When my fourth child was born, I was heartbroken to give up my 5-seater Volkswagen Bora saloon, but I have quickly come to appreciate the Zafira:
In looking for a 7-seater replacement, we were looking for something reasonably low cost, but more importantly, a car rather than a minibus! The ... Read review
MPV - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Manual - 1598 cc - Max Speed: 109 mph - 105 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Life, Expression, Energy, Design, Exclusiv, Club
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Advantages: Flexibility of seating, fuel economy, size Disadvantages: luggage space with all seats used
When my fourth child was born, I was heartbroken to give up my 5-seater Volkswagen Bora saloon, but I have quickly come to appreciate the Zafira:
In looking for a 7-seater replacement, we were looking for something reasonably low cost, but more importantly, a car rather than a minibus! The Zafira met both requirements, being only slightly longer than the Bora.
In choosing a model, the Comfort gave a lot of the "extras" we ... ...for long journeys with a packed car; roof bars: having recognised the limitation in luggage space with all the seats up, good roof carrying was going to be essential.
We had a bit of a dilemma with engine sizes as the information we were given by salesmen was conflicting: one (obviously desperate to get rid of the 2.0l diesel sitting is his showroom), told us that the 1.6 possibly wouldn't be powerful enough for our needs and we would be better ... more
When my fourth child was born, I was heartbroken to give up my 5-seater Volkswagen Bora saloon, but I have quickly come to appreciate the Zafira: In looking for a 7-seater replacement, we were looking for something reasonably low cost, but more importantly, a car rather than a minibus! The Zafira met both requirements, being only slightly longer than the Bora. In choosing a model, the Comfort gave a lot of the "extras" we were looking for as standard features e.g. the air-con: essential for long journeys with a packed car; roof bars: having recognised the limitation in luggage space with all the seats up, good roof carrying was going to be essential. We had a bit of a dilemma with engine sizes as the information we were given by salesmen was conflicting: one (obviously desperate to get rid of the 2.0l diesel sitting is his showroom), told us that the 1.6 possibly wouldn't be powerful enough for our needs and we would be better with a diesel - even though the majority of our driving is short hops around town! Another admitted that the diesel was quite heavy on oil and needed to be watched quite closely. I'm glad to say that after test driving both, we bought the 1.6 (from a different dealer, needless to say) and have had it fully laden with 5 adults and two teenage children without any problems, so the normal 2 adults and 4 children aged 4 months to 8 is a breeze.
Selling points: The Zafira handles like a car, not a van as some of the other MPVs. Fuel economy is as good as - if not better - than my old saloon car: we can even get 31+ mpg running about town. The seating is so flexible, I must have used about 50% of the possible combinations so far and even managed to fit in a bed-settee. The fact that you don't have to remove any seats liek some other MPVs is a big plus. When the older childrens are in the rear seats, the middle seat provides a lovely sound barrier for the driver!!!
Bad points: The luggage space is very limited when all the seats are up: we manage to pack in the baby changing bag and a foldaway stroller, but need to lose a seat if we want to take the pushchair. Having said that, with a roof box fitted, we managed a very comfortable journey on holiday this year and the limited space is generally sufficient for day to day use (we just fold one rear seat down when we go to the supermarket). The rear windows aren't electrically controlled and so can't be locked from the driver's seat to prevent the children playing with them. The children fight over who's going to sit in the "very back". My wife likes it so much that she's always finding excuses for why she needs the car "to take the kids to....", and I'm left driving her old Cavalier :-(
Overall opinion:
The Zafira is proving the ideal car for our family. We've been pleasantly surprised by the economy of the 1.6i engine and not at all disappointed by its pulling power. We've utilised the flexibility of the seating a lot more than we thought we would and haven't found the problems with luggage space insurmountable. A good choice for us and a car I would recommend to anyone looking for more than 5 seats.
Advantages: reliability, adaptability & easy to drive Disadvantages: floor covering difficult to clean, fuel ecomomy
...have been very pleased the Vauxhall Zafira, it adaptability has allowed us to take my parents on holiday to France with out hiring an extra car (parents flew down). Once the family luggage was removed after our drive down, the extra seats were popped up and we were able to visit the countyside together. A good family car. ...
brownlegs 14.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i
We purchased this vehicle 5 months ago second hand. The Zafira is very popular among people buying under the mobility scheme so the advantages of buying one of these second hand is that they tend to be low milage and have a full dealer service history. We were fortunate in that our one was three years old but only had 15,000 miles on the clock. We purchased from a network Q dealer in the area and had some minor work done by them ( 2 front tyres and ... ...is that there was a noticeable distortion of the windscreen directly in the drivers line of site. Apparently this is not an MOT failure. This was confirmed to me by a friend who is an MOT examiner. However, the garage replaced it free of charge (many kudos to them). The replacement still has a slight distortion on the passenger side by this is acceptable. This may be something to be aware of if you intend to buy second hand.
