I don't mind the Zafira. If all you want is a reliable, no nonsense family car, The Zafira fits seamlessly into your life and will serve you well for years. It's never going to be desirable, but it's endlessly useful, and for that, I think it's great. It's certainly better than a Model Y, that's for damn sure.
It's amazing to see how things have developed in only three years time. But one thing remains the same. The old Geoff was brilliant and the new is as well.
I love my Zafira B 1.9 CDTI SRI Zafira. It drives surprisingly well and is very reliable with good but not brilliant fuel consumption. 2010 and 120K miles it looks tatty but as a shopping and tip run trolly it is perfect. Four years old when I bought it I shall run it until it dies. Probably the best car I have ever owned and that includes big Mercs.
Had our zaf B 1.8 SRi for 13 years and 140k miles. Does school runs with 3 now teenage boys, commutes, occasional business trips around the country, tip runs and shopping. If I drove it more than 20 minutes at a time more often I might buy something newer but really, for anyone just doing small scale life-essentials driving, what else do you really need? Also, no-one will ever want to nick it - just being a Zafira makes it theft proof!
Porsche had a heavy hand in engineering the Zafira A, they had one on display at the Porsche museum in Stuttgart. Also it was a Zafira B with the heater issue.
I bought my 2005 Zafira 9 years ago and it only cost me just shy of £900. In all the time i have had it, its been one of the most reliable cars i have ever owned. I originally bought it because we needed the extra space due to the arrival of our 3rd child. The boot space is huge and comes in handy. I've had all sorts in that car, fridge freezers, cookers, sofa bed etc... Its like having a van.
We bought a Zafira GSi from new and loved it. We got it from Motorpoint back when they were doing cheap deals and paid £16k for it and they were over £21k at Vauxhall. It was still built at Ellesmere Port, shipped to Holland where it sat on the dock for a while then shipped back to Motorpoint and classed as an import for £5k less than Vauxhall were selling them for.
I had a 2002 Zafira, that I bought from new, and sold 5 years later at 100,000 miles. It was in the mirage colour, with option al CD player. Always regretted selling it. Was totally reliable, 2 litre diesel, and just great.
Have to say I found the Meriva and Zafira decent enough cars. Bit of comfort in them, room for tins of paint in the back, ladders etc on the roof, cheaper to tax than a van 🤷🏼♂️ I'd have one.
Our Zaffy SRi 1800cc we bought for the family and is insured remarkably cheaply as such. Everyone uses it from time to time for holidays, trips to tips, moving house, 7 up at party times, it is endlessly useful. Does 32mpg average and nips along well, loaded or one up, just a little clunky on the van gearbox but just goes on and on. Love the alloy wheels which are soon due to be repainted locally for a £260 birthday. We will keep it until we or it drops off the perch.
The 3rd row of seats were brilliant, especially as they could be pulled up out the boot's floor. However, as a fairly agile adult, getting in to one of those seats was a bit of a challenge, even though, thereafter, the seat seemed to me to be quite comfortable.
The foldable 3rd row seats were a unique feature at that time ,and fast forward Vauxhall dont have anything like it,a Combi life where the seats are fixed and have to be removed if you dont need them-- that's progress for you with the PSA group!
Ive got One, had it for 12 years. Never missed a beat. 106K so far.1.7 oil burner. Does everything I need still turns 57 MPG on a run and 40 in town. absolutely love it. You can service it with basic kit and skill set. But I've always been substance over style!
Only car I’ve ever got rid of because I couldn’t fix it was a diesel Zafira. You had to leave it parked facing down hill or it wouldn’t start, the diesel pump would de-prime itself. Part exed it for a Smax.
We have had two vauxhall zafira's and a citroen xsara Picasso. Loved the Picasso ( except for the speedo being in view of passengers). Loved the first zafira, second one put me off vauxhall...... ( recurring issue with horn button which they could not fix). These cars were all on motability.
