There were many different cars. Basically, used sedans, so there is something to compare. Started with GAZ 3110, then VW B5 American. Behind him is a VW Passat CC. Next Audi A6 and here in May 2013 Zafira C Cosmo 2.0cdti on manual transmission. The main motive for choosing Zafira is still a bright appearance, a huge interior and a diesel engine (albeit from Opel).
In advance, as they say. I accept any criticism on the review, positive and negative, I think that everyone has their own opinion and choice! Next in order.
Purchase. I bought a new one from a Genser dealer in Lyubertsy for 1,080,000, 20% in advance. Options only desired! Such as electric mirrors (conveniently), heater in the cabin filter housing. The current 200A * 14 = 2800W of warm air immediately after starting the internal combustion engine and headlight washers (because in this configuration the optics are lensed with a curtain with the calculation of installing the left xenon) were discussed immediately and made to the order.
Almost 6 months later, on May 17, 2013, they called! Arrived, paid, left, but not far. Since the fuel was about a liter. Well, it's lyrics already.
Impression
All the way I got used to both the internal combustion engine and the box. In the interior of the car, at first, even an echo appeared (roof - glass + windshield panorama).
By chassis and ICE. 131 HP and 300 Nm is diesel. Noisy outside, pleasantly rumbling inside. We start off without gas, even uphill, even from the second or third. Locomotive traction - from 1,200 to 3,000 rpm is continuous. There is no point in spinning anymore. Diesel people will understand.
Box. Fundamentally wanted mechanics in view of living in the Moscow Region, work there. Namely, 120 km there and back every day. There were CVT, and DSG, and classic hydrotrans. At first it seemed tight, but after the first 2,000 km, the manual transmission lever developed. The clutch pedal is hard. Brakes for 4 points - can be a little sharper. The electric power steering steers superbly. From the speed it pours as it should be.
Suspension. The energy intensity is average in terms of the rigidity parameter. In view of the 7-seater saloon, the rear is stiffer than necessary. But having seated a few people, everything changes! Permanent construction of a cottage. 8-10-12 40 kg bags of glue turn the back into a soft but assembled D-class sedan.
Car handling. Upgraded scheme and layout of the Astra wheelbase. At 110,000 km they shook it up with a mount. No critical spots were found - the result of smooth roads (90% of M5 and A107) and a careful driving style.
Interior. COSMO package. Cruise, panorama warm steering wheel, etc. You can read it on the Internet. From dopov, as already mentioned above, folding mirrors, heating elements in the salon and headlight washer. Everything is convenient and close at hand. And it works to this day ... pah ... pah ... pah ...
A bunch of shelves and secrets. The 7-seater salon was here by default, for the failure of the 3rd row the price does not change. As well as for panoramic glass, by the way, which burst from a pebble in the second week of use. 30 cm crack in 2 beams on the passenger side. It's a shame. The price tag at that time at OD was 47 tr. under the order of 2 months. I drive like this now. Fuzzy and not growing. Pilkington glass is slag.
Seats... Buckets. Well designed. Customizing is not a problem. If you roll back to the end, then I can’t reach either the pedals or the wall with my feet, I sit behind me behind me, and there are also places in front of my knees 10-15cm. Height 188. And my weight is 115 kg.
With the third row unfolded, everyone has to make room together. The second row has a longitudinal and transverse degree of freedom of movement. It is a pity that they are not filmed like on Fords. The distance from the back of the driver to the trunk lid is 182 cm. Flat floor. In nature, what you need with a young wife. Half bed. With a porch in the form of an open 5 door.
The music in the Opel Zafira Tourer is great. The sound is good for stock. Bluetooth and flash drives. Navi didn't and didn't want to. There is Yandex, with traffic jams and so on. Cruise control and speed limit on the left, and multimedia with voice dialing on the right on the steering wheel. Stylish red lighting inserts in the door panels. Closers of all glasses with anti-pinch, like a curtain on the ceiling.
Two glove compartments, a large one and a smaller one. In velvet and backlit. The plastic is soft and pleasant where it needs to be. 5 points shorter. The climate is two-zone. Adequate, but a little noisy at full fan speed, and there are already 7 of them.
