BigJohnD

This is how it goes: "Hi, Dad! Can I borrow you car, Dad? It's much better than mum's." "NO!" "I'll put petrol in it, Dad, honest!" "Yeah, like last time? "Well, if you lend me twenty quid, I promise to put some petrol in." "No chance." "Dad - I need some clothes too, I'm going to a party. Fifty quid will cover it." "ASK YER MOTHER!" "Mum said you had to lend me your car." "GET YER OWN CAR!!!" "I would Dad, but you won't give me the money, and I've never be able to insure it." Aarghh!!! HELP!!

Ta! I'll try that. PS It's a lovely car. My student son and teenage daughter say so.

How did you get on Matty? Does the DAB work OK, or are you getting "NO RECEPTION" in DAB mode? I'm looking to fit the Sony CDX DAB6650 DAB Radio/CD player from my last car to not a Picasso, but a C4 VTR+ The actual fitting of the head unit seems straightforward - it's the aerial which confuses me. I've accepted I'll lose the steeering wheel controls, but that's not a big loss to me, and I don't have reversing sensors. The existing Citroën aerial seems to be very good, very sensitive on FM, giving a strong signal. So initially I'm thinking of a splitter, rather than a second dedicated DAB aerial which would probably have to go on the rear windscreen because of the athermic front screen. However when I pull out the OEM Blaupunkt, I find the aerial connector is not the DIN connector I expected. Is it ISO or SMB (f)? In short, is the standard aerial DAB ready? And is there anything else I need to know when fitting an after-market HU?

Like you I find it hard to keep under the limit at times. I've not yet come to terms with the speed limiter - probably because I'v not wholly figured out how to over-ride to accelerate. I've been using the cruise control on the 40 mph section of the M56 near Runcorn which has the "average speed" cameras.

Make sure everything is as expected - spare wheel and tool kit, alloy wheel locknut, all the documents (inc key code), full service record - and if a service is looming up, get it done now or get a voucher. You didn't say how many miles, but a couple of new tyres wouldn't go amiss. Start with asking for a year's tax, but accept 6 months!

1 bar = approx 14.5 pounds/sq. in. The actual pressures may vary according to tyre size and manufacturer. Michelin recommend 35psi front and 30psi rear for 205/55R16.

Thanks for the welcome!! I went to take some photos this morning but the ******* camera died on me. My brother has a petrol VTR+ so we had our own Owners Club Meeting at his house. I discovered the rear loudspeakers were in the rear doors - I'd been looking in the boot under the parcel shelf support, which is where I expected them to be. So with a bit of tweaking to the front-rear balance, the sound is much better. While in the boot, my brother showed me the bit of plastic which folds out to make a few sections to stop the shopping rolling around - a neat touch. I was disappointed that the spare was one of the those naff temporary get-you-home things; the salesman told me it was a fifth alloy when I asked. Serves me right for not checking. My brother also explained the windscreen demister button. I had assumed the windscreen had internal electric elements like the rear as it uses exactly the same symbol on the button as Upper Management's F**d F*c*s. I was very disappointed when all it did was set the heater to full blast on the windscreen, but I suppose the positive is that the 'screen won't interfere with an internal aerial for DAB or SatNav. I like the cruise control now I've come to grips with it. It's more sophisticated (naturally!) that what's in yer average Yank Tank, my only previous experience of cruise control. The automatic lights are useful, probably triggered by the French requirement for headlights to be switched on in tunnels in France - and having driven along the autoroutes and other roads in Provence, it'd be really handy. The automatic wipers are bit of a pain - I'm never certain if they're off. On my last car, a simple push down did one pass off the wipers, so I have to do some unlearning. 'Er indoors says it's more comfortable and roomier than the F*c*s, and you don't argue with her! As you can tell I'm really enjoying it! [edit]I forgot to say I was really impressed with radio. I was able to listen to the footy on Radio Merseyside 95.8FM in South East Manchester without the local stations butting in!!! Nice one, who ever made the radio![/edit]

Diesel for me every time. So to get to 70mph takes a second longer if you rag it; I prefer the economy for several hours at 70 mph.

VTR+ 110 diesel, 56-y-o, 15K miles/year, Chester postcode, no idea how many years NCB, but do I qualify for the maximum 70% or whatever. I pay just over £400 per year, but then I do have a 22 year old student son as a named driver. For me alone, it would be less than half that. The Co-op aka CIS do good deals for parents and "children". My brother, similar age, petrol VTR+ pays over £400/year for him and his missus via broker, but he has a Manchester postcode. I told him not to sell out move.

