Discussion
I've now set up everything the way I like it. The infotainment is fine once you get used to it. It's a little old fashioned, but it's perfectly usable, and the audio quality is very, very good. My car doesn't have the super duper Focal Electra audio system, but it's more than good enough for me. It helps that the car is so quiet.
As mcmigo said, the whole ethos of this car is comfort. It is not in the slightest bit sporty. In that sense it is similar to the Citroen C5X, and I actually think that the C5X would have made a better DS than Citroen.
I have literally never seen another DS9 on the road. HowManyLeft shows predictably microscopic sales figures, and I suspect that virtually all of those are dealer demos.
As mcmigo said, the whole ethos of this car is comfort. It is not in the slightest bit sporty. In that sense it is similar to the Citroen C5X, and I actually think that the C5X would have made a better DS than Citroen.
I have literally never seen another DS9 on the road. HowManyLeft shows predictably microscopic sales figures, and I suspect that virtually all of those are dealer demos.
Interestingly on the sales front. When I got a preview, as posted above I discussed numbers with the DS team. The predicted low numbers. It's made in China and aimed at the Chinese Market where they sell more a month than the whole of Europe in a year.
At least that's what they told me.
For my 2022 Ds4 Performance Line + eTense HML show 29 cars.
Get asked about it in car parks very often.
At least that's what they told me.
For my 2022 Ds4 Performance Line + eTense HML show 29 cars.
Get asked about it in car parks very often.
silverthorn2151 said:
Interestingly on the sales front. When I got a preview, as posted above I discussed numbers with the DS team. The predicted low numbers. It's made in China and aimed at the Chinese Market where they sell more a month than the whole of Europe in a year.
At least that's what they told me.
For my 2022 Ds4 Performance Line + eTense HML show 29 cars.
Get asked about it in car parks very often.
Yep. DS knew it would sell in tiny numbers. They wanted to keep residuals high so the policy was: no dealer sales targets and no fleet sales.At least that's what they told me.
For my 2022 Ds4 Performance Line + eTense HML show 29 cars.
Get asked about it in car parks very often.
People sometimes say that the car was a sales failure. It wasn't, because they expected to sell tiny numbers and they did.
I'm also getting asked about mine quite a lot. People are fascinated by it!
AmitG said:
As mcmigo said, the whole ethos of this car is comfort. It is not in the slightest bit sporty. In that sense it is similar to the Citroen C5X, and I actually think that the C5X would have made a better DS than Citroen.
Enjoyed reading your thoughts on the DS9 and well done for buying one! I would be interested to know if you also considered the C5X and, if so, what swayed you towards the DS9? I'm also keen on these two cars but right now leaning towards the C5X as it seems to offer very good value for the size/equipment on offer and TBH I like the quirkiness of the styling, to my mind it seems more 'French' than the DS9, which is a conventional saloon, albeit an attractive one.carte blanche said:
Enjoyed reading your thoughts on the DS9 and well done for buying one! I would be interested to know if you also considered the C5X and, if so, what swayed you towards the DS9? I'm also keen on these two cars but right now leaning towards the C5X as it seems to offer very good value for the size/equipment on offer and TBH I like the quirkiness of the styling, to my mind it seems more 'French' than the DS9, which is a conventional saloon, albeit an attractive one.
I was very keen on the C5X, and in fact my choice of car came down to either a new C5X or a used DS9. I wanted petrol (not PHEV). I test drove both, and would have been very happy with either.There was a lot to like about the C5X. The design is beautiful and daring; again, IMHO one of the very few interesting mainstream cars on sale today. With the black roof it looks really good. It's very practical, with loads of space in the back and in the boot. It rides really well. And there are advantages over the DS9. You get physical climate controls. The infotainment is more modern. (Example - the sat nav takes up the whole of the 12" screen, without borders.) You get USB-C sockets rather than USB-A. The boot space is bigger. You can get a proper 360 degree camera. Also, the petrol version is available new, so you can spec it however you want. The DS9 is now only available new as PHEV. If you want a petrol model, you have to go DS Approved Used, and at the time of writing there is only 1 listed in the whole of the country.
There were a few things that swayed me in the other direction. Firstly, the DS9 has the 1.6 turbo engine. The C5X is now only available new as 1.2 turbo or PHEV, although you can find a 1.6 turbo version as approved used. Secondly, the DS9 was a lot quieter. Thirdly, the DS9 had a sense of theatre that just couldn't be matched by the C5X or indeed the DS4. When I sat in the C5X I thought "wow, this is really nice". When I sat in the DS9 I thought "I don't care how it drives, I want this car".
