Just Spent A Week Driving The New Kuga!

[Molnboman]

Hello all,

Just back from an unexpected week in the Old country, and was upgraded by the nice people at Hertz Edinburgh airport from a wee Polo to a new Ford Kuga diesel with only 100miles on the clock. It was only the two wheel drive job but never the less it was quite a wee shock from the Rav 4.2! I forgot how sweet those Ford diesel engines are. Loads of torque and pulled very nicely in all gears. The gear box is so silky smooth compared to the wee Rav too. Brakes were very nice and good CD/Radio ...interior was very nicely put together although a bit plasticy in places!....Bad points...well not many although if I was any wider ( 44 R ) I would have felt that the sporty style seats were pinching my sides. The low profile 19's were making a lot of road noise and you really felt every pothole you went over. What shocked me a bit was the relatively poor mpg....65 quid of diesel for 350miles....I expected better, however, it was a brand new car, so may well improve as time goes on. Would I buy one?....MMMMMMMMM not sure.....would like a second opinion after trying a new Rav, Hyundai,Outlander etc hahahahha

Cheers

A

[CharlieFarlie]

I have been looking closely at buying a new Kuga .. It would be the top spec TitaniumX with Pano roof and the utterly fantastic powershift auto transmission.....

If I'm honest it just makes the current Rav feel underpwered and ver very dated indeed... Has a spacesaver spare wheel as well ...

MPG like the Rav though is way down on the manual variants....

!Removed! good car and well screwed together.. On My next trip south on Tuesday next I get a top spec Kuga supplied by Allen Ford at Leamington Spa.. They are lending Me it for a week.. But then Ive had over 80 brand new cars and vans from them over the years....

They have offered a reasonable trade in for the Rav as well.......

[Molnboman]

The performance of the engine is great Charlie I would say it was far better and quieter than the old 2lt duratorq diesel that was in my 2005 Mondeo repmobile....but those 19's watch out for them.....they could drive you bonkers!

Up here in IKEA land they are going for the equivalent of 40k sterling, fully loaded, 4x4 diesels....slightly ootside my budget! hahaha

Cheers

A

[CharlieFarlie]

The performance of the engine is great Charlie I would say it was far better and quiter than the old 2lt duratorq diesel that was in my 2005 Mondeo repmobile....but those 19's watch out for them.....they could drive you bonkers!

Up here in IKEA land they are going for the equivalent of 40k sterling, fully loaded, 4x4 diesels....slightly ootside my budget! hahaha

Cheers

A

I would not be having the 19s Mate... The engines set at 163BHP and it seems quite quick...MPG is a little better than the Rav but not by much or enough to make a difference...

Where Im at with this car on Mine ??.... Well it went to auction this week... It did not make the reserve which was very low indeed !!

The only way to get shot is to trade the !Removed! thing in so that's what will be happening.

This may sound daft but as the car is worth so little the fact that I hate the damn thing doesn't seem to matter as much !!

So I'm plodding away with until I can make a decision on what to buy next.. It will be a new car next time though and not another used one..

I very definately wont be buying a new Rav as fine a car as it is its out of date now and the compromises are just to many... Where O where is the new model ?

At the moment the Kuga is holding the ace card.................

[Molnboman]

Charlie

I was scared to ask the question about your car.....dreading to ask actually! I am really sorry you have been left in that position. I was kind of like that with that !Removed! Zafira of mine.....am just glad it's out of my driveway and not bleeding my wallet dry anymore.

Am still looking for a replacement for the wee Rav but it's so hard to find an upgrade that ticks all the boxes at the right price without getting up to my t@ts in hawk...and time is ticking away before our Summer hols when I wanted something brisk for blasting down to France in!

The longer I hold on to the 4.2 the more reluctant I am to get shot of it......if only I could get more mpg from the wee rascal. It's truly the only thing ( except a 6th gear ) that's making me look for another fresher car right now!

Wish you all the best with your car shopping and hope you get something half decent as a trade price for yours. All the hassle you have had.....you'll just want to get shot of it now.....I can't imagine being so calm and collected about it....you deserve a medal or a huge discount from Mr T on their new model....whenever it surfaces!

40 Grand and this could be yours! FFS! http://www.bytbil.com/bilar/ford/kuga/jvh3n7ag/AwQBUDIAAYtlIBLoAOAA!

Cheers

Allan

[Gods_gift]

For 40k if you go 2nd hand you can buy some bonkers motors at the moment. My boss just bought a Merc GL 'fully loaded' v8 diesel with all manner of toys.

