C3 Exclusive Spec

[pork_pie]

Selecting the C3 in my final shortlist (along with Polo Tdi - rude lazy dealers expensive and poor equipment, Clio 1.5 dci - pig ugly design, good engine but dated package and Pug 206 D Turbo - lovely car but getting on a bit and poor engine spec forra 2 litre) the spec was an important issue and the fella at Citroen who specified the spec went tick happy.

It said in the brochures that the HDi Exclusive had an Oil temp gauge and auto headlights. Was this a typing error as my car has none of these but let me say hand on heart, the standard equipment on this model is superb.

Opinions please.

[Tony_T]

Theres a newer Technical Specifications brochure out for it dated February 2003, as a m8 got it the other day, I got mine about a month ago and its dated something like Oct/Nov, ask for a brouchure from the citroen website and you'll get the newer Tech Spec with it.

Having said that I dont think it has automatic lights in the sense they come on automatically, just the beam adjustment via a dashboard switch to compensate for load and those "follow me home" h/lights where they stay on for a minute or so after you park up to show the way to the door, handy when your drunk i s'pose ;)

Got my options down to colours now, i fancy the Tuscan Blue but she likes the Wicked Red .........s'pose it'll be wicked red then eh.

It's only the moose loss of power on that holds me back from making inroads at the mo, wondering if I take the rear parking sensor option will it mean it'll be built to spec ie: straight off the production line or will they just fit it locally at a Citroen dealer....decisions decisions

[pork_pie]

"Theres a newer Technical Specifications brochure out for it dated February 2003, as a m8 got it the other day, I got mine about a month ago and its dated something like Oct/Nov, ask for a brouchure from the citroen website and you'll get the newer Tech Spec with it."

I been looking at the website and it says its got an oil temp gauge but mysteriously no auto headlights. Not that I am complaining as an oil gauge is not totally useful and auto headlights are good for impressing yer mates when entering tunnels.


"Got my options down to colours now, i fancy the Tuscan Blue but she likes the Wicked Red .........s'pose it'll be wicked red then eh."

Tuscan blue is nice but all the press pics are in that colour so i wanted something different. I fancied silver but they clashed with someof the silver ancilliary items. The fun prevention officer wanted wicked red. I decided to pick black.

"It's only the moose loss of power on that holds me back from making inroads at the mo,"

Feel sorry for moose as his problem seems to be ever more isolated by Citroens inability to fix it. I had a few teething probs which is typical of a citroen product but its the best small diesel engine money can buy along with the Polo Tdi 1.4.

"wondering if I take the rear parking sensor option will it mean it'll be built to spec ie: straight off the production line or will they just fit it locally at a Citroen dealer....decisions decisions "

You can have a dealer fit one or a factory fit. The latter may incur a long wait (4-6 weeks) as most models are sourced from stock with their standard spec. The dealer fit is the same price but I would not trust them at all. Only thing electric would trust them to fit is the in dash CD multiplayer (rip off at 380 quid).

If you can wait and would like an extra knob (pfnaaaar) on the dashboard then pick it when ordering but parking sensors are a bit superflous on a small car? but if you fancy your car to be a tad different go for it along with them lovely 16 inch alloys.

[Tony_T]

[quote]"Tuscan blue is nice but all the press pics are in that colour so i wanted something different. I fancied silver but they clashed with someof the silver ancilliary items. The fun prevention officer wanted wicked red. I decided to pick black." [/quote]

Fancied the silver myself but decided against it for that self same reason, spotting one with a Driving Instructor cone on the roof didnt help either. The black would be a logical choice with the chrome effect trimings and the Alloys........just all that cleaning. Think I'll need to go touring a few Citroen showrooms to see how it looks in the different colours. I have'nt ruled out the Wicked Red as I saw one in Belguim one cold dewy morning and I must admit it looked smart, different specs over there I take it, had the two tone effect steering wheel/ trim etc inside yet it never had fog lamps fitted.

