2007 Vauxhall Zafira Club EZT Easytronic from UK and Ireland - Comments

I started by reading other people's opinions on Vauxhall's semi automatic cars, & really only tested one to see if it was as bad as some people said... & guess what?... It was SUPERB!... OK I could get it to jerk me back & forth by using my lead foot as the semi-auto box changed gear, but this is simply overcome by lifting your foot off the throttle as you feel it changing gear... unless of course, you have a lead foot ;)

The 1.8 VVT engine is quick & responsive, & pressing the sports switch really does lighten up the steering & gives the car some real grunt.

I had owned a 04 Zafira Life before this model, & its interior was a little cheap looking... The new model looks LOTS better on the eye.

Don't be put off by an Easytronic gearbox on this model of Zafira... Give it a test drive & you'll be surprised at what a relaxing drive it is.

I don't see how you could honestly deem the "easy"tronic smooth... unless you drive at the same pace as Continental Drift. You have to move slower than a glacier in order for it to be smooth.

And that still doesn't take into account the other obvious glaring design flaws such as lack of transmission creep-an essential for parking/ hill starts when you don't have a clutch. and the bizarre habit of "kick down" (fine for an auto) when the accelerator is depressed in manual, fifth, under load @ motorway speed. Even this would be acceptable except it has to be manually up shifted into fifth again!!

Poor design and operation in the extreme.

We also own an 02 Volvo V70 GearTronic semi auto.

If you want to see how a real semi-auto should drive, drive one of these; then comment.

The Volvo V70 GearTronic is a conventional automatic gearbox from Aisin Warner (Japan) with very classic software!

I'm living in Belgium. I'm driving a Vectra GTS 1.8 (140 pk) Easytronic (not available in U.K., bought the car in Germany) Same as a Zafira 1.8.

I find the car is fantastic to drive.

I've been driving several "real" automatic transmissions for 25 years.

All old-fashioned, even those with 6 gears, like the Vectra 1.9 diesel (150 hp) 6 At.

An Easytronic costs only 1/4 of a conventional automatic or DSG/Powershift gearbox.

You have to get used to it, but it drives really economically, between 6.3 L/100 Km and 6.8 L/100 Km.

There is new software available for the 1.0 1.2 1.4 and 1.6 engines (from 01/08/2007) for gentle changes of gears.

The 1.8 (Zafira/Vectra) doesn't have this problem so much. When the engine is warm, they don't go back to 1e gear unless you stop completely, or on a hill.

If you want a real gentle change, you have to lift your foot a little when the gear changes. On holiday in Switzerland, I never had to change gear manually when I was driving up or down-hill!

The DSG from Volkswagen/Audi is a little gentle (not the diesel) when you accelerate fast +4000 r/min, but is more jerky when you drive slow or in traffic jam. After some time the diesel gets syncronization problems with the dual clutch (www.motor-talk.de)

Up to now, 45000 Km (2year) I have had no problems with the car or easytronic.