Vauxhall Zafira (2005 - 2014) 1.6i (115bhp) Exclusiv 5d (2012/62) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I am a family person, but perhaps a bit dull!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Most of them have the same.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Hopefully, we won't need a serious family car in a few years so can swap it for something more stylish.

What are you likely to buy next?

A saloon or coupe.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£12,495

When did you buy the car?

September 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes. I bought it pre-registered so no choice in colour/trim but very good value.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Frequently need more than 5 seats.

What was the dealer like?

Great, very helpful so far.

What's it like to drive?

It's ok on the motorway, but it's not a luxurious drive. You get what you pay for. Around town it is fine. Has more power than we would have expected from a 1.6 engine.

What's it like to park?

Great to park as has small turning circle, but hard to judge where back is when reverse parking if you don't have a parking sensor fitted.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Had problems with the tyres supplied with the car. Think they were Goodyear Eagle NCT5s. Found when temperature dropped to around 3 degrees, tyres became very hard. Had a really big skid when going slowly in light snow, which was still falling, so not icy. Never experienced anything like in over 25 years of driving in all weather conditions in many parts of the world. Changed tyres for Avon Ice Tourer winter tyres, which are BRILLIANT. Cost me about £400 though. Never needed winter tyres before on any car. One annoying thing is the indicators, which automatically switch off before you've turned. My record so far is having to switch on indicators again 8 times to turn one corner. Haven't worked out logic behind why they work that way - if indeed there is any!!

What's most practical about your car?

The fact it has 7 seats. The rear row of seats are large enough for adults. Our previous car was a Toyota Verso, and the 6th and 7th seats in it weren't large enough for adults, which became a problem as the children grew. The middle seat in the second row of seats folds down to become a handy table. The boot space is quite generous The turning circle is great compared to many MPVs.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?