I have no mechanical worries about the new Sharan I am about to acquire. I have had VWs previously with very little trouble.
I chose this particular vehicle for reasons particular to me and am aware of its up sides and down sides.
The first downsider is the most annoying, even more so than the heavy seats, and that is that the SE model that I have just purchased for over £20,000 does not have a CD player.
Here we have a very swish modern vehicle sporting a pre-2000 concept in that has a tape player! I haven't seen one of these since my Golf Estate in 1996. I always assumed they came as standard equipment in most modern cars.
Second of course are the seats that need a muscle man to remove let alone carry them any distance into temporary storage.
Here again we have a mega manufacturer producing well loved vehicles with ever improved engines yet choosing to ignore their customers pleas for lighter seats or ar least optional fold flat ones.
Next are the very fragile wing mirror indicators. Very rarely have I returned a vehicle without damage to the wing mirror fronts. Just other vehicles clipping them or close encounters with country road hedges, minor stuff really but fatal to the very thin clear plastic covering the indicators. I can envisage several replacements during the course of my ownership.
One annoying dealership point is that they very rarely have a Sharan in stock to test drive, particularly the model you have chosen. I test drove the Carat, you know leather seats and electric everything. Made me feel pauperish only buying the SE model.
If the advantages fail to outweigh the disadavantages I would be silly to buy the Sharan, but I can live with the heavy seats because I will rarely need them all.
I will change the tape deck to a CD player asap, and as for the mirror indicators I will have be a little more careful.
I love the high driving position, the spacious feel and the 6 speed gear box. The Sharan like its sister the Galaxy is a motorway cruiser. Its happiest when in top gear and smoothing its way over long distances. Conversely the town in which I live is built around some very steep hills and the Sharans torque and pulling power will certainly be needed.
One other downsider is the very limited choice of unholstery colours available. Its seems a bit silly to limit buyers to just two choices when they have to pay £21.000 for their car.
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I had an Espace which rocked. Sadly now replaced by a Kia Sedona - I'd still take it over the Sharan though - particularly given the poor points mentioned in your review ;)
ABS Brakes, Air Conditioning, Alarm Fitted, Alloy Wheels, Automatic Transmission, CD ... more
Player, Diesel, Electric Windows, Immobiliser, Metallic paint, Multiple Airbags, Power Steering, Reverse Parking Aid, Trip Computer, Remote Central Lockin..and more
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