Vauxhall Zafira (2005 - 2014) 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX Exclusiv (110bhp) 5d Owner Review

I bought mine at the end of December 2014, a pre-reg with 10 miles on the clock, so I was the 2nd owner, but still got the lifetime warranty (now unavaliable). At my current annual mileage I will hit 100K in around 8 years from new. I feel I got a good deal as it came with bluetooth radio for mobile phone, tinted windows, climate control, 17" alloys, tyre pressure monitors and parking sensors. Car cost £12250 plus £250 for a full spare wheel and carrier which I fitted and sourced a 2nd hand alloy and a new tyre. I average 44MPG, which I think is actually 42mpg having done the calculations myself. Worst Mpg is 38 when driving round town, best is 60mpg on busy dual carriageways on a 120 mile drive. DPF filter is the only concern, when I hear the relay in the boot starting it, I will drop down a gear to make sure it works properly. I took out a service plan, so works out at £16 a month which isn't too bad, and my local garage always give a courtesy car. I needed a car with a large versatile boot, which is great for my business and family travels. 0-60 is 12.5 seconds, not great, but has good torque for easy overtaking which suits me as I don't drive around like a F1 driver as its a car for business use so need to keep the costs down. Front tyres only lasted 14k miles and after having it a couple of weeks had to take it to have the ECU reprogrammed as a light came on as spluttered a few times. Been fine since. I plan to run it to at least 100k miles, It currently costs me 35p per mile, and charge myself 45p a mile, so benefit by about £1000 a year in paying less income tax, self employed nonsense. (10000 miles at 10p saving). I do understand it will look a bit dated on the road in 6 years or so, as my model is the Zafira B, as the model started production in 2005. depreciation is poor, but as I plan to run it into the ground, it isn't an issue, I estimate the depreciation to be £10000 over 8 years - £1250 a year. It was bought for its versatility with the bonus of being about the same length of an Astra so easy to park. I looked at other similar cars, but the Zafira was the cheapest, for the money would have meant a 2nd had grand scenic for example with a poor warranty in comparison.