Early Impreessions Of My C1

[c1dan]

I have so far done a grand total of 230 miles. During the first 20 miles I thought I had made a mistake and bought the wrong car! Soon I got used to the car and became aware of its good points. I am now very pleased with my new red C1 vibe 3 door.

 

I knew from the test drive and the reviews that the car had a firm ride. The ride is made firm partly by the stiff anti-roll bar - this is ancient technology and has been fitted to cars for donkeys years, but is referred to in the Citroen blurb as a “cornering stability system”. The ride is o.k. when both front wheels move up and down at the same time as when going over a speed bump. In this situation the anti roll bar has no affect and the car deals with this type of bump reasonably well . If one wheel falls into a pot hole then the stiffness of the anti roll bar is added to the stiffness of the suspension spring and a firmer bump is experienced in the car. The whole thing is a compromise between ride comfort and handling. These days, Car manufacturers seem to be extremely frightened of producing cars that have any body roll. Some reviewers have likened the C1 to the Citroen 2CV because the 2CV was a cheap entry level car. The 2CV ride was the complete opposite of the C1 , a very soft ride, it leaned over dramatically around corners but you got used to it and it was not a problem. Even so, when I had driven the C1 a little way. I got used to the firm ride and started to enjoy the handling. The car feels like a very upmarket go-kart around corners - great fun ! Those with a bad neck or back may find the ride a problem on longer runs.

 

This is not a problem, but my impression after some driving in a 40 year old Morris Minor ! First gear seems like a second gear - For a car designed to be used in stop/start traffic in towns, first gear seems slightly long, a little bit of clutch control is required before the car is on its way. But the C1 is very light and is quickly away from the lights. In town, the C1 accelerates beautifully, big fat Range Rovers puff and wheeze to keep up! The go-kart handling gets you around roundabouts quicker as well. The car has long gearing, 5th gear can not be used comfortably until hitting around 50 mph. The engine is very flexible and pulls well across a wide rev range. The long gearing allows relaxed motorway cruising and adds to the fuel economy. One review I read said that the C1 is slow - this is completely wrong, getting on to the motorway and up to motorway speeds takes very little effort.

 

The C1 comes fitted with Michelin Energy tyres, these have lower rolling resistance and will waste less fuel than ordinary tyres. These will be harder than ordinary tyres , inflated to 32 P.S.I., and may be partly responsible for the firm ride.

 

The C1 is a good all round performer and is as much fun out of town as in. One of my first outings was a 150 mile run from Birmingham to Nottingham then to Derby and back to Birmingham. This was mixed A roads and stop/start town driving. Before setting out, I filled the tank to the brim and then filled it again when back in Birmingham. I had driven carefully and with gentle acceleration . The car had done 63 MPG!

 

The throttle control is a little vague at lower revs, which made smooth gear changing difficult at first. I was used to driving an old car with a carburettor and very precise throttle feel.

 

I bought the 3 door base model. There is a some road noise over rough tarmack and some general noise which appears to be coming in around the door seals. I guess that the 5 door version will be a little noisier because additional noise will come in around the rear door seals. None of this is serious and no worse than some other cars.

 

I started out looking at the Fiat panda, I also looked at the Kia Picanto. Each of the 3 cars is good, I liked them all. The Fiat is a pretty car, has excellent interior space and large rear hatch . The Pincato has much to be said in it’s favour. I chose the C1 because of the Fuel Economy , cheap road tax and it was the most fun to drive. A minor point - I preferred the interior design of the C1 to the plasticy interior of the Fiat Panda.

 

None of my comments should put anyone off buying a C1, . Not many cars qualify for £35 a year road tax ( the Fiat Panda and Kia Pincato both cost £115 P.A.). The C1 is group one insurance, has good NCAP crash safety rating and can make nearly 70 MPG. (on a long run with careful driving). Cheap economical motoring that will give much more fun than many larger, heavier, thirstier, more expensive cars. I know that I have made the right decision.

[hertsnminds]

The car has long gearing, 5th gear can not be used comfortably until hitting around 50 mph.

For a car designed to be used in stop/start traffic in towns, first gear seems slightly long, a little bit of clutch control is required before the car is on its way

 

You will probably find some of the above is due to how new the car is. Both the engine and the gearbox have to loosen up. My C4 1.6HDi did not like 5th gear at anything under 40MPH for the first 10,000 miles now it will quite happily trundle along at 28MPH in 5th.

 

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[c1dan]

You will probably find some of the above is due to how new the car is. Both the engine and the gearbox have to loosen up. My C4 1.6HDi did not like 5th gear at anything under 40MPH for the first 10,000 miles now it will quite happily trundle along at 28MPH in 5th.

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

 

Hi, Thanks,this is the first brand new car that I have owned so It will be interesting to see how it feels when it loosens up. My comments about the C1 are extremely picky and are observations rather than faults . Its a really nice car. I forgot to mention that one of the best recomendations for and one of my main reasons for buying the C1 is that it should have excellent reliability due to being manufactured by Toyota using Toyota engine and mechanics ( apart from detail styling it is the same car as the Toyota Aygo).

[citroeneddie]

Welcome Dan.

 

Our C1 is nearly six months old and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Toyota engine at Citroen pricing, can't be bad. No probs to date.

 

Eddie

[ging32]

Glad to hear you like your C1. We have done just over 10,000 miles now and just been serviced so eveything is now loosened up properly. I recently did a 280 round trip to Cambridge and managed to get there and back on half a tank of fuel. Amazing when you consider that cost about £15.

 

Fantastic car.

[Danielle]

yeah just running mine in, its the gears and clutch i struggled to get used to. the clutch was so light compared to the corsa i learnt to drive in and the gear stick just kinda flicks into place and i kept thinking it wasnt in gear as the corsa's gear stick when in deeper. but now im used to it, i think it's a great car and i've put nothing in my car since it came out of the garage ;)