In the market for:

[Chris Cornwell]

I've had a Ford Kuga AWD Powershift 2 litre 180 for almost three years. It is comfortable, drives nicely, it tows well and has been totally reliable. Minus points are that it's not got a huge boot (only 420 litres) and economy is not brilliant. I've just replaced its first two tyres at 23,000. Servicing is cheap.

 

[Quick Silver]

I've had a Ford Kuga AWD Powershift 2 litre 180 for almost three years. It is comfortable, drives nicely, it tows well and has been totally reliable. Minus points are that it's not got a huge boot (only 420 litres) and economy is not brilliant. I've just replaced its first two tyres at 23,000. Servicing is cheap.

The boot would be plenty big enough for me and fuel consumption I'm not bothered about, Ive never owned a car smaller than 2.0 litre most have been 2.5 to 3.5 litre.

 

[turbopete]

the 150bhp diesel is a 2.0. theres a 1.5 or a 2.0 diesel (1.5 diesel is 120bhp, the 2.0 comes in the Kuga with 150 or 180 bhp, dads is thwe 150) or 1.5 Ecoboost petrol engines with 150 or 182bhp. the 2.0 is a pretty decent engine (basically an updated version of my engine) and seems to have been around in Peugeot/Citroens (the 2.0 HDi) in gradually evolving (as these things do) forms almost forever (I think the original Peugeot 2.0HDi's must be almost 20 years old now!)

dad has his through motability with the powershift (due to his disability) auto box and whilst it seldom goes any real distance (25 miles each way, once a week for the groceries, as a rule) last time I saw the car it was averaging about 43mpg which I felt was quite reasonable for such a high vehicle (it can never be as aerodynamically efficient in real terms as a regular car due to its height) and the amount of short trips it does.

 

[Quick Silver]

That is my criteria diesel 2.0 ltr, auto, easy to get into, comfort ,quite like the power shift.Good midrange acceleration. The model I test drove was exactly that in titanium trim.
I'm thinking of hiring one for a weekend before I place my order just to be sure.
I normally buy whatever takes my fancy and live with it warts and all, but I'm being thorough this time round. It will be only the third brand new car Ive had for my own use, all the others have been for business use.
I certainly couldn't live with crabbing problems of the GLC or the risk of it happening.
Its a shame as the GLC is a lovely car in its outward appearance.
Those videos of the problem are a terifying thought and the subsequant problems that could affect it in its later life with diff, drive shafts and hub bearings, not to mention tyres.
As Im now retired I cant just claim it back on my tax returns anymore.

 

[JBell]

Go and try them all, that is what my father did and ended up with the X1, It was the best overall (for what he wants)and very good value considering the standard equipment (which includes LED headlights), made the Tiguan and Q3 look very expensive like for like.

Have you thought about a Discovery Sport, X3, Q5??

 

[Quick Silver]

Already have, just didnt like the X3, Audi I wouldnt touch with a barge pole.
The landrover was nice when it was standing still but found it very noisy and they have a miriad of niggly faults and a bit tractor like.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

It may not float your boat so as to speak but what about the Nissan Qashqui.

My son's partner couldn't decide between the Kuga, Kia Sportage and Qashqui and opted for the latter and I must admit to being impressed. Top spec and big discount at 6 months old, only thing we had to do was source a space saver spare kit which fitted in the wheel well a treat.

Incidentally my money would have gone with the Ford now I'm not so sure

 

[turbopete]

conversely, ive driven the quashqai+2 which I'm told drives and rides better than the standard version, and park it next to the Ford, on both the drive AND looks you couldn't persuade me from the Ford for a second!

its horses for courses, but I find the Ford a much quieter engine than the Nissan diesels and whilst I'm no Auto fan, the powershift unit fitted to dads Kuga is impressively smooth, to the point where without listening for the engine note change (like with the radio on) or watching the rev counter needle, you probably would be unaware that there had been a gearchange. when I had the 210, it was said there was no better auto box than the 722.6 box and, whilst I'm aware technology has moved on a lot since then, id argue that point every second of the day now. I wouldn't have an auto out of choice, I admit that, but having experienced the dual clutch powershift auto, theres no way on earth id EVER consider a torque converter slushbox!

 

[Quick Silver]

Just spoke to a guy in the garage filling up our cars.
He had.. the 2017 facelift model kuga and he was over the moon with it.
I keep being drawn to the kuga so think I'll go for it.
Ive got a journey to make next weekend so will hire one and see how I get on with it.
It will be my first departure from MB in 20 years if I go ahead with it.
Other factors we have here in favour of it is no less than 4 main Ford dealers and a Ford bodyshop.

