test please delete

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

The gear change is 'crunchy'.

Although it is a hire car there was only 3,000 miles on the clock when we got it and it feels knackered already.

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

You know those bends on the motorway on/off ramps with a sharp bend marked 50 MPH? That you do at 70+.

In a Zafira, do no more than 50.

The Missus took one at about 60 and it just drifted off into the other lane.

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

We seem to be getting, at a guess, just over 30 MPG. Given most of the mileage is motorway, I suspect that is not good.

Surely a modern car should be doing better than that?

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

You can tell when the air conditioning is on: the little red light comes on.

Other than that, there's no difference.

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

When scanning up/down for stations on the radio, it just displays "memory fm".

Huh?

So there seems to be no way of finding a specific frequency.

(Not that it matters: you can't hear the radio over the noise of the car anyway.)

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

WTF were they thinking of with a handbrake shaped like an aircraft throttle?

It just wastes space.

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

More on the brakes: they are only spongy at speed.

When down to about walking speed they are very 'grabby' - most unpleasant when you're the passenger.

[BrowneIssue]

Things wrong with the Vauxhall Zafira

So, based on a 2 week test drive including 5 hour motorway journeys and journeys 'around town', with a passenger and carrying loads:

• it is very noisy
• it is unpleasant to drive
• it is uncomfortable as a passenger
• it does not feel safe
• it was thoughtlessly designed
• it is tacky.

Do not buy a Vauxhall Zafira.

[BrowneIssue]

How come this didn't get any reaction in General:

The current issue (173, March) of Viz is better than usual. ... A particular letter on the LetterBocks page got me:

"The BBC business correspondent defended Shell's massive £14 billion profit by pointing out that they help the British economy by paying a billion pounds in tax each year. That's 1/14th of their profit. I'm a plumber and I seem to end up paying a third. Does anybody know who Shell's accountants are?"

[BrowneIssue]

Pam Ayres on Jonothan Ross was good.