Should I Buy Another C5?

[Alpsta]

I am the owner of a 05-06 C5 2.0 HDi. In many years of ownership the car never broke down on me and did not have big mechanical problems. However I still hate it and I still think it's a lemon because of all the little problems here and there that I never thought a modern car could have. I can list a million things from skin disease looking melted steering wheel to crunchy roof trim to radio reception etc. etc.

 

I like the hydraulic suspension though. Only problem is my wife and kids hate it because they get sea sick (mostly when we are in traffic). My 7yo son and my 5yo daughter beg me to not go in the Citroen when we are going somewhere. I don't blame them because I think the driver does not feel it as he/she is holding on to the steering wheel but rear of the car squats a lot due to having no springs.

 

I am now looking for another car and I normally I wouldn't consider another C5 (even though I like the design of the new ones a lot) but the price and options of the new ones are quite good and I can afford the top of the range 2.0 hdi exclusive model with all the bells and whistles. Plus there is the German quality and feel promise of Citroen with the new C5 (not sure if they live up to it). The interior trim looks much nicer but I'm more curious about the quality underneath the surface. Is it still the same poo (excuse my french), different smell or has it come a long way?

 

Any most important question for me is to anyone who has driven one with hydractive 3 suspension. Is the suspension reasonably harder in sport mode? Loud thinking, if I bought one I'd always drive in sport mode to stop my kids getting sea sick. I just don't know if this theory would really work in practice so I'd appreciate some user reviews.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Randombloke]

 

I like the hydraulic suspension though. Only problem is my wife and kids hate it because they get sea sick (mostly when we are in traffic). My 7yo son and my 5yo daughter beg me to not go in the Citroen when we are going somewhere. I don't blame them because I think the driver does not feel it as he/she is holding on to the steering wheel but rear of the car squats a lot due to having no springs.

 

Mine doesn't squat a lot. It sometimes alters height slightly at traffic lights though, has yours got a sticky height sensor?

 

I am now looking for another car and I normally I wouldn't consider another C5 (even though I like the design of the new ones a lot) but the price and options of the new ones are quite good and I can afford the top of the range 2.0 hdi exclusive model with all the bells and whistles. Plus there is the German quality and feel promise of Citroen with the new C5 (not sure if they live up to it).

 

They are still made in Rennes. Look at the thread on the latest C5 and see how it's different. Smaller for a start.

 

Do the wife and kids a favour and buy the best VW Passat you can afford.

 

Any most important question for me is to anyone who has driven one with hydractive 3 suspension. Is the suspension reasonably harder in sport mode? Loud thinking, if I bought one I'd always drive in sport mode to stop my kids getting sea sick.

 

The C5 in Sport Mode (mine's a mark 1) is much harder and there is no body roll when you corner very hard, feels like it's on rails until the tyres squeal and it slides sideways.

 

However, the rest of the family don't like Citroen, and in a Pavlov fashion then would be sea sick even if it had the nastiest rock hard suspension you can imagine. Sport mode drops out on mine when you turn the engine off and has to be set again on engine on.

[Alpsta]

Mine doesn't squat a lot. It sometimes alters height slightly at traffic lights though, has yours got a sticky height sensor?

 

They are still made in Rennes. Look at the thread on the latest C5 and see how it's different. Smaller for a start.

 

Do the wife and kids a favour and buy the best VW Passat you can afford.

 

The C5 in Sport Mode (mine's a mark 1) is much harder and there is no body roll when you corner very hard, feels like it's on rails until the tyres squeal and it slides sideways.

 

However, the rest of the family don't like Citroen, and in a Pavlov fashion then would be sea sick even if it had the nastiest rock hard suspension you can imagine. Sport mode drops out on mine when you turn the engine off and has to be set again on engine on.

 

Thanks for the reply Randombloke!

 

I don't think mine has sticky height sensor, and when I said it squats a lot I did not mean it visually but compared to a normal car the back definitely feels softer, that's what I meant.

 

I could buy a Passat but it just has no character and looks too dull in my opinion, plus the tdi here only comes with 140hp. Other options would be used e60 5.20d (06-07), used volvo s80 d5 (07-08), volvo has expensive service and only 2 services here.

 

The youtube vidoes and I've seen and your review of the sport mode is a little different cause they claim that the sport mode doesn't make much difference. Having said that the executive model I'm considering comes with 19" wheels so I'm sure the difference in sport mode would be magnified.

 

My family is open minded about the new C5 because they all like the way it looks, but they ask if the suspension will be the same. Pity there are no executive models for test drive anymore, as Citroen doesn't sell much of it here, they sold all the demo cars.

 

How many km does your car have? Any quality issues?

 

My steering wheel leather melted like it has a disease, it started at 55k kms slowly, became real gross at around 65k km's Citroen did not cover it as warranty ran out at 60k kms and would not listen that this could not happen overnight so it started in warranty period. My driver door inside open close handle broke. The small plastic cap that covers the sensor on the centre of the dashboard popped out and broke by itself while I was driving. One of the tabs that hold the right side map pocket came off and broke (we never used the right side map pocket). The roof trim crunches and makes noises like separating something with a sticky glue. The rear boot shocks blew. The left side interior light for the boot pops out. The driver side window switches failed (does not control passenger side window, and does not properly control driver side sometimes). The radio has the worst reception ever, I can hardly listen to major radio stations without it automatically searching for an alternative station or better reception. Each time I have to deactive alternative station search but once you switch to another channel it automatically activates alternative station search. This list can go on and on....... The funny thing is the most important things like the engine (i belive it's because it's developed carefully as it's used in ford, peugeot etc.) and suspension parts have been very satisfactory. So overall it feels like Citroen is a big bowl of delicious soup but while you're eating it flies keep falling into it and making you nauseous.

 

The handbrake is connected to the front wheels, I am just curious which genius thought of this and what purpose does it have. Also not sure if it's the same in the new C5.

[paul.h]

On the new C5 the low profile tyres are noisy so may be something to avoid, there have been posts on here about it. Its handbrake is on the rear wheels and is electronic on the exclusive ones.

 

We have a C4 as well as a mark 1 C5 - the C4 suspension and seats are firm and after a few miles on bumpy roads (M62 for example) you are glad to get out of it unlike the C5.

[DaveHerns]

I find the new C5 cramped - I'm 6'2" 20+ stone . With the driver's seat right back as it would have to be , there's no room for anyone to sit behind.

Plus if I wanted German styling I'd buy German !

I'm very attached to my 2006 C5 and what to replace it with for sensible money is quite a problem

Mine's only on 70K miles so I hope it's got a few more years in it yet

[Johndouglas]

The handbrake is connected to the front wheels, I am just curious which genius thought of this and what purpose does it have.

 

Since the very first Citroen with hydropnuematic suspension, the handbrake has always been on the front wheels. Apparently it's not possible to have a handbrake operate correctly on the rear axle.

[Alpsta]

I find the new C5 cramped - I'm 6'2" 20+ stone . With the driver's seat right back as it would have to be , there's no room for anyone to sit behind.

Plus if I wanted German styling I'd buy German !

I'm very attached to my 2006 C5 and what to replace it with for sensible money is quite a problem

Mine's only on 70K miles so I hope it's got a few more years in it yet

 

It's not about German styling, it's about German quality and reliability. The new C5 has great design and I don't think German's are brave enough to come up with designs like C5 and C6 on their top selling cars, just look at the new Passat :) Sitting in a new C5 in the dealer showroom, the quality feels much improved over the older shape that I own. However you can never tell without driving it for a long time.

 

 

Since the very first Citroen with hydropnuematic suspension, the handbrake has always been on the front wheels. Apparently it's not possible to have a handbrake operate correctly on the rear axle.

 

According to Paul.h's post above the new C5 is handbrake is connected to the rear.

[DaveHerns]

I'd be surprised if the French have achieved German quality and reliability ( which may be a myth anyhow )

Seems Citroen think they have gone upmarket simply by not discounting the prices any more or as much

Plus the new C5 is lower specced than my Mk2 which has Zenon directional headlamps , electric folding mirrors , parking sensors front and rear etc etc

When I got it , it was a cheap car with all the extras, a new C5 would be expensive and less well equipped

[Johndouglas]

 

 

 

 

According to Paul.h's post above the new C5 is handbrake is connected to the rear.

 

Yes! And he's right. It is on the rear axle and it's electric.

[Johndouglas]

a new C5 would be expensive and less well equipped

 

That's exactly as I see it. I've been thinking about changing mine for a new one - but the closer I look at the latest Exclusives, the more reasons I see to stay with what I've got.

