SCOTMAXX

RTV Its funny how most of the comments on here back up everything that I have said about my experience, and many others, with a C-Max and the dealers!! You can remain staunch in your support of the Max but I know that time will prove it was a bad car and yes it irks me that I was part of the testing process for a vehicle that was not ready to be launched, and they still can't get it right some years down the line - EGR valve problems 3-4 years after launch is a joke!! Perhaps you should also open your eyes and research properly your evidence before trying to win arguments with it!! :wink:

Well said alex1. These are exactly the points I was trying to make and thought I was until RTV accused me of mentioning too often the car I bought to replace my C-Max. Like you my nearest dealer was 20 miles away and I bought my Max to make my life easier as I work shifts for one of the emergency services and need to be at work when i am rostered to be there! My faith in the Max was shattered by non starting caused by the faulty EGR valve and then even more let down by the dealers inability to fix problems, even minor ones. On one occasion they had my car five days to fix the squealing brake

RTV How ironic!! - have a look at the link to the Skoda site you put in your last post and look under ''Octavia Diesels'' - someone else who used to have a C-Max diesel and thinks it and the service they recieved from Ford was ''pathetic''. Look at the rest of the comments and I think you will see why I am sitting here still feeling smug about my choice of vehicle!! :lol: :lol:

RTV No need to get all het up, calm down :roll: :lol: - I must really have got to you if you went off and researched some old Skoda forums! I have only made 3 posts before now and as I was comparing my C-Max against my Skoda (oh dear I mentioned it again!) it is hardly surprising that I named the Skoda is it? I did also mention my C-Max a few times. If you had read my posts properly you would have seen that I acknowledge that VAG group cars have problems too - my Skoda (sorry can't help but use the S word!) has had 2 cruise controls fitted due to dodgy switches but these have been the only

RTV I certainly couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman, in her 57 plate C-Max, being towed by the AA across the Forth Road Bridge last Friday evening during rush hour! Probably yet another C-Max with the dreaded EGR valve problem! I will continue to feel sorry for people like her who have bought a brand new car expecting care free motoring and then find out the car's frailties the hard way. Yes it happens to all cars - we have all seen the likes of brand new BMWs etc on the back of AA transporters etc but on the whole it is a fact that the C-max does suffer worse than average!

Skodas are better built than many cars in the VAG stable - ok they are not without their problems but on the whole (see any customer surveys and they are at the top ahead of the rest of the VAG cars) they are much better put togethor than any Ford (especially my C-Max). As I said I really wanted to like the MAX and bought it on the basis of the rep of the focus and really liking the design when I saw it on the road and Ford would still have had me as a customer now and in the future had my Max - a 54 plate - not been the most dire car I have ever had. I lost over 5k on the trade in but it was

Decided to have a quick look at this site, which I used to visit a lot a couple of years ago when I owned a C-Max and guess what? Nothing has changed - the C-Max is still causing despair amongst many owners who own it. I got rid of mine after a year of complete hassle (I bought a skoda which is an absolute dream to own/drive in comparison to the C-Max) and now only feel sorry for the people that I see driving them. It was a real shame as I really wanted to like the Max but my experience drove me away from the Ford brand for good - never to return! I have long suspected that C in C-Max actually

On reflection I think that I may have been a little harsh on our 1.8 petrol Zetec, I think it should really score 7/10 and I would have made it 8 or even 9 if it hadn't been for the all too frequent visits to the dealer for problem fixing and the horrific depreciation in value that the car has suffered from. Had I been rating the 2.0 tdci zetec that we had then I'm very sorry to say that the score would have been 5/10 due to the vehicle suffering from every fault common to many of the early build examples of this engine variant and which I know everyone using this forum is aware of.

If you were to rate your C-max in terms of marks out of 10 what would it be? Our remaining C-Max, (we had two but traded in the 2.0 diesel for a new Skoda Octavia II) a 1.8 petrol I would score as 6 out of 10 for the reasons that we love the space, versatility, driving position, low running costs, ability to lug x2 dogs plus 4 adults and luggage around but feel the overall package is let down by poor interior trim quality, too many niggles such as spurious low fuel warnings, lower than expected fuel economy and the feeling that in general the C-Max is not that as highly regarded throughout th

topgazza I agree with your comments about the interior of certain cars and obviously have similar tastes to yourself but you obviously haven't sat in the new octavia as it has a 'dark austere interior' just as you say you like and was one of the many reasons I purchased one over and above anything else. In fact it was the one car whose interior was better in my opinion than my C-MAX and a huge improvement than the last Octy.

stu1.6tdci Yesterday I had one of our new fleet vehicles out (a Ford Focus tdci) and I was aware of a similar noise from the engine that you describe coming from yours, although the noise was definetly audible above 2500 revs under acceleration but not to any great extent (previous drivers hadn't reported it). Thinking that the vehicle had a blown exhaust or worse and as it only had 1500 miles on the clock I took it to our garage where one of the mechanics poked and prodded around for five minutes before taking an adjustable spanner and tightening up a nut on the EGR pipe connection to the

neveragain The days of laughing at Skodas are long long gone. The new Skoda Octavia is absolutely brilliant in every way and a far better car than the C-Max that I owned. I have a 2.0 pd tdi elegance and I can catagorically say that it is the best car that I have ever owned. If you haven't bought one yet then don't listen to the sceptics who say they are not what they are cracked up to be. Volkswagen are deemed by many in the know to be less well built than modern Skodas and as we all know Skodas are cheaper to buy/run etc. In my part of the world many taxi firms use the Superb/Octavia and

