Contemplating A C3

[Gav]

Currently I drive a 2000W Punto ELX. It's getting on and starting to cost me money to keep on the road at approaching 70k miles in 5 years. I got it nearly new at 9 months old, and liked that significant 40% saving over new. Now I have more demands, which might warrant a brand new car next. Having said that, a quick glace through the C3 standard equipment list looked promising to find a used C3 with the spec I desire. So is anyone here able to confirm or deny that I could get what I want in a C3, and which model is best. I expect the Exclusive diesel to be the one...

[list]
[*]CD with MP3 or CD Changer
[*]Aircon or climate control
[*]Driver & passenger seat height adjustment
[*]Driver seat lumbar adjustment
[*]Trip computer
[*]ABS (without it my Punto's brakes are not the greatest)
[*]Traction control
[*]Electric mirrors
[*]Electric Windows
[*]45+ mpg (reason for the Diesel)
[/list]

Also I'm interested to hear more about the C3 in everyday life. I know all mass produced models of car have some good ones and some bad ones. My Punto was great, not having had any problems until this year. I enjoy driving fairly hard cross country, and in my 60bhp Punto I've caught up and sometimes overtaken some serious cars on the twisty stuff. So does the C3 handle. And of course, for my wife, are they easy to park...

Finally, with the dealer discounts, can you haggle even more? I always surf around to find the best price so that I know what I can get something for, using it to keep a dealer keen. I've enjoyed buying nearly new cars (my Punto and my wifes 307) at about 40% off new list price for 9-10 months old. Is that kind of discount available for a C3, eg dealer demonstrator?

Thanks for you help
Gav :blink:

[Guanocascade]

I have an Exclusive 1.4HDI 16V (53 plate) which I haggled £1800 off plus the full-size sunroof thrown in which was £500. Reason was there were no red ones so I took a silver one as they did not want to lose the sale.
Anyway, on a trip to London and back (500 miles) it averaged 68.9mpg for the round trip with four of us plus luggage. It now has 26k on it and overall does 61mpg to and from work and round town.
It does not have lumbar support, but does have climate and cruise control.
The only problem I've had was a broken window switch which was replaced under warranty. If you do decide to buy one, be very careful of the dealer you choose as they can be diabolical (Dixons - Bradford) or alternatively...excellent.
It handles well and never goes below 50mpg and the servicing which has to be dealer is £155 a go or cheaper if you can find a CITROEN APPROVED dealer.
Personally, go on EBAY and buy one there, unless you are certain the dealer gives a damn!!!

[pork_pie]

Todays discount is tomorrows depreciation so Citroens are not the best investment and you will be taking it to the dealership frequently. The dealers themselves are shocking and the workmanship is non existent.

Such a chic car that owners are willing to use that to overlook its plethora of weaknesses.

Many ppl onhere knows I was an ex owner of a C3 16V Hdi Exc. and even though it was a lovely looker with really good equipment, it had to be the most unreliable most badly put together car I have ever owned. The interior trim (dark or grey) was natty and rattled terribly.

No lofty MPG figure I attained with it (62-74mpg) made up for the misery I suffered in 16 months of owning it and I was so glad to see the back of it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your list of pre requisites makes the only choice worthwhile if you are willing to spec it up. One thing I learnt is don't spec a car up - you wil never get your money back

The alternative would be:

Polo 1.4 Tdi

But even that can have its shortcomings but its more solid that what you are considering and holds its value better. It was the cheapest car to run alledgedly according to Autoexpress.

However the Yaris replacment is due soon (gorgeous Diesel engine) if you really want something reliable - something that the French and Italians know nothing about.

Hope this has answered your query over the C3.

My advice - DON'T DO IT!

[Gav]

Thanks for your coments so far...

Having found a good Fiat dealer who understands repeat custom, it sounds that good Citroen dealers are even fewer and further between! Until this year my Punto has been very reliable, and I really don't want to have a car that has to keep going back to be fixed. I've read on this forum and other websites, that the plastics are substandard, and I want a car that is better in key areas, not worse. The cabin being very important. I ruled out the 206 because it looks so nasty inside.

Interesting that there's no lumbar support. I don't have a bad back now, but I don't want one, ever. I've found my Punto's seat to be comfortable for a good few hours driving. Having driven a few cars over longer distances it's been interesting to see how long it takes to feel aching etc... Another consideration of mine is the lighting. I like cars that have seperate tail and stop/brake lights. Older cars with no 3rd brake light sometimes confuse me because I can't easily see they're braking.

