New C3 1.6i 16v Exclusive Sensodrive

[CE08LDB]

To All C3 Sensodrive owners. I am having a C3 1.6i 16v Exclusive Sensodrive Rainforest Green in March 2005 and I would like to know your experience.

Regards

Lee Bengough

[jazzster]

I ordered mine on 13/02/05 for delivery on 02/03/05 after promiseing they could get it for that date.
They phoned on 15/02/05 to say there are none in the country and it will be 6 weeks.
So annoyed doing my head in waiting, gettiing nervous reading the problems people are have with thier cars.
They said that they could not get one in any colour any quicker.
when did you order yours and when is it due.

[markleigh]

I wanted an Hdi sensodrive in black and with a sunroof.
Apparently there was only one in the country - in that light bluey colour.
Had to order one - which I did 5th Feb. Was told it would be ready end March (ie 7 wks).
In meantime (and because I don't have a car, due my last one being written off), the dealer has leant me a C2 - which was very nice of him - and which clinched the deal.

[jazzster]

Had a phone call from the Citroen garage thought great they have found me a car. Only telling the registration No. :D. Whats the use of the Reg. No. without a car.

[CE08LDB]

I ordered my C3 on 16/2/05 through the Motability Scheme and the garage phoned m on the 17/2/05 to say that the car will take 4 to 5 weeks because I wanted green which they didn't have any green ones at their compound at the Dealership which I don't mind there is no rush. I hope I will have the folding mirrors. The Exclusive is alot different than the SX. Shame for people who wants a 1.4HDi 16v Sensodrive because they don't do that one the Exclusive Model only SX.

The 1.6i 16v Sensodrive is better on Fuel than the 1.4i SX Auto.

1.4i Automatic 41mpg
1.6i 16v Sensodrive 45mpg


About the Registration number I can understand that you are not happy by the delay for your car but did the dealer give the number so you can sort out your insurance?

[CE08LDB]

I had a letter from Motability today saying that my application is complete. I think my car is in the Dealer's Compound already because I passed my Citroen Dealer yesterday and saw a 05 reg plated C3 Exclusive in the compound where they keep new cars, new motability cars and returned motability cars which are 3 years old. But I haven't heard from my dealer yet but the new reg is not out intill Tuesday plus then they are taking it to Cardiff to have hand controls fitted for me so it shouldn't be long. How are all you other Sensodrive owners getting on?

[jazzster]

Not heard anything about mine :D. They have sent me the form to Register the vehicle but can not insure it until I get a delivery date, still say end of March :o .
I hope it comes before Easter Holidays, hate waiting for new cars, told 2 weeks they had deposit and then said 6 weeks, last time I use that dealer.

Had a Rover few years ago and they could look on there computer and check delivery dates. They even went through different coulours to find quickest delivery date. Don`t know why Citroen can`t do this.

It will be intresting to see the MPG on the Sensodrive as I had a manual gearbox 2 years ago. Only averaged 36 MPG on the other but it was winter and only 7.5 miles journey, have got a Honda Jazz at the monment it only manages 41 MPG average in two years. It struggling in the cold to get 38 to 40 MPG going to work in the cold, but it has done 55 to 60 MPG in summer on longer journeys.

[hertsnminds]

You may have to adjust your driving style to get the best MPG from the SensoDrive.

When I first got mine I was only getting about 36MPG then after it had clocked up 10,000 miles this got closer to 40MPG now I drive it in more of an ambling style and keep around 68MPH instead of 72MPH on motorways I am getting closer to 43MPG.

Now I can get just under 400 miles from about 41 litres of fuel. That is from a 1.6 Pluriel which is heavier than a standard 5 door C3.

I get the best MPG when travelling at speeds between 40 and 60 MPH (2,500 to 3,000 revs in 5th).


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[CE08LDB]

According to Citroen figures the Pluriel Sensodrive dose less mpg than the C3 5 Door Sensodrive.

Here are the figures

Pluriel 1.6i 16v Sensodrive 42.8mpg top speed of 117mph
C3 1.6i 16v Sensodrive 45.6mpg top speed of 119mph

So I don't know why they are different.

[CE08LDB]

If Rover could have the same system I can't see why Citroen can't. What colour C3 you having?

[hertsnminds]

[quote]So I don't know why they are different.[/quote]

It's becasue of the weight
5dr C3 = 1063kg
Pluriel = 1177kg

The Pluriel has a much stiffer (heavier) floor pan to stop it flexing as there is no roof to take any strain.