First Zafira I had was terrible, paid £7k and in two weeks the dealership had to fit a new engine, then over several years a continuous failure, steering pump, two alternators, thermostat, engine mount, spring, never ending bulbs, brake master cylinder failure then a burning smell and electronics failure which sent it to the breakers. Got a mk2 diesel last year off a mate cat N paid £300, put it back on the road for another 500, no problems so far, use it for work every day, always found them comfortable and nice to drive. My other car is a C Class 320
Hmmmm, glad I watched this. Husband and I have been thinking about getting a van (as a second vehicle, or spend loads and replace the car with a nice one) because they are useful, basically, especially to put bikes in, and I was thinking - why don't we get one of those old 7 seater things you used to see and take the seats out? Then we'd have windows. Thanks Geoff!
Not 1 foot. My only experience of a Zafira was my grandmother, who bought one new. At 3 months old, it was in the dealership 2 months due to lots of issues. She ended up getting her money back and going elsewhere.
I bought a 52 plate in 2010 as a stop-gap to last a month or so until we found something else. First owner: Drive Assist (insurance courtesy cars) Second owner: not a family Third owner: Me Guess what? 362,000 miles later, I'm still driving it. The most reliable car ever. Original clutch lasted to 329,000 Mine was built in Thailand, bit better build quality than the German ones. But I did buy a German built one last year "for spares" Only 57k on it. Tidy and clean. 4 brand new decent tyres. Full tank of fuel "Snapped timing belt" £200 Only the timing belt wasn't snapped. It needed a starter motor. And a rocker cover gasket to keep the oil inside the engine. But it's a 1.6 petrol They are early adopter euro4 so London ULEZ compliant😂
Sadly 😞, …………… we had one. It was like a Transit Van and the front was pretty cool. (2015) Now, the kids are grown up and I have my beautiful Mercedes E Class. 😂
We were in a friends 1.8 ???, Fairly peppyish, Coming home from Passion night club in Coalville, M1 just as we passed Leicester servs and gave it everything, Due to a lost wheel weight and a leaking shock it shook itself to bits, Highly frighting but my friend pushed on, By Newport the car was shall we say... Loose. It was so hot it wouldnt start after a pot of tea, so we left it there, Jumped in another friends Luton body, That was even more fun. MK Roundabouts are hilarious in the back of a luton.
That boot has enough room tho carry a pot bellied pig,great for a school run, the kids can cuddle one chicken each, it’s an animal farm thing, kind regards Tim
Geoff i have the very rare zafira B 2.0 petrol turbo Opel to be fair they are a brilliant bus and it’s similar to the vxr and only 80 total left of this design model (by how many’s left website) it’s never let me down definitely worth there money and if well serviced they are extremely reliable and great to modify the high rate tax is a con but all in all 👍👌😎 a cool bus to own
I've been hearing the gearboxes can be a problem from a few people. My previous job, I had a colleague who had an 05 Zafira, had to replace the gearbox at about 82k miles, then replaced that replacement at 96k miles. He binned the car and bought a 12 plate Zafira around 90k miles, which needed a replacement gearbox within 10 months. Maybe he was unlucky?? Other than that, they seem a fairly good car to me and my mate did like his lots when they ran ok.
Gearboxes on the diesels, main problem is wear in the linkage on top of the box and in the pivot of the lever itself. Can be sorted with bushings. I bought mine cheap in 2010 as it wouldn't go in 1st or 2nd. It's still on the original gearbox at 362,000
The early 2.00 diesel, 70 ish MPG. What's not to like. Does the job, a to b and won't break the bank. I'd have another. Be lucky to find one now though, with the same mpg.
Ex Wife had a brand new 1.8 back in 2001 and it was fault free for the 4 years she owned it. Couldn't really fault it, apart from the thirsty fuel consumption.
NEVER.....I bought a 2007 1.6 Zafira B in 2014. It only had 13,000 miles but had no power and gave me more trouble in 4 years than all the cars I had in the 30 years prior. The Zafira A were alledgedly better, but good luck to you.
