Vauxhall Zafira (1999 - 2005) 1.6 Club 5d (7/00) (2003/03) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

The Zafira basically spits practicality and marks you out as a family Man / Woman. It is certainly not a "cool" car and that may be a factor for those seeking a car with street cred as well as versatility.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My immediate family like the car and it has become a part of our lives having been owned for over seven years. My friends are less impressed and generally drive more upmarket motors. My neighbours drive equally underwhelming cars and have never commented on the Vauxhall.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No. despite its practicality and reasonable running costs, I feel a better experience of motoring could be gained from a standard estate car or large family hatchback.

What are you likely to buy next?

Vectra Hatchback / Estate. or Mondeo Hatchback / Estate or Volvo V40 or Renault Laguna Hatchback / Estate.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£6,000

When did you buy the car?

May 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

I was only looking for a decent car with a good warranty. Also l had a very poorly car to trade in and needed to get rid quickly. The deal was not great but in line with prices at the time.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Needed a reliable family car. Decided to buy used from a Network Q Main Dealer for the first time.

What was the dealer like?

The Vauxhall dealer was efficient and I have no complaints. However, I can hardly say they went above and beyond. At the end of the day, they are charging over the odds for their cars so you generally get decent customer service.

What's it like to drive?

The car is relatively good to drive, if a little boring. It quickly runs out of revs in low gears and acceleration is not great. I do feel the 1600 is seriously underpowered for the weight it has to haul around. Having said that, it's not a bad motorway car. If you're doing a steady speed at around 60 - 70mph, then accelerating to overtake is relatively smooth and hassle free. On country roads, it handles reasonably well but you are still essentially driving a "Van with Windows". It is not at all refined over rough surfaces and it is well documented that the front suspension can be problematic. One major problem with town driving is front end visibility. The A Post is very wide and can cause problems at junctions. Fuel consumption is poor, averaging between 31mpg and 36mpg.

What's it like to park?

Parking is a doddle. Thank God for Power steering. Visibility is excellent through the rear window and door mirrors. Having a rear tailgate means you can get close to obstacles when reversing into a space.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Have replaced Tyres, Brakes, Headlights etc. and had a couple of expensive services followed by years of doing it myself as far as possible. Be prepared to take out a mortgage for oil though as it does drink a lot, particularly if you do a lot of motorway driving. I have experienced a breakdown as a result of a failed thermostat housing. Problems with a failed EGR Valve. An ongoing hesitation on acceleration and various issues affecting the front suspension. Have replaced the Drop Links Twice. Overall, I can't really complain.

What's most practical about your car?

Despite the practicality of the Flex seating system, the most practical thing about the car is the load space. It is very capacious for a family of four and is fantastic as a holiday load lugger. My problem with having the rear-most seats up is that I would not wish to sit anyone in them on a long journey, particularly on a motorway. In the event of a rear end shunt at speed, there would most certainly be casualties. Your head is almost touching the rear tailgate glass. Also, this means NO luggage space is available.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The car is the basic club model. It hasn't even got rear disc brakes. The most exotic gadget on it is electrically operated door mirrors. Not a car for those who like a bit of luxury.