Honest opinions of Alhambra's

[ubuntootoo]

Hi Guys,

I have just posted a question about my old Alhambra ('98 1.9tdi 90HP). The car is on its last legs in my opinion. I am considering getting a loan and am considering what to replace it with. I will have about 5000 to spend. I need seven seats and it must be reliable.

I have had my Alhambra since summer 2008 and have done 72000 miles in it since then (now on 174000)

The car has been generally good. The problems I've had are:

blowing lots of brake light bulbs - fitted a new switch - now ok.

air con packed up - horrendous juddering one day - never worked since. Climate control screen flashes when ignition turned on.

door locks broke. Now have to use boot to unlock and lock

water pump failed.

gear change linkage seizes up. Regularly drown in wd40 and generally ok now.

a few times engine dropped to idle after putting right foot down hard. Restarting fixes each time. For last few thousand miles it loses lots of power (but still driveable just) sometimes after driving even slightly briskly. Turn off and on normally gets back to normal.



I am considering a newer Alhambra / Sharan / Galaxy or a Zafira. My main requirements are reliability and economy.

Are the newer Alhambras better or worse than older ones? Are Zafiras any good. I would love some unbiased opinions on the above. I love the way the seats are removable on the Alhambra which i would miss if I bought a vauxhall.

Thanks guys

 

[m0rk]

Old zafiras are terrible, new ones not so bad

New bammas have more power, so economy might be a bit worse, but then 90bhp isn't a lot to shift a big old bus about, so it probably evens out

 

[towcester vag]

stick with alambra/galaxy/sharan
vauxhalls are rubbish
renaults are rubbish
ford s max are ok

 

[mikeyb21473]

I have an 04 Alhambra and not had too much bother from it (touch wood). I think this shape looks better than its older version and has more power. ;-) now even more that its been remapped and economy hasn't suffered at all that I've noticed.
I personally would stick with one, but I think my requirement for 7 seats is now not too much of a worry, so I've got to try a think of what I want next.

 

[heysidays]

stick with alambra/galaxy/sharan
vauxhalls are rubbish
renaults are rubbish
ford s max are ok

agree, galaxy good as well