[quote]"Feel sorry for moose as his problem seems to be ever more isolated by Citroens inability to fix it. I had a few teething probs which is typical of a citroen product but its the best small diesel engine money can buy along with the Polo Tdi 1.4."[/quote]

I take it you dont have that problem on yours PP? the C3 certainly seems good vfm, as for teething probs I dont really have any issues with Citroens on my 6th one from new and they've served me well to be honest.

The garage/service prices get up my nose tho ;) no doubt it'll cost an arm and a leg everytime that service indicator lights up on the dash and thats just to get the bugger reset.

So all things aside PP are you happy with it? I was having my doubts on the 1.4 engine size re: performance but it seems to get the thumbs up in any reviews I've read.

Best leave it at that as the parking lights in my head are coming on zzzzz

[pork_pie]

"Fancied the silver myself but decided against it for that self same reason, spotting one with a Driving Instructor cone on the roof didnt help either."

it looks nice in silver but it also clashes with the interior colour. I wish there was a choice of a black interior as I got a 9 month kid and you know ow much mess they leave behind.

"The black would be a logical choice with the chrome effect trimings and the Alloys........just all that cleaning. Think I'll need to go touring a few Citroen showrooms to see how it looks in the different colours."

To be honest its not to much of a grumble. Black contrasts superbly with all the interior and exterior fittings. The car looks nice in lilac believe it or not. Wicked red is nice but i thought that tone of red suited a much larger luxury car.

"QUOTE
"Feel sorry for moose as his problem seems to be ever more isolated by Citroens inability to fix it. I had a few teething probs which is typical of a citroen product but its the best small diesel engine money can buy along with the Polo Tdi 1.4." I take it you dont have that problem on yours PP? the C3 certainly seems good vfm, as for teething probs I dont really have any issues with Citroens on my 6th one from new and they've served me well to be honest."

Well I have had a few teethin' problems but thats typical citroen. Its my third citroen now. I have not had any of mooses problems. The engine is superb for a 1.4 16v. You are purchasing a state of the art engine that prduces more power than my last diesel car...a 1.9 d turbo but make sure that yours dont qualify for that recall thats hapeing.

"The garage/service prices get up my nose tho no doubt it'll cost an arm and a leg everytime that service indicator lights up on the dash and thats just to get the bugger reset."

The labour costs at Citroen ate nothing short of extortionate but at every 12,500 miles hopefully frequent visits wont happen. 12,500 bit down on Clios 18000 miles and VW 13--18000 mile interval.

"So all things aside PP are you happy with it? I was having my doubts on the 1.4 engine size re: performance but it seems to get the thumbs up in any reviews I've read."

yes mate I am happy. I am used to citroen products. Has this been my first citroen, Id have slashed my wrists. Its great value for money (Snapped one up for £2200 off the RRP) funky looks, superb equipment and the fact it sips fuel. 60 mpg guaranteed. Cheap tax and insurance.

Doubts on 1.4 performance?

Top speed: 112mph 0-60: 12s, thats quicker than any small diesel onthe market and that includes the Pugeot diesels which are 2 litre!!!!
All 1.4 petrols dont produce nowhere near the torque (pullin power) of the Hdi. The Hdi has the same horsepower as a high performance petrol 1.4 (The Seat for example at 100 bhp) but better than most 1.4 petrols which hover around 60-80 bhp compared to 92 bhp for my car)

Hope this helps.

[pork_pie]

"Fancied the silver myself but decided against it for that self same reason, spotting one with a Driving Instructor cone on the roof didnt help either."

it looks nice in silver but it also clashes with the interior colour. I wish there was a choice of a black interior as I got a 9 month kid and you know ow much mess they leave behind.

"The black would be a logical choice with the chrome effect trimings and the Alloys........just all that cleaning. Think I'll need to go touring a few Citroen showrooms to see how it looks in the different colours."

To be honest its not to much of a grumble. Black contrasts superbly with all the interior and exterior fittings. The car looks nice in lilac believe it or not. Wicked red is nice but i thought that tone of red suited a much larger luxury car.