3 sockets 12V. To the one that I picked up the inverter 220 in the trunk, I plugged the socket in the same place. 500W is enough for a 32 "LCD TV and 2 ice spotlights of 30w each. In nature, a barbecue in the evening by the lake, an 80Ah battery. There are even more hiding places in the trunk! A find for a hunter or fisherman. The plastic is hard, but why is there another. never showed up!
The review is excellent! Parktronics or cameras are not required even with such rather impressive dimensions. Inserts in the front pillars help out. You can see everything around corners. They sweat sometimes, but there are separate deflectors there. We turn on the defrost of the windshield (with the default air conditioner) for 15 seconds and that's it ... ALL the windows are sweaty!
Exterior. Well, for an amateur. My white - black roof (glass), inserts with headlights too. What a contrast. LCP is excellent. I drive with a large chip / dent on the hood near the headlight from the stone for already 70,000. There is not even a hint of rust.
In the same summer, I ran into a curb with one front wheel hanging out. Pulled off by the tie. Hushed up and tore the threshold to the metal. Without glossing over anything, dashed off 2 summers and 2 winters. There is no rust there. Some kind of miracle. Ground clearance is sufficient for a city car, like everyone else.
Dipped native headlights - shines perfectly. Far weak. The shutter opens the focus of the same lamp. An additional section with a separate far section would not hurt. I inserted xenon - I adjusted the OD at the next maintenance without any complaints. The cut is clear. On the block headlights there are even places for a regular xen, but not for 40 tr. from Opel. For gaytsov there are lenses and omyvayka. They never even asked for it. And they are not interested in this car at all. Stopped 3-5 times in 4 years.
Light and rain sensors are sane, but not ideal. By the light there is no recognition of the tunnel. In the rain sometimes they live their lives. Off-on... Passed. Autodalne light is also buzzing. Found this feature after only 4 months.
Dislikes or disadvantages:
Hood. Firstly, it goes down a lot and is 40 cm long, moreover. I don't see the front at all, even though I don't get up. Get used to it pretty quickly. Half of the engine in the cabin. Because of this, the torpedo is half a meter deep (compact). Glass also goes far ahead, it is unrealistically difficult to wash.
There are many corners where you can crawl with cleaning only with a toothpick.
Warm in winter? Not in place. Only on the go. The stove takes all the heat from the engine to heat the 7-seater saloon. I save myself with an auto blanket and a piece of polystyrene foam in front of the radiator. To stick it in, turn off 4 torxes, bend the apron and try to push it through. There is no space in the engine compartment at all. Everything is very tight! I could not put an additional pipe - I did not find where.
Well, now for dessert. What broke in 120,000 km.
1. Glow plug in cylinder 4. Price tag HORSKY for today (8000 r). In -29 without it started with difficulty. 15-20 seconds twisted. It was scary somehow, but ... did not disappoint. Let down only because of the fuel filter, even at -15. Changes the key to 34, and a cardboard box under the back on the grass, in 5 minutes. Everything is described in the instructions.
2. Both rear fogs went out - bulb holders rotted.
3. Both front fogs turned yellow and fogged up.
4. The rubber skirt on the front bumper came off from below (Opel's disease) - it was completely torn off and thrown away).
5. And that's it! There was nothing else!
I change the oil and filter myself every 15,000 km. Front pads at 60,000 no problem. Rear at 90,000 too. At 112,000 he changed the timing belts and the drive belt with all the rollers and pump. According to the state - clearly according to the scheduled 120,000 km, it would fit - five hours of work and you're done! For a long time, yes. For the first time in my life, forgivable. The savings amounted to 11,000 - the price of work from NOT official.
Outcome
I will be glad to answer questions. Thanks everyone and good luck with everything!
18.10.2016
Opel Zafira) of the second generation - a large and comfortable car at an affordable price, perhaps the best option for a large family. Especially if the budget for buying a car is not large, it is worth noting that Zafira is one of the most affordable on the secondary market. There are very few negative reviews about this car, but still, it has flaws, but what they are, and what to look for before buying this model, now we’ll talk.
