Lack of driver legroom in zafira!

johnnyboyz

I was all set to buy a zafira until I took one for a test drive and it felt very cramped in the drivers seat. I drive a ford focus at the moment and it feels so much roomier and I can almost keep my legs straight unlike the zafira!
Are all the models the same, I tried an Exclusiv(2008)?
What are the Touran/Toyota verso like? (cos' they're probably the only other 7-seters in my budget!)
Thanks

gkerr4

you have to adapt to the more upright "van-like" position of the zafira.

My wife had a Touran for 5 years (only changed at xmas for a BMW X1) ad before that a honda FR-V - We looked at the both the verso and the zafira when we bought the VW and my mother-in law has had two zafiras.
The driving position takes a bit of getting used to and you need to get your distance from pedals and seat height right before then moving the steering wheel to accomodate.

You can't get your legs "straight" in them - it's just a totally different position to a regular car like the focus.

You do get used to it. I had a 3-series coupe at the same time as my wife had the touran and i couldn't have had two more different driving positions but I found either of them comfortable once i'd got the position sorted.

Personally, i'd recommend the touran - the interior is much nicer and the build quality better (imo)- certainly the materials in ours stood up to 60,000 miles of hard family life including foreign trips, camping etc and it looked great when we traded it in. We had the older design 1.9PD TDi engine with just 105bhp but it was excellent. i still miss it to be honest - such a useful car!

johnnyboyz

I think most of the time I would be fine. It's just that I drive to Ireland 3 times a year and might drive for 8-10 hours in one day and I have a dodgy back which this aggravates.
I don't think this would be possible in the cramped zafira.

tanith

I've had two Zafira's and find them roomy and very comfy to drive even on long drives. Its as gkerr4 says its just a different driving position and as I have hip and back problems I find the upright position is so much better as my knees are level with my hips and I don't get continuous back ache from keeping my legs straight (as in other cars I sometimes drive) the weight is supported by the seat and below the knee the leg is almost straight down to the pedals.. I would think that as you have a bad back also it would be just a case of getting used to it.
My husband does drive my Zafira and he finds he has to put the seat right back to drive comfortably its just what you find comfy I suppose.

funkycoldribena

How about an S-max?

johnnyboyz

funkycoldribena wrote: »

How about an S-max?

would love an s-max but thousands more expensive for similar mileage and age...

Trebor16

There should be a height adjustment for the seat. Were you able to adjust the height as well as the back and forth movement of the seat? I used to drive a Meriva and when I first tried one out it felt very cramped until I lowered the seat and that made a huge difference. I am 6'3" and I was able to find a comfortable driving position so it should be possible in the Zafira.

The comments made above about it feeling more van like are true and it will feel very different to a Focus, but comfort should be possible.

johnnyboyz

yes, I was able to adjust it up and down and recline but only helped marginally. Also moved the steering wheel further in.
I'm going to try a touran tonight and a verso to compare.

funkycoldribena

Dont forget the Mazda 5 either (really a 6.5 seater though).

gkerr4

funkycoldribena wrote: »

Dont forget the Mazda 5 either (really a 6.5 seater though).

oh agreed, yes, - these are good looking cars, but a bit smaller than the zafira / touran.

Don't bother with the 6-seat honda FR-V - the worst car i have ever owned - we had the 1.7 petrol (bought new - the diesel wasn't available at first) - geniune, honestly, 20mpg on the motorway - went back to honda had all sorts of work done - including a full cylinder head rebuild! (yes really!) at 4000 miles - still the same - on motorway speeds it would buzz along at 3700rpm - just killed the fuel consumption. the diesel, but all accounts, wasn't a huge anmount different but might reach upto 40 on a long run. I guess it just isn't very 'aero'.

the touran, by comparison, used to average abouy 45mpg - delivered 50mpg on a motorway run and could be coaxed to close to 60mpg on 'A' class roads if you were driving very gently indeed!