Old c-max, zafira or mazda 5?

wazza2004

Currently have a zafira tourer on lease which is due to end soon. Since I am now doing less miles and wish to allow my daughter to use the car I have decided to buy a car from around 2007 onwards.

Since I was under fleet insurance it is best to assume I will start with no NCB. I am a large guy with back problem so prefer high seating cars. However I can get in and out of the new honda jazz. Pity kids don't like it.

I dont want to spend more than 7k because due to parking my car on the road it picks up scratches dents etc. Won't mind it too much if I had a cheap car. It is just me and 3 teenagers to ferry around. Going for petrol.

The cars I have in mind is the old ford c-max, zafira b model, and the mazda 5. Don't really need a 7 seater. Prefer 1.8 petrol. Which would you recommend? Yes I know the fire issue with zafira but the elite version is not affected.

Any other choices? Needs to be cheap to insure, reliable and economical.

Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Don't worry about the fire issue with the Zaffy, they are or will have been re called. The Zafira is a bit bigger than the Mazda but the Mazda does have Sliding doors. My 1.8 Zafira is very practical as I often use it in 6 or 7 seater mode and occasionally as a van. It is nice to drive although I think the gearbox and clutch has always been a bit clunky but you get used to it. it has been very reliable for me. I average about 36 to the gallon but this includes a lot of short school runs. I get mine servced by a Vauxhall dealer through a payment scheme £15 a month which pays for the annual service and MOT that you get a little discount for. I know this isn't the cheapest way f getting your car serviced but I've been very satisfied with the service and be never really found an Indy that I've been happy with.
Be never had a C Max but I've had many Fords and I've always liked them.

gilbert_and_sullivan

They didn't recall the Zaf in time that self ignited at Northwich by the bakery Friday morn.

They are probably now all scrapped, but if you happen find a surviving C Max with CVT box for sale coupled tpo the Diesel lump, run away, the gearbox will fail and its will scrap the vehicle when you find out the cost to replace, no parts available, well done Ford.

fatbelly

Not much wrong with the Mazda 5 petrol pre-2010. There was a facelift in 2008, which tweaked a few things.

C-max is fine too and also had a model change in 2010 following a facelift in 2007.

With a budget of 7k, and a bit of shopping around you should be able to fid a post-2010 cmax

wazza2004

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

They didn't recall the Zaf in time that self ignited at Northwich by the bakery Friday morn.

They are probably now all scrapped, but if you happen find a surviving C Max with CVT box for sale coupled tpo the Diesel lump, run away, the gearbox will fail and its will scrap the vehicle when you find out the cost to replace, no parts available, well done Ford.

Funny you should mention the auto version. Yes I know about the cvt box in the c-max and also issues with the turbo in the 1.6 diesel.

My current car is an auto and would prefer not to go back to manual but:-

C-max auto is only available with 2litre petrol. Higher insurance and road tax.

zafira auto only as 1.9 diesel which has issues. Heard horror stories with petrol easytronic version.

mazda 5 auto only as 2litre petrol and are rare.

thankfully my mileage will be low so can go for a manual but will miss the auto box

wazza2004

fatbelly wrote: »

Not much wrong with the Mazda 5 petrol pre-2010. There was a facelift in 2008, which tweaked a few things.

C-max is fine too and also had a model change in 2010 following a facelift in 2007.

With a budget of 7k, and a bit of shopping around you should be able to fid a post-2010 cmax

Had a 07 1.8 mazda for a while and loved it especially the squeeky suspension on very cold morning. If I do go for the mazda it will the facelift version (2008?) and will be ts2 trim. The sport had tyre wear issues.

the only post 2010 c-cmax I have come across for just over 7k are high mileage diesel.

motorguy

Zaffy 1.8i petrol will be as cheap as chips and is an excellent car. If you dont need the 7 seats then they fold into the boot floor leaving you with a massive boot.

Also economy is good for the size of the car.

The CMax is probably the better car but smaller and more expensive. Also the 1.8i likes its fuel from memory so factor in a few extra £ per month for fuel.

I guess drive both and see which you prefer though

wazza2004

Just wondering if the touran, Toyota verso are worth looking into. I know they command a higher price and with Toyota you got reliability. Looked at Nissan note but is narrow and boxy. Don't want to go French. Any other options?

motorguy

wazza2004 wrote: »

Just wondering if the touran, Toyota verso are worth looking into. I know they command a higher price and with Toyota you got reliability. Looked at Nissan note but is narrow and boxy. Don't want to go French. Any other options?

A lot more expensive, so your money will be buying you an older car and thus negating any (perceived) reliability benefits.

With your budget you could buy a 2015 low miles 1.8i Zaffy with 2 years manufacturers warranty remaining....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609087581707?search-target=usedcars&make=vauxhall&model=zafira&price-to=7500&year-from=2015&maximum-mileage=up_to_50000_miles&fuel-type=petrol&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.8&sort=default&page=1&postcode=bt622hb&searchcontext=default&radius=1500&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&logcode=p&adPos=1

At very worst, you'll get a low miles late 2014 car for that.

prowla

From my perspective, if I were looking at those, I would (a) exclude the Ford because every Ford garage I have dealt with has lied to me, and (b) exclude the Zafira because I've heard they tend to catch fire; thus only the Mazda would remain.

fatbelly

wazza2004 wrote: »

the only post 2010 c-cmax I have come across for just over 7k are high mileage diesel.

Don't know where you live but search autotrader for 2011 on, petrol cmax, £6-7000, shows 35 cars.

They are all 1.6 manuals, mostly 105 bhp. Not enough for you?