Who would buy a Zafira?? Well I did
Discussion
So a new addition to the Johnson household, 4 leggeged not 2 in the form of a Boxer dog to go with the one I already have meant the boot of the TD4 freelander was pretty full. This was not an issue as the trusty old mud plugger soldiered on with minimal maintenance doing it's duty admirably until recently. The Freelander in question was a 2003 model which i had maintained regardless, however this issue was rather more expensive. The dreaded fuel injector issue had caught up with the old girl, 3 out of 4 were leaking back. Not only are the injectors cost prohibitive they can also be a right PITA to replace. Only thing for it eBay it spares or repairs. It was bought by a gentleman from Plymouth for a bag of sand.
This left me with the dilemma of transporting 2 Boxer dogs in my remaining 3 vehicles, Z4 not happening, MX5 not happening, 325ci
, possible but not happening. Back to eBay this time looking for a cheap estate car. Really wanted a Saab 9-3 but my budget was only turning up rubbish. In the meantime my sister in law had bought herself a Zafira, I looked at it and thought loads of room for my dogs.
The next day Gumtree turned up a 2006 Zafira 2.2 Sri with only 63K , 11 months mot and a full service history, it was only 20 miles from me so contact was made and off I went to view.
Arrived at the farm and there she was in all her cow s
t covered glory. 4 feral children and a disobedient dog had left the interior somewhat disgusting, oh well I'm here now just as well check it out. After a brief discussion with the owner the keys were passed to me and it was suggested it take it for a test drive, I won't be coming with you said the farmer but there's plenty of petrol in it take it as far as you want.
Good job I had my work cloths on, in i got and off I went, could I fault it? no I couldn't. Uninspiring certainly but it drove very well, the 2.2 engine was surprisingly willing, it ran without fault and ticked over almost silently.
A 10 mile test drive went very well and barring the dirty state of it there was nothing to really fault. Return to sellers farm and negotiate the price, this resulted in me deciding this will be perfect £1500 changed hands and off I went a happy man.
Saturday was deep clean day, the interior took me 6 hours the exterior 2, it now looks so much better
That was 1 week ago and since then it's been used every day. It doesn't turn any heads and nobody comments on it but for the purpose it was bought for it's spot on.
I will endeavour to get some pics up for anyone who is interested, will also keep a blog of the everyday running.
This left me with the dilemma of transporting 2 Boxer dogs in my remaining 3 vehicles, Z4 not happening, MX5 not happening, 325ci
, possible but not happening. Back to eBay this time looking for a cheap estate car. Really wanted a Saab 9-3 but my budget was only turning up rubbish. In the meantime my sister in law had bought herself a Zafira, I looked at it and thought loads of room for my dogs.
The next day Gumtree turned up a 2006 Zafira 2.2 Sri with only 63K , 11 months mot and a full service history, it was only 20 miles from me so contact was made and off I went to view.
Arrived at the farm and there she was in all her cow s
t covered glory. 4 feral children and a disobedient dog had left the interior somewhat disgusting, oh well I'm here now just as well check it out. After a brief discussion with the owner the keys were passed to me and it was suggested it take it for a test drive, I won't be coming with you said the farmer but there's plenty of petrol in it take it as far as you want.Good job I had my work cloths on, in i got and off I went, could I fault it? no I couldn't. Uninspiring certainly but it drove very well, the 2.2 engine was surprisingly willing, it ran without fault and ticked over almost silently.
A 10 mile test drive went very well and barring the dirty state of it there was nothing to really fault. Return to sellers farm and negotiate the price, this resulted in me deciding this will be perfect £1500 changed hands and off I went a happy man.
Saturday was deep clean day, the interior took me 6 hours the exterior 2, it now looks so much better
That was 1 week ago and since then it's been used every day. It doesn't turn any heads and nobody comments on it but for the purpose it was bought for it's spot on.
I will endeavour to get some pics up for anyone who is interested, will also keep a blog of the everyday running.
BlueHave said:
I can see that turning into a 'thing'.
It's ok if I get hit by a meteorite crashing through my windscreen...because that's why I pay my insurance.
If some smashed a window and filled my car with the contents of their bowels, it's ok...because thats why I pay my insurance.
So you don't like them i get that but it was bought for a single purpose which it is currently doing very well. I will be sure to let you know if and when it goes up in flames but until then it will continue in my ownership.It's ok if I get hit by a meteorite crashing through my windscreen...because that's why I pay my insurance.
If some smashed a window and filled my car with the contents of their bowels, it's ok...because thats why I pay my insurance.
Quarter year ownership update for anyone who is interested.
The Zafira is still in my ownership and still hasn't caught fire, in fact it has been almost faultless. As the go anywhere and be used for anything car, it has been used to some degree every day, back in September it was called into action to take us and our luggage from Exeter to Cardiff airport so me and the wife could enjoy 2 weeks away in the sun, uneventful journey up, it was parked and left for 2 weeks awaiting our return. Upon our return we got back to the Zafira at 12.35am on a Friday morning, loaded the luggage got in and fired the old girl up. She started first turn of the key, however the car with spanner warning light was constantly lit. At that time of the morning and 150 miles from home there was only one thing i could do, drive on and hope for the best. Got home without issue, the car drove perfectly fine. Saturday afternoon I plugged in the scanner and read the code. P0130 low fuel pressure, i cleared the code and this put out the car spanner light but resulted in the eml light coming on. A quick google search revealed a common issue with this engine(I think someone mentioned earlier in this thread) regulator or feul pump are the likely causes. The cost difference between the 2 parts is massive so I decided to go with the cheaper part first. Ebay turned up a genuine refurbed regulator for £21, this was duly purchased and fitted upon arrival. Once fitted, ignition on clear code and hey presto no more warning lights.
