Dear Matt, this form of video is EXACTLY your niche and you fill it superbly....not that new car review nonsense you did a few weeks back....and I think that your fans are really pleased when they see 'I bought a cheap........' come up on You Tube...I know I am !
In Bulgaria, all Zafira drivers, especially the 1.9 always do 17 times the speed of light in every possible situation - urban, highway, b-roads, offroad, no road, underwater. Biggest @-holes you can find in the country. And it's always the 1.9 diesel.
I'm a bit of a fan of this era of GM metal. The Zafira B in petrol form, makes for a surprisingly robust choice. They're incredibly easy to work on and have a number of well documented faults that are usually easy to resolve. Get an Elite or a model with ECC (Electronic Climate Control) and you don't have to worry about the flammability issues that affected some models (this was down to improper pollen filter replacement and non original resistor packs....from what I have been advised). As other commenters have advised, the oil cooler seals may have failed, which can lead to HGF like oil in coolant symptoms. For a trader, this one would be a definite no given the amount of prep it needs. For someone like me, whom has the time to carry out the repairs......I'd certainly give it a second look. Genuine GM parts from Autovaux, are also not all that expensive.
Oil in the coolant will be from the oil cooler which is also causing the oil leak from the oil filter housing. very common issue an a cheap fix, just needs a set of new gasket set. to be fair, you could still do it for around £800.
I am a nosy sod and living in Deeside i don't trust any cars. So i ran a quick check which brought up a Milage Issue-: The odometer reading reduced by 263,584 miles between 17/06/2015 and 11/07/2016. So it has been "Clocked" so much for car vertical! You have made the right decision to sell this one on as spares/repairs Matt.
Hi Matt. Your job is exactly what I want to do when I am older, and you manage to teach and entertain with poor but hilarious humor. Thanks for the honest and to the point reviews. One of my top 3 TH-cam channels!
Those were great family cars. Criminally underrated. And, yeah, everyone preferred them to the later ones. But the game was really up by then as everyone wanted a Qashqai. Suddenly
Lots (most) Vauxhall owners don't realise that they must use Dexos specification oil. Take it to your back street garage for a service and they won't know either. Most just look at the SAE number and say "that'll do". Problems with Vauxhall engines include worn chains, tensioners and turbos mostly due to non Dexos oils. Other faults include water levels due to a lot of plastic components cracking. Unfortunately, Vauxhall won't sell you the special oil, you have to have you car serviced there. Fortunately, there are companies that now do good quality Dexos oils .... Morris and Mannol being two of them. Don't stick Castrol or Halford's junk in your Vauxhall.
Bought a brand new Zafira 10 years ago for the Mrs - and it’s still going strong - been a great car … of course, I’d like to upgrade it, but had it since new - not done many miles - has a nice spec - so can’t justify changing it
Have you kept it dealer serviced to maintain the lifetime warranty? I though one of the most difficult things was finding g a good VX dealer service as they are not the best.
@@anthonybrown4874 yeah - interesting you should say that - my experience has not been great - more ‘budget experience’ than too many issues - except !!!! …. (And yes, mine has been full VX in order to keep up the (maybe pointless) warranty) …. So without fail every year they tell me it needs £1,000+ or work, and when I break it down 99% of it is not required …. The local dealership has just closed …. I paid for a service package initially and they went bust and I had to fight VX to get my money back as ‘Sorry, Sir, your service package was not actually with VX so your money is lost’ …. And to be fair, the car (now only 40k miles) has been pretty faultless, but I did have a door wiring issue ‘that’s not covered’ and it looks like most things ‘are not covered, Sir’ …. I’ve kept it fully VX serviced on the hope the warranty is worth it … but I have my doubts … (we are SW London) …
@@mariemccann5895 well, I don’t make myself feel better by sending cryptic passive aggressive messages - and I don’t troll people from other comment threads - so I guess I’m better than the person in your mirror.
I know someone who has a 04 astra it's done 113,000 and it stills goes no problem. Never had any issues with head gasket, oil leaks or surprisingly rust. It always passes MOT maybe a couple of advisories. Never has any warning lights on. People knock vauxhall but it's like any car you look after it and it will look after you. All gets done is basic wear and tear. We always put in redex with a full tank of petrol.
My first car an Opel Astra 05 1.4 benzine is currently driven by my brother and at 380.000km. Still doing great, kinda regret selling it but at least it’s still in the family.
@@davidmbell I got 191K from a MK III Mondeo Estate. Yeah needed lots of tlc, 2 turbo pipes, front suspension twice, back suspension once, gearbox, passenger door handle failed. Peugeot sourced diesel engine was good for 45/48 ish mpg.
Yeah. I've owned four Astras. Two were fine two problematic. Current one a 2007 1.8 I bought cheap three years ago but have spent about 1500 quid on since. Why...because the engine is bullet proof no rust gearbox fine. And as shown you can buy a cheap car that looks good but it's a total gamble. So at least I know what's been done and what it needs. It's not so much the parts but labour costs that condemn cars to scrapyards. It's suspension problems older Vauxhall's suffer from. Springs and shocks especially. Otherwise yeah they get slated but the petrol ones usually start first go. And watch the dipstick. They naturally use a bit of oil. Cheers.
we had an opel zafira mk1 and it was quite good, plenty of space, 7 seats but it was diesel and the fuel economy was quite bad. one day we went to get groceries, parked it, came back one hour later and the car didn't want to start. we pop the hood (or bonnet if you're weird) and see smoke coming from the fuel pump. after 14 years (from 2004 to 2018) it died. that car was so well maintained that it didn't even make smoke, the only smoke it made was from the fuel pump after pumpung it's last bit of diesel. then we got a fiat tipo and we decided to change car after the warranty runs out since stuff starts to break after that period. we did it's 4 years of warranty with the mk1 (technically mk2/3 if we count the older one from the 80s) and then got the mk2 tipo cross. all great cars
When the ULEZ first came in I got rid of my old diesel van and bought a 2010 Zafira 1.6 petrol. It’s amazing what you can fit in them, I’ve had a full size bath in the back! It was cheap to buy and run... I park it anywhere and don’t worry if it gets bashed up. It’s not the most exciting to drive but seats 5 adults comfortably, it’s just gone over 100,000 miles and still going strong.
Bought a 1.8 Zafira from new in 2010, great family car, the narrow body was perfect for our uk roads. We called her Vera, and she give us 14 years of reliable motoring joy, school trips, airport runs, shopping and holidays in Cornwall no problems. Very cheap to run/Service. The 2 seats in the boot were revolutionary at the time, and alway came in handy to quickly turn it into a 7 seater. High driving position, and you didn't have to worry about it being nicked. Anyway, for some reason the next generation was turn into an ugly massive fat bus of a thing, so when it came to upgrading, I couldn't entertain the new version. So, the right car at the right time for us, and although we have a Mercedes now, the family still mention Vera from time to time (the Mercs remains nameless) 🙂
Had a Zafira petrol, 1.6 I think but could have been a 1.8 with a four speed auto box as a company car in 2000. Handed it back 3 years later with 86000 miles on the clock. Faultless and so comfortable. Gearbox was ok and the car never missed a beat. Practical car
My aunt has a 2013 1.6 Exclusiv in red and its honestly a great car. She has had it since new. Look after them and they are great cars! 58,000 miles and it’s never failed an MOT, and it’s had 3 total advisories. This design turns 20 this year and they still look very modern!