 

[turbopete]

if you plan to keep the car a while (as in beyond warranty) id advise buying a modified ELM327 OBD2 adaptor and a copy of the Forscan diagnostic programme. the programme is free and is usually bundled in with the modified ELM cable on a disk. I bought one and, as I have numerous friends/family with Fords, it has saved a good few quid on having codes read, fault finding etc. (to the point where someone had a used car repaired under warranty as the supplying dealer claimed they could find no fault, Forscan did, the car got fixed! despite the dealer saying there was no fault and a scan after repairs revealed the faults had been remedied!)

its pretty much a free equivalent for Fords of MBs STAR, from what ive read on here. another programme (ELMconfig) is a pay to get add on that can allow you to reprogramme things on the car (like STAR in developer mode, I suppose) like the various modules which cant normally be user adjusted. ive not had need for that yet, but it may be something I look into at some point.

as for the Kuga, dads is the 2016 version (before the huge grille but the first facelift with the 'hockeystick' foglights/DRL's) and other than Land Rover defenders and 'proper' 4x4s (like the Ford Ranger) ive never been much of a one for these 'lifestyle' 4x4s as they always handled poorly, were ridiculously thirsty, slow or, often, all 3. ive always been a 'saloon' type person but as theyre so rare now in the mainstream market, hatchbacks are the thing BUT the Kuga impressed me to a point where, at the next time I change car, they will DEFINITELY be on my radar to consider (unless I find myself in a position to afford the purchase price on a Mustang!!!)

 

[Quick Silver]

if you plan to keep the car a while (as in beyond warranty) id advise buying a modified ELM327 OBD2 adaptor and a copy of the Forscan diagnostic programme. the programme is free and is usually bundled in with the modified ELM cable on a disk. I bought one and, as I have numerous friends/family with Fords, it has saved a good few quid on having codes read, fault finding etc. (to the point where someone had a used car repaired under warranty as the supplying dealer claimed they could find no fault, Forscan did, the car got fixed! despite the dealer saying there was no fault and a scan after repairs revealed the faults had been remedied!)

its pretty much a free equivalent for Fords of MBs STAR, from what ive read on here. another programme (ELMconfig) is a pay to get add on that can allow you to reprogramme things on the car (like STAR in developer mode, I suppose) like the various modules which cant normally be user adjusted. ive not had need for that yet, but it may be something I look into at some point.

as for the Kuga, dads is the 2016 version (before the huge grille but the first facelift with the 'hockeystick' foglights/DRL's) and other than Land Rover defenders and 'proper' 4x4s (like the Ford Ranger) ive never been much of a one for these 'lifestyle' 4x4s as they always handled poorly, were ridiculously thirsty, slow or, often, all 3. ive always been a 'saloon' type person but as theyre so rare now in the mainstream market, hatchbacks are the thing BUT the Kuga impressed me to a point where, at the next time I change car, they will DEFINITELY be on my radar to consider (unless I find myself in a position to afford the purchase price on a Mustang!!!)

if you plan to keep the car a while (as in beyond warranty) id advise buying a modified ELM327 OBD2 adaptor and a copy of the Forscan diagnostic programme. the programme is free and is usually bundled in with the modified ELM cable on a disk. I bought one and, as I have numerous friends/family with Fords, it has saved a good few quid on having codes read, fault finding etc. (to the point where someone had a used car repaired under warranty as the supplying dealer claimed they could find no fault, Forscan did, the car got fixed! despite the dealer saying there was no fault and a scan after repairs revealed the faults had been remedied!)

its pretty much a free equivalent for Fords of MBs STAR, from what ive read on here. another programme (ELMconfig) is a pay to get add on that can allow you to reprogramme things on the car (like STAR in developer mode, I suppose) like the various modules which cant normally be user adjusted. ive not had need for that yet, but it may be something I look into at some point.

as for the Kuga, dads is the 2016 version (before the huge grille but the first facelift with the 'hockeystick' foglights/DRL's) and other than Land Rover defenders and 'proper' 4x4s (like the Ford Ranger) ive never been much of a one for these 'lifestyle' 4x4s as they always handled poorly, were ridiculously thirsty, slow or, often, all 3. ive always been a 'saloon' type person but as theyre so rare now in the mainstream market, hatchbacks are the thing BUT the Kuga impressed me to a point where, at the next time I change car, they will DEFINITELY be on my radar to consider (unless I find myself in a position to afford the purchase price on a Mustang!!!)