That was at the end of September and since the it's been perfect, fingers crossed it will continue to be so.
Moving on to Novermber, an email form Eurocarparts appears in my inbox 35% off this weekend. Service parts me thinks, oil and filter 4 NGK plugs and an air filter for £54 delivered. Serviced it myself 2 weeks ago.
Time to treat the old girl now. Where mobile phones are concerned, i'm one for safety and operating within the law, to this i decided on a parrot hands free system. After looking at some and the prices being charged I decided against a Parrot and went for a complete stereo change instead.
I chose the Sony XAV-AX100 this is a great unit with Android auto(me) and Apple car play(the wife) it also has bluetooth phone and music streaming. This unit also supports a rear view camera. Now my wife is only 5ft and often moans she can't see the back easily when reverse parking. A £12 camera Again from Ebay was purchased, I also decided I would upgrade all the speakers while I was at it, Pioneer custom fit front speakers and tweeters, Kenwood rears.
Last weekend was spent fitting it all, the sound and functionality has improved no end and the reverse camera makes things a lot easier when parking.
So there we have it. 4 months of ownership have been almost painless, long may it continue.
The Zafira is still in my ownership and still hasn't caught fire, in fact it has been almost faultless. As the go anywhere and be used for anything car, it has been used to some degree every day, back in September it was called into action to take us and our luggage from Exeter to Cardiff airport so me and the wife could enjoy 2 weeks away in the sun, uneventful journey up, it was parked and left for 2 weeks awaiting our return. Upon our return we got back to the Zafira at 12.35am on a Friday morning, loaded the luggage got in and fired the old girl up. She started first turn of the key, however the car with spanner warning light was constantly lit. At that time of the morning and 150 miles from home there was only one thing i could do, drive on and hope for the best. Got home without issue, the car drove perfectly fine. Saturday afternoon I plugged in the scanner and read the code. P0130 low fuel pressure, i cleared the code and this put out the car spanner light but resulted in the eml light coming on. A quick google search revealed a common issue with this engine(I think someone mentioned earlier in this thread) regulator or feul pump are the likely causes. The cost difference between the 2 parts is massive so I decided to go with the cheaper part first. Ebay turned up a genuine refurbed regulator for £21, this was duly purchased and fitted upon arrival. Once fitted, ignition on clear code and hey presto no more warning lights.
That was at the end of September and since the it's been perfect, fingers crossed it will continue to be so.
Moving on to Novermber, an email form Eurocarparts appears in my inbox 35% off this weekend. Service parts me thinks, oil and filter 4 NGK plugs and an air filter for £54 delivered. Serviced it myself 2 weeks ago.
Time to treat the old girl now. Where mobile phones are concerned, i'm one for safety and operating within the law, to this i decided on a parrot hands free system. After looking at some and the prices being charged I decided against a Parrot and went for a complete stereo change instead.
I chose the Sony XAV-AX100 this is a great unit with Android auto(me) and Apple car play(the wife) it also has bluetooth phone and music streaming. This unit also supports a rear view camera. Now my wife is only 5ft and often moans she can't see the back easily when reverse parking. A £12 camera Again from Ebay was purchased, I also decided I would upgrade all the speakers while I was at it, Pioneer custom fit front speakers and tweeters, Kenwood rears.
Last weekend was spent fitting it all, the sound and functionality has improved no end and the reverse camera makes things a lot easier when parking.
So there we have it. 4 months of ownership have been almost painless, long may it continue.
pixelatedJH said:
Was the camera one that went near the numberplate lights? If so, how difficult was fitting it? I've got one lying around but I'm not too sure how I'm going to run it in to the boot hatch from the car...
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
Having 3 dogs I fully get the requirement for a dog wagon. Until last year ours was a 2003 Laguna estate, one previous owner low miles, fastidiously maintained. Nothing to look at, no pride of ownership, but it ran well and we didn't care how much mud and dog hair got in it. It died this spring with an electronics failure. Cars it this end of the market can't lose much value, run it until it's scrap and don't care about the mess the dogs make of it.
Got it in one. All i have done is make the experience of riding in it a little more pleasurable. 
Update time and it's bad news.
So after 2 years and 20k miles of trouble free motoring the Zafira has started to give me problems i'm struggling to resolve.
Poor idle with occasional back fire. Misfire under load, won't rev over 4000rpm unless the throttle is pressed very gently, spanner light comes on sometimes. So far have changed coil pack, spark plugs, hp pump and regulator still the same. Going to try fuel pressure sensor and crankshaft sensor next then throw the towel in should that not cure it.
Sometimes get a code P1191-5A.
If anyone on here with knowledge of these engines Z22YH might like to suggest something then i'm all ears.
So after 2 years and 20k miles of trouble free motoring the Zafira has started to give me problems i'm struggling to resolve.
Poor idle with occasional back fire. Misfire under load, won't rev over 4000rpm unless the throttle is pressed very gently, spanner light comes on sometimes. So far have changed coil pack, spark plugs, hp pump and regulator still the same. Going to try fuel pressure sensor and crankshaft sensor next then throw the towel in should that not cure it.
Sometimes get a code P1191-5A.
If anyone on here with knowledge of these engines Z22YH might like to suggest something then i'm all ears.
groundcontrol said:
Thanks, I have seen that article, I have spent hours and hours researching the problem but so far everything I have tried hasn't worked.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff