Zafira for 6 person family?

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

We're just about on the cusp of getting a Zafira. We've had a galaxy for ages, but DH has a company car now, and the galaxy is mostly only used with me and the 4 children in it. I feel it's safer having one in the front and three across the back (as there's more space between the back and the children if we were to be hit from behind) when we can, so that's how we do most of our journeys. So we're now thinking we'll safe a fortune in tax and fuel if we get a Zafira. We've done our sums and we'll definitely be better off, and the odd journey with one of the children in the boot bit seems like a reasonable pay off.

But is having a Zafira with 4 children a complete nightmare? We have a small roof box and are absolutely fantastic at packing so holidays etc. aren't an issue.

Any thoughts? Warnings? Recommendations?

[mousymouse]

we have one and love it (only 2 dc though). if you don*t use the back seat the boot is absolutely massive.
it is wide enough for 3 seats (rear facing infant seat, booster seat, maxi cosi rodi).
boot is tiny if the back seats are used (not even a buggy fits)

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

yes, I was concerned about the boot with the back seats being used, but we only ever have a buggy in our boot, and not even that mostly nowadays - DD4 goes on my back mostly. Can an umbrella fold buggy go in front of the middle seats on the floor?

I think we're all so mollycoddled now with these massive cars - we all had to squeeze in my parents' volvo estate as teens - retro-fitted fold-down boot seats too!

What's the boot space like with one seat up and one down?

[Enormarse]

Someone on here linked to a video on safety of passengers in the seats that are in the boot. It was very shocking. I have a zafira and after seeing that I haven't had a child in the boot seat since.
If your oldest child is definitely safe in the front then you should be ok. Also it has a whacking blind spot (front right side) as you are driving - you have to lean round it at roundabouts. Having said all that, ours has been reliable and reasonably economical so we're sticking with it for the moment (we have two children) and it comes out very well on the NCAP safety tests - which presumably don't cover the boot seats.

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

Yes, I hate the boot seats on our galaxy even - far prefer the children being in the middle/front. The occasions when we have to have a child in the front won't happen very often - once a month if that - I don't think we can avoid doing it completely.

[mousymouse]

if only one back seat is up we can about fit 2 fold up shopping boxes in there.
I would say go for it. it is economical and reliable.

[OnEdge]

We have a Zafira (company car) and I can't stand it. Its all narrow and seat in boot is not nice.

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

Tell me more, OnEdge.

mousy - we do our shopping online, so space for shopping isn't an issue.

I need to work out if the money we save (which will be substantial for various reasons) will be worth the downsides.

[sanfairyann]

I wanted a renault grand espace but we had to get a zaphira. it's ok. bit of a squeeze tbh with 3 across the back - it's a lot narrower than our other car. we often just use the boot with one seat up and one down and there's still tons of room.

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

How old are yours, sanfairy? I'm thinking the squeeze thing won't be an issue for a few years for us yet - they're all still in car seats/boosters and if the seats/boosters fit, then the children will IYSWIM!

I think that, as a family, we'd all rather have more money/less financial stress than the extra space in the car which, let's face it, is a modern luxury!

[sanfairyann]

it's the seat belts though - I've had years of squeezing my hands down between car seats to do up the belts cos they can't reach to do it themselves and it does my head in . there isn't actually buckle to seat contact so it's safe but such a pain! tbh it's ok and I'm happy enough with it but I'm also sure there's a nicer similar sized car out there that I should have got instead!

also liked the renault grand scenic - do you like those?

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

The savings are coming from everything - parts, servicing - being at cost price because of DH's job - won't be the case with another make!

[sanfairyann]

sounds great then!

[colie]

Not sure if you still use a buggy for your any of your kids. With one back seat in boot up I can still fit a buggy/pram in boot. I have a phil and teds (double but just a bit bigger than a normal 3 wheel buggy/pram). This fits in fine with only one seat up in boot.

[LittleSilver]

I wouldn't buy one again, at leats not now we're due DC4 in Feb, God willing. Really NOT happy with the rear seats in event of accident, and have already informed DH that back seats will be adult only. No WAY would I put a child in there.

[droves]

We have one .
Bought it march last year .Have had nothing but trouble with it .
Its cost us more in garage visits than the honda we had before in the whole ten years we had that.
The back seats rarely get used here either, just not happy that theres no space between them and the bumper really, dont think its safe.
Saving to get a honda odeasy (spelling?), or a galaxy .

[slipperandpjsmum]

We have had one for a few years and had no problems with it, so far. Have 4dc. Can fit buggy in boot (McClaren) with all the seats up. If I go shopping we put one of the seats at the back down. I agree that we are very spoilt with cars now. Most people who I know with enormous cars only do shortish journeys. The middle seat worries me as there is only a lap belt.

[Margeaux]

I have one - it's ok. It's easy to park and hasn't cost too much to maintain but the back seats are only any good for young children (not enough leg room for teens) and the boot is tiny. Forget transporting prams or bulky pushchairs if you need both back seats up.

My middle seat just has a lap belt (which isn't great) but they do make them with a diagonal belt. I'd make sure I got a diagonal belt if I was getting another Zafira (which I'm not).

[CrunchyNutCornflake]

My zafira fits a McLaren Techno in the boot with no problems.

[DandyDan]

Pre-Zafira we had a very long 7-seater estate car - an old Renault Savannah, which was fabulous.


Then we had a Zafira and it was fine, even with the blind spot. We had it when the kids were medium-aged - 8+ through to 15 - at which point the 15 yr olds legs wouldn't fit in when all four kids were in the back two rows. We upgraded to a Mitsubishi Grandis now they're all in teens with more leg room.

But certainly it's a good car - we loved ours and holidayed with a large box on the roof.

[DollyTwat]

I was going to get one, on paper it looked like the ideal car for me. I looked around quite a few garages and all the ones I saw were trashed inside.

So I drove one that was only 3 years old, it was like a tank, the gear stick is at a strange angle. It was scruffy too even after only 3 years, big hole in the rear door.

So I've bought a Toyota Corolla Verso instead and love it.

[sorky]

We have 4 kids.

Zafira too small. Friends have 4 & Zafira, they hate it.

Have old style Galaxy which is huge. We use the rear seats, have 2 bags and P&T in the back permanently

[Ponders]

I've had a Zafira for years & have always been v happy with it apart from a couple of design flaws - like having to move the whole middle bench forward to access the rear, instead of just 1 seat, so everybody has to get out first.

But I have no kids in car seats now, & we rarely have to use the rear seats any more, but it does work for short trips (if you have flexible teenagers!)

With only 1 rear seat in use there is a reasonable amount of luggage space in the back.

I have driven the newer model though, & do prefer the older one. Am considering replacing it with a Mazda 5 (which is the same basic layout but has sliding doors, & isn't a Vauxhall )

[gorionine]

I think Zafira is ok with a 6 people family only if you never ever have to take anything with you as once all the seats are done there is no space for anything else. We were interested in one and decided against because of that. we went for a Toyota Lucida (I think really similar to toyota Previa), it is actually an 8 seater and can accomodate luggage for a two weeks holiday, tent included and the 6 of us.

[Ponders]

oops, I've just seen your post that says it has to be a Vauxhall - sorry!

Anyway I've had mine for 7 years,it's done nearly 70,000 miles, it's pretty economical to run (2.0 diesel) & very nice to drive. I haven't been aware of visibility issues but maybe the newer one has wider pillars at the front.

I know they have a shoulder belt in the middle seat now too, which mine doesn't (which is why we use both rear seats instead of the middle one).