[Manxrav]

Would imagine you can get a super deal on the Kuga at the moment as the new model is immanent.If it was me Charlie, I would go for a Titaneum X and see what sort of deal I could get on that one.

Regards Clare

[Hoovie]

The performance of the engine is great Charlie I would say it was far better and quiter than the old 2lt duratorq diesel that was in my 2005 Mondeo repmobile....but those 19's watch out for them.....they could drive you bonkers! Up here in IKEA land they are going for the equivalent of 40k sterling, fully loaded, 4x4 diesels....slightly ootside my budget! hahaha Cheers A

I would not be having the 19s Mate... The engines set at 163BHP and it seems quite quick...MPG is a little better than the Rav but not by much or enough to make a difference... Where Im at with this car on Mine ??.... Well it went to auction this week... It did not make the reserve which was very low indeed !! The only way to get shot is to trade the !Removed! thing in so that's what will be happening. This may sound daft but as the car is worth so little the fact that I hate the damn thing doesn't seem to matter as much !! So I'm plodding away with until I can make a decision on what to buy next.. It will be a new car next time though and not another used one.. I very definately wont be buying a new Rav as fine a car as it is its out of date now and the compromises are just to many... Where O where is the new model ? At the moment the Kuga is holding the ace card.................

It sounds like you are a Man with a Plan, Charlie

Think you are right on the wheels - Ford do seem to have this little obsession of over sized wheels with rubber band tyres at the detriment of ride

[CharlieFarlie]

Would imagine you can get a super deal on the Kuga at the moment as the new model is immanent.If it was me Charlie, I would go for a Titaneum X and see what sort of deal I could get on that one.

Regards Clare

Hi Clare... I have a brilliant contact at Allen Ford. I used to buy several new vans each year and a fair few cars from that dealership...

I'm looking at the Titanium X with Appearance pack, Full leather , Panoramic roof , Touchscreen Navigation. And wait for it ....... A spare wheel under the floor....

Price I can get is amazing.. Only thing to bug it is its just that wee bit smaller behind the seat in the back........

The Powershift transmission is just superb ! and the ride is far far better than the Rav... I took a manual out for a spin and the gear change in that is exactly the same as in the last 2009 Mondeo I had.... So light and smooth with no notchyness at all ........

[Molnboman]

For 40k if you go 2nd hand you can buy some bonkers motors at the moment. My boss just bought a Merc GL 'fully loaded' v8 diesel with all manner of toys.

You Guys are so lucky.....breaks my heart to see the prices of cars back in Ole Blighty compared to up here....it ain't helping that there are fewer new cars being sold and used cars prices are holding and increasing in price up in Swedenshire.

Cheapest used Kuga 2x4 petrol is around 15k Sterling here....which I think is pretty high indeed imho!

[Big Kev]

For 40k if you go 2nd hand you can buy some bonkers motors at the moment. My boss just bought a Merc GL 'fully loaded' v8 diesel with all manner of toys.

You Guys are so lucky.....breaks my heart to see the prices of cars back in Ole Blighty compared to up here....it ain't helping that there are fewer new cars being sold and used cars prices are holding and increasing in price up in Swedenshire.

Cheapest used Kuga 2x4 petrol is around 15k Sterling here....which I think is pretty high indeed imho!

Awa' ya Big Photogenic Traitor ye....driving aboot in a Ford Cougar (that's a play on words, btw.....) If wee Rav breaks down during the next week or so, ye brought it upon yersell.......

Big Kev :fox:off.......

[junebug1701]

The Ford Kuga is known as the 2013 Escape over here:

[jedi134]

Looks very nice

[CharlieFarlie]

The Ford Kuga is known as the 2013 Escape over here:

That is more or less the profile and shape of the upcoming new Kuga here in the UK.........

Fortunately I prefer the old shape.. Which allows the massive discount on the last of what will be the old shape.....

[Manxrav]

Charlie the old shape is a lot better.New shape is too big and is a consequence of Ford using the shared platform worldwide which sometimes does not work.

Defo would go for current model and squeeze every pound out of the Dealer.

Regards Clare

[Molnboman]

Awa' ya Big Photogenic Traitor ye....driving aboot in a Ford Cougar (that's a play on words, btw.....) If wee Rav breaks down during the next week or so, ye brought it upon yersell....... Big Kev :fox:off.......

