I discovered the spare wheel had gone over the weekend

I called the dealer, and they agreed that it was a common problem, and suggested I call Vauxhall UK on 01582 427200. Vauxhall UK admitted this is common, and stated that they are now offering a free lock fitting for all affected customers.

To my mind, this is an admission of liability. They will NOT assist in the cost of a replacement spare though. Amazingly, even though this lock is being offered, it is not being fitted as standard to new cars. My suggestion if you have not been hit yet - Get Vauxhall to fit a lock free of charge. If they won't, remove your spare and tell them it was stolen - Get the lock fitted, and put the spare back!
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The Zafira is a good all round family car

Based on the Vauxhall Astra chassis, there are quite a few similarities between the two cars, such as the general driving ride and the quality of the car as a whole.

There have been a few problems that general users have seen with the cars, such as:

• The engine cutting out when idle.
• The In car radio not functioning correctly.
• A squeaking noise from the brakes after only 10,000 miles or so use.
• Spare wheel thefts.
• A necessity to keep refilling the oil on diesel models (1 litre every thousand miles or so).
• Small storage space.
• Strange engine noises which can not be located or fixed.

Saying this, however. The car is very practical and does have some very good points. The innovative ?Flex 7? seating system makes it very easy to switch the car from 5 to 7 seats without too much hassle.

Other nice features include easy access to the car thanks to the wide opening doors, ideal for families with small children, and an anti-stall device. Designed to stop the car from stalling a low revs.

The car is generally very good and although a minority of owners have had some problems, it represents extremley good value for money and provides a great means of getting the whole family from one place to another.