That was the Zafira B 2nd version which was a poor replacement lots of plastic inside and a very awkward handbrake lever --which never appeared again !
If it was a cold day yes, on the off chance it spontaneously combusts and I can get warm. I probably wouldn’t need it though as there’ll be an EV that turns into a BBQ whilst I’m looking 🤣🤣🤣
Never had a zafira but I don’t think they were that bad, practical car. But yes image is a bit umm 🤔 i remember Astra and zafira of this era 1.2/1.4/1.6 was revvy at motorway speeds I had a 2.0i cavalier and later 2.0i vectra and they were more in 2.5k revs not almost 4k revs at motorway speeds like zafira/astra
I was thinking an Olde-Worlde stovepipe hat, as famously worn by Abraham Lincoln, generously lined in 4+layers of tin/aluminium foil, and worn with a shiny bodywarmer (or "gilet" in the modern vernacular) and perhaps a sharp tan brogued winklepicker...? Cos that'd be *very Geoff indeed...*
Yes I would if desparate for transport, because it ain't an Astra (GTe & GSi models excepted), Marina/Ital or any Dacia - trust me I've driven most of them - walking or bussing is better.
Yes, we had one of them, a diesel disaster. In many respects the car was quite good, The main problem was the dpf, forever making people think we were polluting the atmosphere..
hi geoff can you do a video the top gear cars are going to be scrapped. the museum is closing the top gear exhibition. please get them stopped from being scrapped. the bbc want the cars scrapping
Nothing is more annoying than a car or badge snob. In a couple of decades, one of these at a car show will get more attention than any supercar. People will have fond memories of their parents owning one and the trip they went on or how they learned to drive in one.
![ROSÉ(로제) - APT. (Band VER.) (With. 이영지) [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IW8qaemx74g/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m a Vauxhall fan and have driven an old Zafira, top motor.
I don't mind the Zafira. If all you want is a reliable, no nonsense family car, The Zafira fits seamlessly into your life and will serve you well for years. It's never going to be desirable, but it's endlessly useful, and for that, I think it's great. It's certainly better than a Model Y, that's for damn sure.
Agreed
I had one which was shite, always going wrong
It's amazing to see how things have developed in only three years time. But one thing remains the same. The old Geoff was brilliant and the new is as well.
I love my Zafira B 1.9 CDTI SRI Zafira. It drives surprisingly well and is very reliable with good but not brilliant fuel consumption. 2010 and 120K miles it looks tatty but as a shopping and tip run trolly it is perfect. Four years old when I bought it I shall run it until it dies. Probably the best car I have ever owned and that includes big Mercs.
😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴🤥
and also 🙄
Had our zaf B 1.8 SRi for 13 years and 140k miles. Does school runs with 3 now teenage boys, commutes, occasional business trips around the country, tip runs and shopping. If I drove it more than 20 minutes at a time more often I might buy something newer but really, for anyone just doing small scale life-essentials driving, what else do you really need? Also, no-one will ever want to nick it - just being a Zafira makes it theft proof!
I drove the VXR version once on a track. The front tyres should have been laid to rest with full honours 😂😂😂
Porsche had a heavy hand in engineering the Zafira A, they had one on display at the Porsche museum in Stuttgart. Also it was a Zafira B with the heater issue.
I bought my 2005 Zafira 9 years ago and it only cost me just shy of £900. In all the time i have had it, its been one of the most reliable cars i have ever owned. I originally bought it because we needed the extra space due to the arrival of our 3rd child. The boot space is huge and comes in handy. I've had all sorts in that car, fridge freezers, cookers, sofa bed etc... Its like having a van.
We bought a Zafira GSi from new and loved it. We got it from Motorpoint back when they were doing cheap deals and paid £16k for it and they were over £21k at Vauxhall. It was still built at Ellesmere Port, shipped to Holland where it sat on the dock for a while then shipped back to Motorpoint and classed as an import for £5k less than Vauxhall were selling them for.