The repair to the rear light reminded me of one my father did to his Renault 4 headlight before trading it in for a new Renault 12 in 1972. The Renault main dealer's pre-sale preparation of the Renault 4 did not include repairing the headlight but they did wind the clock back from 70000 to 30000.
It's not that bad... flush the coolant put some cleaning products with water, refill and see if the problem comes back. New exhaust or weld the old one, fix the leak... New tires and that's about it.
My dad owned one before his current car. It was a 2010 black 1.7 CDTi Ecoflex and it was so slow but quite reliable (until the end) when the DPF or something got clogged. and nearly caused the engine to blow so he sold it on because he needed something more trouble free, partly the reason he now has a yaris 1.33 . He was not fond of the zafira at all.
We had a 2006 1.9CDTI, was fantastic at the time with having three kids, was quite fast for a bus as well, unfortunately, DPF and EGR valve issues were too much for us and we got rid of it
I think you've got a win-win situation. Sensible Matt avoiding massive overspends, or lots of nice TH-cam revenue when people lap up when Fun Matt massively overspends delivering a satisfying restoration. Clever. 🙂
Loved our Zafira 1.6 petrol, brought nearly new and drove for 17 years putting 163,000 miles before the timing belt went ( all my fault) . Talk about a family workhorse . Never had a major issue just general wear. It was on its last legs but was so reliable. Not sure mk2s were as good.
My dad is just about to scrap his Zafira B due to ULEZ. He owned it since it was a year old, and did 9 years of minicabbing in it. Never blew up (despite 1.7l diesel) and had enough service history to beat someone with. They are brilliant when they're looked after!
What is a crankshaft cover gasket? Surely you mean a camshaft cover gasket. That wouldn't put oil in the coolant. It will be the oil cooler gasket, common fault on that 1.8 engine.
Zafiras are brilliant, so many still on the road, they seem to take abuse and keep going like nothing happened, same as the Astras and vectras but not so much small engined corsa with their defective head gaskets!
Use to have a 2010 Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 petrol. Probably one of the best cars I’ve owned. Utterly reliable and barely spent anything on it. Owned it for about 13 years and 120,000 miles my biggest cost was probably changing 2 tyres. Got t-boned at a junction by an Audi!! Great car that was. I now have an old 1996 BMW 323i passed down from a deceased relative. BMW is actually really nice to drive despite its age (better than the Vauxhall in all honesty) but had so many memories in that Meriva, it held sentinel value.
I had a relatively similar experience. My first car was an Opel Astra station 1.4 2005 with 380000km as of now (my brother still drives it). Great car but I wanted something more fun so bought a 2002 BMW 320ci definitely more fun but what a heep of shit. Sold it last year for 1000 more then I bought it ford now back to a station car with a 2011 Ford Focus 1.6 ecoboost.
@@luclaan8165 similar story to mine then. I can only imagine how good a modern BMW is compared to my ancient 323i. It’s heavy on fuel and at some point I’ll probably go back to a Vauxhall or maybe a Ford Focus, had one as a courtesy car and it’s a great car
I had oil in the coolant on mine, turned out it was oil cooler seals. Fixed for about £20, but took a couple of hours to get the exhaust manifold off as the cooler is behind it (amazing place for VX to put the bloody thing). Would also likely fix the oil leak from around the filter housing - same set of seals! All that said, on balance I still think you made the right call.
@@TomRxtroWav397 yup, had this on mine when I first bought it. Fortunately, as I bought it from @HighPeakAutos, Matt was good enough to pick up the tab to sort it for me.
I had a 96 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 petrol estate and ran it for about 10 years. Used it to carry everything including dogs , kids and suitcases. Never had any serious issues with it at all until white van man rear ended it.
@@longbar2344 ...never driven a boring car just known many boring people. If you're in the right company going down the right road you'll have fun in anything.
We had the Zafira Tourer 190hp Auto. What a great car it was . Not expensive on Fuel on a run, and really comfortable . We got the Alhambra next and the seats were very firm . Ended up with a numb bum if you went any distance. Great review . Pity it did not work out for you.
The economics of life....scrap it is the right approach. The margins would be wafer thin at best but the risk of further issues would be high. As they say high risk should come with high return. This only meets the first part of that. BTW, Land Rover products are always high risk so never entertain anything that cannot give you a potentially excellent return.
We had an early zafira 1.8 auto and as a family wagon it was great. We often took our three and a couple of their friends to the beach in it. Other times it could carry wachine machines and other huge shops brilliantly. Totally reliable and actually quite good to drive, surprisingly. Later ones didnt sound as reliable by all accounts.
I avoid these like the plague, they’re always owned by people who squeeze every last bit of life out of them Usually run on a budget You’ve deffo made the right decision Matt !
Funny you say that, my mate has one of these, wife bought it for him as he hates cars, middle aged dad, says his wife sorts the servicing and any recommended work they say no to as he thinks it's a scam - does minimum to keep on the road/pass MOT 😂. I tried to advise him it's likely a false economy but sometimes it makes you wonder, he'll probably still be driving it in years to come with no issues.
Correct decision Matt. Move it on. Everything other than the oil in coolant is pretty simple. Oil in coolant is minimum head gasket or a cracked/porous head. Better luck next time
OMG - talk about a timely video. I am currently in Germany selling my Opel Minerva 1.6 Auto (I live in Oz) that I kept at my German home. I have found it to be a great car and took it for a spin to Croatia in the past. I paid 4,000 Euro for mine which is cheap compared to always renting a Beemer or a Benz. Never had any problems with it, cheap to run and insure and it is better than renting a car at Frankfurt airport and getting scammed by the people who inspect your car after you hand it back to the car rental place. Now there is space in the garage for a nice Monteverdi Safari! (it snows a lot in the Black Forest and Basel is just down the road).
Matt the recall was for the blower resistor. Mine was recalled. It was then recalled to replace the blower motor. When they replaced that they then put a plastic shield on the windscreen scuttle because rain water was finding it’s way into the motor and then blowing the resistor. According to Vauxhall the fires were caused by unscrupulous mechanics bridging the resistor. Supposedly
I think that's the best way to go Matt! Better to just sell as trade rather than spend all the money on prep and sell only for the customer to accuse you of selling them a pup.