I'll see what I can do this weekend, in the daylight. It's just taken me FIVE hours to drive from central Manchester to the border with Wales. That's an average of 10 mph, with a whole hour spent just to the west of J8/9 (exit for M6 south). And I just had to attend to a natural body function - in between the barriers on the central reservation. Relief beyond belief. The C4's a nice car. Far more fun and much comfier than 'er indoors F**d F*c*s, which the world seems to rate. She of course objects to such a flash car, but then says the separate AC controls are just what a girl needs. Typical. I had fun playing with all the C4's toys in the queue, and have already forgotten what "Your lights are in automatic mode" is in Spanish!. Now you can't do that in a F**d F*c*s!

I picked up my C4 VTR+ last night. So far so good! I'm still finding my around the whistles and bells of the in-yer-face dash, but the trip computer reading almost 60mpg at 75mph on cruise control is very welcome. The radio's not fantastic (no rear speakers??) but better than I thought it would be. Radio5 on the MW is pretty poor compared to DAB, but I heard Newcassel United get well stuffed OK. Well done Brummy boys, commiserations to the Toon. Time to go to work…

That sounds really promising. I've never heard of under bonnet aerials. I spent most of my time as kid in the 60s and 70s fitting either earth straps or suppressors to everything under the bonnet to eliminate interference! All being well, I'll take possession of my new setta wheels on Wed eve.

At the risk of being thick, you're going to have to walk me through that. I have some thing like this to install on the rear windscreen. My real concern is under dash access - how easy is it thread the aerial cable behind the facia?

I've been unable to locate to another wicked red VTR+ within a reasonable distance and have settled on a Dec 05 1.6 diesel hatch VTR+ in oriental blue. £9450 which doesn't seem too bad, though they could have been more generous on my Fiat. All being well, I should have it by the end of next week. Then I need to consider whether or not to continue with the existing radio or put in my Sony DAB. The real problem will be threading the DAB aerial cable through the dash and to the rear window.

Ouch! £££££…

I found one in Warrington, 55 plate, 7K miles, £9.7K and rang up about it. I was reluctant to give a £500 deposit over the phone. When I got there, it had gone. :D

I've had black cars for the last 11 years, and people think I'm a funeral service. Ditto, not at all biased :(

Hi, xt500cc. Yes, £10K would be ideal for me. I'll see if I can do something about it after Xmas. I've found this in the meantime. I do love the Wicked Red! http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/for-sale/det...5165&supplier=1

Thanks for the link. The cheapest seem to be in the deepest south - Maidstone's a 600 mile round trip from here! But I'll keep looking. Happy Chrsitmas. John

Sorry, D&T, I want a diesel, preferably less than year old. Thanks though. KP06LVV is being offered at The Car People in Ashton-u-L, which is car supermarket where generally the price is not negotiable. Autobytel are quoting £16,848 new (discounted from £19,200) for that model including the extras (leather, security…). Parkers are quoting about £10,450 Dealer forecourt price. Happy Christmas, John.

If it's European Maps you're after and (free) RDS traffic info, then check out the Sony Nav-u NV-U51 And NV-U71T http://www.streetfinder.co.uk/articles/article_images/11image.jpg It has a big tie-in with the Michelin Guides. Happy Christmas, John

Where can I see the spec? Diesel? Leather Seats? Mileage, Date of Manufacture, etc? I have to say the colour doesn't appeal… Happy Christmas, John.

Is this a fair price, and what should I look for that's specific to C4s? £10995.00 Citroën C4 1.6 HDi VTR + 5dr Blue KP06LVV 14102 miles Registration date: 20/04/2006 Diesel, manual transmission Vehicle specifications: Air Conditioning, Leather upholstery, Alloy Wheels, Power Steering, Airbag/s, Electric Windows, CD Player, Central locking, Cruise Control Happy Christmas! John.

I'd like to hear about Mike's experience. It's not always the roof and pillar trim that's the difficult bit - it's access behind the dash, to thread the cable around air bags and through bracing panels and the like, without dismantling the entire dash and not breaking/damaging the clip-on plastic trim/panels. I can't see anything on the Citroën Accessory site which stands out as DAB for any model. Citroën haven't answered my e-mail about DAB I sent about two weeks ago; however, they send glossy but useless brochures with my local dealer's address (as if I didn't know where they are) at the drop of a hat. Citroën need to wake up - Vauxhall are offering "CDC40 radio/6 CD changer+GID+DAB+7 speakers+SW controls" for £400 as a new car option across their entire range. I'd guess their standard aerial is dual FM/DAB spec. I could well be walking into Lookers instead. :P

Thanks for all your replies - really helpful. It does seem as though changing the standard radio to a better one is a bit of a pain, though the sound is certain to be a quantum leap better even on the standard speakers. The DAB aerial is always the crunch issue - I'm wondering if I can get the dealer to install a DAB radio as a part of the sale before I take delivery. Once you've listened to live footy on Radio Five in full stereo with scrolling scores, you never ever want to go near medium wave again. BTW I had a 2CV Dyane in the 70s for several years, and still miss the comfort and versatility (but not the noise). Sounds like a great offer! Hope someone takes it up soon.