It will probably be the last car I'll ever buy, I wont be doing any great mileage probably less than 10k and I still have the SL which I only use in the summer months, I'll keep that till I cant get in it any more @ 28 years old its still less than 100k and is in very good condition with every thing still working and is all original condition including the hood. The bumpers I had repainted due to minor scuffs but that is all. Thanks everybody for all your input and Im so glad I asked about the GLC and would probably have bought one as I liked it very much.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Always interested in people's views on cars do let us know how you get on, I'm a big Ford Europe fan they've made a big difference to the brand

 

[JBell]

Already have, just didnt like the X3, Audi I wouldnt touch with a barge pole.

X3 has just been replaced with an all new model. I an not a fan of BMW (Understatement of the year) BUT I am pleasantly surprised by the X1, interior space is excellent.

If you are doing less than 10k a year why buy Diesel?

 

[turbopete]

X3 has just been replaced with an all new model. I an not a fan of BMW (Understatement of the year) BUT I am pleasantly surprised by the X1, interior space is excellent.

If you are doing less than 10k a year why buy Diesel?

probably because the majority of these sorts of cars aren't available in petrol. besides, its not low mileage that's an issue with diesels. its short trips. my trip to work is about 5 miles each way, by the time ive picked other people up too, and its never been an issue, mainly because of the regen system used in the Ford version of the PSA 2.0 diesel engine (vapouriser in the exhaust to heat the DPF up, rather than some sort of fluid that goes into the DPF and/or relying on running the engine hard to get it hot. mine will regen at idle, where necessary and you can tell when its doing it as throttle response is slightly laggy and at idle, fuel instant consumption jumps to 0.4g/hr as opposed to the 0.1-0.2g/hr)

 

[JBell]

probably because the majority of these sorts of cars aren't available in petrol.

Actually apart from the GLC where you have to go to a 3.0 V6TT (GLC43 AMG) they are all available in petrol with around 2.0l T capacity, just very rare.

 

[turbopete]

Actually apart from the GLC where you have to go to a 3.0 V6TT (GLC43 AMG) they are all available in petrol with around 2.0l T capacity, just very rare.

most of the ones we have mentioned are, (the Kuga's bigger brother, the edge, is a diesel only affair, for example) however, as you say, theyre rare (ive yet to see a petrol Kuga on the road! an ebay search a couple of weeks back brought up 1 for sale used nationally) probably because theyre the sort of vehicle that are better suited to the diesel torque and historically, at least, petrol was too thirsty (I know things have improved vastly) although I feel the V8 mustang engine dropped into a Kuga could be a whole heap of fun!!!!

also, there are a group of drivers (including my dad, who is covering a similar mileage annually to the OP) who just plain and simply PREFER a diesel engine.

 

[Quick Silver]

X3 has just been replaced with an all new model. I an not a fan of BMW (Understatement of the year) BUT I am pleasantly surprised by the X1, interior space is excellent.

If you are doing less than 10k a year why buy Diesel?

Damp doesnt bother them and useful for tugging a boat up t

most of the ones we have mentioned are, (the Kuga's bigger brother, the edge, is a diesel only affair, for example) however, as you say, theyre rare (ive yet to see a petrol Kuga on the road! an ebay search a couple of weeks back brought up 1 for sale used nationally) probably because theyre the sort of vehicle that are better suited to the diesel torque and historically, at least, petrol was too thirsty (I know things have improved vastly) although I feel the V8 mustang engine dropped into a Kuga could be a whole heap of fun!!!!

also, there are a group of drivers (including my dad, who is covering a similar mileage annually to the OP) who just plain and simply PREFER a diesel engine.

Big change from 50 k+ miles a year. My last 2 vitos covered 1.15 million miles between them on there original engines every thing else was replaced at least once. Lol , and I have driven every one of them.

 

[JBell]

Kuga Viginale are quite posh

What about the new Volvo XC60?

 

[Quick Silver]

Kuga Viginale are quite posh

What about the new Volvo XC60?

The Vignale is a little pricey for a "ford" there are better cars for that kind of money plus Im having a lot of building work done to my bungalow so will will be carting all sorts of crap to the tip so a titanium spec is posh enough for me.

 

[JBell]

The Vignale is a little pricey for a "ford" there are better cars for that kind of money plus Im having a lot of building work done to my bungalow so will will be carting all sorts of crap to the tip so a titanium spec is posh enough for me.

They will be excellent value at 6 months old when depreciation takes hold, if you tow a boat why not get a small trailer to put all the crap in and save the car