Used cars of the week: 6k Vauxhall Zafiras
* The Rasen family needs something to transport their three kids and their dog * They want an MPV but don't know if their £6000 budget can get them anything decent * Real-world examples fro...
The Vauxhall Zafira offers fantastic value. It should also have more than enough room for two adults, three children and the family’s dog.
There are plenty to choose from on the used market, with prices starting at around £2500 for a high-mileage 2006 model.
All have seven seats and the rearmost two fold flat into the floor when not in use, leaving a decent-sized boot.
The 1.6-litre petrol models are the most popular used choice. If you prefer diesel power, we recommend the 1.7 CDTi 110 Ecoflex engine with a claimed fuel economy figure of 55.4mpg.
All Zafiras come with electric front windows, air-conditioning and remote central locking as standard, although we’d go for Design trim, which was introduced in 2008 and adds rear electric windows and automatic wipers.
Here's our pick from the What Car? Approved Used classifieds:
Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi 120 Active
A 2010 car with 60,000 miles on the clock on sale for £6000.
Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi 120 Exclusiv automatic
An automatic 2010 Zafira that's done 65,000 miles. It's yours for £6000.
Petrol-powered 2008 car with just 30,000 miles on the clock, priced at £5995.
What to watch out for:
The Tailgate mechanism can fail and stick shut
The EGR valve is designed to improve emissions, but sticking causes a lot of problems
Air-conditioning fails and struggles to clear window fog
Radio can forget programmed stations
Check suspension on high-mileage cars
The tailgate is prone to rust
The fusebox is in the engine bay – the electrics can be affected by water
The spare wheel stowage bracket can shear off
There was a recall to fix the steering shaft
The fuel pipe can become loose – check for a smell of fuel inside the car
