Test drive Opel Zafira 2003 - 2005 Minivan

Logical choice

How Zafira is able to attract both a private trader and a corporate client
 
Once again, combining legal vacation with work, I acted as an egoist. I needed to test Opel Zafira with a new 6-speed automatic transmission, since during the official presentation and test drive (see AI No. 12, 2005) this version was not of this version, and it will certainly interest customers. But instead of taking a car with a 2.2-liter gasoline engine that will definitely be delivered to Russia, I preferred a 1.9-liter turbodiesel, the withdrawal of which is still under a big question to the Russian market. Because, honestly, I wanted to minimize fuel costs. Yes, and gasoline engines on Zafira are very economical. But if you go on a long -range warring in Europe with the bride (and I admit it), you are well aware of the prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in the EU, and you can figure out without a calculator that the transition from one type of fuel to another is already guaranteed two luxurious dinner, the choice becomes obvious. In the end, this is my vacation and a personal budget, so I have the right. And in the whole week, leaving behind more than two thousand kilometers, I have never regretted my choice.
 
The second meeting
 
A more dense acquaintance with the second -generation Zafira only strengthened me in the thought that this machine is equally well suited for operation in both family and corporate park. A successful design is an important, but hardly decisive factor for a flue manager. But the dimensions that have grown up compared to the previous version are just important. An increase of 150 mm lengths by 59 mm width and a decrease in a height of 50 mm not only improved appearance and aerodynamic characteristics, but provided the opportunity to work out in detail the interior. As a result, it became more spacious inside, and even on the third row of seats that hide for the time being in the floor of a spacious luggage compartment, passengers will not feel uncomfortable. The legs for the legs are enough, and about 140 liters for luggage are still left behind. If there is no particular need for seven seats, then all 645 liters can be mastered by load.
 
Thanks to the FLEX7 system, which became a real discovery in 1999, the number of possible options for layout of the cabin and the ease with which all these metamorphoses can be made, allowing Zafira to the reference in the sense of compactivenia functionality. For example, fold the rear seats and front back, and place an item up to 2.71 meters inside, and the luggage volume will be 1820 liters. It seems that, if you wish, you can download the luggage of a football team in this car. Two of our considerable suitcases in it were simply lost. I had to use the Flexorganizer system and fix them with nets attached to the eyes, which, in turn, move along special rails embedded in the sidewalls of the compartment. There are hooks for small packages. Although for small things in Zafira there are about thirty more pockets, boxes and compartments.
 
At the wheel in Zafira, as I already had to write, is convenient. The seat is successfully profiled and has a full set of adjustments. The steering wheel is not very littered forward, and therefore you feel like in an ordinary passenger car with a small correction for a high landing. The KP lever, in our case, the handle of an automatic 6-speed box, is located on the tide of the central console. In general, the interior recalls that the car has been created, as, indeed, its predecessor, on the Astra platform, now - a new generation. The same stylistic solutions in the style of High-Tech, the same high quality of the finish materials, the same accuracy of fitting all the details. And in terms of configure, if not better, then certainly not only Astra, but also Vectra is not inferior. So, in the list of possible equipment-a separate climate control system, a tire pressure sensor, parking sensors, bi-xenon headlights with an AFL adaptive lighting system, rain and light sensors, automatic manual brake that activates when starting from the lifts, and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,ky Of course, the IDS Plus interactive driving system, which allows you to change the rigidity of shock absorbers, the force on the steering wheel and the speed of the accelerator pedal. As far as I know, no other manufacturer of all this in minivans offers.
 
Advantages without loss
 
Zafira with a 1.9 liter diesel engine also had all this. This engine develops 120 hp. And takes the middle position in the gamut of diesel engines. There is still its less powerful, 100-horsepower, and more powerful, 150- strong, versions. However, only this can be combined with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Such an alliance suited me both on motorways, and especially in cities.
 
The first thing I paid attention to is the silence in the cabin. If outside the sound of a diesel power unit is heard perfectly, then there is silence inside. Only with intense accelerations, when the tachometer arrow passes 3000 rpm, the aggressive roar of the motor begins to penetrate into the salon. Automatic KP flicks the steps quickly, without the slightest tear. You don’t even feel jerks that, given the considerable torque of turbodiesel, it makes you pay tribute to the designers. And with the transitions down, the automatic transmission is all right. For example, on the highway, at speeds above 140 km/h with a slightly stronger press to the accelerator, the electronics passed from the sixth gear to the fifth, driving the tachometer arrow almost to the red zone. At the same time, Zafira is very good in terms of dynamics. In the free sections of the German autobahns, where any speed is permissible, I watched the speedometer arrow of 200 km/h, although this can not be this passport. Well, let's say the device sins, but still nice
 
In turns, the car showed amazing tenacity, holding a given course, despite small body rolls. Although for a dynamic driving it is better to immediately press the Sport button, which is on the central console. Then the pendants will instantly become tougher, and even in steep turns Zafira will be extremely stable. At the same time, on the steering wheel is a clear feedback that allows you to perfectly feel the car.
 
The most remarkable other. For the whole trip, I had to refuel only three times. That is, the average fuel consumption with a non -economic driving style and a constantly included air conditioner amounted to about 8 liters per 100 km. It is clear why Europeans prefer diesel versions of Zafira.
 
It’s not long to wait
 
The first large batch of new generation Zafira will arrive in Russia approximately in October. Unfortunately, it will not have diesel engines. As the director of sales and marketing of the OPEL brand, General Motors CIS, Artem Gusarov, said, German engineers have concerns about the quality of diesel fuel in the Russian market. Nevertheless, the question is being worked out. It is hoped that it will be finally worked out in the foreseeable future. After all, Zafira modifications with turbodiesel engines may well be the most preferred option for corporate customers. Given that in Russia the difference in gas and diesel prices is becoming more and more noticeable. On the other hand, we already have diesel fuel at a number of gas stations that meets Euro 4 standards.
 
It is still difficult to accurately calculate the costs of servicing the new Zafira. Nevertheless, official dealers are confident that since compactiven is based on the Opel Astra units, the cost will be similar. In this case, you will have to visit the service after 15,000 km of run. The first will cost only 4600 rubles, taking into account the cost of consumables. TO2 will cost 8400, because in addition to standard work, you will need to replace all filters and candles. TO3 again is quite cheap - 4600 rubles. Only with a mileage of 60,000 km, about 10 thousand will have to be paid when, along with other regulations, the timing belt will be replaced.
 
Text: Andrey Osipov
 

A source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 15-16 (83), 2005]