I know I get a lot of flak from other dealers on this, but I never get a problem with Vauxhall's, Why ? because I never buy them ...... take the S off the Scrap you wrote on it and you have my reason, even more so when they are old ...... 80's and 90's I couldn't get enough of them, but Insignia / later Zafira / Corsa days on I had my fingers burnt once to often, but for a minute there at a £1,000 I thought you'd rung the bell ! always a great and entertaining channel Matt.
I have two of these cars. 1.9 diesel 2008. 1.8 petrol 2014. The 1.9 diesel is going through its MoT now. It is worthless unless it passes. The big problem is the central locking. The 1.8 petrol 2014 has an engine warning light come on. I will probably switch it off for the MoT. Oil in Coolant = head gasket Plus unknown problems. Not bad for £1000. Cars are expensive!
Great video as always Matt. I don't normally comment on your videos but thought I'd make an exemption for this. Reason being is that I have a soft spot for this generation of Zafira, having grown up with my parents owning 4 of them either from new or nearly new. First was a 06 SRI 1.9 CDTi, which is fondly remembered by my Dad as one of the more powerful vehicles he has owned and had some sort of boost button (I can't recall the official name!). Also had 2x Design 1.6is, a 08 and a 10, and in between them a 1.8i Energy. All I believe had no faults apart from the second 1.6i when the oil light came on on the journey down to trade it in for it's replacement!! Cheers :)
The would be the 'Sport' button, in reality, all it did was to change the steering response and sharpen the throttle response. I once owned a 1.9 CDTi Elite (150BHP) and experimented with said button, the overall acceleration was no quicker, but the snappier throttle made it feel quicker. Some very rare models had a super rare electronic dampening option. This button with also set the dampers to 'stiff' mode, which provided for decreased body roll.
@@grampian999videos6 Mine was okay, but I had a lot of work carried out under warranty. The M32 6 speed manual was a bit of a weakspot......mine was fine but I did have the clutch release bearing, clutch and flywheel replaced. The warranty work covered the release bearing, but given the dual mass flywheel sounded like someome throwing a bell down some stairs, I paid the cost for the parts to have this renewed along with a clutch kit. The water pump also seized before the cambelt replacement was due. I caught it just in time, but....another warranty job. I upgraded to a Zafira C 2.0CDTi 165 SE after the warranty expired. The Zafira C (Tourer) is still in the family, my mum inherited it to replace her Zafira B 1.6 that she had owned from new. That too, is still in the family!! I moved away from Vauxhall after Stellantis became involved. Surprisingly practical mostly robust cars.....though that 6 speed manual on the Zafira B.....is a bit........well, fragile!
My ex brother in law bought a 2006 1.9 CDTI Zafira back in 2011 which he went to Birmingham for, within a few weeks the engine suffered a major fault with the pistons, he had to strip it down and rebuild it with new parts from Germany, it didn't run properly after that, in the end he traded it in for a brand new at the time 2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Petrol
Yeah that recall thing. It wasn’t over hyped. I was a fireman and on my last ground we’d go to maybe a car alight every now and then. Then all of a sudden we had a real run of them. And all Zafira’s. That’s absolutely genuine. Otherwise I love what you do, I’ve got a Range Rover I love and I bought a Hag XKR thanks to your review
Amazing car. I bought one new in 2005, it lasted until 2022. Then rust got to it. Very comfortable, drove it all over Europe. Though I had mid spec with same 1.8l petrol with manual. Drove elderly relatives with back pains, who's back pains have disappeared after long drives. Yes, seats were that good... except for 3rd row, but I used that row only few times. Then bought Zafira C. Absolute garbage. Nothing in common with B. Ergonomics are horrible, build quality is even worse. Barely managed to get rid of it.
I had the same symptoms in my Zafira B. An oil leak and oil in the coolant. Turned out it was the oil cooler and gasket. Ideal project for a Saturday mechanic to fix up and move on. Right decision made by yourself business wise👍👍👍
The horn it’s a common problem for Vauxhall models made around 2010. I had this problem on 07 reg Astra and 11 reg Corsa. Long story short it’s a module (CIM - column integrated module). It’s 20-50£ a new one but it’s a headache to change. Basically it’s the PCB around steering column that integrates the steering wheel controls and the left/right switches for turn signals and wipers. So to replace that thing you need to remove the steering wheel, airbag, and you need to make sure you put things back in a proper position otherwise they will not work. In other words, it’s a entire afternoon job.
Hi Matt. We had a 60 reg Zafira 1.6 Design and that ended up developing oil in the coolant tank. It ended up needing all of it's cooling system replaced, new coolant tank, water pump, pipes, radiator, thermostat, the lot! Got the car for about £2500, ended up spending over £3000 in total as we'd put a lot of time and effort in with other stuff alongside the oil cooler fault and then ended up part exing for £950. Sounds like you did the right thing shipping it on!
Nice video, I may be wrong but nearly five months ago this car passed with one advisory according to GOV.UK mot checker. I have a 2005 1.6 club with panoramic roof which I've owned for the last 10 years and have been pleased with it's performance, especially on family hols.
Maybe I’m odd in some way, but, any time I trade my cars in I make sure they’re spotless. I know the dealer will valet it as well, but to me it’s just good practice. As I say, maybe I’m just odd.
Regarding service history, I do my own servicing. I know what oil is going in, I do all the filters INCLUDING the under dash pollen filters that garages never do. The only things I don't do are cambelts or chain tensioners. Therefore, my service book is just a load of receipts for parts with no stamps. All stamps in the book mean is that I've paid someone to do a worse job than I can do myself.
Hi Matt, just a side note, I live around the corner from the address of the “garage” that stamped the service book and I can tell you there is no garage on that street it’s totally residential!! I suppose someone could run a business from their driveway but just a bit odd with it having no early history? Anyway you have somehow made content about a Zafira enjoyable to watch so well done you! 👍🏼
Hi Matt top video as per. With the service history I’ve bought a few Combo and Corsa and sold on quietly. All ex police, service history in the book always starts like this Zafira. Most have a print out of police service history. Most cars never used in anger. 👍
The oil in the tank is 2 pipes behind the engine I have a Chevrolet Orlando 1.8 the same engine also my oil was coming in the coolant tank changed those pipes and now the oil doesn't come through
Had the exact same model on 08 plate. Did 100k in it and it owed me nothing. Shame this one needs so many consumables all at the same time. Great diy car for someone. Parts plentiful and cheap as chips.
Always see how the engine sounds when cold for the first couple of seconds on the VVT engines. You won’t typically hear it as well in the cabin. Better off lifting the bonet and standing outside to hear it. The cam shaft dephasers rattle on em when wearing out for couple of seconds on start up
Having worked in the motor trade I fully concour with you on the punters almost screaming at me if there's a single mark on the car they bought last week while you're still halfway through the paperwork to scrap their p.x that only needed "a good clean" ....grrrrrr
Made my day I'm a vauxhall nut had five kids started with a basic then worked my way up too a vxr still have two an 02;gsi 2.6 litre Vectra and an 05 vxr Vectra .but I really wanted zafira vxr ,maybe should be your next mission ,
Thanks, good decision. I like the anecdote about un doing the deal. I know people who use zafiras as a mobile skip and just run them with minimal maintenance until they fail the MOT too badly. Why do we still call it an MOT, the ministry of transport was scrapped decades ago.
