Please Help An Indecisive Female...

[bylromarha]

[color=red][font="Geneva"]hhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllppppppppppppppp[/color][/font] :blink:

I "desire" (ged it?! :) ) one of these babies, but can't decide between 1.6 and 2.0 desire version. Any current blingo drivers got views on this for me? And views on colours too as those tiny dealership ovals don't help an awful lot?

Also, can anyone recommend a citroen garage that is willing to give me a good price...some garages seem to want to make a sale and others don't. Please can you point me in the direction of ones that do! I'm willing to travel from birmingham, up to 2 hours driving time.

Cheers!

byl x :lol:

[Terry1100]

In reverse order.

Give Broads a call (should be able to get to Chalfont down the M40 in 2 hours - depending on exactly where you start from). Ask for Dominic 01494 873045 (mention my name)

Colour is hotly debated here - Poseidon Blue is nice if you can face a blue interior. I think wicked red is a bit too dark. I like rainforest green but the rest of the family vetoed it. Silver is nice and safe.

Sahara Gold is the best, classy and understated - but the knockers (and the DVLA) will call it beige :)

Deciding between the 1.6 and the 2.0 is simple - do you want petrol or diesel. It's another hotly debated subject here (or it was until the board got deathly quiet). For my money - go for the 1.6 Petrol (see my sig !)

Don't let anyone talk you into a Picasso - many of us here are Picasso converts - the Blingo is a proper Citroen.

[tronboy]

I rather like the green-ness that is Mediterranean blue~!!......... It's also the colour used in all Citroen publicity material, so obviously the colour they think shows it off to the best advantage.

If you get a Desire (with the Modutop) be SURE to get air-con!!

Go for the HDi if you do high mileages (more than 20,000 per year) and long journeys (more than 20 miles at least) if not go for the 1.6 16v, as it's a lovely quick engine. Believe it or not, the plain old 1.9D is more economical than the HDi on short journeys, as the engine warms up to operating temperature quicker than the HDi. It is a tad sluggish though. The apalling Auto Express Magazine lists the residual values of both diesels to be simlar, so think carefully.

Dealers are important. A bad dealer will make your life with a Citroen a misery. Best dealer by FAR is Howards in TAUNTON, (not Weston) but the aforementioned Broads are very good as are the tiny but enthusiastic Thompson First in Stroud, Glos.

Ask for Simon 01453 763100

Tron x

[Steve S]

The choice of engine depends on how many miles you do and if you can recoup the extra outlay in a reasonable time.Saying that the Diesel will have a lot more pulling power (torque) than the 1.6.I have the 1.6 and I average about 36mpg which isn't too bad really.As for colour Wicked Red is nice if you can put up with the Postman Pat jokes,I also liked Rainforest Green but again the family weren't keen,Med Blue is not too bad but it stands out a bit and would get on my nerves after a while.Just make sure you get AIR-CON :blink:

As for dealers the Luton Citroen Centre are the best i've found
[url="http://www.lutoncitroen.co.uk/"]http://www.lutoncitroen.co.uk/[/url]

They've got an '04 Silver Desire at the mo for £7995 no air-con though :)

[DesdinovaUK]

I've driven both - own a 1.6 and was given a 2.0 as a courtesy car.

The diesel surprised me - much better than I thought it would be, I'd be happy with either so for my money it comes down to the extra outlay versus economy argument - what is more important to you.

As for colour, I too would have gone for the green as personal preference, but wife wanted silver. Very happy with that choice. The beige (gold :) ) is definitely not for me the worst colour IMHO.

I'd agree about the air con - a must as far as I'm concerned.

[PhilW]

Well mine is Sahara Gold (ok DVLA - beige!) and I like it. What's more it doesn't seem to show the dirt and always looks clean. Mine is HDi diesel and I think it is a brilliant engine with plenty of poke, quiet and refined at speed but economy does suffer if you cruise at 80 on the motorway. Stick to 70 and it does 50 mpg, at 80 I reckon it's down to 40mpg - but that's the brick- like aerodynamics!
Agree about air con - wouldn't be without it. Also like the modutop. Mine was an ex demonstrator (no choice about colour or specs) so no passenger airbag which I (or rather, my wife!), would like. Bought from Bristol Street Motors in Nottingham - they were OK but apart from one service I haven't had much more to do with them.