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[jazzster]

Mine will be Wicked Red same colour as last one I had.
My Jazz is Ice Blue similar to Tuscan C3 colour and it is terrible to keep clean, although all cars are in this weather.
Read alot of bad reports about sensodrive jerking went changeing gear etc.
Is it just that people don`t like autos or are they worst than manuals when changing gear.
Seemed O.K. on test drive with XTR model tried in manual a little, found it a little aqward after CVT Jazz, but the Jazz has 7 gears, which I think is too many has its revs hardly change.
I think the longer I wait the more nervous I get about the gearbox, wish it would hurry up.
Where are C3`s made now France or Spain?

[hertsnminds]

[quote]Read alot of bad reports about sensodrive jerking went changeing gear etc.
Is it just that people don`t like autos or are they worst than manuals when changing gear.[/quote]

Remember SensoDrive is NOT an automatic gearbox it is an automatic clutch activation system.

Yes you can have a juddering clutch with the system and you can also have it seem to snatch a gear. You can also make the front wheels spin <_< . All things which you would think you could not have happen.

There are things you can try to stop some of these things, like software updates, but things like temperature changes and driving style (the system is adaptive) can still make them happen.

One thing it will never do (well should never do) is stall the engine. It will also never over rev the engine as it changes up a gear before it red lines on the rev counter, that's why there is NO red line on the rev counter :rolleyes:

If you have Macromedia Flash player installed on your computer you can see an exlpaination of the Sensodrive system here
[url="http://www.citroen.ch/french/passions/sensodrive/start.htm"]http://www.citroen.ch/french/passions/sens...drive/start.htm[/url]

And I believe the C3 is still made in Madrid

Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[CE08LDB]

I was going to have a red one but I went for the green because you don't see many green ones where I live plenty of red blue and silver ones on the road. My brothers 1.4i SX Auto is Tuscan Blue. I will mostly probobly drive the Sensodrive in Auto as I use Hand controls so it means my 1 hand is on the steering ball and the other on the controls but I will have a go with the paddles. The gears can be changed manualy on the 1.4i SX Auto but only on the gear stick which I found hard to use. When you park the car with a Sensodrive system do you put it in Neutral because it has no Park like a Auto gear Box?

I would have liked a Pluriel but Motability wanted £600 deposit where the C3 Exclusive was nil deposit so I went with that

[hertsnminds]

[quote]When you park the car with a Sensodrive system do you put it in Neutral because it has no Park like a Auto gear Box?[/quote]

You can park a SensoDrive in 1st, Neutral or Reverse. If you leave it in gear it is the same as leaving a manual in gear (as you would when parking on a hill). SensoDrive is a manual gearbox it is the CLUTCH that is automated in the system.

Every time you start the engine Neutral is selected.


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[CE08LDB]

Thanks Ian. I like the Pluriel Exclusive. saw one in the Dealers the other day with the leather interior. It was a red one very smart. Are you happy with yours or half and half?

I got 3 Pluriel Diecast Models 1/43 scale models. with the rest of my 40 Citroen Models.

I got

Orange
Tuscan Blue
Artic Steel

Citroen in Italy have made a real Pluriel special edition in Pink for charity. They were putting it on ebay.

[hertsnminds]

I think the Pluriel does what it does very well. But if you try and make it do something it was not meant to you know about it.

The car is not sporty and if you try and drive it like it was it will be jerky when changing gear and the mpg drops from around 40 to around 35.

It is meant to be driven in a sedate manner and will not take rear seat passengers with long legs. It really likes the sunshine and I feel is best driven with the rear screen folded in the boot.

I have had some niggles, roof seals replaced (does not leak anymore), creaking windows and some cracked trim but all sorted under warranty.

My last car before the Pluriel was a 2 seater soft top so I am always amazed by the amount of stuff you can get in the Pluriel. I have had bikes, a garden shed and 6 metre long ladder (ok it was folded to 2 metres) in the car. Not all at the same time but even so.

So pretty much what it says on the tin, a unique versatile vehicle. Overheard someone in a car park the other day point at it and say "that car looks like a pumpkin" :rolleyes:

Not sure that pink is my colour, so might give that very special edition a miss!

Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[CE08LDB]

Lets hope Citroen don't make any more mistakes now. I heard that Citroen is stopping the C3 Pluriel is it true?

