Zafira or Grand Scenic

[Dtld123]

We’ve got £5k to spend and torn between the two.
Scenic nicer to drive, but worried about electrical reliability.
2 kids under 2 in big erf car seats. Not planning any more kids, but want space for camping stuff.
Which one should I get??

Both are shit.

Get a reliable and bomb proof Japanese 4x4 like a RAV4 or CRV. Loads of space and practical, as well as very good in winter.

Scenic.

I had my scenic for 13 years...I've now got a Grand. Over the years DH has had Audi's, Alpha, VW's, Seat, etc so I've driven other cars for comparison, ...love my Renault. I was considering a Touran, but you get much more for your money with a Renault. And I mean value for money.

I’m put off 4x4 for the running costs, plus I live in a city and only do short journeys day to day.
Something big with low tax/fuel would be ideal, and these 2 cars seem to be the balance.

I think I need to go drive them both again, but it’s other people’s experience I need. Anxious about getting the ‘wrong’ One and having loads of problems with it

What running costs?

Do you think a crappy Zafira or Scenic for £5k is going to last for all eternity?

4x4s are far more robust. Sure, they might drink a bit more fuel, but at least the examples I have given above are not likely to cost much to maintain etc than the cars you are talking about...

I have had both, still got the grand scenic, def the better car!! 100 miles travel =a tenner!! Never had any problems for the 2 years I have had it. Wasn't from new, second owner and bought from Ireland!!

We've had 2 scenic sand a grand and loved them. Also have a c4 grand Picasso which has bigger back seats (3 teens) but while it's fine, doesn't drive as well or have as nice extras as Grand Scenic.

We have a Zafira.

I hate it. It’s only 3 years old and yet we’ve forked our loads for repairs and replacements. I’d avoid.

I had a Zafira for 3 days as a courtesy car. Worst vehicle I've ever driven and a really crappy button pressing braking system.

Had both and the Grand Scenic has been way, way more reliable than the Zafira, despite being older. Wouldn’t drive a Zafira B if you paid me either after the horrendous response from Vauxhall when they were catching fire!

I love my Grand Scenic

Both junk, expect lots of problems with either then you won’t be disappointed.

I had a grand scenic for 6/7 years and it was brilliant, didn't have a single problem with it. Loved it and I'd have had another in a shot if I could have got a petrol version (was trying to move away from diesel).

Of the two, the Grand Scenic. I've had both and much preferred the Scenic. But I had a Mazda5 prior to that which I absolutely loved (and you'll get a far newer one for the same price)!

Definitely the scenic out of the two, we had a zafira and had a massive repair bill, steer clear OP.

They're both horrible. Can't you get an estate if you don't want an suv? Skoda superb is within budget and they're great, I had one as a hire car a while ago. Or a Skoda Octavia estate which is slightly smaller but still has a huge boot.

I second the Skoda estate. I ran an Octavia estate for 8 years. Great car with a huge boot.

The Mazda 5 doesn't have the boot space of an estate, but it could be worth looking at.

We run an 11 year old Zafria and it hasn’t put a foot out of place and I hate Vauxhall but can’t fault it. Value for money has been fantastic. We’ve owned it for 8 years and would normally have changed it by now but bought a business.

Also have a 1 year old Superb and it is superb.

We had an old second hand Zafira which we had for a few years. We loved it!

We've got a second-hand (10 years old now) Zafira and it is crap. BUT the seating flexibility and boot-size is brilliant - I'm a Brownie Gudie leader and it's ace for camps etc as there's so much space.

It's needed loads doing to it in the 4 years we've had it but maybe that's because it's old. Mind you, our previously aged Touran was so so much better and a nicer drive; we just couldn't afford to replace it - the Zafira was much cheaper for a reason.

We’ve got a Toyota estate, bought 4 years ago for £5k. Happily fits two ERF, buggy and a big dog crate. Touch wood haven’t spent much on it other than some tires. Much nicer to drive than a huge MPV

We also have an old Zafira and love it, had an even older one before that which we nicknamed the cockroach as it was impossible to kill! I have read that the newer Zafiras are not great and more prone to needing expensive repairs. But I love the versatility of using the boot space for extra seating, and ours have run really well with no problems. Just need to check the oil regularly as they go through it.

Had a Zafira and had a normal Scenic. In terms of repair bills caused - I'd take the Zafira any day.

I have an '08 Zafira and honestly, I adore her. We had one before it too and other than it not having a proper middle seat belt (lap only) it was a right little gem too.

I do have one issue though. The blind spot at the sides of the windscreen are very large if you don't make the extra effort to lean around and look. I almost T-boned a car once when pulling out of an uphill junction. I'd looked twice but each time the passing car had been completely hidden by the two columns. It's never happened since as I now lean forward to see around them and it's clear as day.
Living in the countryside I've owned 4x4's and I'm a huge Landrover fan but they are huge and expensive to run.

Might as well put my 2 pence in. We have a Zafira (not new model) but it's reasonably new. We had a service recently and work to be done is over £1k

Size wise it's perfect for us, but now i wish we'd gone for a Japanese car.