A bit of history:
For the first time, the Opel Zafira was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the spring of 1997, but in the guise of a prototype, the real history of the minivan began in 1999. The technical properties of the Opel Zafira resemble the Opel Astra, but still, there are some differences. For example, a reinforced rear suspension and a larger bumper with an air intake. In 2003, given the emergence of a large number of competitors, the company's management decided to lightly update the car, after which the appearance slightly changed, and the list of available options increased. In 2005, a new generation of the model was introduced in Geneva, built on a new platform, with a radically changed body design. Thanks to the new platform, the length of the body has increased by 15 cm, the width by 4 cm, and the height by 1 cm. Also, the signature feature of the car has been improved - a quick transformation of the interior. The bulk of the cars sold on the secondary market are assembled in Poland or Russia.
Advantages and disadvantages of Opel Zafira with mileage.
As experience has shown, the paintwork is very soft, because of this, chips and scratches appear on the body quite quickly. After 5-6 years of operation, the paint begins to swell on the tailgate, wheel arches and rear doors. Despite this, body parts do not rust for a long time.
Power units
The Opel Zafira engine range is represented by both petrol and diesel versions. The most widespread are gasoline engines 1.6 (105 and 115 hp), 1.8 (140 hp) and diesel 1.7 (110, 125 hp) and 1.9 (100, 120, 150 hp). There is also a not quite ordinary version of the 1.6 engine that runs on natural gas, but to meet such a car is a great success. For those who like to “fire up”, there is a 2.2 engine (150 hp), a 2.0 turbo engine (200 hp) and a sports version of the OPC (240 hp).
The timing drive for gasoline and diesel engines is belt, officially, the replacement interval is 150,000 km, but many owners recommend changing it at least once every 100,000, since very often the belt breaks at a run of 110-130 thousand km. Gasoline aspirators have a common problem with automatic adjustment of the distribution phases. If the car has this defect, you will understand it immediately: after starting cold engine, the sound of the gasoline engine will be more like an old diesel. If this problem is not treated, at the most inopportune moment the car will stall, and you will not be able to start it.
Often there is a failure of the mechanical synchronization system of the intake camshaft, for fixing the problem in the service they will ask for 20-50 USD. But if you ignore the operation of a gasoline engine with the sound of a diesel engine, you will soon need to replace the gears and camshaft oil seals. With a run of more than 80,000 km, an oil leak appears from under the cylinder head and oil seals, it must be urgently eliminated, otherwise the oil will get on the timing belt, which will result in an expensive repair of the power unit. Opel Zafira diesel engines are very reliable and economical, but if the previous owner used low-quality fuel, be prepared to repair the fuel system. Replacement of injectors (400-500 USD), injection pump (300-400 USD). On all cars, closer to 100,000 km, the ignition module begins to fail, floating speed and unstable traction of the car will serve as a signal of a malfunction. Also, on this run, the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat need to be replaced.
Transmission
Opel Zafira is equipped with a manual, automatic or robotic gearbox Easytronic (Izitronik). Up to 100,000 km, there are no complaints about the mechanical transmission, after that there are jerks when starting off, a rumble and vibration when shifting gears and driving. This happens due to wear of the secondary shaft and roller bearing, repairs will cost about 350 USD. The clutch has a fairly large resource and is able to serve 120-140 thousand km, replacement will cost 400-500 USD. For many motorists, Easytronic looks like an automatic transmission, but in terms of its reliability it is very much inferior to an automatic transmission. Therefore, often not honest sellers who sell cars with a problematic robot indicate in the ad that the car is with automatic transmission, be extremely careful.
If the car is used only for driving on the highway, then the robotic transmission can last up to 150,000 km. But if the car is operated in a metropolis, then an expensive gearbox repair will be needed with a mileage of less than 100,000 km. The most common problem is the failure of the clutch, repairs will cost 700-900 USD, the same amount will have to be paid for the replacement of mechatronics. The best option for purchasing would be Opel Zafira with a conventional automatic transmission. As experience has shown, breakdowns in this transmission are extremely rare. On some machines, there is an underfilling of oil, in which case the gears may not shift well, and jerks can also be felt when shifting. Usually, after topping up the oil, these problems go away by themselves.
