Vauxhall?

CFC

Hi all

I'm looking at buying the 1.6 Zafira new which has a great offer on it at the moment.

I keep cars till they are driven into the ground, have any of you had or got a Zafira and how reliable is it proving to be ie how long before you had any trouble and was it expensive to fix?

Also has anyone got any thoughts on the new 'extended' warranty?

any thoughts on it?

CFC

OddballJamie

I have an Astra which the Zafira is based on, had it from new in Sept 2010 and is covered under the 'lifetime warranty'.
It's the 1.8vvt, done almost 20k in it and no problems except a slight rattle from the dash which Vauxhall fixed when it had it's first service.

Service costs are reasonable, just call around to get them to price match other garages, my two year (big) service was about £160.

To preserve the warranty you must have it serviced in accordance with the handbook using OEM parts at a VAT registered garage. If non main dealer you take it yearly for a free check up to Vauxhall and they issue you with a card for another 12 months.

When the car is 2 years old, sign up to the Masterfit Club, it's free and you get vouchers, discounted parts/services and half price MOTs at Vauxhall.

Lifetime warranty is for 1st owner (2nd if pre-reg) only and is not transferable when you sell it.

facade

My neighbour has an 03 plate 1.6 zafira, great car.

His wife has crashed it loads of times and it is still going (although about 3" shorter than originally built)

On its second gearbox, uses a gallon of oil per thousand miles and blocks catalysts up, has had 2 starter motors due to around 5 starts per day.
Apart from the usual Vauxhall appetite for crank sensors I don't think it is too bad for 10 years and about 140,000 miles.

worried_jim

I hear the 1.6 is very under powered and not much joy to dive, especially if you are carrying passengers, you have to rev the nuts off it to get to go so it drinks more than a larger engine model.

zappahey

facade wrote: »

My neighbour has an 03 plate 1.6 zafira, great car.

His wife has crashed it loads of times and it is still going (although about 3" shorter than originally built)

On its second gearbox, uses a gallon of oil per thousand miles and blocks catalysts up, has had 2 starter motors due to around 5 starts per day.
Apart from the usual Vauxhall appetite for crank sensors I don't think it is too bad for 10 years and about 140,000 miles.

I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing the irony in this post.

vikingaero

I kind of still have a Zafira A 1.8 automatic on a 52 plate. It's done 100k, the only fault was an engine management warning light which reset itself, and normal servicing, brakes and tyres.

It's not sexy but more practical than the Mazda 5 that I bought to replace it. I gave the Zafira to my Mum and sometimes still borrow it when I need to move things.

vikingaero

If the OP is referring to the current thread in HUKD where everyone who posts and denigrates the offer because they only drive sideways oversteer in their V8 musclecars. The reality is that the £10k offer for the Zafira, even a 1.6, is fantastic for a new car with a potentially long warranty.

For instance if I bought one for Mrs V. the 1.6 would be wasted on the school run, afterschool clubs and trips to the shops. Most people who buy one wouldn't care about engine size compared to those that live in fantasyland on HUKD.

Rolandtheroadie

I experienced a workmates 1.6 Zafira (it was 3-4 years old) and going uphill, with 4 people in it, it couldnt hold a steady 60. (He was also a bit miffed that the road tax was the same as the 3.9 litre I had at that time). Thats been replaced with the 1.8.

I also spoke to another 1.6 owner who only had it a year or so. She got rid of it as she felt it was "gutless".

When I went to try and get shot of a mondeo as I was going to be getting a peoplecarrier, the dealer suggested the 1.6 would be "ok for the mrs".

As worriedjim has suggested, a larger engine might be more economical.

facade

zappahey wrote: »

I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing the irony in this post.

There is no irony. It has endured 140,000 miles of the sort of abuse that would see most cars off in under 60,0000. Wouldn't have needed the gearbox if it had had any oil put in over the last 140,000 miles.

Considering vauxhalls are built down to a price, they are among the most long term reliable cars, but they do go through sensors and switches .

Too_Bloo

I until recently owned a 1.6 07 plate, had it from new, was okay to drive certainly would never set the heather on fire but for such a large car i was n`t disappointed with the economy.
It was incredibly practical and reliable with reasonable servicing costs. I drove it from central Scotland to France a couple of times with four plus baggage, handled it no bother.
Six years old, no rattles or squeaks unlike the new Passat I exchanged it for (been back to dealers twice since March).
For £10,000 new it`s a great buy.(assuming it`s the deal mentioned on HUKD)

CFC

Thanks for the comments so far. Yes it is the 1.6 Zafira, the only choice of engine for the special offer. I test drove it today and did feel it could have done with a bigger engine for any kind of driving pleasure, but it is a lot of car for the money.

I was going to buy a Dacia Duster petrol, which is also big but a lot more fun, but there's deffo more metal for your money with a Zafira.

We have a nice little nippy i10 but for long holiday trips etc and general handiness it would be nice to have the second car as a bigger beast instead of another i10, which was the original idea.

We can't cnsider diesel due to lots of short trips.

Would be interested to hear what mpg people have got with the zafira round town?