Living With The Picasso Review

[iendicott]

Was in the market originally for a Xsara hatch back but the boot on it was a tad to small to fit all the baby gear we need to cart around.

 

So my wife suggests what about a Xsara Picasso ! I do like the look of them as they are quirky and you get alot of car for the money. We could only afford 2nd hand as we wanted to pay for the car out right.

 

Well after taking it for a test drive I liked it alot so we paid the deposit on it and picked it up a couple of weekends after.

 

Our first long journey was at the weekend from Peterborough to Kent (Approx 130 miles). We averaged about 37-40 mpg most of the way and clocked up around 300 miles before I decided to fill up with petrol (Tank indicator was showing 1/4 tank left). For a heavish car I think this was average MPG obviosly not as good as the diesels but not bad.

 

Overtaking was a breeze with it 1.8 16v engine and after myself coming from alot of sporty model cars that sit low down the high ride was a very nice one and visibility was very good.

 

The suspension is very smooth which makes a change from the sports suspensions I am used to and this car is packed with safety features which makes it an ideal car for running my wife and baby around it.

 

We currently have a Skoda Fabia vRS which is a very quick car for a diesel and I also have a chip which bumps it from 130bhp - 180bhp with nearly 300 ftlb of torque but I am seriously considering selling it along with the picasso and buying a brand new diesel Picasso and getting it fully spec'd out.

 

This car is one of the best cars we have had and one of the most comfortable ones we have both driven.

 

Ivan

[truemouse]

Well, I've had no problems at all with the 1.6 HDi 16v

 

The only downside is that it's not available in the base model. You have to go to at least a Desire to get it.

 

Saying which the Desire is a fairly comfortable car.

 

One tank got us from Lanark Scotland to RAF Mildenhall with enough left to get us lost and drive clear out to the coast East of mildenhall and turn back. (Yeah, so GPS might have been an idea . . . )

 

But it's sporty, practical, comfortable and economical. It gets my vote and it's not just because I drive one.

[wozza]

Dont think i ever heard sport and picasso in the same sentance before hehe :D j/k mate.

[pork_pie]

The 1.6 Hdi is a great addition to the Picasso family.

 

Is it true that its too high geared in the motorway and its crying out for another gear?

 

Doubt Citroen will include the 136bhp 2.0 Hdi in the line up. They want to maximise sales of all available engines.

 

I strayed away from MPV's. Plumbed for that estate because I found the rides of all MPV's sickening.

 

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The other engine in the Pic line up:

 

Great though the 2.0Hdi is - a diesel without an intercooler is an old format now. The engine is 5 years old now but there is still life in the old dog - superchip the beast to get 110 horses and as much torque as its younger smaller brother.

[truemouse]

The 1.6 Hdi is a great addition to the Picasso family.

 

Is it true that its too high geared in the motorway and its crying out for another gear?

 

Doubt Citroen will include the 136bhp 2.0 Hdi in the line up. They want to maximise sales of all available engines.

 

I strayed away from MPV's. Plumbed for that estate because I found the rides of all MPV's sickening.

 

================================

The other engine in the Pic line up:

 

Great though the 2.0Hdi is - a diesel without an intercooler is an old format now. The engine is 5 years old now but there is still life in the old dog - superchip the beast to get 110 horses and as much torque as its younger smaller brother.

Doesn't need wider gears, however, it could do with an overdrive and torque converter.

 

The Picasso has a 2.0 HDi. It sucks more balls than a Panamanian bordello. 20 less ponies than the smaller 1.6 HDi.