Van-tastic
The Elegance is the epitomy of versatility and function, as well as a good price considering the low mileage.
Opel Zafira 2.2 Elegance
Price: R110 995 (2005-model, 35 000 km)
New: This particular model is no longer available, but the new Zafira 1,8 Enjoy costs R225 640.
Building a minivan on the chassis of a sedan – a so-called MPV or multipurpose vehicle – is one of the best ideas to have come out of the car industry in the past decade. Renault’s popular Scenic, for example, is built on the chassis of an “ordinary” car, the Megane. This month we’ve chosen the Opel Zafira as our second-hand vehicle; it is built on the chassis of an Astra.
The MPV’s success took the car industry by surprise, but families just love these spacious, versatile cars. An MPV doesn’t take up any more space in a garage than an ordinary sedan.
What makes the Zafira so impressive?
When all five back seats are folded down (there are an extra two foldout seats in the boot) you have a cavernous 1 700 ℓ of space – enough for a piano and half a church choir! By comparison, the Mini Cooper gives you 160 ℓ.
The Opel has two seats in front, three in the middle, and two small ones in the back. But you can change the layout in a flash, just like Percy Montgomery’s hairstyle. Each seat folds flat, so that you can configure it to exactly the space you need: Today you might need to ferry the dog in his kennel and three toddlers, and tomorrow a cello, two teenagers and a custard pie for the school cake sale.
Opel calls this variable seating layout the “Flex7”. It was unique when it was first introduced a few years ago, but now most other vehicle manufacturers have caught up and created similar systems in their MPVs.
The beauty of the Opel’s system is that you don’t have to remove any seats when you want to convert the interior into a van – they fold down into the floor.
Kick some tyres...
This 2005 model we found has only 35 000 km on the clock. Under its short bonnet there’s a modest 2.2-litre engine (108 kW), which is just enough to get the Book Club to its lunch venue on time.
With its automatic gearbox, it handles easily in town traffic and you don’t have to worry about wear on the clutch if you’re towing anything (there’s a tow bar too). There’s also no clutch cable to snap on Christmas Eve.
An automatic car will be a bit heavier on fuel, but the Zafira has so many other good features that you might just be able to overlook this problem.
It has air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, power steering, air bags, a trip meter, electric windows and mirrors, central locking, a multifunction steering wheel, and a year or so to run on the service plan.
Worth buying?
Definitely. Where else can R110 000 get you seven seats and such versatility? With only 35 000 km on the clock, and a low-key engine, it should give you thousands of carefree kilometres.
Go! says: And we thought Opel only appealed to people in a hurry who prefer cars with tinted windows and big exhaust pipes.
(Note: Prices accurate in December 2008)
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