Driving performance Opel Zafira
The suspension of this model is quite primitive, an independent MacPherson-type suspension is installed in front, and a semi-independent beam at the rear. If you drive this car carefully and do not overload it, then the first serious suspension repair will have to be done closer to 80 thousand kilometers. Like most modern cars, the stabilizer struts are considered the weak point of the suspension, they have to be changed, on average, every 30-40 thousand km. Wheel bearings, despite the high cost, rarely live up to 60,000 km, replacement will cost 120-180 USD. Support bearings serve 40-50 thousand km, front shock absorbers become unusable after 100,000 km, but only on condition that you do not overload the car. The cost of the original shock absorber is about 100-120 USD, for the same money you can buy a pair of non-original ones.
The rest of the front suspension parts of the Opel Zafira nursed for more than 100,000 km. Tie rods and tips have a resource of 100-120 thousand km. The rear suspension is considered not to be killed, the only thing that will have to be replaced in it is the rear beam dampers after 120,000 km of run (replacement on both sides will cost 40 USD). If the steering rack began to leak, do not rush to go to the service and change it to a new one, you will have to pay about 1000 USD for a replacement at the dealer. Try to find a repair specialist for this unit in your city, the repair will cost 100-200 USD.
Outcome:
Opel Zafira will appeal to people who are cramped in station wagons, sedans and hatchbacks, as well as those who like to travel in a big company. If we talk about the reliability and cost of maintaining a car, then in these components the car will give only positive emotions. The main thing is to find a living specimen! Also, avoid buying a car with a robotic transmission.
Advantages:
- Capacity (7 seats).
- Quality interior trim materials.
- Long service life of engines.
- Reliable suspension
Flaws:
- Weak paint finish.
- Robotic transmission.
- Not a very comfortable driver's seat.
- Noise isolation.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your review that will help readers of our site when choosing a car.
Sincerely, the editors of AutoAvenue
"I'm going to buy Opel Zafira B. Help me decide on the engine and gearbox."
The Opel Zafira B compact van is based on the modified Astra H platform and is unified with it in many nodes. This also applies to engines and gearboxes, so there are no problems with service and the availability of the necessary spare parts.
As for gasoline engines, the best option from all points of view would be a 140-horsepower 1.8. Why? Judge for yourself: a 1.6-liter engine (105 hp until 2008 and 115 hp after) is still rather weak for a car with a curb weight of more than 1400 kg, and besides, it is not much more economical than the above-mentioned engine. And maybe with age.
The capabilities of the 2.0-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 200 or 240 (in the OPC version) hp. for a family car, they are already somewhat redundant, despite the fact that fuel consumption is higher, and the demands on the quality of fuels and lubricants are higher than those of atmospheric engines.
In theory, a very pleasant to drive 2.2-liter 150-horsepower engine could be an excellent alternative. However, the direct fuel injection system makes this option not as attractive in terms of reliability, maintainability and cost of repair costs as the 1.8-liter version with port fuel injection.
As for the common weak points of gasoline versions, this is the ignition module, failing sensors, and far from the most reliable wiring. In addition, engines are quite sensitive to the quality of engine oil and the timing of its replacement. This is especially true for turbo engines and a 2.2-liter engine with direct fuel injection (it is significant that in Russia there were problems with high-pressure fuel pumps, which were attributed to the use of low-quality fuel).
Let's remember the diesel versions. The Zafira B was equipped with 1.9-liter CDTIs with 100, 120 and 150 hp in the early years of production, as well as a 2.2-liter CDTI (125 hp), which was discontinued with the introduction of new 1 in 2008, 7-liter engines that meet the Euro-5 standard (110 and 125 hp). The best option can be considered the old 2.2-liter engine, but it remains to be looked for. Next, we would recommend to pay attention to the 120-horsepower 1.9 CDTI, which is also considered quite a good choice. However, in the case of the "second hand" it is not the modification that is more important, but the technical condition of a particular instance. So, no matter what option we are talking about, a thorough diagnosis of the Common Rail fuel system, an assessment of the condition of the turbine, and the particulate filter (if any) are highly recommended.
If we talk about the transmission, the least attractive option is the Easytronic robotic box, which was installed in combination with a 1.8-liter engine. During operation, it is annoying with its slowness, and in operation it requires qualified maintenance (the operation of the "automated" clutch needs to be checked every 30 thousand km). However, the F17 manual transmission is far from ideal: cases of its premature failure are not uncommon, and this is on machines under 10 years old! Therefore, before buying, be sure to check if the operation of the transmission is accompanied by increased noise or extraneous sounds. Another reason to be upset is not the cheapest clutch.
