RE: Citroen C4 Cactus: Review
Discussion
We got one for the Missus back in July - Blue HDI - Manual - Flair - With City Park Pack - (No Sunroof) - Lagoon Blue - Black Bumps / Wheels - Red Cactus sign - Didn't do the Red Wing Mirrors - should have.
The Console is really easy to use - No Issues / Faults - actually seen two people hit the air bumps with their doors getting out of their cars - so that's two saves already.
Only down side - the Missus is a bit shorter than me and has the seats as high as possible - I have to have them as low as possible as my head can hit the area by the sun blinds when I lean forward - I'm 6' 2" - so it's probably not for the taller person.
We drove to France in Summer and it was very comfortable, got good MPG , trotted along at 80-90 with 4 up and full load (even got 126mpg whilst doing the M25 at 2 mph).
Have had all kinds of reactions - guess it's a bit of a marmite car - people have actually come up and asked "What is it?" which I have never had before in a car.
The Console is really easy to use - No Issues / Faults - actually seen two people hit the air bumps with their doors getting out of their cars - so that's two saves already.
Only down side - the Missus is a bit shorter than me and has the seats as high as possible - I have to have them as low as possible as my head can hit the area by the sun blinds when I lean forward - I'm 6' 2" - so it's probably not for the taller person.
We drove to France in Summer and it was very comfortable, got good MPG , trotted along at 80-90 with 4 up and full load (even got 126mpg whilst doing the M25 at 2 mph).
Have had all kinds of reactions - guess it's a bit of a marmite car - people have actually come up and asked "What is it?" which I have never had before in a car.
It's the pricing that I can't get my head around. The whole point is that is basic (read: a bit crap), but it is priced without any regard to that fact.
The only attraction I can see is as some kind of anti-style fashion statement, but you could make that much better with an older and slightly tatty car that would drive better and not be a bit crap.
The only attraction I can see is as some kind of anti-style fashion statement, but you could make that much better with an older and slightly tatty car that would drive better and not be a bit crap.
I have a 100 Blue HDi Diesel 1.6 in Flair trim, with all the extras.
What I don't like:
No vanity mirror on passenger visor (wife not impressed.
No grab handle above doors
Gear change into 2nd from 1st can be notchy. (I need to pop back to the dealership, may just need some asdjustment
Read drum brakes (brakes are fine, they just look crap thru the alloy wheels.
No split rear seat when folding it down.
Feels cheap on the outside, doors shut with a "kerdoing", bonnet and boot feel flimsy (light weight I guess)
No rev counter or temp gauge.
What I like:
Centre screen works like a dream.
sat nav is just brill
Build it jukebox is fab
Bluetooth reads text messages and sends verbal replies by text.
Seats are v. comfy.
Pano roof is great
Car feels very expensive on the inside, really high quality
Av 65 mpg mix of London suburbs and M40 out of town
19 y/o son has to drive it like a granny because he's terrified of f
king up my mpg figures.
Self park is superb in town
Other cactus owners wave at you
It's different, and has character
Love the looks, as do most people. But some hate it. (first time I brought it home, my neighbour said "the rubbish they hand out as a courtesy car these days is a scandal
)
Overall, love it.
What I don't like:
No vanity mirror on passenger visor (wife not impressed.
No grab handle above doors
Gear change into 2nd from 1st can be notchy. (I need to pop back to the dealership, may just need some asdjustment
Read drum brakes (brakes are fine, they just look crap thru the alloy wheels.
No split rear seat when folding it down.
Feels cheap on the outside, doors shut with a "kerdoing", bonnet and boot feel flimsy (light weight I guess)
No rev counter or temp gauge.
What I like:
Centre screen works like a dream.
sat nav is just brill
Build it jukebox is fab
Bluetooth reads text messages and sends verbal replies by text.
Seats are v. comfy.
Pano roof is great
Car feels very expensive on the inside, really high quality
Av 65 mpg mix of London suburbs and M40 out of town
19 y/o son has to drive it like a granny because he's terrified of f
king up my mpg figures.Self park is superb in town
Other cactus owners wave at you
It's different, and has character
Love the looks, as do most people. But some hate it. (first time I brought it home, my neighbour said "the rubbish they hand out as a courtesy car these days is a scandal
)Overall, love it.
DoctorX said:
Bill said:
AnotherClarkey said:
How could anyone take his opinion seriously when he writes like such an abject ? I am always amazed when CAR proclaims itself to be 'the best car magazine in the world'.
