Thursday 1st April 2004

Zafira SRi

The mini MPV with a sporting badge. Fun to power ratio up for debate...

---

Vauxhall has a new model in the Zafira range with the addition of the 'sporty' SRi.

Vauxhall aimed to created a new segment with the performance 200 hp Zafira GSi two years ago. To continue with the theme of making MPV’s fun to drive as well as practical, Vauxhall has introduced another version with sporting 'intent'.

The new Zafira SRi comes with 1.8 16v 125 hp or 2.2 litre 147 hp petrol power or a 2.0 DTi diesel and with a chassis taken straight from its GSi brother. Vauxhall claim the Zafira SRi has a chassis that delivers "excellent balance and the kind of handling and neutral steering that bears comparison with ‘conventional’ sports hatches."

Styling enhancements include seventeen inch alloy wheels, a sport styling pack (front air dam, side skirts and modified rear bumper), front fog lights, sports seats and aluminium gear knob.

Other standard features include electric windows front and rear, CD player, air conditioning and an alarm.

[Mannginger]

What's with the "wheels" hotlink Ted? I haven't seen that before. Is this a new method you're trying out?

Phil

[sublimatica]

Is the Zafira in the pic supposed to be the sporty one then?

Erm... what's the difference? idontgeddit

Once a school-run car, always a school-run car. :yawn:

[jvaughan]

Mannginger said:

What's with the "wheels" hotlink Ted? I haven't seen that before. Is this a new method you're trying out? Phil

yes, good to have a link advertising MINI alloy wheels in an advert that is detailing the Vauxhall Zafira ...

[sagalout]

Nice one Ted, caught out three readers then!

[s2 giles]

I had the misfortune of driving a Zafira GSI for 5 weeks as a hire car over Christmas.

It pulled well in a straight line & humiliated alot of BMW drivers (i enjoy that) but i'm affraid thats where the fun ended.

Nothing else i liked at all. Its nothing like a hot hatch. The suspension is still way too soft & it is frankly dangerous that it can go so fast and corner so badly

Giles

[LuS1fer]

Why do they try and emphasise the "style" element of these cars?

The ideal MPV ad should say

"We took an average chassis and we put the boxiest possible shape on it that would still feasibly cleave the air to maximise the room inside, maximise the height and permit women to jam as many screaming kids in as possible. We know style will mean nothing to you dressed in your flip flops and parka, hair unkempt and smelling of baby sick with a fag in your hand to alleviate stress and asphyxiate your kids so we took the same amount of care in making this car look good. It's for carrying as many persons as humanly possible within it's length, width and height - get over it"

Accessories should include a barrage of rear tissue dispensers, a kickboard on the back of the front seats, a "boogie-scraper" for little fingers to unload their burdens and a glass divider.