So a relatively rare version with a classic "automatic" (4-speed for a 2.2 petrol engine and 6-speed for powerful diesel modifications) has the right to life. The main thing is that the box has had proper maintenance in the past and is now in good condition.
As for the chassis, it is simple and reliable. The only exception is the insufficiently durable and rather expensive wheel bearings, which are replaced together with the hub. If the previous owner made full use of the cargo-passenger capabilities of the car, do not be surprised by the "tired" shock absorbers and sagging springs of the rear axle.
Finally, the body. The trunk lid is considered a weak point, but a thorough check of the entire car will not hurt. In general, as practice shows, corrosion on a used Zafira B -. In addition, many owners criticized the poor quality paintwork and not very durable fog lamp glass, as well as "sweating" rear lights.
It may seem that there are too many disadvantages. In fact, by modern standards, the Zafira B is quite a reliable, solid car, the maintenance of which in technically sound condition in most cases costs reasonable money. If simplicity and reliability are a priority, give preference to the 1.8 petrol version (140 hp), if you want a good combination of power and economy, look for the 2.2 TDCI diesel version. On the other hand, Zafira B does not have frankly unsuccessful engines, any version, subject to proper technical condition, can be considered for purchase, the only question is the cost of maintenance and service. But in the case of the transmission, we are more categorical: a manual gearbox is better, and if it comes to that, then instead of a "robot" it is better to look for a version with a classic "automatic".
Ivan KRISHKEVICH
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Once upon a time, minivans were a class of cars that were predicted to have the brightest future. And now minivans in our market - one or two and miscalculated. There are many reasons. There is pressure from the crossover market and an increase in the consumer characteristics of hatchbacks, but the fact remains: there are very few full-fledged minivans on the Russian market. And, perhaps, the most popular model for a good ten years has been the Opel Zafira B, an “almost full-size” seven-seat minivan. An almost ideal choice for those who have a cramped C-class car, and the size of the parking lot does not allow them to take a larger car.
This is not the first generation of the model. Zafira A appeared back in 1999, immediately gained high popularity in Europe and was in good demand around the world. It's funny that in Japan it was sold as the Subaru Traviq, but otherwise - no exotics, only native GM emblems. Vauxhall in England, Holden in Australia, Chevrolet in the US and China. At the same time, the main "generic" features of the model were formed: seven-seater, flexible cabin configuration with very small dimensions and excellent, not at all "bus" handling. The latter has become perhaps the main characteristic feature of the model, and there is someone! Specialists from Porsche helped develop the Opel car. The car turned out to be so successful that Zafira A was sold in some regional Asian markets until 2012.
The first Zafira was replaced in 2005 by the second one. The concept of the car has not changed: the car is still based on the components and assemblies of the Opel Astra model, has approximately the same dimensions as its predecessor and the same range of engines. The new generation of the model became the basis for the minivan. From a technical point of view, the models are very close, have many identical components and assemblies, but since the minivan is much heavier than hatchbacks, the range of engines and gearboxes is still different. The popularity of the car remained quite high until the release of the heir, the Zafira Tourer in 2011: even more powerful, bigger, with even more options, and more expensive. But, oddly enough, the older model was not discontinued, but continued to be released as the Zafira Family after a slight restyling. So do not be surprised - the past Zafira was released in parallel with the new one, not only near St. Petersburg, but also in Europe.
