Potential Purchase - 2009 C5 2.2 With Laggy Throttle Problem

[Pentoman]

Hello all

 

A new member with a question here - and I may be around for a while if things go that way :).

 

I find myself without a commuting car after selling my 1990 Mercedes. I mentioned this to a motor trade friend who is selling a 2009 C5 2.2HDi 173bhp manual, and he let me borrow it for a few days to see if I liked it enough to buy.

 

I really really enjoyed it in so many ways. The comfort, the quality interior, the great ride quality and the general charm. The gadgets after my 24 year old Mercedes! I really want to support Citroen after enjoying ZXs so much in my youth. However there is one issue stopping me: the engine.

 

I expected a speedy performance from a diesel with 173bhp and 270 lbft. I grew up driving Xantia diesels, VW and Audi diesels of all generations and sizes, and I love the torquey delivery. I thought I knew what to expect from this C5 and looked forward to it but... well.

 

It just feels a bit slow. The turbo comes in okay at 2000rpm, and it goes to the redline. But it just never feels that fast. The throttle lag is huge. Coming off the pedal and reapplying it leaves a long long pause that I thought had been banished to the 1990s diesel. Changing gear, even at high RPM, means a lengthy gap in acceleration that makes you think twice about overtaking. A VW 2.0TDi or Ford 1.6 TDCi is leagues ahead of this car for driveability.

 

So, I come here to ask: do you think this car has a problem? Are all 173bhp HDis like this? There are no warnings on the dashboard. It averages 35MPG. It starts and runs okay. I timed a 0-60 run at 10.0 seconds but that is hardly conclusive. It just seems that if you told me I was driving the 1.6 HDi then I would believe you. Where is the rubber-band feeling, and the overtaking punch?!

 

What could the problem be - if there is one? I already did a search and have checked the plugs for the MAF and MAP are both connected. Anything more complex and it's probably more sensible for me not to buy it :(.

 

The car has all history and is fantastic condition but is over 120,000 miles. Perhaps I just need to accept that the 2.2 HDi is not as quick to respond as the German competition?

 

I appreciate any thoughts or experiences. I still have the car for now.

[seefive]

I drive a 2013 2.0hdi 160ps and it's plenty fast enough- no lag at all, nice linear power delivery, feels and sounds like a petrol car on the move.  

 

The 2.2hdi (200ps) is no longer available on the C5 - it dropped off the price list this year - so maybe not such a good bet?

Others on this board would have more idea than me.

[Johndouglas]

I've never driven or worked on a 2.2 engine but my 2ltr C5 has kept me happy for nine years years. I have read opinions about the 2.2's on this forum from guys whose opinions I respect. Some have said that they are best avoided; that they are more complicated and use more fuel for very little extra performance over the 2ltr engines.

 

However the car you have been using may just need the accelerator cable readjusting to remove the slack.

[paul.h]

We have a 2007 mark 2 C5 with the 2.2 hdi 173 bhp engine and that seems quick enough. It is supposed to be about 8 seconds 0-60 mph but does not really feel that quick. Our 1.6 hdi C4 feels to accelerate quicker but 0-60 is longer. It could be the car you have tried has learnt the driving style of the existing owner and after a few quick accelerations/spirited drives could quicken up. Check if the exhaust particulate filter has been replaced since this may be due about now but if blocked could affect performance. 35 mpg seems a bit low, maybe a lot of short trips and the 2.0 hdi is a lot better - you could reset the trip meter by holding in the button on the end of the wiper stalk. CO2 is quite high for the mark 3 2.2 hdi about 179 mg/km so car tax is high. Mark 2 2.2 hdi CO2 is 165 mg/km and we get about 45 to 50 mpg but this is mostly on long motorway trips.