrol engine - might seem poor timing, but it is a trendy flexifuel engine, meaning it can run on bioethanol.
Ireland has had a brief and passionate love affair with the whole idea of flexifuel vehicles. Lured in primarily by the promise of cheaper vehiclesand the notion that you are doing your bit for the environment, Irish buyers embraced the cars a greater degree than a country of our size might otherwise have.
Cynics will say that it was only the 50 per cent reduction in VRT that prompted interest in cars such as the Ford Focus FFV, Volvo S40 Flexifuel and Saab 9-5 Biopower.
The cynics are probably right. With the change to the VRT laws in July came a new way of treating cars that run on bioethanol. Instead of a flat rate of 50 per cent, which meant significant reductions off more expensive cars, the capping of this reduction to just €2,500 was fine for the buyer of a Ford Focus, but not great if you wanted a Saab 9-5 or Volvo V70.
Twin that with the bad press that bioethanol has, rightly or wrongly, received and Ford's timing in giving us a new Flexifuel version of the Galaxy might seem a little unfortunate.
Ford tells us that choosing a Flexifuel Galaxy and running it on bioethanol can provide a reduction in the CO2 footprint of up to 80 per cent when compared with conventional cars. For the time being, the ethanol fuel, E85, which we buy here in Ireland is home-sourced, so this may be true. The availability of stations stocking the fuel is quite strong too, but with purchase price more important than ever to cash-strapped Irish buyers, news that the diesel version is now cheaper than the Flexifuel version is likely to make the task of convincing buyers to go Flexifuel all that more difficult.
The 2.0-litre FFV version starts at €37,255 and that includes a €2,500 reduction. Our test model was the Zetec version, costing €40,865 - and that means it is more expensive than the 1.8-litre TDCi in both 100 and 125 bhp guises.
Plus, the CO2 emissions of the Flexifuel version put it in Band F, with road tax of €1,000 compared to €430 in the diesel version.
The 2.0-litre FFV version has 145bhp and that means it has 20 more horsepower than the 125bhp diesel,has a 10km/h higher top speed and takes 1 second less to get to 100km/h. Convinced yet?
The diesel, however, has 150Nm more torque, had better fuel economy, lower annual road tax, and will more than likely hold its value better.
Unconvincing arguments aside, the Galaxy in Flexifuel guise is not a bad car to drive. It is quieter than the diesel version, and there is no difference as far as the driving experience concerned. It is very easy to drive, with superb visibility all-round. The large windows and tailgate contribute to this.
It would be misleading to claim that this large, high-sided MPV drives like a sports car, and even compared to its more sporty S-Max sibling, the Galaxy feels a little more cumbersome, but compared to many of its rivals it feels infinitely superior both in terms of handling and comfort.
All on board get plenty of space, with the two rows of rear seats offering generous room in every respect. All seats, even the third row, can slide backwards and forwards and the seat backs can be tilted to give better occupant comfort.
There is a lot more luggage space in the Galaxy than in the old one - 30 per cent to be exact. Compared to its smaller, better-looking sibling, the S-Max, the Galaxy is 52mm longer and has 23-litres more luggage space with the seats in place, and 325-litres more than the S-Max with the seats down.
However, the S-Max is €3,175 cheaper for the same engine and same specification. Despite that, the Galaxy outsold the S-Max in 2007, but only just.
The seats fold simply: they can't be removed too easily but can be folded to form a virtually flat load area. There is the usual plethora of storage areas and the front seats also feature foldaway trays built into the backs for rear passenger use.
Of the present crop of large MPVs the Galaxy and the S-Max are the best of the bunch, but whether Ford will persuade many to chose the Flexifuel version remains somewhat doubtful.
The arguments for the diesel version are more than convincing - and these surround cost, both in terms of purchase price and running costs. The diesel Galaxy costs less than the Flexifuel version, uses less fuel, has lower CO2 emissions so you pay less tax and is better to drive. Granted, the Flexifuel version might arguably be better for the environment taking everything into account if we believe in biofuel.
Irish motorists, now more than ever, will believe in their bank accounts and for that reason, the diesel version will remain the Galaxy to choose.
FORD GALAXY FACTFILE
Engine: 1,999cc, 4-cylinder, Flexifuel petrol engine putting out 145bhp @ 6,000rpm and 190Nm of torque @ 4,500. Five-speed manual transmission
Specification: Standard features include 16" alloy wheels with 215/60 R16 tyres, climate control air conditioning and rear outlet two-climate control zone, central locking, keyless entry, CD player, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, electric windows front and rear, computer with average speed, average fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel, ABS with EBD, driver and passenger front airbags, side and curtain airbag, driver knee-bag, parking distance sensors front, rear and radar, stability control, cruise control.
Options include: Adaptive Cruise Control €2,180, leather seat upholstery with additional leather €2,550, metallic paint €545, Panorama roof €2,000, Sat-Nav DVD-based with 7 colour touch-screen €3,080, Rear Seat Entertainment - DVD €3,100, Xenon headlights €2,120
L/100KM (MPG) Urban: 11.2 (25.2) Extra-urban: 6.5 (43.4) Combined: 8.2 (34.4)
CO2 emissions: 197g/km (Band F - 32 per cent VRT) and €1,000 annual road tax
Price: €40,865