The Polo is probably the strongest car for me, and although slightly more expensive to begin with, looks to have good residuals. Of course, the Germans aren't as good as they used to be. I think I'll still go and test drive a C3, to see if it is worth considering at all. It looks good, and that attracts me, and even more so my wife! If only more small cars looked as good...

[Badlass]

There are good dealers out there, you just have to discern for yourself. My dealer gave me a very good deal first time around...when I wrote my car off at 14 months old, they gave me a superb deal as a repeat customer and did everything for me by phone, as I was incapcitated.

On the point of lumbar support...I have spinal damage in the lumbar region...I was slightly disappointed that there was no adjustment, but I can honestly say I have never driven a more comfortable car in all my born days.

BL

[pork_pie]

No problem glad I was of some help.

If I was you try something better than what the Italians and French have to offer supermini buyers.

The suggestion of the Polo is better one when compared with a Punto (sorry) or a C3 but not the most ideal one but it allows you to spec it up with stuff like lumbar support and upgrade the air con system to climate etc etc.

However I would seriously consider the Toyota option. Little niggles the C3 would provide on a daily basis would drive anyone to suicide. No discount can atone for the motoring hell. Toyotas are solid reliable economic and the dealers care.

I was duped into buying a C3 (rather than a Yaris) in October 2002 because it had 17.5% off, it had the bells and whistles, offered 66mpg and IT LOOKED GOOD!.

Micras are nice - good choice of diesel engines but I think they are overpriced for what you get.

Seat/Skoda - very good.

When I said in a previous post about Citroens despite being discounted heavily - they really do lose shedloads in value. I decided to replace my C3 with a used Xsara and saved a packet and also the previous owner absorbed not only the savage initial depreciation but also the teething problems as well.

[pork_pie]

Oh yes there is another thing.

The invention in what we know as a car has been with us for 120 years and 120 years on there is still a manufacturer that churns out cars liek the C3 with brakes that squeal and the dealer does not know how to fix them apart from con the purchaser with the quote

"THEY ALL DO THAT SIR"

I was given a TADTS once in this example.

On the C3 dashboard is a button that activates the childprooflocks.

As I have a son who was 2 at the time this was an invaluable feature. However when you started the car a few hours later, the car reset the device so that the kid locks were inactive.

You had to make sure that you pressed this button everytime.


What was wrong with conventional locks where yo uhave to flick a lever in each door concerned? I was told "THEY ALL DO THAT SIR"

When I sold the car in Feb 04, It came to my attention that all 02 and 52 plate C3's were to be given a SOFTWARE UPGRADE to ensure that the car remembers the childproof lock setting.

Oh yes thats another thing dealers tell you "SOFTWARE UPGRADE"

What really made me realise that I had to get rid of the C3 was the morning I drove from Darlington (I now live in York) to London to swap my C3 for the Xsara I have now (at the time Citroen Brentford was the only dealer that stocked a used diesel Hdi 90 Estate).

My son was in the back and he opened the rear doors whilst I drove at 70mph. Luckily I pulled over the hard shoulder and braked safely.

WHY HAVE CHILDLOCKS THAT FORGET THEIR SETTING?

"They all do that sir?"

Citroen C3? Ford Pinto more like - the car that caught fire at the slightest touch of its rear bumpers

People may boast that they get a good deal off a C3. I got 2300 off my timebomb.

You might think I am cynical and I might drive the most boring car in the world in the Xsara but the dealers know how to fix it, its reliable better built and depreciates no worse the C3.

Pick the Yaris.

[truemouse]

Could have been worse. It could have been made by Vauxhall.

Rented a Corsa. (Whoop de do) First thing I did was set the manual mechanical child locks in the door jam according to the diagram and checked them. Of course my son tried to press and pull each control on his door that he could reach. Drove 20 miles and around a sharp urban bend and his door sprung wide open. Seems that after you hit a bump or two on a country road they pop back into the 'unlock' position. Ditto Astra.

At least you can do something with the child-locks in the C3.

[truemouse]

What about the Pluriel? (Apart from that awesome looking C-pillar) 2 door coupe . . . no rear doors for offspring to jump out of.

[organist]

Child locking is fine when the software is upgraded, and as a bonus, you have the ability for the car to lock itself automatically when you drive off. I would not even consider anything other than my rather stylish C3 Diesel 92hp, which has more safety features and facilities than any Yaris or overpriced German rubbish!