Jeremy Kyle. Zafira, benefits.

[HH-R]

Turn a headlight bulb upside down and smash the other one, chuck all of the wheeltrims in the bin, put a hole in the backbox and drive round Mcdonalds drive thru/a housing estate all night at 45 MPH to fit in with the average Zafira owner.

[mercrocker]

You might also want to tape a bin bag over a back door window.....

 

Much as I has took the piss you don't see many still in such use and given the freebie-ness and 24 carat provenance of said greenie I reckon you took the only reasonable course of action and saved it. Autoshite = Other People's Rubbish What Have No Sense.

[phil_lihp]

Always good to see an unloved motor being saved, nice work!

 

I can't say these look too bad and the Astra G is a superb car in many ways so they probably don't deserve a lot of the slating they get, if I needed a small people carrier then I'd probably consider one, Izuzu 1.7TD for preference if they put that engine in the Zafira.

[Hendry]

It came from Curtis. Who I hate as I worked for Reekie Cupar, who were effectively put out of business by Curtis. Happily Curtis are gone now too. It's comfort spec, with Working Aircon! Ignition barrels are still a problem- I see a few a month with this issue. My Vauxhall knowledge is more CDi/ SRi/LXi/GLSi rather than Club/Life/Sad/Skint.

  

 

Yeah I think Curtis got the shove from new Vauxhall sales in late 2006, the Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline branches closed, Peter Vardy built a showroom at Mitchelston Estate for Vauxhall but I think the Cupar Curtis Motors remained as a used car dealers and Vauxhall after sales/authorised repairer, and the Dalgety Bay one became a Chevrolet franchise but again kept Vauxhall after sales/authorised repairer and changed its name to Steve Curtis Cars, I think Cupar Ford Centre bought the Cupar premises earlier this year and moved there from East bridge, and Peter Vardy bought the Dalgety Bay branch and its now a full Vauxhall dealership again, Curtis do still exist though, now selling used cars by appointment from somewhere in Perth.

 

Pretty sure all the 1.6 petrols in these were 16V (X16XEL?) but could be wrong. It's just the usual throttle body/EGR/IACV thing with them and the oil burning issues a few seemed to have, though like modern diesels I think a lot of it is down to how they're driven.

Pretty tough car though, certainly the interiors are better than a Galasharalambra and still very poplier.

 

 

 

Yeah I don't think they ever put 1.6 8vs in Zafiras but I think they were by that point onto the Z16XE which was basically Euro 4 compliant version of the X16XE, think later ones might even have had Z16XEP units, (twinport versions of the 1.6 16v engine I think)

 

The 1.6 in our meriva does 1l every 1k, it's in the manual. I count 5-6 topups then change the oil and filter, then it gets done every 5-6k

 

 

Theres obviously some sort of issues with any car which uses that much oil but amazingly Vauxhalls official line is that 1litre every 1000 miles is perfectly normal and within tolerances!

 

 

Krypton Green with black interior.  Nice. Cheap and easy to run 18XE engine.  Built in Bochum on 1st December 2001.  No customer satisfaction issues, no technical issues, only 1 warranty claim in relation to trim when new, and a load of dealer service history.  8 speaker Bose stereo.  That one should be a keeper.

Jeeso! What system have you got access to that can tell you that much indepth info?

[Guest Lord Sward]

 

 

Jeeso! What system have you got access to that can tell you that much indepth info?

 

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.   But ping a GM VIN at me and I'll tell you all about its build.

[Barry Cade]

Well,

 

put it in for a test today and it failed.

 

 

 

2 front springs, 2 rear brake pipes, 1 front brake pipe and handbrake not working on the offside. Emissions were as good as a 2015 VW. Tester commented on how nice it was. Will be on the road and legal tomorrow.

 

[purplebargeken]

That isn't too bad though. Well done

[Guest Lord Sward]

Its already had brakes pipes by the main dealer.  And new front callipers.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I hate Zafiras, but I love the idea of a GSi Turbo one.

For Vauxhall this was as off the wall as an Avantime ( and sold about as well)

[Barry Cade]

Its already had brakes pipes by the main dealer.  And new front callipers.

Hmmm. There have been some pipes replaced, but not many- advised on the front to rears, and the rears are in a bad way. Advised on front discs too, but they'll see out the winter.

 

Are you some sort of Opel Columbo?

 

P.S. It replaced a Sintra. I'm surprised they ever darkened Vauxhalls door again.

[JohnK]

 

My old 1.6 that I owned January-March 2014.

 

Underpowered but was a good car, ideal for ferrying the dog about and moving crap. Just a MK4 Astra really.

[Guest Lord Sward]

 

P.S. It replaced a Sintra. I'm surprised they ever darkened Vauxhalls door again.

 

hmmm....magnesium alloy seat frames FTW.

[beko1987]

Yep, the oil consumption is in the handbook and everything!

[Mr A Lawrence]

When I worked on the recovery wagons I was told by swmbo that I categorically mustn't bring any dead cars home and if I did, make sure it was comfortable as I'd be sleeping in it.

 

Missed out on loads of good cars

[BorniteIdentity]

Well,

 

put it in for a test today and it failed.

 

 

 

2 front springs, 2 rear brake pipes, 1 front brake pipe and handbrake not working on the offside. Emissions were as good as a 2015 VW. Tester commented on how nice it was. Will be on the road and legal tomorrow.

 

 

Great news.

 

When's the raffle?

[Barry Cade]

When I worked on the recovery wagons I was told by swmbo that I categorically mustn't bring any dead cars home and if I did, make sure it was comfortable as I'd be sleeping in it.

 

Missed out on loads of good cars

LOL, I got the opposite- soon as I said what what was  what, she claimed it for herself. Bang goes the chance of making some cash before Christmas... there must be a solution in there somewhere........

 

I don't usually do green cars, always been bad luck for me.3 accidents in 20 odd years, all in green cars, none of them mine.

[steved40]

Can I just say that all Zafiras R shite.  Period.  End of.  Nasty horrible unreliable heaps of nasty horrible unreliability.

 

There, that's got that off my chest.  Feel much better now.

 

 

[Tayne]

I hate Zafiras, but I love the idea of a GSi Turbo one.image.jpg

For Vauxhall this was as off the wall as an Avantime ( and sold about as well)

 

 

I had one as an upgrade on a four day rental about 11 years ago.

It was rather quick.

[Timewaster]

Can I just say that all Zafiras R shite. Period. End of. Nasty horrible unreliable heaps of nasty horrible unreliability.

 

There, that's got that off my chest. Feel much better now.

I beg to differ.

Mate has a 52 1.8 which he has had for 8 years, used it mainly for short trips and thinks an MOT = a service.

I would be surprised if it has ever been serviced and the only payback it had given him for this abuse is a water pump and a couple of sensors.

 

He bought it to replace a silly speed 156 so he knows a thing or two about unreliability.

[steved40]

I beg to differ.

Mate has a 52 1.8 which he has had for 8 years, used it mainly for short trips and thinks an MOT = a service.

I would be surprised if it has ever been serviced and the only payback it had given him for this abuse is a water pump and a couple of sensors.

 

He bought it to replace a silly speed 156 so he knows a thing or two about unreliability.

 

Brand new one (and I mean BRAND new) hired from a well known car hire company.  Ran like shit, gutless as hell, intermiittently refused to start, eventually left me stranded in the middle of Cognac (in fairness there are worse places to be left stranded) after having it for just five days.  Last seen on the back of a transporter driven by typical Gauloise smoking frenchman.  Never, ever have I been more pleased to see the back of anything on four wheels, and I didn't even mind the five mile walk to pick up a replacment.  Loathsome things.  

[Timewaster]

All Opels are shit?

[steved40]

All Opels are shit?

 

Wouldn't go that far,  Just hate Zafiras is all.  Don't care which badge they have on 'em.

 

Actually quite like six cylinder Opels from the 70s/80s - proper motorway cars.

[garethj]

A statistical sample size of one is not really good enough, are you a government think tank?

 

I think any unusual car is a bit interesting and you can't get more unusual than a Zafira in good condition.

[drum]

I've been in the back (3rd row) of a B model along with 6 other adults and I was impressed by the roominess and its oomph considering the load.

[beko1987]

My stepladder had 8 on the trot, a then b models. None went wrong ever over 70k each, although the 2nd from last one (10 plate) emptied it's header tank for no reason once, with no Ill effects.

 

I find nowt wrong with them, apart from the image they have. I drove the 10 plate for a day in Ludlow, and it wasn't too hateful, although I nearly tipped it over going too fast. Amy hated it as she likes to drive, but couldn't as she wasn't insured.

 

For white goods motoring, their not too bad, prefer the earlier models though. Mum met Keith when he had a v plate one, and the last one was a 12 plate B model, then his company changed lease car provider and now he has a vag

[HH-R]

The one experience I have of these wasn't a positive one, though it wasn't entirely the car's fault. Had booked a 7 seater taxi for 6 adults and thought they were taking the piss somewhat when one of these turned up. It was a long journey and pretty squashed! The driver was having to straightline every corner and just about slow to a crawl, the shockers must have been absolutely goosed.

[andrew e]

I love mine, and I think it handles pretty well (exceptionally well for Vauxhall) possibly because it gets serviced and has 4 matching tyres. Sadly worthless despite nearly 8 years loyal service so used by the whole family as spare. It's still mint on an 05 plate, 1.8 auto - pulls like train. Worth less than the tow bar on my current car.

[twosmoke300]

Zafira with the 2.0dti motor is the least tragic of the mini people carriers IMO.

[steved40]

A statistical sample size of one is not really good enough, are you a government think tank?

 

I think any unusual car is a bit interesting and you can't get more unusual than a Zafira in good condition.

 

No not a government think tank.  Don't work for the government and try not to think too much cos it hurts.

 

Given the number of Zafiras made (probably well into six figures, possibly seven), I doubt anyone outside the motor trade has had enough experience of them for it to be statistically significant.  I am entitled to my opinion though.  And as you say, finding one in good condition is pretty unusual, which kind of bears out my theory.....

 

[Hendry]

I like Zafiras, I think they're good at what they're supposed to do, however, sadly it seems most people who own them do not like them and treat them like crap, I used to be a valeter for Arnold Clark and almost every one which came in as a trade in, ex notability or bought from auctions to be retailed on the forecourt was absolutely disgusting inside. Some took days to valet to a good standard they were so bad.