I know it's a cliche but the DS9 really makes you feel special. Everywhere you look, you see little details that make you smile.In terms of handling there is not much in it. The DS9 is more stable through corners; it's lower and it has wider tyres. The tyres on the C5X are a little skinny (205 profile if I remember correctly) so it is not a car to take corners fast. But if you are in this market then you are not looking for that anyway.
If the DS9 had not worked out for some reason, I would very happily have bought a C5X instead.
The comment about the "Frenchiness" of the styling is interesting. Without getting too deep about it, I think that they embrace different aspects of French style. The C5X is avant-garde. The DS9 is more like haut cuisine. If the C5X were a building it would be the Pompidou centre; a riot of angles and details that somehow inexplicably works. The DS9 would be the Palace of Versailles; a lovely monument but you have to be brave to own it
My advice is that unless you really know in your heart that you must have a DS9, go for the C5X. It's a more modern and usable car, and will likely be still rare enough to turn heads. I have not seen a single C5X on the road so far, although I am told that supply was limited in the early days due to Covid and also because the car was an unexpected hit in China, who proceeded to buy up all of the factory capacity.
Peugeot's designers appear to be taking the same drugs as Citroen these days, so the 408 might be worth a look? Also, there is a new 508 coming out in June which looks really nice...
Wow, thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
Useful to get some feedback from somebody who has had direct experience of both models and it does appear that there are some objective reasons to choose the DS9, such as the improved refinement (which I should have guessed, given the price differential and lower shape of the DS9). I've gathered from reviews that both excel in terms of ride comfort though, so will be interesting to experience this for myself.
I hadn't noticed that the 1.6 turbo petrol is no longer available to order new in the C5X or that the DS9 is now PHEV only. I am not averse to buying a PHEV but as a private buyer (so no tax advantage) don't see the point in paying a big premium over a standard petrol as that would wipe out any potential savings in running costs.
I hadn't paid much attention to Peugeot's latest offerings, thanks for pointing those out - 408 could be worth looking at, from a quick Google I prefer the look of the C5X though.
This would be a purchase towards the end of this year or early next but I like to do plenty of research beforehand. Looking forward to testing these cars in due course.
Useful to get some feedback from somebody who has had direct experience of both models and it does appear that there are some objective reasons to choose the DS9, such as the improved refinement (which I should have guessed, given the price differential and lower shape of the DS9). I've gathered from reviews that both excel in terms of ride comfort though, so will be interesting to experience this for myself.
I hadn't noticed that the 1.6 turbo petrol is no longer available to order new in the C5X or that the DS9 is now PHEV only. I am not averse to buying a PHEV but as a private buyer (so no tax advantage) don't see the point in paying a big premium over a standard petrol as that would wipe out any potential savings in running costs.
I hadn't paid much attention to Peugeot's latest offerings, thanks for pointing those out - 408 could be worth looking at, from a quick Google I prefer the look of the C5X though.
This would be a purchase towards the end of this year or early next but I like to do plenty of research beforehand. Looking forward to testing these cars in due course.
Edited by carte blanche on Monday 10th April 13:46
Does any car on sale have a cooler rear light signature than this?
The photo doesn't capture the full 3-dimensional effect. When you see it in person it's captivating; the filaments appear to be suspended in mid air.
It's a work of art, and very typical of the car. They could have used a simple bulb or light bar, like every other car out there, but instead they did this.
I dread to think how much they spent on it.
The photo doesn't capture the full 3-dimensional effect. When you see it in person it's captivating; the filaments appear to be suspended in mid air.
It's a work of art, and very typical of the car. They could have used a simple bulb or light bar, like every other car out there, but instead they did this.
I dread to think how much they spent on it.
Amit
I just came across this forum and have very much enjoyed reading your posts. Congrats on taking the leap to a ds9 which I presume is a performance + version.
You've driven rare 2 cars I like. Last summer days after a delealership just got them I drove the C5X, it was so early in the process the dealer had no prices, didnt have any visibility on finance, nothing. I took the C5X PHEV Shine Plus for a test drive which comprised about 7 miles of small villagey roads and then a blast down a fast A road on the way back. It was my first drive of any car other than my own since 2017.
My impressions were that it was a very capable machine on the inside, seats lovely, like you say sat nav and all that works very well, I loved the HUD, and the space was very generous. Low speed ride was fantastic, reminded me of an old jag.... the big XJ type of years ago. I agree with your other comments on climate controls and USB ports, etc.
What didn't stand out is the high speed noise reduction around 70mph, and didnt feel too different from my car....you can probably guess what that is by my username. Despite it having double glazing a lot of roar still seemed to rise up from underneath. One other issue is it's been marketed as a hybrid of 3 cars, saloon, estate, SUV....... and it didn't quite feel SUV'ey enough as i expected. All in all though an impressive machine, especially at the price point it is.