Last Zafira I had I bought for scrap value. It had no discs in the window, was filthy. Checked the reg and it had 3 months test on it. I got it at 11am. Wash, vac, photos, marketplace and it was gone at 7pm for a 500 profit.
The 1.7 Turbos are bulletproof, they make even bigger cars like the Meriva and Zafira very quick and especially for pre-2009 cars like the Meriva A or Astra H and Corsa C they'll last for hundreds and hundreds of miles
You, Matt, are the sole reason I still believe in car salesmen. 🤝 Not all by any means, but I feel like there's some good ones out there. Like a person that would rather sell you a car that's been checked over, fixed up to a good or decent, working condition if necessary and sold with purely feeling you're selling someone something that'll be a good vehicle for them. Not necessarily the best car for lowest price, but something that'll suit them, their budget and needs. I've had quite a few cars over the years, I like buying and selling them on but I've always done it honestly. Not looking for absolute maximum payday once I've fixed something with bubblegum and few self tapping screws. I am somewhat happy that nowadays public auctions are getting more and more popular so car dealers will flog their 💩 there while quite honestly stating everything, or at least most, that's wrong with them. I guess it serves both, sellers don't have to put makeup on a pig and try to lie through their teeth in order to get someone to buy it. Buyers know, in most cases, their buying something that didn't make the cut to be on the front court and there'll be risks to buying them but at least their cheap. Only problem is nowadays the prices in auctions are getting out of hand too 😅 I just saw a '09 Subaru Forester with a busted engine!!! (I'm guessing a snapped crankshaft as it's the 2.0td) go for over 3k€. Like what the heck??!? 😮 Who pays 3k€ for a shell, you'll pay thousands for a new engine and work and then you have a 200k mile Subaru with bad history and no way to get your money back if you want to sell it on... 😂
Given the list, your mechanic is definitely worth having. Seems to be very on to it and thorough resulting in avoiding overspends. Maybe he is your Guardian Angel. 😁
The Zafira 1.9 CDTI 150 Elite are fab cars. A few common issues with that motor but it will tug the front end up a 320d’s chuff no bother. I prefer the Italian 1.9 over the VW PD. More revvy and just as tough after flap removal
You've been doing well this year Matt.Who would have guessed that a Vauxhall would be your first shed of the year.Why would anyone buy a Zafari instead of a Corolla Verso !! You made the right decision to cut and run.Hope your next cheappie is a good un.
You’ve definitely made the right call with this one Matt, it could have potentially cost a small fortune to repair all of the defects. It’s a pity though, because this car does potentially have life left in it, and would have made a decent run around for someone❤.
I have been in plenty of Zafiras all my life and I feel like they are built down to a price. My mum had an 05 Astra 1.8 Auto and the head gasket went badly and the cam belt snapped like no one’s business - the 1.8 is known for doing that. Honestly Zafiras are not all reliable with the notoriously bad 1.9 diesel and the famous fire problems they had years ago. Problem is owners but these cars and run them into the ground; better off with an s max but we used to have a 2016 Zafira Tourer Auto and it was fantastic!
As others have said before surprised if the head gasket is blown on these they are usually ok, I've just got a Astra H 1.6 needs the usual Cam cover gasket plus probably oil in cyclinder 1 spark plus where it's leaked need a new VVT solenoid as there get clogged
That’s a have-a-go-hero special. People hate these but much like their Astra and Vectra cousins, they’re remarkably robust. They shrug off deferred maintenance for far longer than they’ve got any right to. Shame this one’s on the brink of being a money pit.
i think you made the right choice to pass it on. it had low miles and was in decent condition, but to repair everything it would be nearly the same value as the car
"Single mother at the school gates in a onesie" 💀💀💀
This cracked me up 😂
So accurate 😅
Two pairs of pyjamas at the moment. Its a bit nippy out.
With one wheel trim missing and keyed down the side!!
Likey with the engine light and ABS light on too
Dear Matt, this form of video is EXACTLY your niche and you fill it superbly....not that new car review nonsense you did a few weeks back....and I think that your fans are really pleased when they see 'I bought a cheap........' come up on You Tube...I know I am !
These are the only videos on this channel I watch. 🤣 never even clicked on the “should you buy” ones.
In Bulgaria, all Zafira drivers, especially the 1.9 always do 17 times the speed of light in every possible situation - urban, highway, b-roads, offroad, no road, underwater. Biggest @-holes you can find in the country. And it's always the 1.9 diesel.
I'm a bit of a fan of this era of GM metal. The Zafira B in petrol form, makes for a surprisingly robust choice. They're incredibly easy to work on and have a number of well documented faults that are usually easy to resolve. Get an Elite or a model with ECC (Electronic Climate Control) and you don't have to worry about the flammability issues that affected some models (this was down to improper pollen filter replacement and non original resistor packs....from what I have been advised). As other commenters have advised, the oil cooler seals may have failed, which can lead to HGF like oil in coolant symptoms. For a trader, this one would be a definite no given the amount of prep it needs. For someone like me, whom has the time to carry out the repairs......I'd certainly give it a second look. Genuine GM parts from Autovaux, are also not all that expensive.
Oil in the coolant will be from the oil cooler which is also causing the oil leak from the oil filter housing. very common issue an a cheap fix, just needs a set of new gasket set. to be fair, you could still do it for around £800.
I am a nosy sod and living in Deeside i don't trust any cars.
So i ran a quick check which brought up a Milage Issue-:
The odometer reading reduced by 263,584 miles between 17/06/2015 and 11/07/2016.
So it has been "Clocked" so much for car vertical!
You have made the right decision to sell this one on as spares/repairs Matt.
It’s a mileage input error. An extra 0 has been slipped in.
2014 - 32,361
2015 - 309,029
2016 - 45,445
Etc…Etc…
Hi Matt. Your job is exactly what I want to do when I am older, and you manage to teach and entertain with poor but hilarious humor. Thanks for the honest and to the point reviews. One of my top 3 TH-cam channels!
Matt is about 50. Dont wait that long and do it now
@@Joemamma-c1f lol - doubt he's 40!
@@Joemamma-c1f Ha ha, That's a bit harsh, I think he's early 30's .
Very early 30’s thanks. Also known as ‘my prime’ 😂
Those were great family cars. Criminally underrated. And, yeah, everyone preferred them to the later ones. But the game was really up by then as everyone wanted a Qashqai. Suddenly
Lots (most) Vauxhall owners don't realise that they must use Dexos specification oil.
Take it to your back street garage for a service and they won't know either.
