2008/9 C5 Disaster Stories

[Guest Jonny Jeez]

Hi, new member, first post. sorry for the double post (I got a little lost!)

 

I really need your help.

 

I'm seriously considering buying a 2008/9 C5 Diesel saloon. I like the specification, I like the ride, I like the engine (or lack of engine noise) I like the styling. But I am really spooked by the frankly awful user reviews that I've read.

 

They make it sound like Citroen are useless at looking after customers and have designed a car that is set to "self destruct" in 3 years.

 

Am I Mad to consider this car, I'm coming out of a history of "Germanic" cars (regardless of their owners), BMW, Audi, VW so my expectations of service and reliability are pretty high (with poor old VW being the best by far to date)

 

Is the car truly likely to spend much of its life in the dealership service department? Is it really so bad? Can I extend warranties to cure my fears?

 

I'd appreciate some objective advice.

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

[paul.h]

Do not know about the new C5 yet but the old ones are amongst the most reliable cars around. We have 3 Citroens C3/4/5 and have had a Picasso and they are the most reliable and cost effective cars we have had over the last 30 years.

[coastline taxis]

got c5s with 150k(auto aswell) 240k and and and 300k on the clock all going strong and very very reliable. Have just took a 10 year old relay of the road with 400k on the clock and all been very reliable Chances are that the new one you get will have normal suspension so wont be as comfortable also reliability is linked to maintenance and preventive maintenance.

[Randombloke]

Looks to me like the 08/09 C5 is very much an Audi copy, it does not seem to have the rear load carrying space of the previous C5s. Floor pan seems to be similar to the 407, with the very long rear suspension arms from the same.

 

Friends with the 407 bemoan the softer ride/poorer handling and admit to preferring 406 handling.

 

Consensus of opinion seems to be that the conventionally suspended C5s are slightly softer round town, but that the H3+ ones are much better out on the open road. AFAICT there is no self levelling on the lower spec models with the coil springs.

 

The one piece of advice that I would give you is to find a good dealer, or even better a good indy. Without these, I would not touch any PSA car. Again, I would suggest that Coastline's remarks about maintenance be taken to heart.

[Guest AnthonyMA]

The C5 (I have a 2008 registered version) is a very nice car. However, given the initial problems we had with ours, I would recommend the following:

 

1) Make sure it's running the latest software, otherwise your car will stop as you drive down through France

2) Make sure the trims either side of the windscreen have been re-fitted (this was the subject of a C5 recall), otherwise they will blow off with subsequent risk to other road users

3) Make sure that the drainage flow for water that comes off the windscreen and down through the grills at the bottom of the windscreen has been modified so that it does not get blocked by the inevitable debris that results, particularly during autumn, otherwise the inside of your car will fill up with water

 

Happy motoring!

[Guest Jonny Jeez]

Thanks all.

 

Really appreciate your advice. I once had a company range rover Sport with programmable suspension(perhaps adjustable is a better word) and it was very costly to work on, even Kwick-Fit refused to fit tyres due to the issue!! so I am steering well away from the Citroen (or any other flavour) of adjustable suspension. I appreciate the ride benefits but am wary of the complications...in the long term

 

On an additional note I found my 06 rangey to be very poor at handling speed humps, the suspension seemed to take too long to react and resulted in a big hit, even at very low speed. I wonder if this is another reason to confirm my choice in C5 suspension choice.

 

The test drives I have had showed the car (on standard springs) tended to "wallow" a little on the motorway, but I wasn’t overly concerned by this as it was quite a nice sensation (as apposed to the very rough ride of my current car, which is a sporty suspension boy racer type-a drive)

 

The C5 will be my first "family" type of car and I'm keen for it to be my last for a while, I'm frustrated with just replacing my car every 3 years and having to constantly "loop" into a new PCP plan, so with a relatively low budget the C5 looks (on face value) to be a good long term investment.

 

I Hope I'm right!

 

Thanks again

[Guest kimosabe]

got c5s with 150k(auto aswell) 240k and and and 300k on the clock all going strong and very very reliable. Have just took a 10 year old relay of the road with 400k on the clock and all been very reliable Chances are that the new one you get will have normal suspension so wont be as comfortable also reliability is linked to maintenance and preventive maintenance.

 

I have had a few issues with mine,now sorted and a great car to drive...Must agree with what Coastline says tho..If a thing needs done get it done right away....