tronboy

The original equipment is either VDO Dayton or if you're lucky, a Clarion. Both units are visually identical, but if it's a Clarion, they mark it with their logo. Blaupunkt is no longer specified as a Lingo OEM. The VDO Dayton units have shite radio reception, and the Clarion units have over-enthusiastic station auto-search. Take your pick. I can see why you wanted a JVC unit, although the CD player section is very fussy about the disc being exactly Red Book standard. The Sundae Club CD for example (PLUG PLUG PLUG....) has a special feature on track 1, and JVC units can't access it. Is it a JVC changer using the original head unit, or an in-dash unit? Tron

I bet some member of staff wanted it then!

The warranty is for 3 yrs, 60,000 miles, whichever is the sooner I think. As for Parker's and Glass's Guides, the values of Blingos bear no relation to the prices achievable in a private sale. The values ARE however valid for trade-in figures. Your dealer gave you an unusually good deal because there is high demand for new Blings. I expect she had a punter waiting in the wings for it, and if not, just watch the screen price when it appears on the forecourt! A year ago to the day I sold my 80,000 mile 98S Berlingo 1.8 petrol 3door original model (They all had electrics pack, funky upholstery and sunroof) for a shade under 4 grand. I had to fight them off with the proverbial slippy stick, so I guess even at that it was underpriced. Next year, when my current one gets sold, ( it will be by then a 40,000 mile 53reg HDi with air-con and other toys) I expect to get around 6.5k for it, yet this is precisely what Glass's value it at now with 20K on the clock. Take a look at the prices these cars are going for in Auto Trader. They're the only Cits that have decent residuals. What spec did your Bling have? Anything with aircon seems to be in demand, possibly because few Blings are thus equipped...... TronX

Not exactly the same company, but part of the same group. Components, esp. engines, are shared (witness 206CC and Berlingo have same switches/dials post above!!) but design teams are different. Pugs usually cost more, even when models are near identical (eg Berlingo and Partner) but residuals are usually proprtionally higher with Peugeots (although perversely not with the Partner/Berlingo, the Berlingo holds value better). The 206CC traditionally holds its value well, but is now starting to lose its shine and softening slightly. My 51reg 2.0 206CC sold for 9.5K with 21,000 on the clock last month, but worth 9K now after the reg change. The novelty has gone from the CC. Now it's no longer the trendy thing to be seen in (that accolade belongs to the MINI Cab) and finance packages are coming to an end they're starting to flood the market. If your Pluriel has been faulty from the start, then depreciation doesn't enter in to the equation. You want a REFUND less a small wear and tear allowance, not something that is dictated by market forces. LesW managed it, so should you, regardless if Citroen WANT it back or not. STAND YOUR GROUND, but I wouldn't spend the refund money on a 206CC if I were you.......... TronX

I lived with a 206cc for two months and it was ghastly. No space and drives like a prison bed. Even worse than my BMW MINIs. Build quality was average and I was amused to see that my sub 8K Berlingo shares switchgear and instruments. They look great in the Lingo, but cheap in the 206. The roof was a PITA to get to close properly, and many journeys were accompanied by the sound of the "roof not closed" chime which can be a little trying. At the risk of looking like a hairdresser, the Beetle Cabrio probably a reasonable choice. Better than the MINI Cab (oh yes... all those jokes) although the Emperor's new clothes syndrome keeps residuals high on the MINI. at least with the VW there is something of a heritage to fall back on, and a retro look, whilst the MINI has no real cabrio forebear to inspire it. There was no convertible offered on the real Mini except out of works conversions (yes, even the Official Rover version was done by an independent conversion company) It also just looks stupid with too much roof material on the sides. The StreetKa is a good cheap option if you don't mind the Anglia engine. Or hang it all and buy a Berlingo with the 2CV sunroof. Check this forum. The only really happy bunnies are the Berlingoists. This is because they've paid less than everyone else for a practical, fun and RELIABLE car which upholds the Citroen tradition of bucking the trend. ........ and 4 million delivery drivers can't be wrong!! TronX

All NEW Lingos from last month are as French-Spec with TWO airbags. Only the SIDE airbags are extra cost options. They all now have ABS with EBD as standard, and new options (on the 1.6i and HDi only) include a very crude Traction Control (ESP!!) and Smart-Nav. This brings the standard equipment broadly in line with the more expensive Pug Partner. Don't be fobbed off with an old model without these features unless you REALLY don't need them and are offered a SUBSTANTIAL discount.

Sahara Beige (!) suits the car very well indeed, and again, it is a colour that Citroen use for publicity shots alongside Mediterranean Blue. This could be of course that Sahara and Mediterranean were both new colours for the 'New Look' Berlingo, all the other colours were carrird over form the outging model. IMHO, Poseidon Blue looks FABULOUS on the old shape car, but less good on the new shape. Having lived with Poseidon on my old Lingo, I can report that paint touch-ins are camouflaged well on this colour, but all dark colours show up minor dings badly, and the Lingo panelwork is a bit thin...... TronX

I rather like the green-ness that is Mediterranean blue~!!......... It's also the colour used in all Citroen publicity material, so obviously the colour they think shows it off to the best advantage. If you get a Desire (with the Modutop) be SURE to get air-con!! Go for the HDi if you do high mileages (more than 20,000 per year) and long journeys (more than 20 miles at least) if not go for the 1.6 16v, as it's a lovely quick engine. Believe it or not, the plain old 1.9D is more economical than the HDi on short journeys, as the engine warms up to operating temperature quicker than the HDi. It is a tad sluggish though. The apalling Auto Express Magazine lists the residual values of both diesels to be simlar, so think carefully. Dealers are important. A bad dealer will make your life with a Citroen a misery. Best dealer by FAR is Howards in TAUNTON, (not Weston) but the aforementioned Broads are very good as are the tiny but enthusiastic Thompson First in Stroud, Glos. Ask for Simon 01453 763100 Tron x