Most just look at the SAE number and say "that'll do".
Problems with Vauxhall engines include worn chains, tensioners and turbos mostly due to non Dexos oils.
Other faults include water levels due to a lot of plastic components cracking.
Unfortunately, Vauxhall won't sell you the special oil, you have to have you car serviced there.
Fortunately, there are companies that now do good quality Dexos oils .... Morris and Mannol being two of them. Don't stick Castrol or Halford's junk in your Vauxhall.
One caught fire in my town too, completely destroyed a multi storey car park and shut down a shopping centre for two years.
Atlest the heater was working 😂
Bought a brand new Zafira 10 years ago for the Mrs - and it’s still going strong - been a great car … of course, I’d like to upgrade it, but had it since new - not done many miles - has a nice spec - so can’t justify changing it
Have you kept it dealer serviced to maintain the lifetime warranty?
I though one of the most difficult things was finding g a good VX dealer service as they are not the best.
@@anthonybrown4874 yeah - interesting you should say that - my experience has not been great - more ‘budget experience’ than too many issues - except !!!! …. (And yes, mine has been full VX in order to keep up the (maybe pointless) warranty) …. So without fail every year they tell me it needs £1,000+ or work, and when I break it down 99% of it is not required …. The local dealership has just closed …. I paid for a service package initially and they went bust and I had to fight VX to get my money back as ‘Sorry, Sir, your service package was not actually with VX so your money is lost’ …. And to be fair, the car (now only 40k miles) has been pretty faultless, but I did have a door wiring issue ‘that’s not covered’ and it looks like most things ‘are not covered, Sir’ …. I’ve kept it fully VX serviced on the hope the warranty is worth it … but I have my doubts … (we are SW London) …
You sound like a catch pet 😘
@@mariemccann5895 well, I don’t make myself feel better by sending cryptic passive aggressive messages - and I don’t troll people from other comment threads - so I guess I’m better than the person in your mirror.
@@anthonybrown4874did you get my last message on my VX feedback ?? Seems to have disappeared - TH-cam drives me crazy - truly awful comments system
I know someone who has a 04 astra it's done 113,000 and it stills goes no problem. Never had any issues with head gasket, oil leaks or surprisingly rust. It always passes MOT maybe a couple of advisories. Never has any warning lights on. People knock vauxhall but it's like any car you look after it and it will look after you. All gets done is basic wear and tear. We always put in redex with a full tank of petrol.
Right move.
My first car an Opel Astra 05 1.4 benzine is currently driven by my brother and at 380.000km. Still doing great, kinda regret selling it but at least it’s still in the family.
113,000 miles isn’t a huge accomplishment?
@@davidmbell I got 191K from a MK III Mondeo Estate. Yeah needed lots of tlc, 2 turbo pipes, front suspension twice, back suspension once, gearbox, passenger door handle failed. Peugeot sourced diesel engine was good for 45/48 ish mpg.
Yeah. I've owned four Astras. Two were fine two problematic. Current one a 2007 1.8 I bought cheap three years ago but have spent about 1500 quid on since. Why...because the engine is bullet proof no rust gearbox fine. And as shown you can buy a cheap car that looks good but it's a total gamble. So at least I know what's been done and what it needs. It's not so much the parts but labour costs that condemn cars to scrapyards. It's suspension problems older Vauxhall's suffer from. Springs and shocks especially. Otherwise yeah they get slated but the petrol ones usually start first go. And watch the dipstick. They naturally use a bit of oil. Cheers.
we had an opel zafira mk1 and it was quite good, plenty of space, 7 seats but it was diesel and the fuel economy was quite bad. one day we went to get groceries, parked it, came back one hour later and the car didn't want to start. we pop the hood (or bonnet if you're weird) and see smoke coming from the fuel pump. after 14 years (from 2004 to 2018) it died. that car was so well maintained that it didn't even make smoke, the only smoke it made was from the fuel pump after pumpung it's last bit of diesel. then we got a fiat tipo and we decided to change car after the warranty runs out since stuff starts to break after that period. we did it's 4 years of warranty with the mk1 (technically mk2/3 if we count the older one from the 80s) and then got the mk2 tipo cross. all great cars
When the ULEZ first came in I got rid of my old diesel van and bought a 2010 Zafira 1.6 petrol. It’s amazing what you can fit in them, I’ve had a full size bath in the back! It was cheap to buy and run... I park it anywhere and don’t worry if it gets bashed up. It’s not the most exciting to drive but seats 5 adults comfortably, it’s just gone over 100,000 miles and still going strong.
Bought a 1.8 Zafira from new in 2010, great family car, the narrow body was perfect for our uk roads.
We called her Vera, and she give us 14 years of reliable motoring joy, school trips, airport runs, shopping and holidays in Cornwall no problems.
Very cheap to run/Service. The 2 seats in the boot were revolutionary at the time, and alway came in handy to quickly turn it into a 7 seater. High driving position, and you didn't have to worry about it being nicked. Anyway, for some reason the next generation was turn into an ugly massive fat bus of a thing, so when it came to upgrading, I couldn't entertain the new version.
So, the right car at the right time for us, and although we have a Mercedes now, the family still mention Vera from time to time (the Mercs remains nameless) 🙂
Had a Zafira petrol, 1.6 I think but could have been a 1.8 with a four speed auto box as a company car in 2000. Handed it back 3 years later with 86000 miles on the clock. Faultless and so comfortable. Gearbox was ok and the car never missed a beat. Practical car
My aunt has a 2013 1.6 Exclusiv in red and its honestly a great car. She has had it since new. Look after them and they are great cars! 58,000 miles and it’s never failed an MOT, and it’s had 3 total advisories. This design turns 20 this year and they still look very modern!
Love the story about the deal reversal with the Citroen... only right and fair
The repair to the rear light reminded me of one my father did to his Renault 4 headlight before trading it in for a new Renault 12 in 1972. The Renault main dealer's pre-sale preparation of the Renault 4 did not include repairing the headlight but they did wind the clock back from 70000 to 30000.
Excellent cars both.
It's not that bad... flush the coolant put some cleaning products with water, refill and see if the problem comes back.
New exhaust or weld the old one, fix the leak...
New tires and that's about it.
My dad owned one before his current car. It was a 2010 black 1.7 CDTi Ecoflex and it was so slow but quite reliable (until the end) when the DPF or something got clogged. and nearly caused the engine to blow so he sold it on because he needed something more trouble free, partly the reason he now has a yaris 1.33 . He was not fond of the zafira at all.
