The VW Sharan I at a glance
On the used market, the Ford Galaxy is cheaper than the Seat Alhambra and VW Sharan. You can usually find the diesels – but be careful, some TDI variants only meet the Euro 2 standard, so petrol engines are often the better choice. Whether you choose a VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy or Seat Alhambra doesn’t really matter from a qualitative point of view. Technically, the approximately 4.60 meter long triplets hardly differ.
Many problems until May 2000
Above all, the first series of the VW Sharan, which was produced from 1995 (the Seat only came onto the market in 1996) up to the facelift in May 2000, is now often in a questionable condition, both optically and technically. Used car prices start at a tempting 1,500 euros, but whether or not you will be happy with such a vehicle is another matter. Because especially the versions before the first facelift often draw attention to themselves with defects.
And it doesn’t matter whether it’s the chassis (worn tie rods and coupling rods, defective wheel bearings, play in the steering), the (TDI) engines (loss of power, defective air mass meter, broken toothed belt, problems with the turbocharger, auxiliary heater TDIs defective) or the quality of the material (loudspeaker covers break, easily scratched, faded plastics, broken cables in the area of the rear lights).
The Sharan I in the timeline
- 06/1995 Market launch of the Sharan 2.0, 2.8 V6 and 1.9 TDI (90 PS)
- 10/1996 Synchro (all-wheel drive) for the 2.8
- 11/1996 performance adjustment 1.9 TDI (110 PS)
- 01/1998 Market launch 1.8T (150 PS)
- 05/2000 First facelift with the new 2.8 V6 (204 PS), 1.9 TDI pump nozzle (115 PS)
- 09/2000 all-wheel drive Synchro becomes 4Motion for 1.9 TDI (115 PS) and 2.8 V6
- 10/2002 Market launch of the 1.9 TDI pump nozzle (130 PS)
- 05/2004 Second facelift, new rear lights, radios, mirror indicators
- 12/2004 Market launch of the 1.9 TDI pump nozzle (150 PS)
- 10/2005 Market launch of the 2.0 TDI (140 PS) with optionally available soot filter
- 06/2006 Market launch of 2.0 petrol engine (115 PS) with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
- 05/2008 Market launch of the 2.0 TDI BlueMotion
Also Ford with TDI
In contrast, the spacious and variable interior (two meters of loading space, up to seven seats can be individually dismantled), the low consumption values of the TDI diesel engines, which Ford also installed and the problem-free operation, are convincing from the start.
The standard equipment of the models produced from late summer 1996 is also convincing. Four electrically operated windows, manual air conditioning, ABS and double airbags are always on board as standard. ESP and side airbags are standard for the vans from facelift onwards. With the modifications, the optionally available curtain airbags also move into the Sharan. Xenon light or navigation systems are also only available as extras after the revision. However, you should refrain from using the GPS. The CD-based systems are slow, positioned deeply and the map data are mostly out of date. A CD with current routes costs around 150 euros – for Germany alone. In addition, if the device is defective, you usually have to have the entire unit replaced. Therefore, it is better to look for vehicles with a radio and buy a supermarket navigation system if necessary.
Spacious and comfortable
All Sharan, Galaxy and Alhambra are equipped with five comfortable individual seats as standard. Two more seats in the third row are only available at an additional cost. The space at the very back is sufficient for smaller people, but the trunk in this configuration shrinks to a narrow 240 liters. The chassis is comfortably designed to match the idea of the vans. The spring-damper unit irons bad roads and provides no cause for complaint even after long journeys. A slight rumble on the front axle tarnishes the impression of comfort a little.
In terms of dynamic aspects, none of the three vans can compete with current models. A strong tendency to roll and indirect steering as well as a steering wheel that is too flat can nip sporty rushes in the bud. It is better to do without the sports suspension. It brings unnecessary hardness into play without having any significant dynamic advantages.
Nivomat increases driving safety
The Sharan is more likely to be used as a packhorse. Since there is no factory level control on the rear axle, the Sachs / Boge Nivomat is recommended as a retrofit product – after all, a payload of around 700 kilograms is possible. Thanks to the Nivomat shock absorbers on the rear axle, the standing height and suspension travel always remain constant, which benefits driving safety. The Nivomat can now only be ordered through Ford dealers, which should not mean any complications for Sharan and Alhambra customers with the common parts strategy.
