Model Year 22/23 Time to move on..

[marjohn56]

After four years with my Formentor 1.5 V2 it's time to move on. I read all the negative messages way back in 2022, how I was going to regret getting a Formentor, not so. Apart from the 'very' occasional glitch with the Infotainment it's been rock solid. I'm not leaving the family though, after two Leons and a Formentor I'm moving on to a Terramar Hybrid, a single test drive was all it took. I did take an Omoda 7 for a test drive, not bad, but comparing it to either the Formentor or the Terramar is not possible, they are in a different league. Roll on mid October...

 

[ifa]

after sitting, yesterday (without even driving) in
BYD seal u dm i - returning to my own formentor was be unpleasant.

 

[Andy.M]

My V2 is over 4 years old now and no plans to replace it yet!
Yes the infotainment is a bit annoying to use at times and it had a new steering wheel a couple of years ago but its a lovely car to drive.

 

[marjohn56]

Nothing but two services on mine. I think it probably needs a new battery, but that's the lease companies problem. I hope the Terramar is as reliable as the Leons and Formentor.

 

[Momochi]

after sitting, yesterday (without even driving) in
BYD seal u dm i - returning to my own formentor was be unpleasant.

"Seal U DMi" (or Sealion 6 in Australia) is the export version of BYD's "Song-Plus" in the Chinese domestic market, a car heavily critised by the car critics in China because of the inferior materials used in areas not seen by customers, e.g. the jokingly thin trailing arms in the rear which is also prone to rusting within 1 year from leaving the factory.

A very similar model also by BYD, named as "Sung-L DMi", only available in the domestic market in China, is being rated much higher, for built quality of another level and much better materials used, upgraded driving dynamics and a more solid ride.

(I am not against Chinese cars, but just wait for a few more years before seriously consider them as your next purchase. Those models on sale in the UK are just dated designs from 2-3 years ago, or current models with limited advance features compared with those in the Chinese market.)

 

[Momochi]

Nothing but two services on mine. I think it probably needs a new battery, but that's the lease companies problem. I hope the Terramar is as reliable as the Leons and Formentor.

No to gear stick behind the steering wheel....

 

[marjohn56]

No to gear stick behind the steering wheel....

Yes, I too was dubious, also with the multi-function left hand hand stalk. Five minutes into my test drive those doubts were gone. How often do you actually use the Auto selector? There is no manual gearbox for the Terramar, and it will be the first automatic I've ever owned in over 50 years of driving. The trade off is I get flappy paddles to play with instead, no doubt that novelty will also wear off after the first 1k miles.

 

[Momochi]

Yes, I too was dubious, also with the multi-function left hand hand stalk. Five minutes into my test drive those doubts were gone. How often do you actually use the Auto selector? There is no manual gearbox for the Terramar, and it will be the first automatic I've ever owned in over 50 years of driving. The trade off is I get flappy paddles to play with instead, no doubt that novelty will also wear off after the first 1k miles.

Twice renting a electric Ford Transit for moving house last year, with the gear stick behind the wheel.

Easily moved to the reverse gear accidentally......

(Yet Ford do have the best Android Auto integration for their infotainment system, even for their relatively small screen for the Transit)

 

[marjohn56]

Well it's a Ford. I didn't try doing that exact thing on the test drive, but I did press park. It just told me to stop first.

Edit: Just checked, VW DCT will tell you to naff off. unless you are only crawling forward.