We've had two Zafira'"s back in the day. Perfect family car and totally reliable. It also turned into a van if needed at B&Q when doing DIY 🤪
Old Geoff was quite shouty, 2024 Geoff is a bit calmer!
And Old Geoff was a bit of a Potty-Mouth 🤭
And a little more nimble. Doubt "modern" Geoff would clamber over the seats quite so quickly.
I had a 2002 Zafira, that I bought from new, and sold 5 years later at 100,000 miles. It was in the mirage colour, with option al CD player. Always regretted selling it. Was totally reliable, 2 litre diesel, and just great.
Loving the old material Geoff, especially seeing how you've grown as a RUclipsr 👍
I’d walk away as far as possible 😂
I'd emulate The Proclaimers and I Would Walk 500 Miles, Just To Be The Man
That Wouldn't Be Seen Dead In This Sh!tty Dole-Bludger-Special...
@@therogers4432 I’d be one of the people of the Jonathan King song: everyone’s gone to the moon
Have to say I found the Meriva and Zafira decent enough cars. Bit of comfort in them, room for tins of paint in the back, ladders etc on the roof, cheaper to tax than a van 🤷🏼♂️ I'd have one.
Our Zaffy SRi 1800cc we bought for the family and is insured remarkably cheaply as such. Everyone uses it from time to time for holidays, trips to tips, moving house, 7 up at party times, it is endlessly useful. Does 32mpg average and nips along well, loaded or one up, just a little clunky on the van gearbox but just goes on and on. Love the alloy wheels which are soon due to be repainted locally for a £260 birthday.
We will keep it until we or it drops off the perch.
The 3rd row of seats were brilliant, especially as they could be pulled up out the boot's floor. However, as a fairly agile adult, getting in to one of those seats was a bit of a challenge, even though, thereafter, the seat seemed to me to be quite comfortable.
The foldable 3rd row seats were a unique feature at that time ,and fast forward Vauxhall dont have anything like it,a Combi life where the seats are fixed and have to be removed if you dont need them-- that's progress for you with the PSA group!
Ive got One, had it for 12 years. Never missed a beat. 106K so far.1.7 oil burner. Does everything I need still turns 57 MPG on a run and 40 in town. absolutely love it. You can service it with basic kit and skill set. But I've always been substance over style!
My wife wanted one of em when we first got married, I think she was trying to tell me something.
...that she wanted to give this "dogging" thing a go? 😂
@@Eric_Hunt194Every week, and twice at weekends...
@@Eric_Hunt194 Who doesn't want a pet at some time in their lives.
Yes. We owned one from 2003 'till 2008, and we loved it. I miss thar car.
I agree with you on the life cycle of these type of cars, I actually think it's pretty respectable when I see one cos you know it's had a hard life
Only car I’ve ever got rid of because I couldn’t fix it was a diesel Zafira. You had to leave it parked facing down hill or it wouldn’t start, the diesel pump would de-prime itself. Part exed it for a Smax.
You done alright with that one. That looked good that you finished off in at the end.
Geoff you are a legend mate, I have been in absolute stitches watching this video!!! 😂😂😂
We have had two vauxhall zafira's and a citroen xsara Picasso. Loved the Picasso ( except for the speedo being in view of passengers). Loved the first zafira, second one put me off vauxhall...... ( recurring issue with horn button which they could not fix). These cars were all on motability.
First Zafira I had was terrible, paid £7k and in two weeks the dealership had to fit a new engine, then over several years a continuous failure, steering pump, two alternators, thermostat, engine mount, spring, never ending bulbs, brake master cylinder failure then a burning smell and electronics failure which sent it to the breakers. Got a mk2 diesel last year off a mate cat N paid £300, put it back on the road for another 500, no problems so far, use it for work every day, always found them comfortable and nice to drive. My other car is a C Class 320
Hmmmm, glad I watched this. Husband and I have been thinking about getting a van (as a second vehicle, or spend loads and replace the car with a nice one) because they are useful, basically, especially to put bikes in, and I was thinking - why don't we get one of those old 7 seater things you used to see and take the seats out? Then we'd have windows. Thanks Geoff!