Jon6 l A little tip for you. BUY THE OCTAVIA - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. I had similar experiences to yours, although not quite as bad considering mine were spread over a year, and changed my C-Max for a new 2.0 Tdi Octavia estate and it has proven to be an excellent choice of car and so far not a single fault has arisen in 4000 miles of motoring. Build quality is quite superb, better than the C-Max and it is such a pleasure to be back enjoying my motoring again! I too have to carry a load of equipment around for work and although the Octavia aint as capacious as the C-max the boot is

Micky The interior of my Octavia (2.0 Tdci 140 bhp) is fine and to date (4 months of ownership and 4,000 miles covered) there are no squeaks or rattles to be heard. I thought that I had a squeak and was going to take it back to the dealer after suffering it for 2 weeks over Christmas but it turned out that I hadn't pushed the rear seat back into the locked position after having it folded down to transport the Christmas tree home! On your point about Ford diesels not being powerful enough, I owned a C-Max 2.0 Tdci and in a comparison between the VW engine and the Ford engine I can honestly

JonJen I agree with Alfie (my Skoda has the same 2.0 TDi engine as the Golf/Audi) and it is noisier on start up than my 2.0 TDCi C-Max was however it is fine and just as inaudible as the C-Max engine once warmed up. I can't comment on whether or not the noise levels on the golf are intrusive or not but if your colleague hasn't tried the Mk 2 Octavia then I can wholeheartedly recommend one - I don't work for Skoda honest, I'm just a very very impressed owner!! Noise levels are extremely low and the ride, handling, power delivery etc is excellent. On paper the power output (bhp, torque etc) is

I had exactly the same experience as Alfie and ended up buying a new Skoda Octavia estate 2.0 tdi 140 bhp - It is an absolutely brilliant car - spacious, quick, good looking, well built, no rattles, great dealer service, utterly reliable, fantastic spec. etc etc etc etc - and as well built, (or better, according to some of the motoring journalists) as a VW and cost a few grand less into the bargain. I have had friends, neighbours, work colleagues and even strangers comment on what a good looking car it is (especially with the 17'' alloys) and one colleague having driven it, last week placed an

It's just such a shame that not all C-Max owners have had the same experience as you!

C-minor I couldn't agree more with everything that you have said and after very similar problems with the C-Max that I purchased (2.0 Tdci) where I had the car back to the dealer 13 times in a year I too traded my car in and bought a Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 pd tdi 140 bhp and guess what? - 2 months of ownership, 2500 miles and not a single problem with it! The Skoda is quite simply the best car that I have ever had and if Ford had produced the C-Max to the same standards then they would still have me as a customer and I would have purchased another come changing time. I like you really want

Might I suggest the purchase of a ''deer whistle'' for anyone worried about collisions with deer or other animals. You can purchase them at a cost of £5.50 from www.blowmedeer.co.uk and they work by ommiting a sound frequency audible only to deer and other animals when travelling at speeds over 35mph. I live in a rural part of Scotland and after several collisions/near misses with deer, pheasants, rabbits etc I put one on my car and have never had a problem since. The only thing that you have to be careful about is passing horses - give them a wide berth and keep your speed below 35 mph. Appar

pichaker I don't wish to doubt your position as ''technical consultant'' ,but, I can assure you that after an hour of trying to start the car (2.0 tdci manual ) and thinking that it was various jump leads (even tried two lots togethor ) etc, when it was suggested that the bonnet was closed the car started no problem. Maybe you can explain what else the problem was if what you say is true? Cheers.

I also had a similar problem where I (stupidly!!) ran a cool box overnight whilst camping during the summer. The battery went flat but I thought it wouldn't be a problem as I had jump leads. Tried to start it using a fellow campers vehicle but no joy, and after several attempts was about to call out the AA when another camper, a mechanic, said that with Fords you have to have the bonnet shut to start as the immobilser kicks in when the bonnet is open. I realise that this a safety feature and it is probaly in the manual but it was frustrating at the time although just as well I was amongst a b

I guess that with any surveys like the Top Gear one they will tend to draw out opinions from both ends of the spectrum i.e people who love their cars and want to tell everyone about them and people who don't like their cars and want to tell everyone about their problems with them. Everyone who has driven a C-Max, especially the 2.0 Tdci can't fail to be impressed by the way it drives, the torque etc, but, unfortunately for Ford and the reason the C-Max sits at no. 138 in the list is known by many people who use this forum i.e common problems such as faulty EGR valves, poor customer service an

ucsman You obviously haven't driven a new Skoda Octavia!! The only surprise for me when reading the Top Gear survey was that Skodas weren't placed higher in the list like they have been in previous years! I am a car enthusiast and have a new Octavia 2.0 tdi 140 bhp elegance estate (with sports suspension and 17" alloys). I can categorically tell you that it is a fantastic "drivers car" and it is a far better car than the C-Max that I owned, in every way. The build quality is superb, it has bags of character and it is certainly a spirited, inspiring and interesting vehicle to drive (as wel

Smila74 This a subject known to many C-Max owners!! If you refer to the "stickies section" you'll see "Known C-Max issues and fixes". Look in there and you'll see various problems listed, and at the bottom, one on "squealing rear brakes when reversing". This a problem known to Ford, and all their dealers will be aware of the fix to cure it i.e new brake pads and carriers. The TSB (technical service bulletin) number is 05/2005 which you can quote to your dealer if needed - just book your car in for the work to be done and you shouldn't have the problem again.

Since my last post I spoke to a dealer who informed me that 'chipping' doesn't affect warranty as long as a recommended chip is fitted. It may have been just the person that I spoke to but he was enthusiastic in his recommendation of bluefin, so I guess that I'll check them out. Interesting to hear that fuel economy is expected to be better with a chip. Sport Mike - have you fitted a chip and what difference is there in performance? I know they are quoting 20bhp but what exactly does that extra feel like - will I have to get traction control fitted to stop the tyres shredding!!!? :D Cheer