[hertsnminds]

I don't know what the production plans are for the future but I did read an article that said they could make 320 cars a day (75,000 a year) at the Madrid factory (not sure if that was just Pluriel) and that Citroen was expecting sales figures in France of 10,000 Pluriel in 2003 and 25,000 Pluriel in 2004.

So even if they are planning to stop making them soon there could be close to 100,000 vehicles out there somewhere.


This from the Citroen website...
[url="http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com"]http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com[/url]

Half year 2004
Firm resilience by key models: Peugeot 206 (up 5.1%), Peugeot 307 (up 7.0%), Citroën C3 and C3 Pluriel (stable), Citroën C2 (82,000 units), Citroën Xsara Picasso (down 1.0%), and Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner (up 2.6%).

Year end 2004
Sales of Citroën compact models continued to increase in 2004, rising 4.7% over the previous year. Sales of the C3 and C3 Pluriel were down slightly at 363,000 units. This decline was offset by sales of the C2, which stood at 155,000 units.


The Madrid plant produces the Citroën C3s, C3s Pluriel and Xsaras. Output totaled 159,325 vehicles in 2003, of which 65% were sold outside Spain. The plant also manufactures components.

Workforce
3,370


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[jazzster]

Garage phoned today said that had a date of the 24th March 2005 for my car :rolleyes: .
Its going to be a long 3 weeks 2 days.

[CE08LDB]

My brother wants one he dose. His 52 2003 Reg C3 1.4i SX Auto is due for renewal on 24/2/06. And he would really like one Im surprised Citroen haven't done a Pluriel 1.4i 16v Sensodrive Exclusive yet? But like you said the both C3 and Pluriel are different in different ways like the weight etc. How long are you keeping yours for?

My local Dealer has a 54 Oct 2004 Pluriel 1.4i Tuscan Blue 10 miles on the clock no previous owners for £8,995.

When I went to the dealer back in Sept when 54 plate came out to take my brothers car for repair They had a brand new Pluriel 1.6i 16v Sensodrive Tuscan Blue in the Showroom for £10,995. Now when the Pluriel came out in 2003 They had a ex demo silver and an orange one which was a month old 03 reg with 1,000 miles on the clock and they wanted £13,495 The Orange was sold a few months later for £8,995.

What a difference hay.

They also got a 53 Feb 2004 C3 1.4i 16v XTR Sensodrive Dark Blue 3,500 miles it was put on their forecourt in Feb 2004 for £9,995 then in the summer it dropped to £9,495 but now its £8,995

[hertsnminds]

Citroen say a 1.6 SensoDrive Pluriel is worth £3,641 after 3 years and 27,000 miles (well their Elect 3 plan quotes that). This is depreciation of £10,000 or about 72% if you pay the full retail price of close to £13,500.

The best way to see how much the car will be worth is to use the Citroen UK website Elect 3 calculator it gives a pretty good idea as to how much a dealer will offer you as trade in for your car.

At the moment I am not sure how long I will keep the Pluriel, it is due for it's first service in about 1,000 miles time and has another year of warranty to run, so at least another 12 months.


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[CE08LDB]

Its a hell of a big loss. If I was buying one I would either buy a Ex Demo or one which is a couple of months because a new car losses around £3,000 soon as it leaves the Garage.

Citroen knows how to make their money don't they.

[jazzster]

24th March 10.00am. Went to pick car up arrived a dealer at 9:55
Sales person "I was just about to phone you sir car won`t be ready until 2.00pm"
Me "I`m a work at 2:00pm" :ph34r:
Sales Person "I`ll check" "1:00pm sir"
Me "how about some mats for my trouble"
Argue with him the date was 2nd march he says it was not etc.
Full tank of petrol most I could get.
Not very happy with dealer at all. :(
This is my 26th car only had trouble once before with same dealer will I have another car from them noway.
Hope the cars better than the dealer.

[CE08LDB]

Phoned my dealer again today twice about a delivery date for my car. First call 'Sorry sir he (Sales person) is busy with a customer can you phone back in 10mins. Phoned again after 20mins Sorry Sir he is on the phone can I take your number and I will get him to phone you back as soon as he comes off the phone and that 11.45 this morning. So I have waited long enough so I have decided to come on here for half an hour.

My Dealer to give free mats now and they put petrol in So your dealer might make it look like if he is doing this as a gesture of good will but may be they do it anyway.

Soon see what happens with me. Will keep you informed