[seefive]

I am now looking for another car and I normally I wouldn't consider another C5 (even though I like the design of the new ones a lot) but the price and options of the new ones are quite good and I can afford the top of the range 2.0 hdi exclusive model with all the bells and whistles. Plus there is the German quality and feel promise of Citroen with the new C5 (not sure if they live up to it). The interior trim looks much nicer but I'm more curious about the quality underneath the surface. Is it still the same poo (excuse my french), different smell or has it come a long way?

 

 

If you must stay with Citroen, why not wait and look at the DS5 , next year? Should be a lot better/more interesting than the current C5, and I believe it will bear a resemblance to the original DS, which can't be bad..

 

Or take a broader view - there are lots of cars out there with better warranties and customer service than Citroen, and better reliability too. It's a buyer's market right now with big price reductions up front. (Vauxhall 20% Skoda 25% for example)

 

Good luck with your search

[DaveHerns]

I'm quite impressed with the Skoda Superb Estate but by the time you add all the bits I've got on my C5 as standard , it's no longer a cheap car .

Only "new" C5 estates for reasonable £'s seem to be 1.6 Hdi VTR+ and the experts here are saying the engine is not man enough for the job

[Randombloke]

 

The youtube vidoes and I've seen and your review of the sport mode is a little different cause they claim that the sport mode doesn't make much difference. Having said that the executive model I'm considering comes with 19" wheels so I'm sure the difference in sport mode would be magnified.

 

I'm fussy about suspension especially on bikes. There is a very noticeable difference to me, especially with body roll on roundabouts or windy narrow lanes.

 

How many km does your car have? Any quality issues?

 

125,000 miles. no real issues except the rear glass opening (67,000 when I got it), swirl control valve at 80,000 and passenger side air con at 120,000.

 

My steering wheel leather melted like it has a disease, it started at 55k kms slowly, became real gross at around 65k km's Citroen did not cover it as warranty ran out at 60k kms and would not listen that this could not happen overnight so it started in warranty period.

 

I cleaned mine with antiseptic cleaning wipes and it fixed the problem, it threatens to return every summer so I do the same.

 

My driver door inside open close handle broke. The small plastic cap that covers the sensor on the centre of the dashboard popped out and broke by itself while I was driving. One of the tabs that hold the right side map pocket came off and broke (we never used the right side map pocket). The roof trim crunches and makes noises like separating something with a sticky glue. The rear boot shocks blew. The left side interior light for the boot pops out. The driver side window switches failed (does not control passenger side window, and does not properly control driver side sometimes).

 

Trim is easy to fix, I always maintain mine in a good state so problems do not have a chance to worsen. Replace the switches or take them apart and fix them. The lights probably have the retaining clips broken off, again breaker or cheaply from an indy.

 

The radio has the worst reception ever, I can hardly listen to major radio stations without it automatically searching for an alternative station or better reception. Each time I have to deactive alternative station search but once you switch to another channel it automatically activates alternative station search.

 

On early C5s the antenna rusts solid, replace this and the base on the top of the car for a fix.

 

The handbrake is connected to the front wheels, I am just curious which genius thought of this and what purpose does it have.

 

If the hydraulics fail, then the handbrake is far more effective as an emergency on the front brakes. Had this happen on my mates GS and the handbrake was very effective.

 

Buy the Passat, you know it makes sense. Six speed, 130 bhp, better than the C5 for fuel economy, and the family will love it.

 

@DaveHerns - 110bhp 1.6 C5 painfully slow, and as Coastline says, they eat turbos. Probably easily fixed with 6,000 mile oil changes with fully or semi synthetic.

[Stu63]

The 2.0 110 arent much better I wouldnt have another there to sluggish (02 hdi anyway) maybe newer ones are better

[Norlander]

It's not about German styling, it's about German quality and reliability.

:unsure:

Ah yes ... after a sheared-off front stub axle (metal looked suspect) on a 4 year old Polo in the 1990s, and VW (UK hq) responding with "what do you expect on a car of that age?" and not interested in seeing the bits ... errr ... well, not sudden loss of brakes and steering, especially as just a day before the breakage it was zipping along West Highland roads with lots of bends and potentially interesting long drops off the side into the sea....

I'd still consider buying a Skoda, though.

[DaveHerns]

Skodas may be good cars but they are no longer bargain-priced

 

I'm toying with a newish Renault Laguna Estate to replace mine . 2.0 diesel and 150BHP