We had a 2006 1.9CDTI, was fantastic at the time with having three kids, was quite fast for a bus as well, unfortunately, DPF and EGR valve issues were too much for us and we got rid of it
@paulefc1971 yeah same here. At least you had the 1.9, 1.7 was awful
It would be hilarious if you did a review and car vertical check on that Wonder Grip van😅😂
I think you've got a win-win situation. Sensible Matt avoiding massive overspends, or lots of nice TH-cam revenue when people lap up when Fun Matt massively overspends delivering a satisfying restoration. Clever. 🙂
I imagine said single mother has an XL Bully, and Kaiden, Jayden and Okayden are her world 🌍
Loved our Zafira 1.6 petrol, brought nearly new and drove for 17 years putting 163,000 miles before the timing belt went ( all my fault) . Talk about a family workhorse . Never had a major issue just general wear. It was on its last legs but was so reliable. Not sure mk2s were as good.
My dad is just about to scrap his Zafira B due to ULEZ. He owned it since it was a year old, and did 9 years of minicabbing in it. Never blew up (despite 1.7l diesel) and had enough service history to beat someone with. They are brilliant when they're looked after!
That 1.8 vvt engine is really good. They have a very strong bottom end. I owned a Vectra with this engine and drove 180000 miles trouble free.
The oil in the coolant is most likely coming from an expired crankshaft cover gasket or oil cooler gasket. As it happened in my 1.8 Zafira.
Was it an expensive repair?.
What is a crankshaft cover gasket? Surely you mean a camshaft cover gasket. That wouldn't put oil in the coolant. It will be the oil cooler gasket, common fault on that 1.8 engine.
had oil in my coolant for 10 years now, no issue.....same 1.8 btw
@@rodneyhull9764Quality at its finest
Zafiras are brilliant, so many still on the road, they seem to take abuse and keep going like nothing happened, same as the Astras and vectras but not so much small engined corsa with their defective head gaskets!
Use to have a 2010 Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 petrol. Probably one of the best cars I’ve owned. Utterly reliable and barely spent anything on it. Owned it for about 13 years and 120,000 miles my biggest cost was probably changing 2 tyres. Got t-boned at a junction by an Audi!! Great car that was. I now have an old 1996 BMW 323i passed down from a deceased relative. BMW is actually really nice to drive despite its age (better than the Vauxhall in all honesty) but had so many memories in that Meriva, it held sentinel value.
I had a relatively similar experience. My first car was an Opel Astra station 1.4 2005 with 380000km as of now (my brother still drives it). Great car but I wanted something more fun so bought a 2002 BMW 320ci definitely more fun but what a heep of shit. Sold it last year for 1000 more then I bought it ford now back to a station car with a 2011 Ford Focus 1.6 ecoboost.
New shape or old shape
@@luclaan8165 similar story to mine then. I can only imagine how good a modern BMW is compared to my ancient 323i. It’s heavy on fuel and at some point I’ll probably go back to a Vauxhall or maybe a Ford Focus, had one as a courtesy car and it’s a great car
I had oil in the coolant on mine, turned out it was oil cooler seals. Fixed for about £20, but took a couple of hours to get the exhaust manifold off as the cooler is behind it (amazing place for VX to put the bloody thing). Would also likely fix the oil leak from around the filter housing - same set of seals!
All that said, on balance I still think you made the right call.
ecotec is also known as suffer rocker cover gasket leaking, they do love pissing the oils leaks.
@@TomRxtroWav397 yup, had this on mine when I first bought it. Fortunately, as I bought it from @HighPeakAutos, Matt was good enough to pick up the tab to sort it for me.
Was just going to say this. Quite cheap and easy to fix.
Very common on those engines 👍
I had a 96 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 petrol estate and ran it for about 10 years.
Used it to carry everything including dogs , kids and suitcases.
Never had any serious issues with it at all until white van man rear ended it.
but it was as boring as hell
@@longbar2344 ...never driven a boring car just known many boring people.
If you're in the right company going down the right road you'll have fun in anything.
@@geebee6737I think there's a lot of truth to that!
My auntie had the generation of Zafira before this. Was a proper shed but took us on many family holidays and made lots of memories!
We had the Zafira Tourer 190hp Auto. What a great car it was . Not expensive on Fuel on a run, and really comfortable . We got the Alhambra next and the seats were very firm . Ended up with a numb bum if you went any distance. Great review . Pity it did not work out for you.
The economics of life....scrap it is the right approach. The margins would be wafer thin at best but the risk of further issues would be high. As they say high risk should come with high return. This only meets the first part of that.
BTW, Land Rover products are always high risk so never entertain anything that cannot give you a potentially excellent return.
We had an early zafira 1.8 auto and as a family wagon it was great. We often took our three and a couple of their friends to the beach in it. Other times it could carry wachine machines and other huge shops brilliantly. Totally reliable and actually quite good to drive, surprisingly. Later ones didnt sound as reliable by all accounts.
I avoid these like the plague, they’re always owned by people who squeeze every last bit of life out of them
Usually run on a budget
You’ve deffo made the right decision Matt !
Budget set at next MOT 🙂
How would you know ?
Funny you say that, my mate has one of these, wife bought it for him as he hates cars, middle aged dad, says his wife sorts the servicing and any recommended work they say no to as he thinks it's a scam - does minimum to keep on the road/pass MOT 😂. I tried to advise him it's likely a false economy but sometimes it makes you wonder, he'll probably still be driving it in years to come with no issues.
Yep same here, and the Touran
That does seem to be the image the Zafira is stuck with....
Some home mechanics would buy it and fix it for themselves 😊
Ive got one of these myself have had it for 9 years in a week, love it, seeing these things abused confuses me as they work so well when treated well
Came for the Zafira, stayed for the niche partridge quotes 🛏️
Lovely stuff!
New year, new Matt who doesn't massively overspend. I love that ❤
Correct decision Matt. Move it on. Everything other than the oil in coolant is pretty simple. Oil in coolant is minimum head gasket or a cracked/porous head. Better luck next time
I thought they really did catch fire and heard they still caught fire even after the recall! Good decision again Matt .
I got a 60 plate 1.7 diesel same spec elite I'm not gonna lie the best feature is those heated seats but the 1.7 is smooth for motorway runs 👍
Bought a 2 year old Zafira 1.9 CDTi auto with 22,000 on the clock in 2011 - now done 216,000 miles with pretty much no issue.
OMG - talk about a timely video. I am currently in Germany selling my Opel Minerva 1.6 Auto (I live in Oz) that I kept at my German home. I have found it to be a great car and took it for a spin to Croatia in the past. I paid 4,000 Euro for mine which is cheap compared to always renting a Beemer or a Benz. Never had any problems with it, cheap to run and insure and it is better than renting a car at Frankfurt airport and getting scammed by the people who inspect your car after you hand it back to the car rental place. Now there is space in the garage for a nice Monteverdi Safari! (it snows a lot in the Black Forest and Basel is just down the road).
Matt the recall was for the blower resistor. Mine was recalled. It was then recalled to replace the blower motor. When they replaced that they then put a plastic shield on the windscreen scuttle because rain water was finding it’s way into the motor and then blowing the resistor. According to Vauxhall the fires were caused by unscrupulous mechanics bridging the resistor. Supposedly
I think that's the best way to go Matt! Better to just sell as trade rather than spend all the money on prep and sell only for the customer to accuse you of selling them a pup.
