2001 Vauxhall Zafira Elegance from UK and Ireland - Comments

I had the car from new in October 2001. Within 17,500 miles the engine failed and had to replaced. The garage said it was driver error and Vauxhall would not foot the bill. There were no warning lights to tell me there was no oil and the dipstick showed oil everytime. So £4500 later I had a new engine.

13/11/02 Engine caught fire and seized. Now on a Diesel that's quite something. The new engine had only done 15000 miles, again no warning lights!

I chose the car as I have a bad back and the seats actually help. Shame the seats won't fit into another car!!!

You must be very forgiving to say you would purchase another car from this manufacturer, after the treatment you have received.

I sure as hell would not!!!

I purchased a Vauxhall Zafira Comfort 2.0dti, in December 2001 and nearly fell foul of the Disapearing Engine oil, synonomous to this Model. I have visited the Dealership on more than a Dozen occasions, having Oil Consumption records established and having to go along with Wacky Ideas of running the vehicle on Running In Oil, even though the Engine had exceeded 10k miles.

I am bitterly disapointed with my £14k acquisition and I am in the process of trying to get my money back. Vauxhalls response is, 1Litre of Oil per 1,000 miles is acceptable. Well to me, it is Not. Buyers beware.

Vauxhall Zafira Elegance 2.0DTi.

Being a life long owner and user of Vauxhall cars and vans, we decided to purchase a new vehicle. Yes! Another Vauxhall, but a brand new (Oct 06) Zafira Elegance 2.0DTi. I decided to keep our trusty Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.7TDS (96-P) I originally purchased this vehicle with less than a 1'000 miles on the clock, it now has over 237'000 mls, and still on the original engine (Isuzu Diesel) apart from the usual servicing, i.e. brakes, oils, filters, belts, seals and a new clutch etc it has never let us down! This is where the irony starts!

As for the so-called super duper new Zafira; well, it has managed to reach the great total of 11'368 miles.

To date, we have had nothing but trouble with it; it died on the M1, and on another day, all the warning lights came on, then the car suddenly decided to slow down in the middle lane of the Autobahn in Germany. I got towed to a Vauxhall / Opel dealer whose chief engineer advised me to cut my losses and get rid of it! It is currently situated in the repair bay, of the dealer we purchased it from. After numerous letters to Vauxhall and the dealers head office, I now have a solicitor and citizen’s advice for dealing with the claim for compensation.

Ironically, we are still using the trusty old, but very reliable Astra Estate 1.7TDS. It has just had its annual MOT and this cost £115:00 (Brakes, Exhaust and a bulb) and it still manages to return an excellent 45 to 50 mpg.

We are now contemplating purchasing a Kia Seddona (these have a Mercedes 2.9DTi engine) and are ultra reliable, though they only return around 35 to 40 mpg. The main reason for purchasing the Zafira, was the brilliant seat layout.

Will I purchase another Vauxhall in the future???

Am I happy with the way that Vauxhall have dealt with its customers? ************