Well, you need it in my opinion! Without it you wouldn't 'be seeing' anything! I've installed hi-power bulbs which help a bit. Osram Something-or-anothers. Grazed my hands in the process getting the plastic covers off the back of the lamp unit. Bah! Tron

I've always derided the 'Lingo's headlights. Things improved when on the advice of a board member, I adjusted them properly, but a recent test by anti-Citroen mag Auto Express revealed that the Berlingo had the worst performing lights out of 40 cars tested. I reckon that headlight manufacturers are having a hard time designing lights that are both efficient and fit the designer's styling requirements, and the best headlamp design is still a simple circular parabolic reflector. In fact, having just completed a 1000 mile journey in a new Merc S-Class with Xenons, I STILL reckon that for light intensity, nothing has ever come close to the headlights in my 2CV fitted with 100w H4 bulbs! Not sure about their anti-dazzle properties though. Anyway. have your say on the usefulness of your fave mpv's candles. Tron

Been living with a 206CC for a month now, and think that the driving position is terribly flawed and there's no room for storage. The car is totally impractical, and this particular vehicle has not been reliable either! Add the bone jarring ride reminiscent of my '72 Spitfire and ask yourself where the progress in sporty convertibles has been over the last 30 yrs.... Or...... Buy a Multispace with the HUGE sunroof and to hell with image!! Good luck lesw!! Tron

Shame, as Howards in Taunton are a superb dealer. I bought an old '98 Multispace from them last year, and it had a fault with the brakes. They sent a driver with courtesy car (OK, so it was a nasty little Paxo, but a Free Car nevertheless) to pick up the M'space, worked on it that week and I picked it up when I was next passing thru Taunton. Considering that I live 100 miles away from them in Cheltenham, and they picked the car up from my workplace even further North in Worcestershire, I don't think that's bad! The car was a mere £4,000. This is better service than I ever received from BMW. Who is the Exeter dealer? I'll remember to avoid them. Tron

Shame, as Howards in Taunton are a superb dealer. I bought an old '98 Multispace from them last year, and it had a fault with the brakes. They sent a driver with courtesy car (OK, so it was a nasty little Paxo, but a Free Car nevertheless) to pick up the M'space, worked on it that week and I picked it up when I was next passing thru Taunton. Considering that I live 100 miles away from them in Cheltenham, and they picked the car up from my workplace even further North in Worcestershire, I don't think that's bad! The car was a mere £4,000. This is better service than I ever received from BMW. Who is the Exeter dealer? I'll remember to avoid them. Tron

Wow Mr. Tower!! So your Visa was new in '81? Shame it wasn't the short-lived original shape with the pale grey plastic bumpers and small non-wrapped-around rear lights. The Visa II replaced it within 18 months of launch........ I always fancied a very early one for that 'Ami6' ugliness! Tuff Kote Dinol became known as "Dinitrol", although the two brands are still extant. The trade name of the company's previous product, Ziebart, is no longer used in these shores, but is still going strong in the States and Canada.

A hairdryer for when it's back in the garage maybe? Tron x :P

I had two MINIs. The first was a VERY early Factory Demo car on a 2001 Y-plate. This had SOME excuse for unreliability. The second was a 2003 03-plater which was a pile of turd and had no excuse. New gearbox in the first week and novelty electrics of the random kind. I've had a fair few Visas, including an X-reg Special (652cc) an A-reg CONVERTIBLE!! and a Y-reg GT. Never had a GTi. None of these were particularly rusty, but the best car I've ever owned in terms of fun for the money, negligible running costs and sheer Q-factor was an F-plate 17D. (The brakes were very iffy though!) It cost me £1100 in '97 and I sold it in 2000 with an extra 50,000 miles on the clock for £800!!! Fuel consumption was amazing, and is was capable of just about 100mph if your nerves could stand it. The AX was a far poorer car, and much less safe in a shunt, but it had a cute factor that the dumpy old Visa never had........... Tron PS: I had an AXEL once too....... But that's another story!!!

Brakes are feeble. Airbag wiring problems are mainly caused by an iffy block connector under the seat which is prone to bad conductivity. The driving position is only suitable for those with short bodies and longish legs. Tall people would be best to drive in a recumbent position.

....same with my two B*W MINIs... Except insert "handling" in place of "fuel economy". Why would you want FRONT parking sensors on a vehicle with a bonnet as short as a C8 anyway? Your VisaII Super E had a longer bonnet, and I guess you never had them fitted to that!!? Tron :P

Yeah, that temp is normal.... Good news! In fact, I still reckon the HDi runs too cool, and takes too long to heat up to operating temp, resulting in crap fuel consumption on short runs....... Tron

Not exactly. The body is base-unit and non-stressed panels. None of the body panels are welded on, and the base-unit's strength lies mainly in its chassis rails. The term 'monocoque' is often used for the D, but the roof rails have very little strength in them, so it's not REALLY monocoque. The other car which shares this construction is the Rover P6 (2000 and 3500 series etc) the designers of which openly acknowledge their analysis of a D in their workshops at Solihull. Tron

Nope... 20,000 miles in the HDi and the antifreeze mix is still baby blue....... Drain it, flush and refill. If it grts dirty again, go see your Citroen dealer for a warranty claim!

I DID specify the "Estoril" alloys, and I wish I hadn't. The design is such that they are proud of the tyre wall and they're very easily damaged. They are now a mashed-up mess of white jagged metal.... Not because i'm a particularly careless driver, but I do drive 36,000 miles a year....... Tron

...(not the Allegro..)

Mine is too..... Surely it's the best colour?

Casually casting aside....