I did notice a while back the standard 1.6 180hp had been dropped and its a shame really. I did the calcs some time ago and think the PHEV over the standard 1.6 adds 25% more power and 18% more weight so kinda defeats the object. ahhhh, one may say but it does have the upgraded suspension....but then i wonder is this only necessary because of the 250kg weight addition. Generally it feels from an engineering standpoint like they are solving problems that didnt need to be created in the first place......... but i do appreciate the company car BIK etc angle, but they even messed up on that giving it a 39 mile electric range when it needs to be 40 or something.
...anwyway, wnough of my rambling and onto the DS9. I have never driven one. A few questions:
1) How is the DS " a lot quieter"? Is this an observation generally or dependent upon speed? I'm hoping your answer says something like you tested both at motorway speeds and the difference was noticeable.
2) I like the "sense of theatre" comment. I don't care if everythings perfectly ergonomic because usually it means it's all black and boring. I want a bit of what one journo called "chintzy". Does this wear off after time?
3) What is the ride comfort like? When you drove the C5X phev how did it compare to the ds9? Like i say I can't help thinking the optional suspension is just there to cope with the extra weight. From memory I think the 1.6 c5x is 1470kg, ds9 225 is 1550kg, C5X Phev 1720kg.....ish
4) I presume because of weight issues the 225hp pHEV C5X would feel slower than the DS9 225hp? Is this noticeable, or more of a case you never really rush while driving both cars.
5) Are you happy with the colour choice? personally I think it's looks good in your pic, but would you have preferred something more avant garde like the pearl colour if available? I have never seen a ds9 in the flesh so have no idea of how the colours look in real life.
6) What is the mpg like so far?
7) Are the alcatara seats good? breathable? sweaty?
8) if youve driven passengers in the car what were their thoughts about the comfort level of the car?
I just came across this forum and have very much enjoyed reading your posts. Congrats on taking the leap to a ds9 which I presume is a performance + version.
You've driven rare 2 cars I like. Last summer days after a delealership just got them I drove the C5X, it was so early in the process the dealer had no prices, didnt have any visibility on finance, nothing. I took the C5X PHEV Shine Plus for a test drive which comprised about 7 miles of small villagey roads and then a blast down a fast A road on the way back. It was my first drive of any car other than my own since 2017.
My impressions were that it was a very capable machine on the inside, seats lovely, like you say sat nav and all that works very well, I loved the HUD, and the space was very generous. Low speed ride was fantastic, reminded me of an old jag.... the big XJ type of years ago. I agree with your other comments on climate controls and USB ports, etc.
What didn't stand out is the high speed noise reduction around 70mph, and didnt feel too different from my car....you can probably guess what that is by my username. Despite it having double glazing a lot of roar still seemed to rise up from underneath. One other issue is it's been marketed as a hybrid of 3 cars, saloon, estate, SUV....... and it didn't quite feel SUV'ey enough as i expected. All in all though an impressive machine, especially at the price point it is.
I did notice a while back the standard 1.6 180hp had been dropped and its a shame really. I did the calcs some time ago and think the PHEV over the standard 1.6 adds 25% more power and 18% more weight so kinda defeats the object. ahhhh, one may say but it does have the upgraded suspension....but then i wonder is this only necessary because of the 250kg weight addition. Generally it feels from an engineering standpoint like they are solving problems that didnt need to be created in the first place......... but i do appreciate the company car BIK etc angle, but they even messed up on that giving it a 39 mile electric range when it needs to be 40 or something.
...anwyway, wnough of my rambling and onto the DS9. I have never driven one. A few questions:
1) How is the DS " a lot quieter"? Is this an observation generally or dependent upon speed? I'm hoping your answer says something like you tested both at motorway speeds and the difference was noticeable.
2) I like the "sense of theatre" comment. I don't care if everythings perfectly ergonomic because usually it means it's all black and boring. I want a bit of what one journo called "chintzy". Does this wear off after time?
3) What is the ride comfort like? When you drove the C5X phev how did it compare to the ds9? Like i say I can't help thinking the optional suspension is just there to cope with the extra weight. From memory I think the 1.6 c5x is 1470kg, ds9 225 is 1550kg, C5X Phev 1720kg.....ish
4) I presume because of weight issues the 225hp pHEV C5X would feel slower than the DS9 225hp? Is this noticeable, or more of a case you never really rush while driving both cars.
5) Are you happy with the colour choice? personally I think it's looks good in your pic, but would you have preferred something more avant garde like the pearl colour if available? I have never seen a ds9 in the flesh so have no idea of how the colours look in real life.
