Vauxhall Zafira (2005 - 2014) 1.6i (115bhp) Exclusiv 5d (2013/62) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Family person - practical not flashy.

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

Quite favourable - not exactly an exciting car but very practical and amazing value for a new car.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes as such fantastic value for a very spacious family car that won't cost the earth to run.

What are you likely to buy next?

Two car family so next car will not be a replacement for e Zafira but will be in addition to it. Possibly a Vauxhall Astra - I like the idea of a "lifetime" warranty particularly as modern cars are getting so complicated.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£10,150

When did you buy the car?

February 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

Advertised price was £9,995 plus £500 part exchange which was £8,000 less than list price. OK you'd be mad to pay £18,000 for what is now an "old" model Zafira but nevertheless £10,000 for a brand new 7 seater is an amazing deal in anyone's book, particularly given Vauxhall's "lifetime" or 100,000-mile warranty.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Great deal on last of the line before new model launched.

What was the dealer like?

Dealer was very accommodating and when it was apparent they didn't really want the part-ex car we'd agreed £350 for they were happy to knock £350 off the price if the new car and leave me the old car for me to sell privately. Only problem was a small scratch on the rear bumper on delivery which was eventually sorted but took two attempts to get right. As a compensating factor the car came with a full set of mats, mud flaps and boot liner that we didn't have to pay for. I would definitely consider using this deler again as they really do offer some very good deals.

What's it like to drive?

Initial impressions after driving a saloon car is that it's a bit van-like but you soon get used to it and handling is actually very good and brakes very sharp. The 1.6 petrol with 115bhp was never going to be fast but it's got enough power for day to day driving. I haven't driven it fully loaded yet but expect it to be underpowered so if you do lots of load lugging then the diesel would be a better bet.

What's it like to park?

Fine - nice and high. Some reviews gripe about visibility but I think visibility is good compared to most modern cars with high rear waistlines and narrow rear windows.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Early days yet but nothing has gone wrong so far.

What's most practical about your car?

Loads of space for a growing family with a dog without being a massive car. The kids love it.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

We bought the basic car CD player