Ford C-Max 2.0 TDCI Ghia 134 BHP

My Ford C-Max 2.0 TDCI Ghia 134 BHP has performed very well.

God buy second hand due to depreciation

Ghia has good level of kit

Some nice touches build is good better than focus mk1

Family dealership much better than multiples.

New their stuff.

Faulty injector picked up by dealer at first service.

Every service firmware updated if needed.

Three recalls dealt with very effeciently.

Other good points are: Heated front screen heated driver seat good visibility gearbox space seats. Good handling for an MPV. Performance is execellent. Very comfortable on long journey.

DVD for rear seats. and extra rear leg room when 4 seater.

Bad points are: Several specialist tools needed for service. Not an easy DIY.

No Haynes as yet

Main service quite dearer 299.00 once every two years.

Fuel consumption around town not fantastic

We first liked our new Ford C-MAX 2.0L TDCi ZETEC - but it has turned out to be a poor choice. The most serious issue is safety - this car needs a major re-think on the Power Assisted Steering and Braking systems.

Last week, we were driving our children home on a dark country road when without any warning what-so-ever, the C-Max power assisted steering and ABS brakes simultaneously failed. I am not talking about heavy steering here " the brake peddle went hard and the steering wheel would not move more than 10 to 15 degrees from centre. Fortunately my wife was cool headed enough to eventually bring the car to a halt from around 35mph before careering into a ditch or having a 'head-on' with an on-coming articulated lorry.

We re-started the engine and managed to limp the car home the last half mile. I tried to start the car on our drive and noticed a burning electrical smell, I also got no response from the starter motor. We called Green Flag rescue services. They arrived within 20 minutes and their engineer concluded that the vehicle had suffered either a power steering pump failure or total electrical failure and in any case it was unsafe to drive. I called the local Ford main line dealer (I will not name them as they are not at fault) and explained our predicament.

The Dealer suggested we get in touch with Ford Customer relations re warranty and courtesy car arrangements. Ford were initially very defensive and their attitude unhelpful. Eventually they did start to soften their stance and we got the warranty repair and courtesy car we are entitled to.

The fault turns out to be a burnt-out alternator which was not charging the battery and subsequently not providing enough power to the Power Steering, Engine Management System, ABS or warning sensors (i.e. Alternator/Battery Charge Indicators). Ford appear to be back-peddling on their agreement to provide a courtesy car pending repairs (even though it is covered under warranty).

Our car is a 2006 model still under warranty with less that 24K on the clock and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Needless to say this will be our first and last new car purchase from Ford.

a fantastic car, amazing engine. shame its been let down by dealerships attitude.

First MPV we bought, we got a good deal from dealer (Arnold Clark) so price was average compared to Vauxhall, cabin quality not as good as a Renault (my opinion).

Ford C Max is not a 7 seater, but if it was middle row wold have limited leg room anyway.

Ghia has nice comfy fully adjustable seats, with electric height adjustemnt on drivers side.

Rear parking sensors work well.

ISOFiX mounting for car seats works well, apart from storage covers in floor base require removing (Britax request).

5 Star safety on new Focus so presume CMax is the same.

Good on fuel, espically with cruise set at 58mph, 40+ MPG.

Suggest Redex diesel treatment to keep injectors clean every time you fill up, Ford manual doesnt recommend this though.

18000 mile servicing levels, so hopefully this wont be an issue.

Alloys are a nightmare to clean. Wonder wheels requierd to remove brake dust, even waxing wheels the dust returns..strange. Rear wheels are the worst, brake distrubution more on the back possibly.

As usual the tailgate Ford badge gets water into it and starts to discolour.