6) What is the mpg like so far?
7) Are the alcatara seats good? breathable? sweaty?
8) if youve driven passengers in the car what were their thoughts about the comfort level of the car?
I am a closet fan of the Fiat 500X! Very under-rated car IMHO.
The comparison of the C5X to an old Jaguar is IMHO spot on. I have owned 3 XJs in the past; two were the 4.0 litre V8 and one was the glorious 6.0 litre V12 (which I really wish I had kept). There is something about both the C5X and the DS9 that brings back that "old Jaguar saloon" feel. Possibly the high comfort level combined with the elegant lines.
I drove the C5X (1.2 turbo petrol) and DS9 (1.6 turbo petrol) back to back on a range of different roads. The DS9 was definitely quieter than the C5X above 50mph. Below 50mph there is no detectable difference. Above 50mph, wind and road noise in the C5X starts going up whereas in the DS9 it stays roughly constant. It is worth noting that all-round laminated glass was dropped from the C5X very early on. Only very early examples will have it. For most C5Xs, only the windscreen is laminated (which I believe is normal on all modern cars). The DS9 has laminated glass all round and I think that it really makes a difference.
Engine noise is of course different. The 1.2 petrol engine is a 3-cylinder unit and actually has quite a cool sound, almost like a miniature V6, but (and I'm really nit picking here) I feel that it isn't entirely in keeping with the character of the car. The C5X is built for relaxed cruising, whereas the 3-cylinder engine is rev happy. I will, however, confirm the observation that in the real world, there is very little performance difference between the 1.2 and the 1.6. I was surprised at how quick the C5X with the 1.2 engine actually is. If you find it too slow, then you are probably in the market for a different car.
One thing that was a (minor) factor in my decision was that the 1.2 engine uses a timing belt whereas the 1.6 uses a timing chain. I am not a great fan of timing belts...
Incidentally, both dealers were lovely. The C5X dealer did some basic paperwork then gave me the keys, asked me how long I wanted, and wished me a good journey. No pressure on the way in or the way out. The DS9 dealer literally just gave me the keys and told me to have fun. I asked him if he wanted a signed form, copy of my license, copy of a utility bill, in fact anything to stop me just doing a runner with a £30k car bearing in mind that I had no history with them. Answer - "don't worry, we trust you". Good dealers still exist
The "sense of theatre" is the thing that really sold me on the DS9. After 2 months and about 2,500 miles, it hasn't worn off. It still feels special There are little touches and details everywhere which somehow make you smile. I think that DS tried very hard to make a car that would constantly delight the owner, and they mostly succeeded. And I also think that DS are the only ones that are playing in this market. You get the impression that the bits which you feel and touch were designed by artists, not accountants. It reminds me of the French designs of the early 21st century, like the Vel Satis, the Avantime and the C6. The quality is actually very high, even in the bits which you can't see. It's obviously not Bentley standard but it's way better than (say) the current E-class. It's a brave move for any car company to make something like this.
(To give an example of the "bits you can't see": in at least one recent generation of E-class, the leather on the seat squabs stops as soon as you can't see it any more. If you put your hand under the squab you can feel it. To save money, they trimmed it just so that the visible bit is leather. On the DS9, it's leather all the way down, like it is on an old Jaguar...)
Of course it is not all super bespoke. It's based on the LWB version of the Peugeot 508 (which is only sold in China). The suspension, engine, transmission etc. is all standard Stellantis. The windscreen is actually identical to the Peugeot 508.
The colour choice for DS9 was (and is) extremely limited, because DS knew that they would sell hardly any in the UK. IMHO the worst colours are black and dark blue; they hide the lines of the car and make it look boring. This is a car whose lines deserve to be seen. Grey is OK but...well, grey. There are two shades of white, a pure white (this is mine) and a pearl white which is more of a cream colour. I personally think that pearl white is the best colour, followed by pure white, followed by silver. All of those look great in the real world. Having said that, there are so few cars out there that you probably have to take whatever is available.
Sometimes, big saloons in white can look a bit "wedding car". The DS9 somehow avoids that. It looks really elegant in white, which I wasn't expecting. Maybe because it's not a sporty shape.
Seats are very comfy. I think the alcantara is a good choice although the watch strap leather option looks amazing (and if there had been a car with the watch strap leather I would have gone for it). There are two things I don't like. The first is that the seats have "PERFORMANCE LINE" stitched into them which if I am honest looks a bit naff. The second is that there are no heated seats, which is a surprising omission on a luxury car that was £40k new.
I am getting 41 - 44mpg in the real world. This is with a reasonable mix of town, A/B road and motorway driving, and, er, "making good progress". No eco driving. I also disable stop-start on every journey, because I hate it. I think that 41 - 44mpg is perfectly fine for a 5m long petrol saloon.
Bear in mind that I am talking about the 2 petrol versions. The PHEV versions may be completely different. Personally I think that the PHEV versions make zero sense for a private buyer, but maybe there is a use case.
The comparison of the C5X to an old Jaguar is IMHO spot on. I have owned 3 XJs in the past; two were the 4.0 litre V8 and one was the glorious 6.0 litre V12 (which I really wish I had kept). There is something about both the C5X and the DS9 that brings back that "old Jaguar saloon" feel. Possibly the high comfort level combined with the elegant lines.
I drove the C5X (1.2 turbo petrol) and DS9 (1.6 turbo petrol) back to back on a range of different roads. The DS9 was definitely quieter than the C5X above 50mph. Below 50mph there is no detectable difference. Above 50mph, wind and road noise in the C5X starts going up whereas in the DS9 it stays roughly constant. It is worth noting that all-round laminated glass was dropped from the C5X very early on. Only very early examples will have it. For most C5Xs, only the windscreen is laminated (which I believe is normal on all modern cars). The DS9 has laminated glass all round and I think that it really makes a difference.
Engine noise is of course different. The 1.2 petrol engine is a 3-cylinder unit and actually has quite a cool sound, almost like a miniature V6, but (and I'm really nit picking here) I feel that it isn't entirely in keeping with the character of the car. The C5X is built for relaxed cruising, whereas the 3-cylinder engine is rev happy. I will, however, confirm the observation that in the real world, there is very little performance difference between the 1.2 and the 1.6. I was surprised at how quick the C5X with the 1.2 engine actually is. If you find it too slow, then you are probably in the market for a different car.
One thing that was a (minor) factor in my decision was that the 1.2 engine uses a timing belt whereas the 1.6 uses a timing chain. I am not a great fan of timing belts...
Incidentally, both dealers were lovely. The C5X dealer did some basic paperwork then gave me the keys, asked me how long I wanted, and wished me a good journey. No pressure on the way in or the way out. The DS9 dealer literally just gave me the keys and told me to have fun. I asked him if he wanted a signed form, copy of my license, copy of a utility bill, in fact anything to stop me just doing a runner with a £30k car bearing in mind that I had no history with them. Answer - "don't worry, we trust you". Good dealers still exist
The "sense of theatre" is the thing that really sold me on the DS9. After 2 months and about 2,500 miles, it hasn't worn off. It still feels special
There are little touches and details everywhere which somehow make you smile. I think that DS tried very hard to make a car that would constantly delight the owner, and they mostly succeeded. And I also think that DS are the only ones that are playing in this market. You get the impression that the bits which you feel and touch were designed by artists, not accountants. It reminds me of the French designs of the early 21st century, like the Vel Satis, the Avantime and the C6. The quality is actually very high, even in the bits which you can't see. It's obviously not Bentley standard but it's way better than (say) the current E-class. It's a brave move for any car company to make something like this.(To give an example of the "bits you can't see": in at least one recent generation of E-class, the leather on the seat squabs stops as soon as you can't see it any more. If you put your hand under the squab you can feel it. To save money, they trimmed it just so that the visible bit is leather. On the DS9, it's leather all the way down, like it is on an old Jaguar...)
Of course it is not all super bespoke. It's based on the LWB version of the Peugeot 508 (which is only sold in China). The suspension, engine, transmission etc. is all standard Stellantis. The windscreen is actually identical to the Peugeot 508.
The colour choice for DS9 was (and is) extremely limited, because DS knew that they would sell hardly any in the UK. IMHO the worst colours are black and dark blue; they hide the lines of the car and make it look boring. This is a car whose lines deserve to be seen. Grey is OK but...well, grey. There are two shades of white, a pure white (this is mine) and a pearl white which is more of a cream colour. I personally think that pearl white is the best colour, followed by pure white, followed by silver. All of those look great in the real world. Having said that, there are so few cars out there that you probably have to take whatever is available.
Sometimes, big saloons in white can look a bit "wedding car". The DS9 somehow avoids that. It looks really elegant in white, which I wasn't expecting. Maybe because it's not a sporty shape.
Seats are very comfy. I think the alcantara is a good choice although the watch strap leather option looks amazing (and if there had been a car with the watch strap leather I would have gone for it). There are two things I don't like. The first is that the seats have "PERFORMANCE LINE" stitched into them which if I am honest looks a bit naff. The second is that there are no heated seats, which is a surprising omission on a luxury car that was £40k new.
