BMW 730Ld SE March 8, 2008
Posted by carcritic in Uncategorized.Tags: bmw, cars, england, new cars, posh, TV, uk
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Model tested: BMW 730Ld SE
Price as tested: £54,550
Range price: £51,850-£85,445
Insurance group as tested: 17
Insurance group range: 17-20
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Adrian HigginsAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 86%
Need to make an impression? Want to be ferried around from power meeting to power meeting in utmost comfort – but still get some fun out of driving?
The BMW 7 Series promises all this and more, wrapped in a seriously attractive package.
Web Editor Adrian Higgins put the flagship luxury saloon through its paces for a week.
1. Looks
Our colleagues have become a little blasé about the dizzying range of vehicles which turn up at the Auto Trader offices. But the BMW 7 Series stopped them in their tracks and prompted some to suggest the delivery might be for them. The BMW Series 7 represents the German saloon in its finest form. It is very recognisably from the BMW saloon family, albeit with the distinctive kidney grille widened. A 2005 makeover, which included the introduction of the long wheelbase model we drove, introduced features such as a slight bulge to the bonnet to emphasize the car’s sporty side in addition to its luxury credentials.
10/10
The speedo and rev counter dominate the information display, but everything else you need to know is simply laid out or accessible by scrolling through information on one of the steering wheel stalks. Another stalk is used for shifting through the automatic gears which soon becomes second nature so although the steering wheel fulfils many functions, it doesn’t feel overloaded. Between the driver and front seat passenger is a generous storage area fronted by the iDrive controller which operates the sat-nav, entertainment, communications and air-con. The set-up is repeated in the rear arm rest. The whole interior carries off the luxury feel well with extremely comfortable electronically controlled leather seats and curves which echo the car’s exterior shape.
9/10
The practical purpose of the long wheelbase car we drove is likely to be ferrying company chairmen and CEOs between engagements. He or she is certainly not going to be disappointed by a rear environment which features loads of legroom, access to the iDrive system, a TV monitor and a footstool as well as very comfortable leather seats. The boot is cavernous and able to accommodate 500 litres of luggage. Inside the car there are four cupholders and some neat storage solutions within the central console. Space within the glove compartment is limited but the storage areas along the car’s central area are generous. There is plenty of headspace too.
8/10
Sitting in the rear is the luxury experience one would hope for while the opportunity for a more engaging drive is provided by awareness but no discomfort from lumps and bumps in the tarmac. We found the car very comfortable as driver or passenger but behind the wheel it has a nimble quality which belies its size although some will consider the electrically-assisted steering a bit vague. The Long Wheelbase version we tested features a “self-levelling rear suspension” which is set to ensure rear seat comfort, especially over speed bumps.
9/10
BMW offer a choice of four petrol engines but most buyers are expected to opt for the 231bhp 3-litre diesel engine we tested. It powers the car from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds through the six-speed automatic gearbox and can achieve a top speed of 149mph. Acceleration was very responsive, the gear changes smooth and power available quickly whenever required. The petrol engines range from the 3-litre 258bhp 730i which adds 5mph to the top speed to the range-topping 6-litre 445bhp 760i which covers the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155mph.
9/10
The diesel engine makes for the most economical motoring in the range, returning an average of 34.4mph. Pretty good for a luxury car. The petrol engines are thirstier with the 6-litre 760i returning 21.1mpg. CO2 emissions from the 730i are 242g/km, placing it in top car tax band G, along with the other models, which attracts an annual bill of £300, increasing to £400 in April 2008. Insurance for the group falls into Group 17-20. However, buyers of luxury cars are unlikely to expect cheap motoring from a luxury car.
7/10
This is a top quality car constructed from sturdy materials. The attention to detail is to a high standard: subtle lights highlighting the door handles, the elegant flipping of the boot at the click of a button. Each model comes with a three year warranty. The Reliability Index indicates issues with the 7 Series tended to crop up after around six years and would usually concern the axle, suspension and the cooling system. However this relates entirely to the outgoing model which was replaced by the existing model in 2002 before being further revised in 2005.
8/10
The BMW 7 Series comes with ten airbags as well as a host of driving aids to keep you out of trouble in the first place. These include anti-lock brakes and dynamic stability control as well as bumpers which will return to their original shape in impacts of less than 4mph. The car has yet to undergo EuroNCAP testing.
8/10
The petrol-engined 730i and the 730Ld SE diesel model we come with a high level of equipment including the safety features listed above plus park distance control, front fog lights, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, electric seats and CD player. The SE models add 18 inch wheels, voice control, and sat-nav. The 740Li and 750Li adds self-levelling rear suspension and rear windscreen sunblind. The 760 model adds comfort seats, automatic bootlid operation, hand-stitched leather instrument panel and many more features. The sport models add 19-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and suspension package as well as a three-spoke steering wheel.
8/10
There are plenty of X-factors to choose from. But if forced to choose one it would be the design. The BMW 7 Series looks superb.
10/10
Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi 140PS 6sp Ghia March 7, 2008
Posted by carcritic in Uncategorized.Tags: car reviews, cars, cool cars, latest cars, new cars, people carriers, uk
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Model tested: Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi 140PS 6sp Ghia
Price as tested: £23,995
Range price: £19,495 – £24,995
Insurance group as tested: 11
Insurance group range: 10 – 11
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Stuart MilneAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 85%
The Ford Galaxy has been one of the most popular seven seaters on the road since its launch in 1995. It brought seven-seat practicality to the masses, and thanks to frequent updates, is still loved today.