[tronboy]

Sahara Beige (!) suits the car very well indeed, and again, it is a colour that Citroen use for publicity shots alongside Mediterranean Blue. This could be of course that Sahara and Mediterranean were both new colours for the 'New Look' Berlingo, all the other colours were carrird over form the outging model.

IMHO, Poseidon Blue looks FABULOUS on the old shape car, but less good on the new shape. Having lived with Poseidon on my old Lingo, I can report that paint touch-ins are camouflaged well on this colour, but all dark colours show up minor dings badly, and the Lingo panelwork is a bit thin......

TronX

[tronboy]

[quote name='PhilW' date='Sep 24 2004, 10:54 PM']Mine was an ex demonstrator (no choice about colour or specs)  so no passenger airbag which I  (or rather, my wife!), would like.[/quote]
All NEW Lingos from last month are as French-Spec with TWO airbags. Only the SIDE airbags are extra cost options. They all now have ABS with EBD as standard, and new options (on the 1.6i and HDi only) include a very crude Traction Control (ESP!!) and Smart-Nav. This brings the standard equipment broadly in line with the more expensive Pug Partner.

Don't be fobbed off with an old model without these features unless you REALLY don't need them and are offered a SUBSTANTIAL discount.

[PhilW]

Quite right Tron. Mine is now 18 months old and there weren't many of the new shape HDis around, especially as ex demonstrators at the price I paid! Son had a lucky break with regard to this. He bought a new C2 in the summer, agreed a price etc but had to wait 6 weeks to get delivery because the colour he wanted wasn't available. As a result he got one straight from the factory and in the time he waited ABS became standard and not the (£350?) extra it was when he ordered the car. Hence free ABS!
Incidentally, his C2 HDi is a cracking little car - I fancy one myself!!

[pork_pie]

Try Peter Marwoods, Brompton on Swale - 01748812220. It is near Catterick on the A1.

The Desire is the one to go for as. It exceeds the Forte's equipment roster with: CD player, front fog lamps, folding trays for rear passengers, modutop.


As the fellas said, buy diesel if your mileage is high.

Both the 1.6petrol and 2.0Hdi are cracking engines even if they are getting on a bit especially the diesel one. The Desire is also available with a non turbo 1.9 engine which even though is very slow, its still held in high regard.

I am a dieselist and if you can get a really good deal on the 2.0Hdi, go for it. 50mpg guaranteed, better flexibility and better if you carry a full load of passengers and luggage.

Best thing is to test drive all three.

Colours:

I'd shortlist 2.

Sahara Gold, Arctic Steel.

Optional Extras:

Without a doubt the Air Conditioning.
Ignore it at your peril - basic system that does the business. None of that digital climate control bo11ocks.

Don't bother loading your car with anything else as you will not get your money back.
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I would go with the silver diesel 2.0 Hdi with air con.

Its a combination that will still remain in high demand.

[pork_pie]

Another thing

[url="http://www.citroen.co.uk/offers/promotion.asp?promotype=Multispace&offertype=C7&lhn=Search+by+Car"]http://www.citroen.co.uk/offers/promotion....n=Search+by+Car[/url]

Cut and paste this link

Citroen are currently knocking £1800 off their Blingos.

The diesel 2.0 is £800 dearer than the petrol 1.6. The dealers can bring it down if you are determined enough.

Not bad considering most maufacturers charge 1000-1500 premium for a diesel over its petrol equivalent.

Even though these deals end this month, its very unlikely they wont be not repeated as the typical post new reg doldrums will set in until next March when the 05 regs are out.

[Terry1100]

[quote]He bought a new C2 in the summer, agreed a price etc but had to wait 6 weeks to get delivery because the colour he wanted wasn't available. As a result he got one straight from the factory and in the time he waited ABS became standard and not the (£350?) extra it was when he ordered the car. Hence free ABS![/quote]

Bummer - My C2 is going to be difficult to get rid of in three years time without ABS - I jumped too soon. I would have paid for it (then I'd be even more miffed) but I took a "showroom" car as it was right there, right colour, right trim and right price.

[Oxymoron]

Hi,
I bought our 1.6 Desire from MURLEY CITROEN in Leamington Spa, as they gave the best all round deal....Having tried lots of others!
We narrowed the choice down between Poseidon Blue and Arctic Silver...but plumped for the silver, because I preferred the blue interior as opposed to the grey in the blue car.My Father in-law has since bought a blue one from the same dealer!
Murley seemed interested in selling the car...unlike some dealers!
Cheerz. :lol: