Pluriel Hdi - Any Opinions?

[mitch]

My C3 Hdi Exclusive will be three years old in June. It has performed faultlessly since the day it left the showroom. The only warranty claim has been for a new aerial to rectify poor medium wave reception. Even several month-long trips to Sweden, driving on clay and gravel roads as well as motorways, have been tackled without problems or drama. Running costs have been as cheap as it's possible to get. My local dealer has been friendly and efficient, showing real interest and commitment. As a long time 2CV owner, I am now thinking of swapping the C3 for a Pluriel HDi later this year. But the impression I get from many of the posts is that all Pluriels are total dogs, being leaky, unreliable and constantly causing grief. A situation that is apparently made worse by lazy, uncaring and incompetent dealers. So - if you have any experience of the Pluriel HDi, could you give me some idea of what life is like as an owner? Is it really the bucket of trouble which seems to be a constantly presented picture in discussion forums? Surely Citroen have got it right by now - haven't they?

[hertsnminds]

Not sure what performance you are getting from yuor C3 Hdi but the Pluriel is heavier, going on Citroens figures they quote...

C3 Hdi - 1072kg
Pluriel Hdi - 1186kg

The Pluriel also comes with the 70 BHP engine whereas the C3 can have a 92 BHP varient which means
Pluriel 0-62MPH of 16.1
C3 70bhp 0-62 of 13.4
C3 92bhp 0-62 of 11.7

and in terms of fuel economy you get (combined figure)
Pluriel 62.8 mpg
C3 70bhp 67.3 mpg
C3 92bhp 65.7 mpg

If you are aware of all of those differences and they are not an issue then there is nothing like a Pluriel. Yes there have been a few that have had problems but they are being used by hire car companies in some countries (hot ones). They are also very very versatile, I have had a garden shed in the back of mine :rolleyes: .
In terms of mechanical and electrical parts they use exactly the same bits as the rest of the C3 range and also share components with the C2 (just look at the dash).

They are not all a bucket of trouble, but sometimes you do have to be as flexible in your thinking as the car is in it's versatility. As with most soft tops as soon as the sun comes out you tend to forgive them most of their foibles and end up with a big grin on your face.

There is also no other soft top on the market that can change configurations at speeds over 20mph like the Pluriel.

Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[rwatson1]

[quote name='hertsnminds' date='Feb 27 2005, 10:00 PM']
There is also no other soft top on the market that can change configurations at speeds over 20mph like the Pluriel.

Ian
Orange 03 Senso[/quote]
IS there a speed limit for changing the roof configuration?
I've done it at 85 MPH with no apparent damage.

Ryan

PS: I agree with heartsnminds about forgiving the cars problems. Like my old MG, as soon as the sun shines, you forget all those times it leaked on you! (Or caught fire, etc...)

[CE08LDB]

When my Sister old and her partner went to Spain on Holiday and rented a Fiat Punto for the first day and then swapped it for a C3 Pluriel because I am Citroen mad and she knew a bit about them through me. They both liked it. They had the 1.4i engine she said it was like driving her 1.4i 206 S 3 Dr. Her partner liked it considering he owns an Audi TT 225 BHP.

I do admit Citroen don't build their cars strongly anymore

[hertsnminds]

[quote]IS there a speed limit for changing the roof configuration?
I've done it at 85 MPH with no apparent damage.[/quote]

There is no speed limit I am aware of. However seeing as my first experience of getting to 70mph in mine was the roof bursting open (a catch failed) I tend to only fully close mine at speeds under 60mph. I also find that when you get to about 90mph (where the law permits) the wind noise on a closed roof gets excessive (sounds like it will burts open, but that's just me).

If you play with the combination of rear windows up/down and wind deflector flap up/down you can reduce/increase the draft and wind noise with the roof open.

Ian
Orange 03 Senso