Has Anyone Out Their Had A Good Experience With The 1.4i Hdi Sx Sensod

[Guest pauldart]

Hello Everyone

 

Has anyone out their had a good experience with the 1.4i Hdi SX Sensodrive??

I am going to be purchasing a two-year-old model of the above

I am a automatic driver only, however my wife has a full licence & I am hoping some of you good people out their will give us your thoughts on our future buy. Would especially like to hear from anyone who loves it especially the Sensodrive features. I have been a tad worried about some of the reviews (on the internet) that the automatice gearbox gets, so would really like to be reasurred , with any good expierences.

Look forward to hearing from you

[smokescreen]

Yes is the answer.

 

However, it is different from driving both a car fitted with conventional manual or automatic gearbox.

 

No creep when stationary (computer declutches the engine so effectively you're in neutral) so it needs practice when manoeuvring into parking spaces particularly on an incline - use of handbrake essential. Auto change is a computer controlled manual shift which depends on throttle pedal position and road conditions (incline or descent) so is variable. It sometimes tries to change gear just when you want to go - pulling out onto a roundabout from a crawl in 2nd gear and it then decides 1st is required leading to an embarrassing hesitation. Using manual change is good, paddle controls work really well and the computer always changes down through the gears when you slow down.

 

Reliability good, a couple of minor glitches done under warranty. A gasket between the turbo and manifold and a software update to cure a computer fault on the gearbox. Otherwise a good buy - 23months old and 52000 on the clock - daily commute of 120 miles round trip!!

 

Economy - 58-60mpg always on mixed route B (50mph), A (60mph) and motorways (75mph) and some stop start in traffic. More can be obtained by careful driving (watching and adjusting style with reference to the instant mpg readout.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

55 reg 1.4 HDI SX Sensodrive

[kfk]

Might be worth asking why they are getting rid of it at 2 years old.....maybe they have had problems with it.

On a plus note the vehicle still has the remainder of its 3 year warranty on.....try to get a test drive in it and confirm you feel comfortable with it......customers either love'm or hate'm

[Guest pauldart]

Yes is the answer.

 

However, it is different from driving both a car fitted with conventional manual or automatic gearbox.

 

No creep when stationary (computer declutches the engine so effectively you're in neutral) so it needs practice when manoeuvring into parking spaces particularly on an incline - use of handbrake essential. Auto change is a computer controlled manual shift which depends on throttle pedal position and road conditions (incline or descent) so is variable. It sometimes tries to change gear just when you want to go - pulling out onto a roundabout from a crawl in 2nd gear and it then decides 1st is required leading to an embarrassing hesitation. Using manual change is good, paddle controls work really well and the computer always changes down through the gears when you slow down.

 

Reliability good, a couple of minor glitches done under warranty. A gasket between the turbo and manifold and a software update to cure a computer fault on the gearbox. Otherwise a good buy - 23months old and 52000 on the clock - daily commute of 120 miles round trip!!

 

Economy - 58-60mpg always on mixed route B (50mph), A (60mph) and motorways (75mph) and some stop start in traffic. More can be obtained by careful driving (watching and adjusting style with reference to the instant mpg readout.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

55 reg 1.4 HDI SX Sensodrive

[Guest pauldart]

Thanks, Smokescreen that was very helpful

[Guest pauldart]

Might be worth asking why they are getting rid of it at 2 years old.....maybe they have had problems with it.

On a plus note the vehicle still has the remainder of its 3 year warranty on.....try to get a test drive in it and confirm you feel comfortable with it......customers either love'm or hate'm

 

 

 

 

Thanks KFK, it was apparently traded in against new model, i had a look at service history and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. test drive was fine although as a automatic driver only, gear changes were lets say `different' but nothing I would say that was a problem. The reason we have gone for this car is due to fuel economy as currently we get about 20-25 mpg on our Fiat Brava 1.6 auto and its costing an arm and a leg just to go to work!

Do you have a sensodrive and if so have you the diesel, would be intersted to see what MPG you get. thanks

[Guest roy collingwood]

I have the stop n start version, 3 months old, it took some getting used to, I tend to use it in auto, but 'force it into 1st when I can see the road conditions in front may need it, and at junctions when it may stay in second. it can be a bit jerky on gear change, going up from 2nd to 3rd. & changing down. putting it into manual and its complety smooth on gear changes.

[smokescreen]

Pauldart,

 

Did you get my PM in response to yours?

 

Smokescreen

 

p.s. Did you get the C3 in the end?

[Guest pauldart]

Pauldart,

 

Did you get my PM in response to yours?

 

Smokescreen

 

p.s. Did you get the C3 in the end?

 

 

Yes, Smokescreen I did get your PM thanks most helpful and I also did get the C3 and although its early stages (barely a weeks ownership) its been fantastic. Still about 1/4 of a tank left and have just gone over 400 miles. Thanks for all your help

[smokescreen]

Welcome to the club!

 

I've found, through topping up the tank to the brim, that when the fuel gauge goes down to 1 bar you can continue driving for about another 30+ miles until you get an additional low fuel warning light come on with the 3 peeps warning tones. Filling up then took just about 42lt which means about 5lt still to use. Usually 550 miles before the low fuel warning light illuminates.

 

Enjoy the £35pa road tax as well!!

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

55 reg C3 1.4 HDI SX Sensodrive