2005 Vauxhall Zafira DESIGN from UK and Ireland - Comments

Very minor - the INSP (service due) warning has always come on as you start the engine - I guess it was never set - I will know when it has done 20000 miles for the first service by looking at the mileage!

Windscreen washers sometimes do not work - no they are not empty or frozen!

It seems very slow after the Mondeo diesel, but it cranks up OK on the motorway. Very roomy and quiet. Love the way the seats move around/configure.

Main rear seat not that comfortable, but lots of leg room with it right back.

Good to drive - good driving position. Company car, but my Wife drives it a lot - she loves it. Easier to park than the Mondy - due to driving position - also seems to have a very small turning circle like a London taxi. Interior is a bit dull, but I like the white dials in the 'Design' they light up orange at night like a Rover 75 which is a bit classy. (Small things...)

The Kids like it as their mates can come out with us - oh and the Dog.

I have seen pictures of the forthcoming new Zafira and I have to say I do not like it as much as the present one. Maybe it will look better in the metal.

Will update when things start to go wrong.

We love our Zafira too, it's a really great car. We wanted the turbo diesel, but unfortunately funds would not stretch that far.

Our friends bought a Zafira... within a week of ours... after only having rode in it just the once, they liked it that much, but... a diesel!!

We have found our Zafira, a whole load better than our previous car, and if I was to pick faults, it really would be trivial.

You have commented on the new Zafira, I ain't that sure also. But I have seen one of those 'spy' photos of one, and it did look better, the body looked really beefy.

Although I have to admit the current Zafira still sails my boat, at least at present.

NB: Great review...

Re the INSP light - put the key in the ignition, press down the taco reset button and hold it down, now turn on the ignition. after some 30 seconds or so, the light will reset and not trouble you for another 20k/12 months...

Do You Mean the trip meter reset? I assume you do, Will give it a try...

Still seems to be going well, coming up to 6000 miles - lost the n/s/f wheel trim recently - looking at other Zafira's on the road,this seems to be common!

By 6000 miles my previous Mondeo had been in the garage several times.

Now up to 11500 miles - had to go to the garage last week as the windscreen washers only worked now & again - I think they removed the filter from the hose in the tank. This is a common Vauxhall prob I had it with an early vectra.

Otherwise it is still going really well. I want to remove the pollen filter some time as there is a CHRONIC window misting problem which means the air conditioner needs to be on nearly all the time. Again, I resolved the same problem in the same way with my old vectra.

Has anyone else noticed with one of these, that as you accelerate, the headlights dim during the upward gear change?

It seems to be mostly when it is cold, but it is very noticeable even to passengers who do not drive. I guess no vauxhall dealer on earth will ever get to the bottom of that one!!!

2005 zafira life 1800 cc good car poor econamy.

From original poster:

Took the Zafira diesel for 1st service the other day at 14500 miles as it is now a year old.

No probs, needed windscreen wipers at my request.

Otherwise all going well.

By the time my 2001 mondeo diesel was a year old I had lost count of the visits to the garage.

Will report if it EVER GOES WRONG.

I have just committed to buy a 2005 1.6life after a test drive. i'll pick it up in a couple of weeks. it's surprisingly nippy for a 1.6 on a bigger car. thanks for your comments. i'll let you know how I go with it.

Now on second Zafira - had first for 3 yrs - terrific EXCEPT that so easy to steal spare wheel that it happened twice til I put chain through centre of wheel amd round tray holding it up underneath. New model in September not as solid - too many plastic bits and the stupidist hand brake handle I've ever seen - completely unecessary and v unfriendly esp to smaller, less strong drivers AND they haven't sorted the spare wheel thft issue. Just had it stolen in broad day light in London when parked on busy road all day even though ithad chain round. So that's £100+ - surely they should have sorted that for new model? Potentially dangerous and v inconvenient if you didn't notice and had a flat.

New Zafira _ SPEARE WHEEL STOLEN come on VAUXHALL how much would a lock cost?

Just collected new shape Zafira 1.8 Active, great except I miss the drivers centre arm rest and tilting seat as my previous Mondeo AND GUESS WHAT!! ONLY DONE 113 MILES SINCE NEW IN EASTER AND HAD SPARE WHEEL STOLEN BY SOME LOW-LIFE.

Rung Vauxhall Customer services who are going to supply and fit special lock device, but not replacement wheel! Going to scrap yard for ex Vectra wheel as the spare - not going to risk another new wheel/tyre at over £100.

Hi, original poster here, Zaffy now done 27000 miles - refuses to go wrong. Never managed to get the pollen filter out, must do that.

About the spare wheel theft, mine is a company car and my company has fitted to all Zafiras an anti theft thing that has a bolt inside the boot floor - you get a yellow plastic socket to un do it with. Must be effective as never had wheel nicked. I do not have alloy wheels, does this make a difference I wonder? Although presumably with alloys the spare will not be an alloy. Maybe the thieves are too thick to realize this.

At the moment there is no other car I would rather have what with family etc.

Onto number 2 Zafira. My first one was an X reg 1600 Comfort; no bother apart from an EGR valve for 40 quid on ebay, and a new back box for 50 quid. Not bad as I had the car for 3 years.

Now I have a Elegance turbo diesel on a 53 plate, and must admit it's like **** off a stick, and I love it.

Regarding the spare wheel theft.

I, m just waiting for a delivery of the ELITE (£22K) and guess what.

They don, t fit spare wheels anymore, but give you a free air compressor and a bottle of gunge to squirt in the tyre.

I am thinking of getting the Vauxhall Zafira Design. What do other Design drivers say, what should I do? The comments that I have read have put me off going a head with it.

Ernie.

Has there been any comments to my request for information on the Vauxhall Design

Ernie.