Zafira - reliability?

forgotmyname

Head gasket on a 2002 mondeo. Are you sure it's not the oil cooler? £30 fix.

Gives symptoms similar to a head gasket.

Petrol Zafira = thirsty...

frugglewump

forgotmyname wrote: »

Head gasket on a 2002 mondeo. Are you sure it's not the oil cooler? £30 fix.

Gives symptoms similar to a head gasket.

It survived the whole week in Cornwall, but blew just south of exeter & we were towed the remaining 190miles home in stages by 3 different AA trucks, all of which had a look under the hood.

We've had it looked at by a garage since then who confirmed it & also said probably caused by a coolant tank fix last month not being done properly.

frugglewump

Thanks all.

It is a diesel & at the moment it would be doing 6 junctions around the M25 every day - which is at least normally a fast run at 7am. After we move house it would be 15min to work & back with occasional longer runs such as london -> rugby & back.

interstellaflyer

skivenov wrote: »

Generally very reliable cars.

Dodge the 1.3 and 1.9 diesels (Fiat unit with Fiat electrics, so can be expensively problematic.

Don't get a petrol auto unless you really have to. Nothing wrong with the engine and the box, but they drink like fish!

The Fiat engines in question are generally very robust and reliable, it's the (often German made) bits that GM bolt on to them that fail, I had an 06 plate 1.3 CDTi Astra 'H' for 3 years and sold it at 125,000 miles, I had no issues at all, it was even still on the original clutch. I currently have an 08 plate Vectra C 1.9 CDTI 8v and the main issues with the 1.9 CDTi is the swirl flaps in the inlet manifold on the 16v and that's a GM designed part, nothing to do with Fiat, rather than look at Honest John I would suggest the OP looks at owners forums as this is where you will get the true picture.

interstellaflyer

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Before buying any Vauxhall, just do this simple test. Over the next few weeks, see how many cars you notice with rear light problems, either brake lights or rear lights.

You will be surprised just how high a % of them are Vauxhalls. I have quite often warned Vauxhall drivers when their lights are faulty and they nearly all say that they are continually changing their rear bulbs.

Don't know why, but this has been going on for years.

Funny thing, in the 3 years I had my Astra I only had 2 bulbs fail, one was a headlight bulb, the other was a number plate bulb, given that it was an 06 plate car which I bought in 2009 and sold this year I don't think that's bad, the people you asked could be making excuses for their own laziness.

motorguy

speaking as a motor trader whos had quite a few 06 Zafiras.

Avoid 06 and 07 turbodiesels. DPF problems, EGR valve issues, air flow meter issues, floating flywheel problems - and a new one to us this week, throttle body problems. Timing belt due at 100K miles.

To be honest the diesels are a bit of a pig.

If you're not doing big miles the 1.8 petrol is the one to go for - surprisingly economical, never gives any problems really.

motorguy

!!!!!! wrote: »

I had a 2004 diesel from 2006-2011. In that time I racked up 170,000 with no major problems. Only major cost in that time was disc replacement due to wear.

That would have been the older timing chain driven 2.0 DTi. The 06 model will be the 1.9 CDTi.

forgotmyname

My sis had a 1.8 zafira as a hire car after an accident. I used it more than she did.

Kept nicking my car because it used too much fuel. that would have been a 2005 1.8 petrol Zafira.

I was only doing short journeys so never noticed.

pstuart

We had the 'same' 1.8 engine in a Vectra and using in mainly urban conditions never got less than 36mpg.

motorguy

pstuart wrote: »

We had the 'same' 1.8 engine in a Vectra and using in mainly urban conditions never got less than 36mpg.

+1

From the sales manager of a Vauxhall dealer i buy from - "if we sell a 1.9CDTi Zafira we have to put £1500 aside as it WILL be back under warranty and it WILL be something major. If we sell a 1.8 petrol one, we'll never see the customer again"