I am getting 41 - 44mpg in the real world. This is with a reasonable mix of town, A/B road and motorway driving, and, er, "making good progress". No eco driving. I also disable stop-start on every journey, because I hate it. I think that 41 - 44mpg is perfectly fine for a 5m long petrol saloon.
Bear in mind that I am talking about the 2 petrol versions. The PHEV versions may be completely different. Personally I think that the PHEV versions make zero sense for a private buyer, but maybe there is a use case.
Hi
Many thanks for taking time on a Saturday and posting such a comprehensive reply, I very much appreciate it.
When I got the 500x is was a car supermarket bargain, one of those where a dealer holds the price too high and they stick and then 8-12 months down the line the offload them en masse. Mine at the time listed at £27k including all the extras it had, and was just under half price at £13,249 OTR.....8 months old and 11 miles on the clock. This was 6 years ago now..... I hardly think it's depreciated at all.
A couple of weeks ago deja vu arrived. They had 7 or 8 225hp performance line DS9's...... originally priced at £28k which then dropped to £27k. (about 35% off list). All 22 reg, all circa 50-150miles on the clock. This was on a Friday...... I looked the following Monday and they'd all gone!
Finding you was great at the time, especially a 225hp non PHEV owner. Like I say I've driven the C5X and wanted to know how it compares.
Funny to hear you've had 3 XJ's....I only drove one for a short amount of time on a test drive years ago but of all the cars I have ever been in the C5X ride reminded me most of this. Funny you should mention the E class too, a few days after driving the C5X I rode in one as a taxi, the ride was nowhere near as good.
I think you have a slight misunderstanding with the laminated glass, my understanding it's always been there on the C5X but just in top spec shine plus..... on the other's it's just the windscreen.
I could probably live with a 1.2, similar power to weight as mine but there would be a dropoff in torque. Diesel torque is always high and my car has 350nm vs the C5X 230nm.
I totally agree with you on colour, the only decision is which is best of the top two. I love the side profile pic you posted on this forum.....I'd probably have a slight preference for white over pearl but it's close. By comparison with the C5X my favourite colour would be blue, followed by white.
Great MPG, about matches my current car. I expected more like 35ish. Totally agree on the PHEV's..... just unnecessary for a private buyer.
Before all the DS9's i saw were sold I enquired to DS about a 24hr test drive. I had a preliminary call but the dealership hasn't called me yet. I'd love to try one and see if I can convince the rest of the family it's a capable and rare car.
Bit of a shame the priced it just above £40k, I could live with the car tax but would prefer it to be cheaper.
Overall, its a heart over head feeling I'm getting, what really appeals are your comments about it being different and a bit special.....well that and the fact it's essentially C5X money for what must be a superior car.
Many thanks for taking time on a Saturday and posting such a comprehensive reply, I very much appreciate it.
When I got the 500x is was a car supermarket bargain, one of those where a dealer holds the price too high and they stick and then 8-12 months down the line the offload them en masse. Mine at the time listed at £27k including all the extras it had, and was just under half price at £13,249 OTR.....8 months old and 11 miles on the clock. This was 6 years ago now..... I hardly think it's depreciated at all.
A couple of weeks ago deja vu arrived. They had 7 or 8 225hp performance line DS9's...... originally priced at £28k which then dropped to £27k. (about 35% off list). All 22 reg, all circa 50-150miles on the clock. This was on a Friday...... I looked the following Monday and they'd all gone!
Finding you was great at the time, especially a 225hp non PHEV owner. Like I say I've driven the C5X and wanted to know how it compares.
Funny to hear you've had 3 XJ's....I only drove one for a short amount of time on a test drive years ago but of all the cars I have ever been in the C5X ride reminded me most of this. Funny you should mention the E class too, a few days after driving the C5X I rode in one as a taxi, the ride was nowhere near as good.
I think you have a slight misunderstanding with the laminated glass, my understanding it's always been there on the C5X but just in top spec shine plus..... on the other's it's just the windscreen.
I could probably live with a 1.2, similar power to weight as mine but there would be a dropoff in torque. Diesel torque is always high and my car has 350nm vs the C5X 230nm.
I totally agree with you on colour, the only decision is which is best of the top two. I love the side profile pic you posted on this forum.....I'd probably have a slight preference for white over pearl but it's close. By comparison with the C5X my favourite colour would be blue, followed by white.
Great MPG, about matches my current car. I expected more like 35ish. Totally agree on the PHEV's..... just unnecessary for a private buyer.
Before all the DS9's i saw were sold I enquired to DS about a 24hr test drive. I had a preliminary call but the dealership hasn't called me yet. I'd love to try one and see if I can convince the rest of the family it's a capable and rare car.
