Farewell to Zafira: The End of a (Mostly) Reliable Road

Well, it finally happened. The day I’d been half-expecting but always hoped would be a bit further off: my trusty Vauxhall Zafira decided to pack it in. And when I say “trusty,” I mean she was reliable… right up until the very end.

The Final Curtain Call

It was a typical morning – coffee in one hand, keys in the other – when Zafira decided she’d had enough. The engine light blinked on with an air of finality, and there was no negotiating this time. A few splutters, one last defiant rattle, and that was it. I couldn’t even be mad; we’d had a good run together, but she’d made it clear this was her last journey.

The Walk to Work

With Zafira out of action, I did the only thing left to do – I walked the rest of the way down the hill to work, drizzle and all. While at work, I sorted out the tow truck and tried to shake off the feeling that this might be the end of an era. Zafira, who’d always been my reliable companion, was now in the hands of someone else.

The Scrapheap Send-Off

As I sat at my desk, my wife and kids were en route to pick me up. They spotted the moment I missed – Zafira being hoisted onto the tow truck, heading off for what would be her final journey. My daughter took a quick photo, capturing that last, bittersweet moment of our family car being taken away.

One Last Hurrah

That evening, the family decided Zafira deserved a proper send-off. We sat around, had a drink, and shared our favourite Zafira stories – the road trips, the minor (and major) breakdowns, and that time she got us all locked out in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of laughs, a few eye rolls, and not a hint of sentimentality. Just the way she would’ve wanted it.

Moving On

I’ve still got the Ford Focus to fall back on – not quite as much ‘character,’ but at least I can trust it to get from A to B without the drama. With everything coming up – the move, the big changes – I guess it’s time to embrace a bit of predictability for a change.

A Tip of the Hat to Zafira

So, here’s to you, Zafira. You were dependable, scrappy, and always a bit unpredictable. But for all the miles and memories, you never let us down – until you finally did. And that’s alright.

Saying bye is hard…