In outline
Like the base model, overall the Zafira proved to be very reliable and comfortable. The controllability of the car is traditionally completely passenger, behind the wheel you feel like in a normal passenger car. Of course, two places in the trunk are not very suitable for large people, but if we are not talking about long journeys, then the car is quite seven-seater. And, of course, if two extra seats are not needed, then they add up perfectly, and other “heels” will envy the free space as a result.Breakdowns and problems in operation
Engines
The motors here are almost the same as on the Astra H, and if you want details, I recommend contacting. But since the car is still noticeably heavier, a 2.2 liter engine, already familiar from the family, appeared in the range of engines. This is a 155 hp Z22YH direct injection engine, it is not one of the favorite motors of opelists due to the low reliability of the direct fuel injection system, possible timing problems and relatively expensive spare parts. The 1.8 Z18XER engines or the similar A18XER on cars of later years of production are much more popular. This 140-horsepower engine is the "golden mean": it is powerful enough for this heavy machine and allows you to feel confident not only in the city, but also on the highway. And besides, it has a simple and cheap design. Its 1.6l counterpart Z16XER is still rather weak, and if in urban traffic the lack of power is not very felt, then every ten horsepower is important on the highway. More powerful engines come out significantly more expensive to purchase and maintain. Quite successful and powerful engines of the Z20LET, Z20LER, Z20LEH series with a capacity of 170, 200 and 240 hp, respectively, are very rare. These turbo engines are based on the old X20XEV series engines, which provides a relatively low cost of spare parts and high reliability in operation. But cars with these engines are expensive and extremely rare, and unlike 2.2 engines, they are not combined with automatic transmissions. Most likely, the point is also that a powerful turbo engine under the hood of a family car is frankly redundant.
Diesel engines of 1.7 and 1.9 liters were not officially sold with us, but there are many cars on the market with these engines. These are cars from Europe, where diesel Zafirs are much more popular than gasoline ones. The main incentive to purchase such a machine is an automatic transmission. However, the engines themselves are also very good, with a lively character and high reliability. Just do not forget to change the timing belt at least once every 60 thousand kilometers. Otherwise, the problems are the same as for all diesel engines: a jammed EGR valve, a dirty particulate filter on Euro-4 and Euro-5 modifications, and the inevitable risk of bad diesel fuel getting into the tank, followed by a bunch of problems in the fuel system and not only.
Transmission
Gearboxes became a big problem for Zafir. Manual gearboxes on 1.6 and 1.8 liter engines are the five-speed F17, which I am talking about. Unfortunately, their reliability is frankly low - I strongly recommend carefully checking the gearbox upon purchase, and then constantly monitoring the level and quality of the oil in the crankcase during operation. On a heavy minivan, the chance of transmission failure is noticeably higher than on lighter hatchbacks, so you should not relax. In combination with two-liter turbo engines, the M32 series manual transmission is used. This six-speed box also turned out to be a surprise in the form of failing bearings and shafts. The problems are the same as those of the F17, but the maintainability is generally higher and there are successful options for a simple replacement with the F16-F20 series gearbox, which reduces the severity of the problem. With automatic transmissions on Zafira, too, everything is not very good. Not in the sense that they are unreliable, they simply did not install full-fledged automatic transmissions on the most popular 1.6 and 1.8 engines. Only the “robot” Easytronic, which, in fact, is a regular F17 box with electric clutch and gear shift. Like all "robots" of the first generation, it is not very suitable for heavy urban traffic, and it also pleases with a not very high, about 60 thousand kilometers, resource of actuators. A full-fledged automatic transmission on Zafira can only be obtained in tandem with a 2.2l gasoline engine (in fact, this is probably the main reason for buying such a car), or in combination with a diesel engine. This is all the more annoying because on the Zafira A and on the Astra H the 1.8 engine is perfectly combined with an automatic transmission, and it is very successful, although not very modern. On the new Zafira, the gasoline engine is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission Aisin AW55-50SN, aka AF33, and the diesels are equipped with a newer and stronger box Aisin Warner AW TF-80SC, aka AF40. Automatic transmissions are quite reliable, you can read about the nuances of operation in the material about. With a quiet movement and an oil change every 60 thousand kilometers or more often, they are quite capable of living a long and happy life.
Chassis
The suspension of the car is quite simple in design and perfectly withstand a relatively heavy minivan. The main consumables are the same as on the Astra: these are stabilizer struts, rear control arm silent blocks and thrust bearings. With a run of about 100 thousand, it is worth checking the silent blocks of the rear beam, they may already crack, especially with worn springs and frequent movement with full load and. In general, the suspension resource deserves respect - without serious investments, it allows you to travel a hundred, or even one and a half hundred thousand kilometers.
