Test drive Opel Zafira 2003 - 2005 Minivan
Testing a car for pensioners
One friend of mine recently not suffering in tone said that he would never buy minivan. Moreover, not because he does not like these cars outwardly and not because of their value. It's just that these are cars for pensioners! Yes Yes exactly. And on all questions, than his sedan made in the early 90s is less than a pensioner than a single-combor, no intelligible answers were received. One continuous moo and manic repetition of a minivan machine for pensioners. After this conversation, it was even more interesting to test the new Opel Zafira and find out what is such a pensioner in it. 
And from the very beginning we can say that Opel Zafira is a very worthy car. Moreover, in many ways a positive impression is caused by the very concept of this type of body. And this concept is simple on the chassis of a small golf-class car, a tall and spacious body is put on, and at the same time many things appear in the cabin that help the driver and its passengers travel comfortably over the longest distances. Moreover, Zafira has a very large company at once. True, this car cannot immediately say as a minibus, because on the third row of chairs it is not too convenient (although, believe me, it is still better than in many other 7-seater cars of similar sizes). However, in some situations, the concept is convenient/not conveniently secondary, but the ability to translate the crowd of people at once can help out. Did you want to save money?
Opel Zafira has a proprietary salon transformation system, which is a long and complex name Flexorganizer-7. Its unconditional advantages are that the seats of the third row simply fold on the floor, and the second row any person can move back and forth without much trouble. However, developing their Flexorganizer-7, Opel engineers allowed a large mistake the second row of seats can be folded or moved only entirely! That is, if seven people go in the car at once, then to release the very rear passengers will have to get out of the cabin almost everyone!
During the trip, several more punctures of this kind were revealed, which seem to be not paid attention to. For example, for the rear passengers in the basic configuration, absolutely no pockets in the backs of the front seats are provided (not to mention the tables with the cup holders, which are present in many competitors). Or, for example, in the sunscreen of the front passenger there is no mirror backlight (and the driver does not have the mirror itself). You can also complain about the absence of glasses for glasses on the ceiling. And in the tested car there were no cup holders and drawers under the driver's seat and in the floor (and after all, other similar machines are present). It is clear that all these are small nit -picking, but think for yourself not at all a cheap minivan. So that everything should be done for the driver there. Everything so that he and his passengers can comfortably go with comfort and transport a variety of cargo. In the end, after all, it is from such trifles that simplify life that a convenient minivan is formed. One of the representatives of Opel in response to the claims made that the drawers under the seat and the floor are completely unnecessary, since nothing can still be put there, and in winter water accumulates there. The statement is more than controversial.
Again these switches!
Having finished the humiliation of Opel Zafira, it can be noted that, despite all the above words, it is convenient to be a passenger in this car. It’s nice to steer her. The driver will appreciate a very good seat (although in the basic configuration it has only two adjustments), a successfully tailored salon in the style of all new Opel and in German laconic design, readable devices and much more. Separately, it is worth noting the hand brake, which is made in the form of an unusual rectangular handle. Someone may not like it, but there are no complaints about the handbrake and you don’t need to get used to it at all. But you will have to get used to the steering wheel switches for a very long time. When I took the car from the cabin, the representative of Opel with particular pride drew attention to these switches, admiringly saying: they are sensory. But it only sounds good, but in fact, using them is inconveniently, the turn signal is not fixed and it is difficult to evaluate what the light bulb flashes right away. Because of this, the driver sometimes has to take several times to the switch is very inconvenient! And please do not talk about the tenth time that soon I will get used to these switches!
The suspension and steering Opel Zafira should be praised by the car with pleasure prescribes turns, although you need to say right away that this is not a small sports hatchback, but a large minivan with a high center of gravity. Zafira feels good when passing irregularities. You can’t call this car particularly comfortable, but still it is quite good.
It is better to take 1.8 liters.
Under the hood of the car taken on the test drive was the most modest gasoline engine with a volume of 1.6 liters. with a capacity of 105 hp It is not enough for this car, although there were no problems with the city’s movement. Therefore, we can say with confidence that the next engine is 1.8 liters. (already 140 hp) will be just right for Zafira. Moreover, the surcharge for this unit is very low basic versions of Zafira 1.6 cost $ 19,750, and Zafira 1.8 $ 22,450. Moreover, for $ 22,450, the buyer will receive not only a more powerful engine, but also the best equipment with air conditioning, CD player And a drawer under the driver's seat, for which Zafira has already received its own in minimal equipment (there is no 1.6 liter of a motor and music in the basic version with a motor). Therefore, the conclusion is obvious if you take Opel Zafira, then only with a 1.8 liter engine. And, believe me, despite all the criticism, this car is really good. Perhaps this is even one of the best Opel in recent years.
Source: Auto.mail.ru
