Xsara Picasso 1.6 Hdi (after Facelift)

[rben]

Hi guys,

Does anyone of you have experience with the new (facelift) model of Picasso with 1.6 HDI engine?

We plan to buy a new car in near future and one of candidates is a Picasso with this engine.

I am mainly interrested in what is your experience with reliability / quality of this car.

I heard / read some messages about insufficient heating/cooling on the back seats, troubles with electronic, etc.

Regarding engine - I didn't hear anything wrong so far.

Thanks in advice for any feedback !

[pork_pie]

The only real benefit of this model is the price.

It's miles cheaper than its competitors

 

Yes another good thing is that Citroen build good engines and the 1.6 Hdis 90 and 110 bhp versions are fantastic, economic and clean. Motoring reports suggest that the engine is noisy suggesting the need for high gearing to propel a bulky vehicle.

 

You mention ventilation. THe cabin is large and glassy as you can imagine and the air con/climate control units and switch gear are all inherited from other SMALLER models in the Citroen and Peugeot range and you can imagine the systems may stuggle to keep the cabin regulated. There are no face level vents in the rear and I doubt theres even footwell ones either. Climate control versions (in top of the range Exclusive models) may help but may become overworked if you press the AUTO button.

 

Some crazy people buy the LX version which does not have air con.

 

As with all Citroens, problems of poor build, constant teething problems (electrics, suspension, brakes), resale value, the dealers inability fo get things first time are always there.

 

Also the service costs are not cheap either. What the company lose in sellign their cars, they pass onto the prices for servicing. Labour costs for Citroen approach £85-90 an hour.

 

I regularly paid £150-£180 for minor services to £200- 400 for major ones which if you ask me is nothing short of a disgrace. These diesel engines are costly to maintain as my experiences with 1.4 Hdi and 2.0 Hdi (90/110) suggest.

 

For a German manufacturer I can understand but not for a French company. All the money I saved in buying a Citroen was suddenly being siphoned off to pay for these maintenances.

 

If you think the savings in purchase price warrant it go ahead but for gods sake don't buy new! There are plenty of second hand examples way below the purchase price and perhaps the previous owner has had to cope with the initial problems which have been sorted by the dealer.

 

Remember the picasso is being replaced next year with 5/7 seater versions.

 

My advice? Go for a Corolla Verso. You get 7 seats, ultra reliability and low running costs.

 

Do you really need an MPV? The ride on all of them are enough to make you sick.

 

How about an Estate?

[truemouse]

I'd swear by it. Not a single problem. Great on Diesel, bags of high-end torque.

 

Just don't expect to tow anything with it.

[bob lancaster]

i bought 04 plate exclusive last august 1.6hdi at 12000 miles now 25000 no problems last owner sold it because it hasn't enough guts to tow caravan.pleased i have just found this websit.how can i tell if my hdi is 110bhp?

[hertsnminds]

how can i tell if my hdi is 110bhp?

The non technical way is to look on the V5 and see what the DVLA say it is.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[deebo]

My dad's got a picasso 1.6 HDi 110 exclusive, and the engines a peach. Yes, it's a bit noisy, (sounds rather agricultural), but i think this is mainly a picasso problem as the engine is pushed back into the cabin. But you can't argue with an engine that 20% smaller and 20% more powerful than the 2.0 90.

 

The car itself is a mixed bag. Tipical citroen build quality makes it feel rather delicate, (actually my 8 year old xantia feels much more solid), but it is very cheap and has a lot of kit to compensate. Also i would say that it does feel reather better than the pre-facelift model.

 

If you do buy one though, make sure you get a cracking deal as citroen's low new car prices mean their cars depreciate at an alarming rate. Not as bad as an alfa 166, but same ballpark.

 

Personally, I'd go for a conventional estate, as they're lower and nicer to drive. But if you really want a mini-MPV the picasso doesn't really have any clear rivals for the price.

[C4VTS]

I have had a loan 06 reg Picasso Desire for the last 5 days. It is a 1.6 HDi.

 

I am very impressed with it.

 

It has very low noise, and you hardly know it is a diesel despite what the last poster just said. I drive a C4 VTS HDi, so that is what I am comparing it to!

 

Build quality seems pretty good.

I have taken a few loads of rubbish down to the local recycling tip, and it is amazing how much you can get in the car.

 

On the road the handling is good, and it cruises on the motorway very nicely.

 

I wish I could keep it as a 2nd car. :lol:

[francis]

I'm switching from a 2.0HDI 90 to a 1.6 HDI 92 when eventually Citreon pull their finger out and deliver the car.

 

I took s test drive of a 1.6 HDI 92. It felt pretty much like my 2.0.

Slightly waspish in 2nd gear but other than that, fine.

 

Previously I had two 2.0 90s. Touch wood, not a single problem with either of them . :P

 

I'll let you kno what I think of a 1.6 HDI ----if and when

[citroeneddie]

I have a 1.6 110 in my C5 estate and runs like a dream with average 60mpg.

 

Should be superb in the lighter Picasso.

[iannez]

the easy way to tell the diffrence between 110 and 90 is hazard light switch. 90 has 1 big switch and 110 its split in two to make way for esp switch.