Body and interior
The quality of the interior is about the same as in the Astra H, adjusted for generally richer configurations. The good quality of materials and sound insulation and the absence of frankly poor configurations make the car an extremely attractive option for every day. But the design is gloomy - unfortunately, this is a generic feature of Opel cars of these years. Not everyone will like the frankly technogenic style of execution, the faceted console and the abundance of gray and silver inserts. The main problems, in general, are the same as those of Astra: these are the CIM steering column module, burn-out information displays in inexpensive versions, and many minor failures of a wide variety of electrics on cars of the first years of production. Specific ones are also added, for example, leaks in the mounting of the rails and the rear brake light, water ingress into the cabin through the seals when washing the car, and vibration of the developed overhead console. In general, with regard to the interior and suspensions, the car belongs to the most practical and convenient devices, perhaps the most economical in operation today in its class.Spacious and functional minivan Opel Zafira is a family car in steady demand. For a purchase on the secondary market, its modification is not important, since there is no significant difference between them. The vulnerabilities of this car are worth attention.
- Transmission;
- fuel burner;
- stabilizer bars;
- heater;
- ignition module;
- timing belt;
- wheel bearings;
- particulate filter (in diesel engines).
Now more…
The Opel Zafira automatic transmission is reliable, but if the oil level is insufficient, shocks may occur in it, especially when shifting from third to fourth gear. In manual transmissions, roller bearings and the output shaft journal most often wear out. You can find out about the problems during a test drive. The appearance of jerks at start-up, hum and vibration during movement will indicate the upcoming repair of the gearbox, which will result in a loss of 20-30 thousand rubles.
Fuel burner.
Fuel injectors in diesel engines fail from low-quality fuel. Untimely replacement of it will lead to engine failure, so when buying, you should pay attention to the operation of the engine. With difficulties in starting, interruptions in operation in transient and idle mode, as well as power losses, one can say about clogging and failure of the fuel injectors.
Stabilizer bars.
Stabilizer struts also belong to the sores of the Opel Zafira. Their wear may appear after 40 thousand km. For a test drive, it is worth driving on a rough road. If at the same time a knock appears, the car will skid around corners and the roll of the car will increase, then the racks will have to be changed. You can also identify their breakdown by applying force to each corner. A sharp lowering when the machine is rocking will indicate problems with the racks.
In the heater, most often its motor fails. When buying on the secondary market, you must carefully check its operation, as well as other devices.
The ignition module can fail after 70 thousand km. Faulty spark plugs can contribute to this. Traction failures during acceleration, floating idle speeds, and also when you hear from the sound that not all cylinders are working will tell you about problems with it. In order to be sure of the normal operation of the ignition module, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics in the service station.
Timing belt drive.
The timing belt drive is on both gasoline and diesel Zafiro engines. Its break can occur already at a run of 130 thousand km. Belt wear can be determined during inspection before purchase, but this is not always visible visually. It is worth paying attention to its "shaggy", different thickness.
Wheel bearings.
Problems with wheel bearings begin after a run of 70 thousand km. They can be identified by ear during a test drive in a car. When they wear out, the body vibrates, an unpleasant sound is heard, which becomes louder when the steering wheel is turned.
Particulate filter.
Separately, for cars with diesel engines, I would like to note the weak side of Zafira - this is a particulate filter. If the car you are buying was used for long-distance regular trips, then there should probably not be any problems with it. Since the "regeneration" of the filter occurs. But if the car regularly stood in city traffic jams, then most likely it is on the verge of complete clogging. And its replacement will cost about 30-35 thousand rubles. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify this nuance with the seller.
The main disadvantages of the Opel Zafira
- the trunk lid does not close well;
- air conditioning pipes rust;
- small side mirrors;
- poor paintwork;
- small ground clearance;
- poor sound insulation;
- "crickets" in the cabin.
Conclusion.
Despite the weaknesses described, the Opel Zafira is considered a minivan with good reliability. It has far more advantages than disadvantages. There are no problems with spare parts and they are quite reasonable prices. When buying, you should carefully consider the problem areas of the car in order to avoid unplanned financial costs in the future.
P.S.: Dear car owners, if you find systematic malfunctions of a car of this model, write in the comments below about the problems identified during operation.
The main disadvantages and weaknesses of the Opel Zafira with mileage was last modified: October 16th, 2018 by Administrator