Transmission question
All engines up to the facelift 2000 are linked to a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic. The hand controls can sometimes only be operated stubbornly and are not very enjoyable due to the imprecise guidance. The automatic does its job hardly better. A fifth speed step is missing here.
Better from a facelift: Since then, many engines have had an exact six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission, which can, however, be dispensed with. The automatic converter from the Japanese manufacturer Aisin is rough, slow and unnecessarily increases consumption. In addition, more automatic vehicles have transmission problems. All-wheel drive is only available for the rare VR6 Synchro (174 PS) and after the facelift for the 115 PS 1.9 TDI and the V6 with 204 PS. The all-wheel drive, known from then on as 4Motion, is always combined with a manual gearbox.
TDIs preferred
When it comes to engines, buyers are clearly focusing on diesel drives, all of which are provided by VW. The Ford also has the economical but noisy TDI units, which all consume between six and a maximum of seven liters according to the standard (front-wheel drive). It all started with a 90 PS TDI (Euro 3), which starts up very lethargically even at full throttle. Better to choose the 110 hp version that was added in October 1996 (only Euro 2 up to 2000!). With the facelift, the TDIs were replaced or modernized. Depending on the year of construction, 115, 130, 140 and even 150 PS variants were added, the latter only being available as a sports variant.
Soot filter in short supply
A soot particle filter has only been available for an additional fee since October 2005. To date, the soot filter in the Sharan 2.0 TDI costs just under 600 euros extra. If you choose this fine dust collector, you do without the spare wheel located between the rear wheels. Because that is where the container for the additive sits in its place. Besides the Passat 2.0 TDI (B5), the Sharan is the only VW that burns soot using an additive.
Another disadvantage of the turbodiesel is that the performance of the engines can be increased easily and inexpensively by means of an additional control unit or reprogramming of the engine software. However, tuned engines usually don’t last as long as the original versions. The topics of soot filters and engine tuning are elegantly avoided by opting for a gasoline engine for the used vehicle.
Petrol is often the better choice
When it comes to gasoline engines, you have the choice between a 115 hp two-liter naturally aspirated engine, the 1.8T with 150 hp and the 204 hp V6 – before the facelift, the six-cylinder developed 174 hp. All of them are united by the thirst for premium gasoline, because due to the comparatively high weight of at least 1,750 kilograms, the Otto cars want to be turned. VW specifies the standard city consumption for the 2.8 VR6 Synchro with 17.8 liters. The basic petrol engine is absolutely sufficient for city traffic and long-distance journeys and can also be converted to LPG and therefore cheap fuel (liters costs around 60 euro cents) without any problems. Incidentally, VW has also been offering this gas option as an ex-works solution since mid-2006 – surcharge: around 2,500 euros.
1.8 T golden mean
If you want more longitudinal dynamics, you have to resort to the 1.8T, which is sufficient for brisk driving. However, you have to reckon with a real average consumption of around ten liters (standard specification 9.4 liters), even with a cautious driving style. If you are in a hurry, you can easily destroy 15 liters with the five-valve turbo on the motorway or in city traffic. The luxurious and quite smooth-running V6 engine, which with 204 hp can surprise other road users, is roughly on par. After all, it accelerates the van to 100 km / h in less than ten seconds and lets it reach speeds of around 220 km / h.
Conclusion
The VW Sharan and its Ford and Seat derivatives are basically solid vehicles if you pay attention to a few things: If the budget allows, look for a facelift model from May / June 2001. Here you get a much more modern car with better safety equipment, refined quality and, above all, a more modern look. In addition, the TDI engines are then at least Euro 3 clean.
The Sharan will get even better from May / June 2004, at which time the second facelift took place, recognizable by the new taillights and the mirror indicators. With the engines, care should be taken that – if it is to be a TDI – no engine tuning is and was not installed (you can dismantle the additional control unit yourself within a few minutes), the timing belts have been changed at least as specified, and the mileage does not exceed 200,000 Kilometers. We recommend the newer 115 PS TDIs from 2004 and all 140 PS TDIs, as only these always meet the Euro 4 standard.
A good alternative for second-hand buyers could therefore be gasoline-powered vehicles. Except for the 174 hp VR6, they are always Euro 4 pure. Sure, they use more fuel than the diesel, but at the same price they usually have significantly fewer kilometers on the clock and are younger. (Text: tv, mb | Images: manufacturer)