Test drive Opel Zafira 1999 - 2003 Minivan

The fastest zafira

Popular in Europe, the Opel model overtakes competitors
 
If you, dear reader, someone will say that there are no seven -seater cars of the sports type - do not believe. There are! And if the connoisseur undertakes to say that this is certainly not a family zafira - make him in the face. Because it is Opel Zafira with a stylish, but not too noticeable OPC nameplate, and today is the fastest compact minivan of Europe. So the company itself claims, and so it, perhaps, is. In any case, during the test in the vicinity of Frankfurt, I did not have any doubt about this. And I competed, and not without success, not at all with classmates, but with much more serious cars.
 
Do not lag behind!
 
What annoyed me the most that day was the slogan of a colleague who was weaving behind a minivan on the new Vectra, constantly lagging behind. Of course: he has 147 hp, and I have 192; He has an automatic machine, I have a competent 5 -speed mechanics. And in general, he is too phlegmatic and careful with a word, I was soon tired of such a movement of the convoy, and, stopping at the side of the road, we agreed: we meet after 120 kilometers in a certain paragraph. Fortunately, both cars are equipped with a navigation system (I do not tire of reminding how much it is a great thing, and how stupid that Russian motorists are still deprived of such a good of civilization).
 
I go to the autobahn, and at the same second I forget about the tail. Zafira instantly reacts to gas supply (by the way, the pedal does not have a mechanical, but electronic drive, using Drive-by-Wire technology, as in the new Vectra). Amazing pickup is already ensured at 1950 rpm per minute, when a short -engineered turbine forces the engine to issue a maximum torque of 250NM. Moreover, the pickup does not weaken, but rather grows up to the red zone on the tachometer. I quickly gain speed, making my way into the left row, and out of the corner of my eye I notice that some Renault Scenic is trying to portray a sports car. Well, this is not a competitor at all, the usual Zafira can also cope with him, not like ORS. Scenic dissolves in the rear view mirror, and my minivan, already rushing at a speed of 180 km/h (there are no restrictions on this site), attracts the attention of the Mercedes driver from 240. He smiles kindly, but clearly adds gas, as if inviting to carveles. I will, Herr driver! Just do not forget that I have a turbine, but you do not have it. 200, 210, 220 km/h, we win this round, although with 240 the maximum speed and, if it tensed, it would probably be able to catch up and bypass Zafira.
 
This is what I like German drivers: they easily start, but only if they drive a car perfectly, and in the vast majority of cases they behave respectfully, correctly, never risk in vain. What is there! I just admire me how European drivers in general, and German - in particular, pass, for example, the areas on which road work is being carried out. A multi -row autobahn taps up to two lanes - not suddenly, of course, but gradually, with all the appropriate warnings so that you can drop the speed in advance. So, these stripes are extremely narrow, the cars go, as they say, in the end, the distance to a parallel of a moving machine is a few centimeters. And the speed sometimes exceeds 100 km/h! Because everyone is absolutely sure that his neighbor does not twitch, he will not suddenly change the lane.
 
However, carried away by speed, I almost missed the desired turn. I had to quickly rebuild and slow down quite sharply. Therefore, I testify: disc brakes (on all wheels) are very effective, which they should be in such a car. In addition, they are equipped with ABS and EBD systems - the distribution of brake efforts.
 
Having moved from the highway, I got to the secondary road leading to the hills. The farther, the more picturesque the surroundings became: small, like puppet towns with houses in the Norman style; Vineyards, gardens, forests. The only thing that turned out to be inappropriate is the weather: it was windy; Either the sun, then the clouds, suddenly shed in large drops of rain. Finally, I got to the deserted winding path leading to the village with a difficult -pronounced name, which was strongly recommended by the Opel employee. Then I gave Zafira will.
 
It was delightful - to feel how the minivan turns into a dashing car that does not graze in front of any turn. Excellent rubber dimension 225/45, worn on 17 -inch cast discs, clings to the asphalt, like boots of a climber with spikes - for a snowstock. When turning on the wet asphalt, the car slightly brings the car, the ESP stabilization system does not have time to adapt to the given traffic mode and to the water on the road, although it is very well tuned. But this only adds charms. The control is honed, Zafira is implicitly obeyed by the slightest movement of the sports wheel. The DSA branded suspension (Dynamic Safety) allows you to clearly predict the behavior of the car, there are practically no spacious body rolls. The motor is spinning within 4000 - 5500 revolutions per minute, the transmission switches impeccably. By the way, if the minivan was even fully loaded, this would not particularly affect its running qualities, since the electronics in this case involves the power reserve, allowing to add another thousand revolutions. The clutch is not too tight, but you feel good. On ORS, you just forget that you are still in Minivan, and not in a sports car. And why am I obliged to remember this? After all, I am not sitting in a cozy chair, but tightly clamped with the pretender with premucers in the Seago Sele.
 
To be honest, I did not expect such amazing abilities from Van, albeit a compact, with a two -liter engine. I have repeatedly been riding a standard Zafira, but this version is really something special.
 
Difference sign - ORS
 
Apart from special nameplate and alloy discs, then outwardly charged modification of Zafira can be distinguished only by more embossed and low -set bums. There are more differences inside: these are white dials of instruments, and a steering wheel, and sports seats covered with leather. Otherwise, the usual family (or office) minivan. And even under the hood, an ignorant person, perhaps, will not find anything special. Because the turbocharging system is surprisingly compact, and it weighs a total of only 7.1 kg. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the collector, turbine cover and all other components are concentrated in one block. He was created by Opel Performance Center GmbH (OPC).
 
This is a special unit of the company, in which only 15 people work, was created in 1997. Zafira OPC is the second model after Astra ORS, created here and launched into production. The center’s specialists are responsible for the sports direction and, in particular, prepare cars for participation in competitions. For example, they have a family of Astra V8 Coupees DTM cars.
 
Meanwhile, I drove to the agreed point and now I could better study Zafira. Despite its outstanding opportunities, the minivan remained a safe and practical car. The driver and front passenger are protected by frontal and side airbags. Those who are located in the first two rows of seats in the cabin protect full -sized safety curtains mounted in the sidewalls of the body.
 
Since I had time (I waited for a colleague for more than half an hour), then, opening the back door, I tried to transform the salon. Two chairs of the third row are folded very easily, with just a few movements. It is not difficult to fold the second row entirely or in parts, and then the luggage compartment increases to 490 or to 640 liters. In principle, nothing interferes with turning Zafira and into a double car, removing all passenger seats and providing a freight space with a volume of 1700 liters.
 
Zafira in Russia
 
I have long been interested in: why one of the most successful Opel models, popular in many countries on all inhabited continents, will not reach Russia. And I asked President Adam Opel AG Carla-Pether Forster about this during our conversation at the Geneva Motor Show. He replied that he himself did not understand why Zafira is not for sale in Russia and promised to ask this question. As a result, a decision was made: Zafira enters the Russian market in the fall of this year.
 
According to the director of marketing and public relations by General Motors CIS Alexander Moynov, the prices for Zafira in the salons of official dealers will be in the range of 19 - 24 thousand dollars, depending on the engine capacity and the configuration. Modification with a 2.2 liter engine. It should cost from 24 to 27 thousand. The version of the ORS at the first stage of sales is not supposed to be imported. However, I can assure the reader that the rest of the modifications deserve attention. If there are those who want to get a practical, but at the same time, sports minivan, they will have to wait. It remains to be hoped - not for long.
 
Oleg Osipov
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 12 (15), 2002]