Not 1 foot. My only experience of a Zafira was my grandmother, who bought one new. At 3 months old, it was in the dealership 2 months due to lots of issues. She ended up getting her money back and going elsewhere.
I bought a 52 plate in 2010 as a stop-gap to last a month or so until we found something else.
First owner: Drive Assist (insurance courtesy cars)
Second owner: not a family
Third owner: Me
Guess what?
362,000 miles later, I'm still driving it.
The most reliable car ever.
Original clutch lasted to 329,000
Mine was built in Thailand, bit better build quality than the German ones.
But I did buy a German built one last year "for spares"
Only 57k on it.
Tidy and clean.
4 brand new decent tyres.
Full tank of fuel
"Snapped timing belt"
£200
Only the timing belt wasn't snapped.
It needed a starter motor.
And a rocker cover gasket to keep the oil inside the engine.
But it's a 1.6 petrol
They are early adopter euro4 so London ULEZ compliant😂
Sadly 😞, …………… we had one.
It was like a Transit Van and the front was pretty cool. (2015)
Now, the kids are grown up and I have my beautiful Mercedes E Class. 😂
We were in a friends 1.8 ???, Fairly peppyish, Coming home from Passion night club in Coalville, M1 just as we passed Leicester servs and gave it everything, Due to a lost wheel weight and a leaking shock it shook itself to bits, Highly frighting but my friend pushed on, By Newport the car was shall we say... Loose. It was so hot it wouldnt start after a pot of tea, so we left it there, Jumped in another friends Luton body, That was even more fun. MK Roundabouts are hilarious in the back of a luton.
Geoff drinks less coffee now 😂😂
Iv grown to like the old geoff, I get him now, pretty funny 😂
I learnt how to drive in my foster mums mk1 zafira 1.8 design
That boot has enough room tho carry a pot bellied pig,great for a school run, the kids can cuddle one chicken each, it’s an animal farm thing, kind regards Tim
🎶I would walk six point one miles 🎶and I would walk six point one more🎶
(in the other direction).
Geoff i have the very rare zafira B 2.0 petrol turbo Opel to be fair they are a brilliant bus and it’s similar to the vxr and only 80 total left of this design model (by how many’s left website) it’s never let me down definitely worth there money and if well serviced they are extremely reliable and great to modify the high rate tax is a con but all in all 👍👌😎 a cool bus to own
I've been hearing the gearboxes can be a problem from a few people.
My previous job, I had a colleague who had an 05 Zafira, had to replace the gearbox at about 82k miles, then replaced that replacement at 96k miles.
He binned the car and bought a 12 plate Zafira around 90k miles, which needed a replacement gearbox within 10 months.
Maybe he was unlucky??
Other than that, they seem a fairly good car to me and my mate did like his lots when they ran ok.
Gearboxes on the diesels, main problem is wear in the linkage on top of the box and in the pivot of the lever itself.
Can be sorted with bushings.
I bought mine cheap in 2010 as it wouldn't go in 1st or 2nd.
It's still on the original gearbox at 362,000
I'd get a Zafira VXR. Do a stage 3 tune on it, take the badges off and put a child seat in the back. Heck of a Q car.
The early 2.00 diesel, 70 ish MPG. What's not to like. Does the job, a to b and won't break the bank. I'd have another. Be lucky to find one now though, with the same mpg.
Ex Wife had a brand new 1.8 back in 2001 and it was fault free for the 4 years she owned it. Couldn't really fault it, apart from the thirsty fuel consumption.
Only to warm my hand on the fire, still it is near bonfire night so what better car than one that lights itself
Get a Vauxhall Sintra.
only about 5 left in the UK !
Not for. But definitely from. Unless a VXR or GSI. But even then, I'd have to be forced.