I know...... I was riddled wae guilt when I got back home....I was nearly buying it a wee oil and filter change to try and make up for my shameful week!.....Might even wash the poor thing next week!.....and the Rav too! hehe

[Gods_gift]

Fix Or Repair Daily, ****** Original Rubbish Design, or reversed Driver Returns On Foot. Just a few I heard in the service area.

[CharlieFarlie]

Over 30 Years in Business I had over 100 + Transit vans.... God knows how many cars.......

One transit needed a new Battery....... A couple had EGR valves. All under warranty...

Cars were also brilliant.. Odd minor bug but nothing major...

NONE ever needed an engine or gearbox or repairs to the steering.. Only one car A Sierra RS500 Cosworth needed a clutch but that was after giving it death round a race track.....

Only once did I have to return a Van back to the dealer for a body creak to be fixed.. None had to have a replacement seat cos It could not be cured of its creaks........

Fix Often Repair Daily ...................... Yes please.......

[rambler]

Over 30 Years in Business I had over 100 + Transit vans.... God knows how many cars.......

One transit needed a new battery....... A couple had EGR valves. All under warranty...

Cars were also brilliant.. Odd minor bug but nothing major...

NONE ever needed an engine or gearbox or repairs to the steering.. Only one car A Sierra RS500 Cosworth needed a clutch but that was after giving it death round a race track.....

Only once did I have to return a Van back to the dealer for a body creak to be fixed.. None had to have a replacement seat cos It could not be cured of its creaks........

Fix Often Repair Daily ...................... Yes please.......

Actually , Charlie you're right....i had a few ford's in my earlier driving days,escort mk2,orion mk2,escort mk3.....none of those went wrong.

Even after night after night screaming & reving around Colchester town's one way system.......

And these were lowered,full of massive sound systems...lovely ladies in the back....ahem !.

Had each of them for about 4 years,all i spent money on was modding them....

Great times.

[Gods_gift]

After my wifes Ford Fiesta Flight 51 plate was sold I swore we would never ever buy another blue oval car. Double digit faults when that %$(er went from window winder falling off, random over heating, cracked manifold, rear window hinge rusted..... Before that we had a focus with the dash that packed up randomly and seemed to require a new coil pack once a year. Never again thanks.

[DjRav]

Transits and Mondeos, yes I'd agree very good motors. But they're developed over years and years. Relatively, this Kuga's new.

I liked them at first and they were a contender when I bought my Rav. But when I see both in traffic, out dated or not, I personally think the Rav out classes the ford-mobil every time.

Also, I heard they had build issues contrary to previous comment about being screwed together well.

Dave

[DjRav]

Just had a flick through a Kuga forum. Oh dear, seems things aren't all Rosey in Ford land. One thing jumped out though. "Water under carpet" in drivers footwell wasn't an isolated incident. All cars have issues, but some were saying Ford would only rectify faults like that (classed as interior trim issue?) in the first year?!

Dave

For service- Bravo Toyota, bravo.

[CharlieFarlie]

Well I expected nothing else............................

Seemed obvious that anything I buy or look at is going to get a slagging....

But lets look at the facts ?? After all the agg with this effing car it will take some sort of a mongrel to be worse..

2 engines.......

1 Drivers seat.

Steering intermediate shaft is knackered.

More squeaks and rattles than I ever thought possible in a modern motor vehicle....

Shall I go on ?

Then there is the residual values..... Ha Ha it makes Me laugh when the what is this car worth threads come up !!! Try selling one !!

The Kuga is built on the Mondeo platform and uses a derivative of the same engine..... So its tried and tested stuff.....

It ls also has...Or I can get.

A spare wheel under the floor.

Full leather trim as standard on Titanium models.

And a panoramic sunroof.

As for things not looking rosey on the Kuga forum ... I wonder what owners of other cars think when they come on here ??

Engines being replaced so often its just a joke.. Remember many of the cars are coming up to that 7 years of age now.. So NO warranty to catch out those daft enough not to have read the writing on the wall.......

[jedi134]

You Cant get any worse than the core of the engine failing in my book,.....there's no roadside repair for that.

I'd rather travel with my feet in a puddle

[Manxrav]

It seems just about every Forum (Car) you go on, you get problems whether it be Toyota with the Rav4 and other models, Ford with Kuga interior leaks, Nissan with the QQ and rear suspension probs and the Juke with ghastly fuel consumption. Charlie if you fancy a Kuga and you can get a good deal GO FOR IT!!!!!! At least you have a good realationship with your Ford Dealer and no doubt any problems you encounter will hopefully be sorted ( if you get any).

Regards Clare