Zafira owners...come and talk to me!

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What are they like. I am being talked out of a picasso by my DP who wants us to TTC sooner rather than later.

Currently have my DS 2.5 is a stage 1 car seat, DSD 5 in a booster and DSS in normal belt. Both DSC are larger than average for age and I predict they will be broad and tall like their mother.

Boot space: Dont need much unless we go away (which isnt often with stepchildren)

Is the middle seat in the back a lap belt or proper belt in yours...can you post year and model.

We are looking for one around £2500

I didn't like mine because of the huge blind spot! The way the windscreen is, the bar blocks your view. Esp dangerous at junctions because you can miss an entire car coming at you!

Also, although it calls itself a 7 seater, it's not. The 2 back seats are only good for tiny children, there's no leg room for those 2 little seats and if you use them you've got no boot at all.

Also, I found our 1.6 really struggled, its body too much for its 1.6 engine, when you have a full car.

I've got a 2003 1.8 petrol Zafira. I agree with Hecate re: the back seats - you can get an adult in them (we quite often do when we have visitors) but you wouldn't want to for a long drive.

Our middle seat has a lap-belt only - not sure if this is something that could be converted?

Bootspace is small with all the seats up - enough for a small pushchair and/or a couple of bags really. Huge space when the 2 rear seats are down though.

It does have its faults, but generally I like it. And I like it way more than a Picasso.

I have a 2004 1.6 petrol engine with a proper seat belt in the middle. I would agree with Hecate on all she says, If I could find a new car I would but am stuck at the moment as need a eight seater that can accomodate 4 car seats and booster im my price budget.

with both back seats up not all single pushchairs fit and my son who is just 10 finds it very squashed in the back seats.

I have a 2008 Zafira Exclusive and I love it.
Yes the blind spots are huge but you do get used to them.
I travelled in the rear seat on a 2 1/2 hour journey. Ok, I'm little (5ft) but it was fine for me. You can move the middle seats forward slightly to make a little extra room for the rear seats if you need to.
Like already mentioned, boot space is very small if you have all seats up, but very big when not using 6th and th seat.

Our middle seatbelt is a normal belt (not lapbelt)

Forgot to mention we have to have the middle row of seats pushed right back otherwise there is not enough seatbelt to fit one car seat correctly, and to allow for the front drivers seat to be pushed back as dh has very long legs. Also back seats are very unsafe in accident as are low down and in the crumple zone.(can you tell I really do not like it) though it has been very reliable.

Oh dear I'm even more confused now!

It appears to one of our only options though as a car with our budget.

Think the proper seat bely came in on 2004 model which means it may be now out of price range anyway.

If we do TTC (which could be anyting from now to 4 years- Im suppose to be starting uni in sept but thats another thread!)then we need 6 seats if we dont we need 5 proper seats.

The other option is an espace but within our budget they are all around the R mark and I would like a bit newer

fiat bug eyed monster. the errr multipla!

6 seats, proper boot.

Be careful with the Zafira too, there are a lot of car seats that don't fit, or are not recommended for the rear 2 seats too!

Mum had one a few years ago, and with the car seats we needed for our children we could not get them in across the middle row.

It was reliable though!

We have also had a Grande Scenic, but again, struggled to get car seats recommended for the rearmost 2 seats, and the salesman did state that really they were only meant for occasional use!

We are back on a Galaxy again, we love it.

There are so few galaxys that come up around here but that would also be a good car.

Whats the boot like in it?

Galaxy/Multipla sound like good ideas if you need the extra seats. We were considering a multipla when we got the Zafira so I would imagine they're in a similar price range.

Boot space is ok, we managed a couple of larger bags in plus my Nipper 360 double buggy, which is a monster when folded.

Not huge space though, but we managed a tripto scotland ok!

We got our car from cargiant (not sure where you are though)
It has a great search option on it and you can select the type of car (7 seater) and price bracket and some other options and it shows you what is available.

We chose our car online, went and a few days later and came home with the car!

Thanks Kid but we are in the S.W and the used car market isnt evry competetive.

Looking at under £3000 yet DP only wants us to spend £1500. I am only used to spending £500 on a car!

Now leaning towards a picasso. So confused........

I was going to suggest a Honda FRV but for that price I don't think you'd get one. What about an old Volvo? Or other reliable but ancient car?

Just remembered another bad point of my Zafira. I always hit the front spoiler when going over bumps. That might just be my bad driving rather than a fault with the car though!

Thanks Kid. Still undecided and boyfriends tax runs out soon!

Can I ask why your DH doesn't like the grand picasso? We too are looking at a 7 seater, DH wants Zafira, but after going to look at them I don;t like - 3rd row seats too small and not a great boot space when they are down (currently have a scenic which has a pretty good boot space).

Sorry to hijack - just think I've nearly managed to get DH to commit to a new (well new to us) a year earlier than he'd like!