My wife is the main ...
sskc 18.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i
Ive just this minute got back from a bowling tournament. Our bowling coach hired out a Zafira to get us there and back. There was 7 of us, and rather handily ( is that a word ) there is 7 seats. On the way there I was sat on the second row, the leg room is ample, well maybe more than ample if it hadnt of been for the dozen or so bowling balls ladden about the car/mpv thingy. However on the return journey, considering this is a 100 mile trip from ... ...If they can be called seats, the leg room is awful! I am only 5"10" and i looked like a 7fter in a train seat. I had to sit with my head on the ceiling, and rear end perched half way up the back of the seat !
The Zafira does have a lot of good points, these include decent stereo system, swift accelration and mid range pickup. The build quality is excellent and you can feel this whilst cruising along the motorway at 100mpoh, not a thing rattling ...
dolphin_style 17.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i
Advantages: A car for all things Disadvantages: Poor visability
I have been running a Zafira 1.6 comfort for the last 3 years,( before that I had a nissan serena), so as you can tell I like and require people movers. And in my opinion the Zafira has to be the best vehicle in this class on the road.With all 7 seats up granted there isnt much left of the boot space but it is enough for the shopping, but with the rear seats down it becomes a very good estate car, and then if you fold the middle seats you have practicaly ... ...have moved about in my car,but I must point out that it isnt a large vehicle, it is a car and it feels and drives like a car. My wife is only 5 feet tall and she uses the car as a runabout. The feul economy is great We average around 35 to 40 miles to the gallon,The interior spec on the comfort range is very good ie: aircon, steeringwheel controls for the sterio etc. My only complaint is the front quarter light windows, while driving the extra support ...
NIGSY 24.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i
Advantages: Roomy, economic on fuel, sits 7, cheapest 7 seater Disadvantages: Low on features
I bought my Zafira 1.6i in Novemeber 1999. My problem was that with three kids it was difficult to get everyone and the luggage in. I decided we needed a people carrier. At around the £10-13,000 the only options seemed to two-three year old vehicles--I struggled with the idea of paying that kind of money for an "old" car.
The bottom of the range Zafira was price listed at £14,500 (after negotiation and trade in on a banger) I paid just £13,000.
... ...your cheque book and add a couple thousand if you need them). However, it is easy to drive and comfortably sits six (or seven on shorter journeys). In the summer I took three adults and three children on a 3,000 mile round trip in the UK and France and apart from the lack of air conditioning, it was brilliant.
A great family car which we have had no problems with at all.
One year on, I'd buy it again. ...
andy.redfern 02.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i
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We had our zafira1.6 life for two years from brand new.The reliability with ours was perfect,tottaly faultless with no issues whatsoever,however the drive was a different story.The blind spot is a huge issue which has no bearing on driver ability whatsoever,the car has huge flat spots whice could easly be called dangerous eg when pulling out of a junction due to flat spots with first gear.The standard spec is low there are not many airbags,no alarm etc.A huge issue for me was the indicators they are "new age" when youpush down to turn left you hear a click then the stalk returns to the centre position making canceling a problem as you have to push the stalk up and quite often you push too hard and the right hand indicator comes on,very dangerous indeed or am i just a tad heavy handed? i have just taken delivery of my new car ...
Advantages: good car as well as a 7 seater Disadvantages: boot space
13.5.08
VAUXHALLZAFIRA CLUB 1.6I 03 REG
We got this car one mounth ago its an xmoterabilaty car with full service history and 46000 on the clock We got it from a vauxhall dealer in chesyerfield
i have no conplantes about the car as it is 5 years old but i had to tack it back to have the traking cheked as it was pulling to the left the dealer said it is fine then the power steering pump starts to make a noise the dealer said the power steering pump is leeking this it the reason it is pulling to the left .The pumps are £600 for part. overall the car is vgood im getting 520 miles to a full tank of fuel
Last week i had warning light came on got the R A C out to my car and he told me i had a fault with my EGR valvue wich controls thr exhaust gases the fault code was P400 OR P0400 .
The egr valvue from vauxhall is about 70+vat ...
Advantages: I only have to keep it for 9,000 miles. Drives OK Disadvantages: boring, dull, ordinary and a bit outdated
I am currently between company cars and have been using the services of Avis to fill the gap. They ask that you return a car before it gets to 13,000 miles so I am currently changing cars about every two months.
The latest loaner is the much vaunted VauxhallZafira club, which I picked up early in the week and have now had for about 1,000 miles.
Looks and Styling 2/5
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It's a Vauxhall, never renowned for their styling or attractiveness, it has all the character and style of a loaf of stale bread, and it is about the same shape, no matter, I don't need it for its pulling power.
Build Quality 3/5
Unusually for a Vauxhall it seems to be quite well put together, although the noise that the boot lid makes when closing lets it down badly. It isn't very well lined up and the noise is ...
