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The Zafira is like the penalty car that follows TopGear challenges... On a serious note, I have driven 3 zafira's. All gave me agony in the ars*/sciatic nerve area.
I have spent the day looking at cars.
Finally found a £9k Galaxy that has actually been looked after. One option.
Saw 5 different V70's. Three were not good, and looked tatty up close. One had cream everything and smell of golden lab and pipe about it - and needed full new brakes.
Saw one that was rather nice - full Volvo SH, last of the 2.4d's, auto, lux. Well kept - but asking on dash for service. And then the dealer showed me the paperwork - full SH in date order and two names - and a dodgy handwritten receipt for 'Volvo service' this month. I asked about timing belt, and was taken out to car to 'see if it is painted on'. When I got back to office the last handwritten note of a service had "+ timing belt" written on it....! I googled the garage name on the receipt - no record anywhere, no google, no yellow pages etc.... I walked from what is a nice car, but they wouldn't come down the cost of a full, proper service and timing belt.
The search continues - one more tomorrow....and a return to a Galaxy as back up..
Shame, the service warning will most likely be for the alarm!
The rechargeable battery dies and it's a royal pain in the ass to change it. You can apparently remove the fuse to get rid off it, if it really bothers you!
^fuse #11.
Done it on mine-alarm service required message still flags up for 10seconds then clears.
Genuine Volvo timing belts come with a natty metalised sticker with a space to write the date that should be stuck under the bonnet somewhere.
The choice. Has to be made by 10am tomorrow.
One year newer, SE on newer 136bhp 4cyl D3, newer senses system and better stereo, heated leather, boot liner and towbar etc. Couple of stone chips and one mark on bumper.
One year older, 20k less, 163bhp 5cyl D3, poverty spec, but the most immaculate and historied car I have seen on my search. Two year basic warranty. Have to fit a towbar.
Both about same cost.
Zafira.
No brainer - the D5.
Volvo's own (nearly bulletproof) engine
Towbay {should} be factory fitted to Volvo's as the autobox cooler has to be increased in size to give the already borderline gearbox a fighting chance (certainly on the pre 2005 Volvo's with the Asain Warner boxes). Not sure if this is still the case with the D3's hence steering towards the D5 with no towbar.
Poverty spec = less to break.
Neither are D5's - one is newer variant of D5, both are manual.
Poverty spec has my vote at moment....but we all like a posh spec, no?
I think i'd go for the 163bhp version, shame not to have the leather and heated seats, but it sounds a better buy, and V70's ain't light cars, I've a feeling the 136bhp would feel a bit too sluggish.
What colour are they?
Obviously, pick the red one. Because red is betterer.
Both are red.
Glittery red.
and
Bright red.
Glittery red it is then.
Glittery is more betterer
Done.... I will make the call...
Red zafira?
Good choice my man.
Red zafira?
Good choice my man.
Ideal for those cold winters you get up there ☄️💥🥊
Deal done. 8)
Thanks all for advice. I have successfully ignored it all. 2013 V70 D3 (new 4cyl) SE in fire engine red will replace the bomb of the Galaxy at end of next week....
Even better. And this sums up car salesmen.
I was convinced it was 5cyl.
Oh no he says. Definitely new 4cy, absolutely positively definitely a 4cy, as they do not make VIII V70 facelifted with 5cyl. He even 'checked'.
Got all the details through today.
5cyl.
Proper.
5cyl Zafira ?
Heck, that’s gonna be heavy man.. 🥊👽👽
Do you mean P3 5 cylinder? Mine's that though D5...
That 12/13/14 MY period saw us having about 5 different diesel engines in something like a dozen different states of tune/build across the entire EUCD/P3 platform, so V70/S80/V60/S60/XC60. Depending on market and driveline configuration of course.
You've got the last of the DW10 PSAs, about 6 or 7 different 2.4 litre I5s, 3 of the 2.0 litre I5s and a couple of the very first of the new 4 cylinder diesels.
So i'm not surprised the salesman cocked it up.
I work here and the only way i can tell what engine is fitted is by physically lifting the bonnet and counting cylinders. (Or connecting VIDA) And the only way i can tell which engines in which tune went into which vehicle in which market is checking the market mix documents.........
^ That sums up the issues.
It is P3, I5, 5cyl 2.0lt 136bhp, manual.
There is a shiny red beast on the drive - all good apart from garage has lost the parcel shelf(!) and a mysterious graze/scratch that either was hidden or put on in the supermarket car park today...
Leathers, stereo, sunshine and putting down the A9.
Time to put muddy bikes on it this weekend.
Have you considered a SAAB 9-3 Estate? Some nice Aero, TTID's and TurboX's about 🙂
EDIT: Ooops, too late 😉
A week and 350 miles and I'm a happy bunny.
Despite being lowest output D5 engine, its a wave of steady torque. The car does indeed waft along, me comfy in armchair with really clear stereo. Many little things I'm noticing - wiper intermittent that actually does adjust well in steps, yet related to the auto sensor. The mini spotlight that illuminates centre panel without affecting night vision. Cruise in simple steps of 5mph, that a longer press sets at 1mph gaps. Huuuge washer bottle. Etc
Everything is just so damn logically laid out and read to find.
It's doing 5mpg more than the Galaxy. I'm wafting around 5mph slower though...😁
Even better, my old roof rack fits, and a friend sold me back the Thule roof carriers I sold them 4 years ago, so all bikes on easily.
Oh, and a 5cyl does make a rather pleasant sound. Never had a car that does that before, especially a diesel...
First hiccup - leaking radiator hose...
Should have bought a Zafira.
Aye, at least it would have the decency to burst into flames not just leak quietly in the corner...
🤪💶💶💶💶
Transpires it's a new radiator needed.
Looks like car had minor bump at some point - RH headlamp washer missing a bit with overspray on it, and RH end of radiator has small dent that has cracked.
TBF, Arnold Clark are sorting it efficiently and nicely.
Run a V70 as family car for the last 8 years. Previously an 05 plate D5 which ran and ran but finally suffered injector failure on number 5 cylinder with 186k on the clock. Local mechanic advised ECU not too healthy either and soot filter clogged so flogged it on the bay for 15 quid less than webuyanycar quoted as a runner. Just got 14 plate D4 with all the toys to replace it. £30 a year tax and slightly more power than the old D5. Very happy so far 🙂
Aye, but my V70 is £20 a year tax...
#everylittlehelps
I'm still sliding about in a 2003 Xc 70 d5 auto with 256k on the clock. It's been written off twice and still going strong