Am looking to get a second hand car.
Main use will be mountain biking, camping, moving band gear around etc.
No commuting or family considerations or anything like that.
Looking to spend no more than £1500, but happy to spend less.
Initially looked at berlingos, and no real drawbacks other than being dull.
However, also been looking at Zafiras. Possibly a better made car, has 7 seats if required and they made a GSi version which won't be as fun as my MX-5, but a lot of my trips will be around the highlands so something nicer to drive would be good.
Though it may not be as tall inside?
Any thoughts on the Zafiras? Pretty clued up on Berlingo
We have a zafira B for dog and bike duties. Only real downside is that it's a Vauxhall. In terms of folding seats away and turning it into a van, it's great. We tried a berlingo but found the seats crippling.
Yes, I don't have anywhere to store the Berlingo seats if I take them out
At that price, based on not much personal experience of Vauxhall, I'd guess the Berlingo will be cheaper to run.
Storing seats would be the issue, so why not go Berlingo van then no seats in back at all?
Not had a zafira but ive had 4 astras. All have been cheap to run and maintain. Only thing of significance was alternator failure on one, wiper moter failure on another otherwise general wear and tear. Mostly chopped them in around the 120k mark. Last astra was 12 year old and had a fair bit of corrosion under the windscreen in the bulkhead - nothing obvious on the outside. Petrol engines all seemed pretty reliable generally although the 1.6 was gutless but smooth.
they do a vxr zafira as well, if you want to give the true 'angry dad' impression. 240bhp engine and some suspension/brake bits from the equivalent astra
weve got a bog stndard zafira B
its been very reliable from new
we use all the seats (back 2 have awkward access & no legroom for adults tho)
its not the most exciting car, the front pillar gets in the way a bit
folding down the seats & turning it into a van takes 60 seconds and its cavernous inside, very practical family/ biking car
Zafiras had a problem with the gearbox. Had one a few years ago, bearings went in the box. Known fault but Vauxhall wouldn't acknowledge.
Aye, the GSI is pretty similar to the VXR - was the predecessor. I think the 2nd generation Zafiras will be out of my price range.
The full Berlingo van wouldn't be as good as I'd like to use the seats sometimes
The pair of them did line up nicely for me the other day while I was having lunch:
Had a berlingo last time ran it til dead now have a zafira b, prefer zafira better to drive , less van like and much quieter. Space wise very similar tbh but bikes went in the berlingo easier. less rear leg room in the zafira but I don't sit in the back only the kids.rate both though but definitely prefer the zafira
I have a zafira tourer. it is huge in the back with seats down. fits 2 large bikes with wheels on.
the other day while I was having lunch:
Pakora?
Yes, excellent pakora!
Had my Berlingo for about 8 years. 2002 1.6.
2 3-week European biking tours, off biking every weekend all over the country 170k miles. Only just starting to complain a bit.
It's an absolutely fantastic car. If only it was about a foot longer.
Boring to drive? If you drive boringly I suppose. It's mint. No idea about a Zafira.