I had a GSI one it was something else fast as FOC
probably have to walk home when it breaks down or catches fire!!
I Love repeats, I watch THAT'S TV A lot!😝
Yes, in the opposite direction.
My first car ever was a Vauxhall Viva🚗
NEVER.....I bought a 2007 1.6 Zafira B in 2014. It only had 13,000 miles but had no power and gave me more trouble in 4 years than all the cars I had in the 30 years prior. The Zafira A were alledgedly better, but good luck to you.
Love the show 😂😂😂😂
First thing I noticed is they're never driven slowly 🚗💥
The car that catches fire
That was the Zafira B 2nd version which was a poor replacement lots of plastic inside and a very awkward handbrake lever --which never appeared again !
Great video.
If it was a cold day yes, on the off chance it spontaneously combusts and I can get warm. I probably wouldn’t need it though as there’ll be an EV that turns into a BBQ whilst I’m looking 🤣🤣🤣
Did you have your eyebrows done or something for this video? Or is it just age? :)
my sister got zafira 2012 and past mot 2yrs a row and not brokedown
I would cross the road for one!!
Geoff, try and find a Vauxhall Sintra!
Never had a zafira but I don’t think they were that bad, practical car. But yes image is a bit umm 🤔 i remember Astra and zafira of this era 1.2/1.4/1.6 was revvy at motorway speeds I had a 2.0i cavalier and later 2.0i vectra and they were more in 2.5k revs not almost 4k revs at motorway speeds like zafira/astra
I’d like to see you jump the seats that well now 😂
You could wear your tinfoil hat in that.
Lots of headroom for quite an elaborate tinfoil crown
Aluminium
I was thinking an Olde-Worlde stovepipe hat, as famously worn by Abraham Lincoln, generously lined in 4+layers of tin/aluminium foil, and worn with a shiny bodywarmer (or "gilet" in the modern vernacular) and perhaps a sharp tan brogued winklepicker...?
Cos that'd be *very Geoff indeed...*
I own a 2006 1.6 zafira petrol. They're a bit sh..t, but comfortable enough, so long as you stay off the motorway 🙉
Turn on the Air-Con and it became Fiat 500 with 4 Fatty's in it ....going up hill 😂😂
Yes
Yes I would if desparate for transport, because it ain't an Astra (GTe & GSi models excepted), Marina/Ital or any Dacia - trust me I've driven most of them - walking or bussing is better.
Yes, we had one of them, a diesel disaster. In many respects the car was quite good, The main problem was the dpf, forever making people think we were polluting the atmosphere..
This is a basic , simple, family car .
should have brought the Vauxhall Signum.
I bet those are a s rare as rocking horse shite
As a Scot, I would walk 500 miles, to torch a Zafira. they are terrible!
That is the only time the convid mask was a good thing, was to avoid being recognized whilst driving one of those dad bod things.
I had a 2.0 dti 02 got 250k cant complain
hi geoff
can you do a video the top gear cars are going to be scrapped.
the museum is closing the top gear exhibition.
please get them stopped from being scrapped.
the bbc want the cars scrapping
Only 7 seats 🤔
And 7 hats..
I don't like driving 6 miles in a zafira.
Nothing is more annoying than a car or badge snob.
In a couple of decades, one of these at a car show will get more attention than any supercar.
People will have fond memories of their parents owning one and the trip they went on or how they learned to drive in one.
Didn’t they have a common issue of catching fire. 🔥 I suppose they have a common issue with EV. Vauxhall started the trend first.
Wrong model. Zafira A’s were fine
Zafira B’s had the heater fault which caused fires 👍
@@Jasonhughes258 👍
The worse car I ever had by a country mile. Always breaking down, horrific
I wouldnt even watch a video about that story...
Not really, you?
Surprised to see you drinking woke beer 😂
Absolute bag of rubbish avoid! 😂😂
Zafira = rusty!
These have no style. Even the Berlingos and Caddys had more style.
No 😂