This, the second generation Galaxy (the first major revision was a far-reaching facelift) spawned a sporty brother, the Ford S-Max. That car might grab the headlines for its ‘daddy-cool’ image, but the Galaxy is the more practical sibling.
The Ford Galaxy looks like a big car from the outside, but has an immediate consistent look with the smaller, Focus-based C-Max and sporty S-Max. Its front is as sleek as Ford’s other MPVs and its rear lights give a nod to the Mondeo saloon. It looks as through the Galaxy will be huge inside, with its boxy rear three-quarters maximising interior room.
8/10
The Galaxy is built alongside Ford’s Mondeo saloon and S-Max sporty MPV, with all three models sharing the same dashboard. It’s well designed and has a genuine premium feel, worthy of a badge from the most highly regarded German manufacturers. The red trip computer is reminiscent of those installed into VW and Audi vehicles. A u-shaped handbrake which lifts vertically is a nice touch in a centre console which sweeps between the two front seats. The view from the second row of seats is equally pleasant, with a table to occupy the outermost two passengers. The third row of seats lifts out of the floor. Our test car was fitted with optional £1,500 leather upholstery, which although costly, oozed quality. This is the MPV to show its rivals the way when it comes to interior style.
10/10
Seven seats might steal the headlines, but it’s the amount of storage space in the cabin which really impresses. A row of cubbyholes running along the centre of the roof provide front and second row seat passengers access to oddments, while on the range-topping Ghia model, these stretch almost the full length of the car. There’s yet more storage on top of the dash, in the centre console and doors and even in the passenger-side armrest on the third row of seats. Unlike the original Ford Galaxy, which required seats to be removed to expand interior space, the latest model’s fold into the floor – although not completely flat like the Vauxhall Zafira. Boot space grows from 367 to 2,095 litres depending on the number of seats folded.
The third row lacks the ‘one-touch tumble’ offered by some other rivals, with the seat base and backs having to move separately. While not requiring the same level of manhandling to remove the seats as the original model did, it is still hard work.
9/10
The Galaxy shares many major components with the excellent Mondeo saloon, so inherits a good chassis. There’s less bodyroll than you’d expect, and the steering offers a good level of feedback. Our test car was fitted with the optional IVDC with Continuously Controlled Damping, which is a clever piece of kit that adjusts the firmness of the suspension through three settings, and changes the damping every 0.2 seconds for an optimum ride. Even on ‘Sport’ mode, the ride was good, but ‘Comfort’ felt a little bouncy at speed. ‘Normal’ was an excellent compromise.
8/10
Ford offers six engine choices: 2- and 2.3-litre petrol, and a choice of two 1.8-litre and two 2-litre diesels. The petrols offer some of the best performance, with 0-62mph times of 10.7 and 11.1 seconds and top speeds of 121mph and 118mph respectively. Oddly, the larger 2.3-litre engine is the slower of the two.
The diesels will make up the bulk of sales. The 1.8-litre comes in 100bhp and 125bhp flavours, and the latter is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox which marginally improves performance. Headline figures for these are 0-62 in 13.8 or 11.4 seconds (11.2 for the six-speeder) and top speeds of 106, 114 and 116mph. The 2-litres come in 128bhp and 138bhp guises offering 0-62mph in 11.8 and 9.9 seconds and top speeds of 116 and 120mph. The later, the high-power 2-litre diesel is the fastest, and as our test car pulled well in any of its six gears.
8/10
Starting at almost £20,000, there area cheaper seven-seaters on the market. And what the car will be worth after three years/36,000 miles depends on which model is chosen. The 1.8 TDCi 100 LX retains an impressive 51 per cent of its value, while the 2-litre petrol in Zetec and Ghia trim keep just 43 per cent.
Ford says the diesels offer average fuel consumption figures from 38.1mpg (2-litre 128bhp) to 53.3mpg for the 1.8-litre models. That’s good for a car with seven seats, making the emissions per occupant competitive. Insurance groups of 10 and 11 are average for this class of vehicle, and CO2 emissions ranging from 166 to 197g/km place the cars in tax bands E and F, costing £165 and £205 respectively.
8/10
This incarnation of the Ford Galaxy hasn’t been around long enough for many common problems to emerge. It feels like a premium product, and vastly improved over Fords of old.
8/10
The Ford Galaxy scored a full five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test programme, and offers the full range of airbags, including driver, passenger, front side, 2nd and 3rd row side curtain and driver’s knee ‘bags. Additionally, all seats have full three-point seatbelts and a collapsible steering column. A deactivation switch for the front passenger airbag is a dealer-fit option.
10/10
There are three models in the Ford Galaxy range; LX, Zetec and Ghia. The LX features air-con, heated electric wing mirrors, electric front windows, electronic stability programme and a heated front windscreen. The Zetec adds 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, electric height adjustment for the driver’s seat, electric front and rear windows, front and rear park sensors and a child observation mirror in front of the main rear view mirror.
The range-topping Ghia adds indicators and ‘puddle lamps’ in the wing mirrors, a Sony CD player, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, cruise control and the full-length overhead storage bins.
8/10
It’s the MPV which feels like a quality saloon car with massive levels of storage space. There’s little to rival it for everyday usability for large families.
8/10
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