C3 - Petrol Or Diesel

[Guest john64]

my OH is thinking about another citroen - she used to have an AX which she really liked. since then she's had a fiesta and now a hyundai accent.

we'd go for either a 1.1 petrol or the basic 1.4 diesel which has excellent mpg figures.

 

question is - is it worth paying the extra premium to buy a diesel?

[Hook]

Ok, I'm biased, but yes. The MPG figures are amazing, coupled with a low insurance group and just £35 a year tax, (ultra-low emission engine).70 BHP doesn't sound a lot, but with the torque of the diesel motor, it feels like so much more. It'll pull away from most petrol cars uphill and cruise all day long at (slightly) illegal speeds. As with any diesel motor, you get the diesel 'clatter' from cold, but once moving and warmed up you'd swear it's as quiet as a petrol.

This is the first diesel car I've ever owned in 40 years of motoring. Would I buy another one? Yes. Would I go back to petrol? You know, I really don't think I would.. :D

[flitwick]

Worth buying the diesel servicing is a bit dearer though.Also you have to think how many miles are you going to cover 1.1 petrol is a bit wezzy.

I have a 16v diesel but have driven 8 v version both ok and very good mpg

[raveydavey]

I'd go for the diesel everytime.

 

The 1.1 petrol is a bit gutless, even if you're only driving around town.

The diesel has bags of torque, falls into Band B for car tax (£35 for 12 months) and will return 60mpg+ week in week out. It is a world away from the old image of diesels - and don't forget it is so good Ford buy the engine and put it in their cars....

 

Mine is the first diesel I've owned and I won't go back to petrol now.

[Guest CE05LDB]

My Friend picked up his New C3 1.4i SX on Thursday and he said its not as good as his last C3 1.4HDi Desire. For a petrol it seemed gutless compare to the 1.4HDi. Like we were coming up one hill in 3rd and my friend had to change down into 2nd where as the other C3 would fly up the same hill in 3rd.

 

He had only done 8,500 miles over 3 years in the 1.4HDi so it hasn't been run in yet but it was still doing 50mpg around town.

 

Overall he said misses the other car.

[Guest john64]

thanks for the replies. we had a look at some in our local dealers (marshalls cambridge) and she like's them a lot. i thin kthe diesel is the one to go for.

dealer prices do seem to be quite high, so i think that we'll browse autotrader and she wahts about, but should be able to get a low mileage example of about £3.5 to 4k?

[Hook]

thanks for the replies. we had a look at some in our local dealers (marshalls cambridge) and she like's them a lot. i thin kthe diesel is the one to go for.

dealer prices do seem to be quite high, so i think that we'll browse autotrader and she wahts about, but should be able to get a low mileage example of about £3.5 to 4k?

Price sounds about right. I paid £4.8 for mine July last year, a '52 with just over 40k on the clock. Probably around £4k would get you similar now. Shop around, Autotrader is excellent, that's where I found mine.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

[Guest john64]

Price sounds about right. I paid £4.8 for mine July last year, a '52 with just over 40k on the clock. Probably around £4k would get you similar now. Shop around, Autotrader is excellent, that's where I found mine.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

 

will do, might be some time as my OH is really quite poorly. she's keen and i'd like to buy her one, it's just waiting for the right time!

[Bluebird Pompey]

We are considering the 04 plate 1.4 petrol Desire as opposed to the diesel model.

 

I had a Xantia diesel and loved the car, no problem with it at all, however I thought that diesel was a lot more expensive to buy nowadays than petrol?

 

Also, I'm amazed that everyone keeps quoting £35 tax, is this right??

 

I thought the gov were tryuing to persuade drivers to move away from diesel and as a consequence everything is dearer. Am I totally wrong?

[stimulator]

Own both a C3 1.4HDI SX 16V 90 BHP and a 1.6HDi SX 6 92 BHP.

 

I wouldn't go back to petrol in a car these days. The performance and the mpg figs are excellent for a car of this size.

 

and the bonus is £35 a year for the road tax on both. This is due to the CO emmissions being below 120. Don't think the petrol fits into that bracket. The London congestion charge also chages this year and I understand that cars in the £35 bracket will be exempt.

 

As for resale the market shoudl be better for a diesel car in future due to cost etc.

 

Some say you have to do many miles a year to justify the cost diffs but on our second one we've only done 1700 miles since new last August.

 

Did drive a 70 BHP 1.4 but that is only 8V and a bit of a drag in compare to the 90 BHP models.

 

To sum up take the OH for a run in both then you have a drive on anice bit of road and your be hooked.

[Guest john64]

thanks, think that she wants a standard 1.4 model. prices seem to vary, not too bothered about mileage (no more tnan 60k). she's planning on keeping it, and i will drive it to work occasionally too.

i thought that i'be able to get an 04 plate for under £4k.......not easy especially from a citroen dealer!

[Hook]

i thought that i'be able to get an 04 plate for under £4k.......not easy especially from a citroen dealer!

 

You'll struggle to find an '04 anywhere for under £4k. A quick look on Autotrader shows 03 and 53 for just under, (£3995 ish). Find the right car, well looked after and a year doesn't make a huge difference.

[Guest frenchman97]

I hear all you say with interest as I have just posted a question about what is the lowest speed you can do in 5th to maximise mpg (diesel) WITHOUT any engine shudder or labouring

[stimulator]

see reply in the other thread.