Am I mad buying a Citroen
Discussion
We have just got back in and have put a deposit on a new Citroen DS3 for my wife. Are we mad or is this little car as good as it seems. We are P/x her Golf 2.0 GTD 140 as we have found it to be quite expensive to run, just had to do the cam belts at 45k!!! She also found the Golf to be a little boring inside and the DS3 is quite funky and maybe more fun.
The reviews give it the thumbs up, any thoughts?
Cheers
Graham
The reviews give it the thumbs up, any thoughts?
Cheers
Graham
Just rented an almost new Citroen in Provence, admittedly it was a C3 picasso so basically a van with windows, but god it was horrid. A short list:
Air con could barely keep the cabin under 25 even at full tilt, even with only one passenger.
Seats were too firm, seems to be a trend among french and italian cheap cars recently.
Ride was crashy and harsh, but still spongy and lolling, gave us all carsickness. I was driving and it still made me feel sick, and I have never had carsickness before even in some complete barges.
Interior felt very cheap after German cars. Wheel was ok, but driving position was very van-like.
Brakes ridiculously over-servo'd, clutch hinge set too far back for comfortable operation.
Engine torque came in too suddenly in first(it was a diesel).
Eco-shift indicator seemed determined to make me stall.
At motorway speeds the wind noise was quite unbearable.
If I were a parent, I'd feel shameful for making my kids sit on the awful rock solid rear bench seat for any duration.
I could list plenty more, but you get the Idea. I'm sure the C3 picasso isn't exactly a fair comparison, but I wouldn't go near a citroen again, give me a VW polo or a Mini any day despite the admittedly stylish looks of the DS range.
Air con could barely keep the cabin under 25 even at full tilt, even with only one passenger.
Seats were too firm, seems to be a trend among french and italian cheap cars recently.
Ride was crashy and harsh, but still spongy and lolling, gave us all carsickness. I was driving and it still made me feel sick, and I have never had carsickness before even in some complete barges.
Interior felt very cheap after German cars. Wheel was ok, but driving position was very van-like.
Brakes ridiculously over-servo'd, clutch hinge set too far back for comfortable operation.
Engine torque came in too suddenly in first(it was a diesel).
Eco-shift indicator seemed determined to make me stall.
At motorway speeds the wind noise was quite unbearable.
If I were a parent, I'd feel shameful for making my kids sit on the awful rock solid rear bench seat for any duration.
I could list plenty more, but you get the Idea. I'm sure the C3 picasso isn't exactly a fair comparison, but I wouldn't go near a citroen again, give me a VW polo or a Mini any day despite the admittedly stylish looks of the DS range.
As far as the DS3 goes, I don't think you're mad at all. Looks good, a good steer also by all accounts.
Why though would you do the belts on the Golf just before you sell it? It's not going to increase the value of the car by the same amount as you spend doing it (unless you do it yourself, and maybe not even then) You might be a little mad for that!
Why though would you do the belts on the Golf just before you sell it? It's not going to increase the value of the car by the same amount as you spend doing it (unless you do it yourself, and maybe not even then) You might be a little mad for that!
robsco said:
The DS3 is a great little car. My only real criticism is the steering, which is completely devoid of feel. The downside of an electric power steering system I guess.
Interesting about the steering - is it completely electric, or electro-hydraulic? My Saab Sportwagon is electro-hydraulic, and interestingly my son likes the feed-back of the steering and reckons it has better feel than his Evo.
Petemate said:
Interesting about the steering - is it completely electric, or electro-hydraulic? My Saab Sportwagon is electro-hydraulic, and interestingly my son likes the feed-back of the steering and reckons it has better feel than his Evo.
As far as I'm aware, its a full electric system. The disconcerting thing about the DS is that the lack of feel from the straight ahead doesn't complement the sharpness of the front end on turn in. I found the two DSports I ran for a while to camber-chase quite badly too on uneven roads - none of this is communicated through the steering though. Perhaps the latter "issue" was the bigger wheels. Either way, these were minor problems with what I found to be very entertaining cars to drive.I dont think your mad. I have just brought a DS3 and its now my favourite car that I've ever owned. The quality factor has been ramped massively up in comparison to my last car and its predecesor the C2, the ride is incredibly soft unlike every single small car I have driven or ridden in for the last decade, its very quite and other than an annoying slight buzz from the sat-nav screen no squeeks or rattles in fact I've just driven from the UK across France and Spain to Portugal and back again and kept thinking how relaxing a ride it was. Its also recieved a positive reaction from almost everybody who has seen it including what looked like an orgasm from a young lady wearing much sporting apparel in a manky old fiesta 
overall I couldnt believe the rubber necking not that that was the reason I got it, its mainly a commuting tool.
Downsides? Well aformentioned soft suspension means it is rather a barge like driving experience coupled with the vague steering, over servoed brakes and turbo lag means I'll be giving trackdays a miss thats for sure. Also it dosen't feel as special as a Mini but er thats about it really.
overall I couldnt believe the rubber necking not that that was the reason I got it, its mainly a commuting tool.Downsides? Well aformentioned soft suspension means it is rather a barge like driving experience coupled with the vague steering, over servoed brakes and turbo lag means I'll be giving trackdays a miss thats for sure. Also it dosen't feel as special as a Mini but er thats about it really.
Edited by RedYellowGreen on Sunday 11th September 23:01
mrtwisty said:
As far as the DS3 goes, I don't think you're mad at all. Looks good, a good steer also by all accounts.
Why though would you do the belts on the Golf just before you sell it? It's not going to increase the value of the car by the same amount as you spend doing it (unless you do it yourself, and maybe not even then) You might be a little mad for that!
We got the cam belt done before we thought of selling the car. I cannot understand why it has to be done so soon but we have always kept the car serviced regularly. I just wish I had not put two new continentals on the front though.Why though would you do the belts on the Golf just before you sell it? It's not going to increase the value of the car by the same amount as you spend doing it (unless you do it yourself, and maybe not even then) You might be a little mad for that!
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff