Going for an Opel Zafira: Mention of the Zafira is enough to drain the colour from the face of a good friend. He has had a luckless relationship with it - and its faults have been serious.
His seems an unusual Monday morning product, because the Zafira has a pretty good reputation.
Its strength is practicality for family motoring, and Opel deserves credit for producing the first true seven-seater car. Even cleverer was that the last row of two seats could be folded down flat. Competitors required you to remove the last two seats completely to avail of this space, which was a complete pain.
The Zafira, around since the mid-1990s, is beginning to show its age. The Renault Scenic probably shows it up most. The Zafira is based on the Astra, with its advantages and disadvantages. It drives well, has good handling and ride and will manage a very respectable performance in town and on the open road. However, fully laden on a motorway it struggles a bit. The 1.6 petrol engine is the standard bearer, but the 1.8 is obviously the better performer but a bit noisier.
The interior is typically German - dull, with great wedges of plastic and little to brighten things up. Again, the Scenic has a good deal more character. But the Zafira was designed as a practical vehicle and that is what it is. With seven seats occupied, it's a bit claustrophobic and when all seats are up there is no luggage room, which is why you see many with roof boxes permanently mounted.
The Zafira scored only three out of five stars in EuroNCAP's crash tests in 2001. The restraint system was criticised, and the body shell judged unstable and could pose risks in a more severe crash than the test. The front passenger was also judged to be at risk from hard areas of the fascia. Child restraints were fine, but the labelling on them and the car was criticised.
Popularity as a solid, all-round family car keeps Zafira prices up. A four-year-old 1.6 with 55,000 miles asks €15,495 at one garage. It does have a few extras such as electric front windows and a CD player, but not a lot more. A 2002 car with 65,000 on the clock asks €19,000.
The Zafira may be showing its age and cars like the Toyota Corolla Verso may be giving it a real run for its money but it has its fans. My friend? He's getting a new Zafira - Opel has sweetened the deal and he feels it's still the most practical choice for the bigger family. ...