I know I get a lot of flak from other dealers on this, but I never get a problem with Vauxhall's, Why ? because I never buy them ...... take the S off the Scrap you wrote on it and you have my reason, even more so when they are old ...... 80's and 90's I couldn't get enough of them, but Insignia / later Zafira / Corsa days on I had my fingers burnt once to often, but for a minute there at a £1,000 I thought you'd rung the bell ! always a great and entertaining channel Matt.
I have two of these cars. 1.9 diesel 2008. 1.8 petrol 2014.
The 1.9 diesel is going through its MoT now. It is worthless unless it passes.
The big problem is the central locking.
The 1.8 petrol 2014 has an engine warning light come on. I will probably switch it off for the MoT.
Oil in Coolant = head gasket
Plus unknown problems.
Not bad for £1000.
Cars are expensive!
Had a 1.6 as a rental car in Spain, brand new was lovely. A friend brought a 10 year old one & it fell apart & died within 6 months
Great video as always Matt. I don't normally comment on your videos but thought I'd make an exemption for this. Reason being is that I have a soft spot for this generation of Zafira, having grown up with my parents owning 4 of them either from new or nearly new. First was a 06 SRI 1.9 CDTi, which is fondly remembered by my Dad as one of the more powerful vehicles he has owned and had some sort of boost button (I can't recall the official name!). Also had 2x Design 1.6is, a 08 and a 10, and in between them a 1.8i Energy. All I believe had no faults apart from the second 1.6i when the oil light came on on the journey down to trade it in for it's replacement!! Cheers :)
The would be the 'Sport' button, in reality, all it did was to change the steering response and sharpen the throttle response. I once owned a 1.9 CDTi Elite (150BHP) and experimented with said button, the overall acceleration was no quicker, but the snappier throttle made it feel quicker. Some very rare models had a super rare electronic dampening option. This button with also set the dampers to 'stiff' mode, which provided for decreased body roll.
@@JCTsFascinatingHobbies that'll be it, cheers! The 1.9 CDTI my parents was also a 150hp
@@grampian999videos6 Mine was okay, but I had a lot of work carried out under warranty. The M32 6 speed manual was a bit of a weakspot......mine was fine but I did have the clutch release bearing, clutch and flywheel replaced. The warranty work covered the release bearing, but given the dual mass flywheel sounded like someome throwing a bell down some stairs, I paid the cost for the parts to have this renewed along with a clutch kit. The water pump also seized before the cambelt replacement was due. I caught it just in time, but....another warranty job. I upgraded to a Zafira C 2.0CDTi 165 SE after the warranty expired. The Zafira C (Tourer) is still in the family, my mum inherited it to replace her Zafira B 1.6 that she had owned from new. That too, is still in the family!! I moved away from Vauxhall after Stellantis became involved. Surprisingly practical mostly robust cars.....though that 6 speed manual on the Zafira B.....is a bit........well, fragile!
Brought a 1.8 Zafria brand new in 2001 great car. I was very sad to part with it in 2023, yes I had it for 22 years.
My ex brother in law bought a 2006 1.9 CDTI Zafira back in 2011 which he went to Birmingham for, within a few weeks the engine suffered a major fault with the pistons, he had to strip it down and rebuild it with new parts from Germany, it didn't run properly after that, in the end he traded it in for a brand new at the time 2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Petrol
Yeah that recall thing. It wasn’t over hyped. I was a fireman and on my last ground we’d go to maybe a car alight every now and then. Then all of a sudden we had a real run of them. And all Zafira’s. That’s absolutely genuine. Otherwise I love what you do, I’ve got a Range Rover I love and I bought a Hag XKR thanks to your review
Just bought this car in Elite spec in 1.8 form,your video was informative & helpful. Cheers buddy...
Amazing car. I bought one new in 2005, it lasted until 2022. Then rust got to it. Very comfortable, drove it all over Europe. Though I had mid spec with same 1.8l petrol with manual. Drove elderly relatives with back pains, who's back pains have disappeared after long drives. Yes, seats were that good... except for 3rd row, but I used that row only few times.
Then bought Zafira C. Absolute garbage. Nothing in common with B. Ergonomics are horrible, build quality is even worse. Barely managed to get rid of it.
I had the same symptoms in my Zafira B. An oil leak and oil in the coolant. Turned out it was the oil cooler and gasket. Ideal project for a Saturday mechanic to fix up and move on. Right decision made by yourself business wise👍👍👍
Completely agree 👍
Love the guardian angel comment around 14 minutes in …..entertaining as ever. Thank you x
Absolutely spot on Matt. Let's stop dancing around these foul grubby people
Probably the best car Vauxhall ever made. My wife had a 2L petrol and it worked very well. Then she got a C4 Grand Picasso.............
I love mine. Its a workhouse and drives brilliantly
The horn it’s a common problem for Vauxhall models made around 2010. I had this problem on 07 reg Astra and 11 reg Corsa. Long story short it’s a module (CIM - column integrated module). It’s 20-50£ a new one but it’s a headache to change. Basically it’s the PCB around steering column that integrates the steering wheel controls and the left/right switches for turn signals and wipers. So to replace that thing you need to remove the steering wheel, airbag, and you need to make sure you put things back in a proper position otherwise they will not work. In other words, it’s a entire afternoon job.
Takes me back. Had an 11 reg 1.8 Elite for a fair few years. Took kids, camping gear and us to France several times. We had no problems.
Hi Matt. We had a 60 reg Zafira 1.6 Design and that ended up developing oil in the coolant tank. It ended up needing all of it's cooling system replaced, new coolant tank, water pump, pipes, radiator, thermostat, the lot! Got the car for about £2500, ended up spending over £3000 in total as we'd put a lot of time and effort in with other stuff alongside the oil cooler fault and then ended up part exing for £950. Sounds like you did the right thing shipping it on!
I'm really liking this new sensible Matt. Much as I want to keep interesting older cars on the road, you have to keep things realistic.
Nice video, I may be wrong but nearly five months ago this car passed with one advisory according to GOV.UK mot checker. I have a 2005 1.6 club with panoramic roof which I've owned for the last 10 years and have been pleased with it's performance, especially on family hols.
Matt (Casting Aspersions) Goodwin, love it. Don’t ever change.
Maybe I’m odd in some way, but, any time I trade my cars in I make sure they’re spotless. I know the dealer will valet it as well, but to me it’s just good practice. As I say, maybe I’m just odd.
Regarding service history, I do my own servicing. I know what oil is going in, I do all the filters INCLUDING the under dash pollen filters that garages never do. The only things I don't do are cambelts or chain tensioners. Therefore, my service book is just a load of receipts for parts with no stamps.
All stamps in the book mean is that I've paid someone to do a worse job than I can do myself.