Bit of a shame the priced it just above £40k, I could live with the car tax but would prefer it to be cheaper.
Overall, its a heart over head feeling I'm getting, what really appeals are your comments about it being different and a bit special.....well that and the fact it's essentially C5X money for what must be a superior car.
500x said:
Hi
I just have a question for Amit if he's around.
How does the alcantara wear and look in the time you've had it?
Does it still look smart and clean? is it a magnet for dust? Is it easy to clean?
All advice much appreciated.
As of now the Alcantara looks good as new. I find that I actually prefer it to leather, because it grips better. It does not seem to attract dust. Having said that, I have not had it cleaned yet, and I am not sure what the protocol is here. I assume that a wipe-over with a damp cloth is not the right approach...I just have a question for Amit if he's around.
How does the alcantara wear and look in the time you've had it?
Does it still look smart and clean? is it a magnet for dust? Is it easy to clean?
All advice much appreciated.
Thanks for your quick reply Amit and also the follow up comments by Silverthorn are very helpful, especially as we have a child.
I just pondeered the issue after seeing a few comments online that it kinda has a nap, I presume similar to a snooker table, and may not always look perfect. I'm not necessarily bothered about this per se, it adds to the character but then did wonder about wear and tear. Then i spoke to someone yesterday who used to work in fashion and textiles and mentioned alcantara, she said it's very comfortable. I notice it's normally reserved for high end premium cars like Lambo's, Ferrari's, Maserati's, Porsche's and the like but less premium brands like Alfa Romeo use it too.
I've had a look on here about cleaning, and it doesn't look too onerous. https://www.alcantara.com/cleaning-maintenance/
Since I last posted on here, and considering the positive comments made I have progressed the matter further. I went to see a rivoli PHEV with 10k miles on the clock at the weekend with the missus and kid in a showroom. A few things struck me/ us:
1) I did wonder beforehand if the car looked a bit boring traditional 3 box saloon but when you see it in the flesh that all goes out of the window. I especially liked the back third of the car, it knits together really well. It was really weird, the pic's online do not do it justice.
2) The car hides it's size well. A neighbour of mine has an Ausi A6 allroad, 5mm longer, and it looks big. The DS9 avoids that somehow.
3) There is a bit of coupe about it at the rear. An E class Merc for example seems to have a large drop from the top of the roof around the C pillar to the end of the boot. The raking lines of the DS9 avoids this, making it a bit more Audi A6 saloon in profile, even perhaps Merc CLS.
4) The doors are amazing, i could open and close them all day long. This is what I go for, I don't care if the infotainment isn't top notch and it has USB A's, its the feeling of solid build quality that appeals more.
5) I wasnt keen on the leather, it didn't look premium enough. I'm moving towards alcantara.
6) I felt very cosseted in the drivers seat, not enough to make it feel cramped however. I liked that. I'm 5ft 11.
7) Build quality inside is generally top notch....except...... the nasty gear lever....and others thought the cup holders in the rear armrest felt flimsy. I also looked at the DS3 and DS4 briefly in the showroom, they didnt even come close build quality wise.
8) Others had problems with the rear seats. Missus said she felt a bulge in her back, might have been because the headrest was pushing her down a bit? The kid said the seat bases were too long for her legs. The latter I may be able to solve with a car seat to push her forward a bit.
9) I'd have liked brighter headlining.
10) The wide tyres vs the rim width means there is some rubber overhang so the wheels I expect will be difficult to kerb. (have you kerbed yours yet Amit?)
I'll now try and progress the situation further....but i often move at a snails pace.
I just pondeered the issue after seeing a few comments online that it kinda has a nap, I presume similar to a snooker table, and may not always look perfect. I'm not necessarily bothered about this per se, it adds to the character but then did wonder about wear and tear. Then i spoke to someone yesterday who used to work in fashion and textiles and mentioned alcantara, she said it's very comfortable. I notice it's normally reserved for high end premium cars like Lambo's, Ferrari's, Maserati's, Porsche's and the like but less premium brands like Alfa Romeo use it too.
I've had a look on here about cleaning, and it doesn't look too onerous. https://www.alcantara.com/cleaning-maintenance/
Since I last posted on here, and considering the positive comments made I have progressed the matter further. I went to see a rivoli PHEV with 10k miles on the clock at the weekend with the missus and kid in a showroom. A few things struck me/ us:
1) I did wonder beforehand if the car looked a bit boring traditional 3 box saloon but when you see it in the flesh that all goes out of the window. I especially liked the back third of the car, it knits together really well. It was really weird, the pic's online do not do it justice.