I'd put it more tactfully, but ? I am always amazed when CAR proclaims itself to be 'the best car magazine in the world'.
I agree, just wondered if he made any valid points.Anyway, who's testing the thing? Him, or his wife??
He might be right of course! I've never driven a Cactarse.
Kitchski said:
DoctorX said:
Bill said:
AnotherClarkey said:
How could anyone take his opinion seriously when he writes like such an abject ? I am always amazed when CAR proclaims itself to be 'the best car magazine in the world'.
I'd put it more tactfully, but ? I am always amazed when CAR proclaims itself to be 'the best car magazine in the world'. I agree, just wondered if he made any valid points.Anyway, who's testing the thing? Him, or his wife??
He might be right of course! I've never driven a Cactarse.
regards,
Jet ffrench-Noise
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I have a 100 Blue HDi Diesel 1.6 in Flair trim, with all the extras.
What I don't like:
No vanity mirror on passenger visor (wife not impressed.
No grab handle above doors
Gear change into 2nd from 1st can be notchy. (I need to pop back to the dealership, may just need some asdjustment
Read drum brakes (brakes are fine, they just look crap thru the alloy wheels.
No split rear seat when folding it down.
Feels cheap on the outside, doors shut with a "kerdoing", bonnet and boot feel flimsy (light weight I guess)
No rev counter or temp gauge.
Overall, love it.
Agree with all your points, although the gear change is fine on ours.What I don't like:
No vanity mirror on passenger visor (wife not impressed.
No grab handle above doors
Gear change into 2nd from 1st can be notchy. (I need to pop back to the dealership, may just need some asdjustment
Read drum brakes (brakes are fine, they just look crap thru the alloy wheels.
No split rear seat when folding it down.
Feels cheap on the outside, doors shut with a "kerdoing", bonnet and boot feel flimsy (light weight I guess)
No rev counter or temp gauge.
Overall, love it.
Drum brakes, we have the black alloys and not really noticed
The "Change up" indicator seems to be set a bit low even for a diesel, suppose that's for maximum efficiency.
The under inflated tyre warning works well too as we found out when we discovered a slow puncture.
The Engine Stop / Go is sensible too, although it caught me out the first time.
The rear parking camera is very helpful, as is the "Park it for me" option.
Some other owners flash / wave (used to get that in the Impreza many moons ago).
As with you, overall, love it.
I've got a load of old CAR mags from years ago, which I'm slowly working through. Late '80's to early noughties. They're brilliant! Some of the best automotive writing I've seen, not that I'm an expert, I just know I enjoyed reading them.
That article looks like a chap trying REALLY REALLY REALLY hard to be funny, but then weirdly not actually caring if he's successful or not. One or two lines were titter-worthy, but the rest was just waffling and willy waving from where I'm sitting.
That article looks like a chap trying REALLY REALLY REALLY hard to be funny, but then weirdly not actually caring if he's successful or not. One or two lines were titter-worthy, but the rest was just waffling and willy waving from where I'm sitting.
So for those of us that bought or leased a Cactus... What did you think of the car?
We did the 118 deposit/118 a month lease which will obviously influence the review, at that price there has been nothing to match the cost/size/equipment.
Even though it's been gone for a year or more still have fond memories.
Liked:
Looks (subjective)
Air bumps which were big enough to prevent any sort of dings.
Equipment level
MPG
Space
Things wasn't so keen on:
The slow, clunky touch screen
Cost of getting those diamond cut alloys refurbed if they'd needed it
High boot lid and lack of split rear seats
The lack of power in an 82hp car
Rear head room
Reliability wise only issue was the recall for the bonnet catch. Still think they look great now and Shane the air bump system seems to be put back on the shelf. Worked great!
We did the 118 deposit/118 a month lease which will obviously influence the review, at that price there has been nothing to match the cost/size/equipment.
Even though it's been gone for a year or more still have fond memories.
Liked:
Looks (subjective)
Air bumps which were big enough to prevent any sort of dings.
Equipment level
MPG
Space
Things wasn't so keen on:
The slow, clunky touch screen
Cost of getting those diamond cut alloys refurbed if they'd needed it
High boot lid and lack of split rear seats
The lack of power in an 82hp car
Rear head room
Reliability wise only issue was the recall for the bonnet catch. Still think they look great now and Shane the air bump system seems to be put back on the shelf. Worked great!
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