"Wet nose against the glass" on the rear passenger window was probably from the mother in law😊
Shouldn't that be 'Mothers in law'😉. Then again, I suppose they have to actually 'marry' to get a Mother in law so, probably not. I'll get my coat👍😏
We had one, oh 15 years ago when our son's were quite young. It was fine. Don't remember a lot about it. Traded it for a Volvo V70 that we loved
Hi Matt, just a side note, I live around the corner from the address of the “garage” that stamped the service book and I can tell you there is no garage on that street it’s totally residential!! I suppose someone could run a business from their driveway but just a bit odd with it having no early history? Anyway you have somehow made content about a Zafira enjoyable to watch so well done you! 👍🏼
Hi Matt top video as per. With the service history I’ve bought a few Combo and Corsa and sold on quietly. All ex police, service history in the book always starts like this Zafira. Most have a print out of police service history. Most cars never used in anger. 👍
The oil in the tank is 2 pipes behind the engine I have a Chevrolet Orlando 1.8 the same engine also my oil was coming in the coolant tank changed those pipes and now the oil doesn't come through
Had the exact same model on 08 plate. Did 100k in it and it owed me nothing. Shame this one needs so many consumables all at the same time. Great diy car for someone. Parts plentiful and cheap as chips.
Always see how the engine sounds when cold for the first couple of seconds on the VVT engines. You won’t typically hear it as well in the cabin. Better off lifting the bonet and standing outside to hear it. The cam shaft dephasers rattle on em when wearing out for couple of seconds on start up
We love our zafira, it even has the paramedic Chris children's book series magnets on it and stands out.
Having worked in the motor trade I fully concour with you on the punters almost screaming at me if there's a single mark on the car they bought last week while you're still halfway through the paperwork to scrap their p.x that only needed "a good clean" ....grrrrrr
Made my day I'm a vauxhall nut had five kids started with a basic then worked my way up too a vxr still have two an 02;gsi 2.6 litre Vectra and an 05 vxr Vectra .but I really wanted zafira vxr ,maybe should be your next mission ,
The All New Fiscally Responsible Channel 😀😀💪💪👍👍Well done 👍👍
Thanks, good decision. I like the anecdote about un doing the deal. I know people who use zafiras as a mobile skip and just run them with minimal maintenance until they fail the MOT too badly.
Why do we still call it an MOT, the ministry of transport was scrapped decades ago.
Last Zafira I had I bought for scrap value. It had no discs in the window, was filthy. Checked the reg and it had 3 months test on it. I got it at 11am. Wash, vac, photos, marketplace and it was gone at 7pm for a 500 profit.
The 1.7 Turbos are bulletproof, they make even bigger cars like the Meriva and Zafira very quick and especially for pre-2009 cars like the Meriva A or Astra H and Corsa C they'll last for hundreds and hundreds of miles
You, Matt, are the sole reason I still believe in car salesmen. 🤝
Not all by any means, but I feel like there's some good ones out there.
Like a person that would rather sell you a car that's been checked over, fixed up to a good or decent, working condition if necessary and sold with purely feeling you're selling someone something that'll be a good vehicle for them. Not necessarily the best car for lowest price, but something that'll suit them, their budget and needs.
I've had quite a few cars over the years, I like buying and selling them on but I've always done it honestly. Not looking for absolute maximum payday once I've fixed something with bubblegum and few self tapping screws.
I am somewhat happy that nowadays public auctions are getting more and more popular so car dealers will flog their 💩 there while quite honestly stating everything, or at least most, that's wrong with them.
I guess it serves both, sellers don't have to put makeup on a pig and try to lie through their teeth in order to get someone to buy it. Buyers know, in most cases, their buying something that didn't make the cut to be on the front court and there'll be risks to buying them but at least their cheap.
Only problem is nowadays the prices in auctions are getting out of hand too 😅 I just saw a '09 Subaru Forester with a busted engine!!! (I'm guessing a snapped crankshaft as it's the 2.0td) go for over 3k€. Like what the heck??!? 😮 Who pays 3k€ for a shell, you'll pay thousands for a new engine and work and then you have a 200k mile Subaru with bad history and no way to get your money back if you want to sell it on... 😂
Given the list, your mechanic is definitely worth having. Seems to be very on to it and thorough resulting in avoiding overspends. Maybe he is your Guardian Angel. 😁
The Zafira 1.9 CDTI 150 Elite are fab cars. A few common issues with that motor but it will tug the front end up a 320d’s chuff no bother.
I prefer the Italian 1.9 over the VW PD. More revvy and just as tough after flap removal
You've been doing well this year Matt.Who would have guessed that a Vauxhall would be your first shed of the year.Why would anyone buy a Zafari instead of a Corolla Verso !! You made the right decision to cut and run.Hope your next cheappie is a good un.
Definitely the right decision…….I drove one once. I think. Can’t actually remember whether it was any good or not……..
Matt, one thing car dealers hate is tyre kicker . To see you kick the tyre made my day 🙂 .Love you in a manly way 👍
Hi Matt was not expecting that long list oil/water do not mix get rid asap . If you get some of your money back all the better .
You’ve definitely made the right call with this one Matt, it could have potentially cost a small fortune to repair all of the defects.
It’s a pity though, because this car does potentially have life left in it, and would have made a decent run around for someone❤.
thanks for the spoilers, appreciate it.
"Potentially cost a small fortune" Given the faults mentioned I think it will definitely be a small fortune!
You made the right decision Matt also 3 weeks into the new year and you haven’t massively over spent 😅😅😊
No Matt, you were spot on with that comment!!
I have been in plenty of Zafiras all my life and I feel like they are built down to a price. My mum had an 05 Astra 1.8 Auto and the head gasket went badly and the cam belt snapped like no one’s business - the 1.8 is known for doing that. Honestly Zafiras are not all reliable with the notoriously bad 1.9 diesel and the famous fire problems they had years ago. Problem is owners but these cars and run them into the ground; better off with an s max but we used to have a 2016 Zafira Tourer Auto and it was fantastic!
I do the old person carpet thing. It works a treat. Plus the dog thinks its sitting in the living room so just goes to sleep
As others have said before surprised if the head gasket is blown on these they are usually ok, I've just got a Astra H 1.6 needs the usual Cam cover gasket plus probably oil in cyclinder 1 spark plus where it's leaked need a new VVT solenoid as there get clogged
is it just me that prefers the old intro jingle ?
That’s a have-a-go-hero special.
People hate these but much like their Astra and Vectra cousins, they’re remarkably robust. They shrug off deferred maintenance for far longer than they’ve got any right to. Shame this one’s on the brink of being a money pit.
Loving the "new sensible Matt"...good decision, have a profitaable year!
i think you made the right choice to pass it on. it had low miles and was in decent condition, but to repair everything it would be nearly the same value as the car
Cracking little Partridge reference at 3:32. Cashback.