What Citroen Should I Buy Next?

[jonnie45]

Hi

 

Due to circumstances and also being self employed at home with a decent engineering (not automotive) workshop and increasing garage bills I would like to make our next second hand purchase one that is reasonably easy for a DIY'er to maintain. Currently trying to resolve C5 Hdi issues including turbo and after reading horror stories about turbos not to mention EGR, cat, filter problems, eolys and the rest of it I am thinking of going back to petrol and looking for a reliable model where I can fix must things apart from deep engine problems and clutches.

 

I already have an engine crane ( lathes in the workshop weigh 700Kg plus - required when they need moving), ramps, trolley jack and stands.

 

My wife has a petrol C3 - I have not looked much under the bonnet but there is not a whole lot in there which seems a good start, I would miss the comfort ride of the C5 but I want to feel back in control with cars.

 

Any suggestions / second hand / petrol / somewhere in the 2005 £4K region and good fuel efficiency?

 

Size of car and body style secondary at this stage.

 

This time I want to buy a car around reliability and ease of fix, it it were not for my desire to have something efficient I would go and get and old beetle (ok probably more than £4k) and do it up :)

 

Thanks muchly

Jonnie

 

 

 

[paul.h]

One problem looking on the internet, not many people post about how reliable their cars are, most posts are asking for help on a problem so a false impression on reliability is found.

 

All our Citroens have been reliable, hence over the last 11 years that is all we have bought but they have been low mileage which may help. I have also found that buying a younger, lower mileage car is usually more reliable than an older car but whilst it costs more to buy, it costs less to maintain so overall costs of ownership are not that much different. Previous cars owned were not that reliable and I used to spend a lot of time fixing them. We never had a diesel until our first Citroen and things like turbos, egr valves, catalysts have been on the petrol cars. We had a 1988 Saab 900i on which I had to clean the egr valve each year, a 1998 Saab 9-5 on which the turbo failed towing a caravan on the M6.

 

If you like the C5 and do not want to worry about turbos failing at low miles or exhaust filters, then a 2001 to 2004 2.0 hdi would be a good option. A later diesel will have the exhaust filter but if you go for the 2.0 hdi it has a better reliability record than the 1.6 hdi. Our latest 2007 C5 has the 2.2 hdi 173 bhp engine and it has not been any bother but it is low mileage and used mostly for a few long trips each year so should not give any dpf problems. Similarly the previous 2004 2.2 hdi C5. The C5s have been bought to pull a caravan, needing a heavy car and the hydractive suspension is good for towing. The size is also good for moving large loads. About 45 to 50 mpg or 30 mpg if towing.

 

The C4 is a good all round car, large enough for most use, is comfortable and good on fuel economy - we are on our 3rd 1.6 hdi but previous ones have been changed when about 50k miles and 4 years old before any mechanical issues could start. We have the diesel due to high annual mileage with frequent long trips. Other than cleaning of brakes, these have not been diy serviced due to warranties. About 50 to 70 mpg depending on use.

 

The only petrol Citroens we've had in our family are a 2003 1.4 C3 and a 2010 1.4 vti C3 - both reliable and easy to diy maintain. These started as a learner car, for short trips but on the vti for the extra power since longer motorway use was expected and at the time of purchase a diesel was too expensive. About 45 mpg from both, depending on use.

 

If you want something a bit different the Xsara Picasso is worth considering. We had a 2005 2.0 hdi, no exhaust dpf, reasonable economy about 50 mpg, lots of room inside and the rear seats are easy to remove and you almost have a van. Being high up it felt to roll a bit on bends. This engine was replaced by the 1.6 hdi about 2005 but then the turbo and dpf problems need to be considered. We tried this pulling the caravan but it was not really heavy enough so was not stable enough for my liking.

[coastline taxis]

go with the 2.0 hdi c5. These run forever and will do mileage into the hundreds of thousands

[MikeLane]

"go with the 2.0 hdi c5. These run forever and will do mileage into the hundreds of thousands"

2004 - 2008 (Seem to be a lot of problems with the X7) ??

[MikeLane]

"I would go and get and old beetle (ok probably more than £4k) and do it up :)"

 

 

http://www.volksworld.com/classifieds/beetle-for-sale/1973-beautiful-turquoise-1303-beetle-needs-a-new-loving-home-advert