2) The car hides it's size well. A neighbour of mine has an Ausi A6 allroad, 5mm longer, and it looks big. The DS9 avoids that somehow.
3) There is a bit of coupe about it at the rear. An E class Merc for example seems to have a large drop from the top of the roof around the C pillar to the end of the boot. The raking lines of the DS9 avoids this, making it a bit more Audi A6 saloon in profile, even perhaps Merc CLS.
4) The doors are amazing, i could open and close them all day long. This is what I go for, I don't care if the infotainment isn't top notch and it has USB A's, its the feeling of solid build quality that appeals more.
5) I wasnt keen on the leather, it didn't look premium enough. I'm moving towards alcantara.
6) I felt very cosseted in the drivers seat, not enough to make it feel cramped however. I liked that. I'm 5ft 11.
7) Build quality inside is generally top notch....except...... the nasty gear lever....and others thought the cup holders in the rear armrest felt flimsy. I also looked at the DS3 and DS4 briefly in the showroom, they didnt even come close build quality wise.
8) Others had problems with the rear seats. Missus said she felt a bulge in her back, might have been because the headrest was pushing her down a bit? The kid said the seat bases were too long for her legs. The latter I may be able to solve with a car seat to push her forward a bit.
9) I'd have liked brighter headlining.
10) The wide tyres vs the rim width means there is some rubber overhang so the wheels I expect will be difficult to kerb. (have you kerbed yours yet Amit?)
I'll now try and progress the situation further....but i often move at a snails pace.
Just one more question if anyone can help?
Is there a way to find the original price of a car by using the reg number?
I'm asking because when I bought my current car as usual the dealer listed the standard spec and nothing more regarding optional extras fitted. I don't think they realised extras were added. When I saw the car in person I knew it had £500 quids worth of extras on it. Then after i bought it I was driving home and noticed an amber light in the wing mirror, Unbeknown to me the car had lane assist, etc fitted, another £950 option. I was very happy.
With the current advertised ds9's in some cases the reg numbers are showing and the dealers are not giving much spec information. For all I know one of these could have a sunroof, night vision camera, or upgraded sound and I'd be none the wiser.
Apart from calling dealers and asking for the spec is there a way around this?
Is there a way to find the original price of a car by using the reg number?
I'm asking because when I bought my current car as usual the dealer listed the standard spec and nothing more regarding optional extras fitted. I don't think they realised extras were added. When I saw the car in person I knew it had £500 quids worth of extras on it. Then after i bought it I was driving home and noticed an amber light in the wing mirror, Unbeknown to me the car had lane assist, etc fitted, another £950 option. I was very happy.
With the current advertised ds9's in some cases the reg numbers are showing and the dealers are not giving much spec information. For all I know one of these could have a sunroof, night vision camera, or upgraded sound and I'd be none the wiser.
Apart from calling dealers and asking for the spec is there a way around this?
500x said:
Thanks for your quick reply Amit and also the follow up comments by Silverthorn are very helpful, especially as we have a child.
I just pondeered the issue after seeing a few comments online that it kinda has a nap, I presume similar to a snooker table, and may not always look perfect. I'm not necessarily bothered about this per se, it adds to the character but then did wonder about wear and tear. Then i spoke to someone yesterday who used to work in fashion and textiles and mentioned alcantara, she said it's very comfortable. I notice it's normally reserved for high end premium cars like Lambo's, Ferrari's, Maserati's, Porsche's and the like but less premium brands like Alfa Romeo use it too.
most car makers offer alcantra, nothing luxury about it!I just pondeered the issue after seeing a few comments online that it kinda has a nap, I presume similar to a snooker table, and may not always look perfect. I'm not necessarily bothered about this per se, it adds to the character but then did wonder about wear and tear. Then i spoke to someone yesterday who used to work in fashion and textiles and mentioned alcantara, she said it's very comfortable. I notice it's normally reserved for high end premium cars like Lambo's, Ferrari's, Maserati's, Porsche's and the like but less premium brands like Alfa Romeo use it too.
Alcantara is generally upper range cars. I had a google yesterday and the consensus seems to be it's either a similar price to leather or more expensive. Personally I see it as an upgrade vs the leather and like it because I won't slide around as much.
Just one question for Amit if he's around. I have looked cover to cover through the October 2021 DS brochure but cannot establish if the performance line+ has the rear door interior lighting (something that the missus and kid really liked). Has your car got it?
Just one question for Amit if he's around. I have looked cover to cover through the October 2021 DS brochure but cannot establish if the performance line+ has the rear door interior lighting (something that the missus and kid really liked). Has your car got it?
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