"QUOTE
"Feel sorry for moose as his problem seems to be ever more isolated by Citroens inability to fix it. I had a few teething probs which is typical of a citroen product but its the best small diesel engine money can buy along with the Polo Tdi 1.4." I take it you dont have that problem on yours PP? the C3 certainly seems good vfm, as for teething probs I dont really have any issues with Citroens on my 6th one from new and they've served me well to be honest."

Well I have had a few teethin' problems but thats typical citroen. Its my third citroen now. I have not had any of mooses problems. The engine is superb for a 1.4 16v. You are purchasing a state of the art engine that prduces more power than my last diesel car...a 1.9 d turbo but make sure that yours dont qualify for that recall thats hapeing.

"The garage/service prices get up my nose tho no doubt it'll cost an arm and a leg everytime that service indicator lights up on the dash and thats just to get the bugger reset."

The labour costs at Citroen ate nothing short of extortionate but at every 12,500 miles hopefully frequent visits wont happen. 12,500 bit down on Clios 18000 miles and VW 13--18000 mile interval.

"So all things aside PP are you happy with it? I was having my doubts on the 1.4 engine size re: performance but it seems to get the thumbs up in any reviews I've read."

yes mate I am happy. I am used to citroen products. Has this been my first citroen, Id have slashed my wrists. Its great value for money (Snapped one up for £2200 off the RRP) funky looks, superb equipment and the fact it sips fuel. 60 mpg guaranteed. Cheap tax and insurance.

Doubts on 1.4 performance?

Top speed: 112mph 0-60: 12s, thats quicker than any small diesel onthe market and that includes the Pugeot diesels which are 2 litre!!!!
All 1.4 petrols dont produce nowhere near the torque (pullin power) of the Hdi. The Hdi has the same horsepower as a high performance petrol 1.4 (The Seat for example at 100 bhp) but better than most 1.4 petrols which hover around 60-80 bhp compared to 92 bhp for my car)

Hope this helps.

[Badlass]

[quote name='Tony_T' date='Mar 5 2003, 08:04 AM']wondering if I take the rear parking sensor option will it mean it'll be built to spec ie: straight off the production line or will they just fit it locally at a Citroen dealer....decisions decisions

[/quote]
I'm currently awaiting my SX 1.4 auto straight off the line...Citroen had not anticipated demand for the auto and exclusive models and are shortly to be operating a *wait list* for these models, on top of your normal production wait time.

Hope that helps.

[mooseshaver]

With regards to not having things like automatic headlights and oil temp. My SX is supposed to have an oil level indicator on ingnition. It doesn't. But i didn't mind till I found out the LX I borrowed as a courtesy car had one. The dealer has gone in and enabled it, but it still doesn't work. So some features appear to just need enabled by the Dealer. If they work.

My engine seems ok at the moment. It had a few pauses when overtaking when cold, but fine after that. maybe its fixed.

[Badlass]

Got my SX yesterday........it has the oil gauge and automatic headlights.....for the auto lights all you do is...

1. Set the ignition to accesories as they call it, so the battery light comes on.
2. Push in the end of the light stalk til you hear a *bing* noise and that's it.

Quite handy for dark areas and for night driving, when you're not used to the car set up :)

[Tony_T]

Went for the 1.4 HDi 16v SX in the end PP, too light an upholstery and the chrome effect on the door handles/ rear number plate killed of the Exclusive for me.

Think you'll find the automatic lights are applicable only to the Auto versions of the SX Badlass as the manual doesnt have it listed in the spec.

Them Auto drivers get everything :)

New spec apparently, rolling off the production line as of April 1st, darker interior, trip computer, change of interior door handles, auto door locking over 6mph are a few that spring to mind.......classed as a 2003 model.

[Badlass]

Think you'll find the automatic lights are applicable only to the Auto versions of the SX Badlass as the manual doesnt have it listed in the spec.

Them Auto drivers get everything :(

Except 5 speed boxes and that ickle bit of pick up :)
Although I do like the car overall

New spec apparently, rolling off the production line as of April 1st, darker interior, trip computer, change of interior door handles, auto door locking over 6mph are a few that spring to mind.......classed as a 2003 model.

So I could've waited til this month for a darker interior.........bloody typical!!