RE: Citroen C4 Cactus: Review

RE: Citroen C4 Cactus: Review

Author
Discussion

Pesty

42,655 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
think it looks fantastic.

well done citroen

r11co

6,244 posts

229 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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The way this was being a touted a few months ago in the motoring press it was going to be a competitively priced 'budget' car but with style thanks to clean-sheet design thinking, light weight and the removal of fripperies - a Dacia rival that isn't an old re-heat in other words.

£20k plus kicks that idea right into touch, which kind of screws this car's raison d'être, and IMO makes it a target for severe criticism as it'll be very much under the spotlight following the false promises.

Pesty

42,655 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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dukebox9reg said:
Well the Countryman is a right giggle to drive. These Citroens aren't. They are just good tools.

I'm not against them, I have a top spec new C4 Picasso for the wife and though the handling as been sharped up from Picasso's of old, there isn't a fun thing about driving it. You are fully detached from what the front wheels are doing through the steering wheel etc and the back end doesn't feel fully connected to the back end.

The Countryman on the other hand makes you want to drive it every time you get in it like any of the rest of the MINI range.

Be interesting if these get picked up by the blue badge brigade like the majority of Nissan Cashcows in the UK.
Have you driven this one? its very light and i've read good to drive in this months evo

we also have a top spec c4 GP its great to drive no idea where you get the not connected at the back from. its certainly not a sports car but its not intended to be.

r11co said:
The way this was being a touted a few months ago in the motoring press it was going to be a competitively priced 'budget' car but with style thanks to clean-sheet design thinking, light weight and the removal of fripperies - a Dacia rival that isn't an old re-heat in other words.

£20k plus kicks that idea right into touch, which kind of screws this car's raison d'être, and IMO makes it a target for severe criticism as it'll be very much under the spotlight following the false promises.
I think th epetrol engine ones start at 12.5k from memory diesels are expensive though.

alexmckie

118 posts

240 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Well done Citroen for having the Stones to go outside the box....

ManiacGT

537 posts

174 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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To all the posters about the rear seat.. it folds but doesn't split as as standard but you can option a split rear seat, presumably for a few quid more. The pop out 'classic mini' style windows will stay though. Not an issue for most without kids and presumably if you do have kids, a small opening rear window is a good thing (provided you also have air con).

I'd be very interested in one, a basic spec one though as I've been burned before with options/toys... and they start at around £13K.

http://info.citroen.co.uk/Assets/pdf/new-cars/pric...

Edited by ManiacGT on Tuesday 19th August 15:54

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
The bubble shaped Picasso - usually in a horrible light blue - is the car people who have given up on life and driving love, if that is they can muster such an emotion from the depths of their apathetic souls.

What happens when you are in this position and you feel a twitch, the faintest pulse that life might be worth living. You think fk it! I'm going out to have me some automotive fun and you trot along to your local Citroen dealer and part ex your blue Frog stbox for this.

Poor sad pathetic hopeless people. I really pity them.

I don't like this car very much.

Edited by wildcat45 on Tuesday 19th August 19:04


Edited by wildcat45 on Tuesday 19th August 19:06


Edited by wildcat45 on Tuesday 19th August 19:07

ManiacGT

537 posts

174 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
wildcat45 said:
I don't like this car very much.
ROFL, no st. I however will reserve judgement until I've seen and driven it.

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Pesty said:
dukebox9reg said:
Well the Countryman is a right giggle to drive. These Citroens aren't. They are just good tools.

I'm not against them, I have a top spec new C4 Picasso for the wife and though the handling as been sharped up from Picasso's of old, there isn't a fun thing about driving it. You are fully detached from what the front wheels are doing through the steering wheel etc and the back end doesn't feel fully connected to the back end.

The Countryman on the other hand makes you want to drive it every time you get in it like any of the rest of the MINI range.

Be interesting if these get picked up by the blue badge brigade like the majority of Nissan Cashcows in the UK.
Have you driven this one? its very light and i've read good to drive in this months evo

we also have a top spec c4 GP its great to drive no idea where you get the not connected at the back from. its certainly not a sports car but its not intended to be.

r11co said:
The way this was being a touted a few months ago in the motoring press it was going to be a competitively priced 'budget' car but with style thanks to clean-sheet design thinking, light weight and the removal of fripperies - a Dacia rival that isn't an old re-heat in other words.

£20k plus kicks that idea right into touch, which kind of screws this car's raison d'être, and IMO makes it a target for severe criticism as it'll be very much under the spotlight following the false promises.
I think th epetrol engine ones start at 12.5k from memory diesels are expensive though.
Don't get me wrong, I think the car doesn't handle bad for a 5 seat MPV thing but it gets very upset on twisting roads etc, undulations driving anything above 5/10s etc. I know its not a sports car. It's just an observation.

Below that I would say its above par. Not far of the CMax in its execution. You mention you have the GP aswell. The extra weight on the back axle might make it a bit more settled I dare say without driving it.

Ive driven a C3, C3 Picasso, C4 and C4 Picasso. Have to say the newest Picasso feels the most disconnected to the road followed by the standard C3. I can't imagine where this is being aimed that its going to handle much different to the standard C3/4 Picasso.

Probs still be 10X better than the Xsara Picasso mind.

RemarkLima

2,366 posts

211 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
dukebox9reg said:
Don't get me wrong, I think the car doesn't handle bad for a 5 seat MPV thing but it gets very upset on twisting roads etc, undulations driving anything above 5/10s etc. I know its not a sports car. It's just an observation.

Below that I would say its above par. Not far of the CMax in its execution. You mention you have the GP aswell. The extra weight on the back axle might make it a bit more settled I dare say without driving it.

Ive driven a C3, C3 Picasso, C4 and C4 Picasso. Have to say the newest Picasso feels the most disconnected to the road followed by the standard C3. I can't imagine where this is being aimed that its going to handle much different to the standard C3/4 Picasso.

Probs still be 10X better than the Xsara Picasso mind.
But they're Citroen's, they're supposed to be armchairs that can plod down the paeage for the camping holiday.

I remember driving through France and crossing into Germany, in France it's all derv people carriers, mini vans and closest thing to something sporty was a badly modified 106... Cross into Germany and within a couple of miles it's Porsches, BMW Z cars, Mercs etc... It really is a cultural thing.

Personally, I really like it's looks, I'd rather have a DS5 myself. Do any new Citroens still use the hydroactive suspension?

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
zerovira said:
I think down here in spain they are selling them quite well, I've seen half a dozen or so, and they've been selling it since june or so I think.
Saw my first one yesterday here in Alicante and didn't recognise it at first until I saw this article; looked great!

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
ManiacGT said:
To all the posters about the rear seat.. it folds but doesn't split as as standard but you can option a split rear seat, presumably for a few quid more. The pop out 'classic mini' style windows will stay though. Not an issue for most without kids and presumably if you do have kids, a small opening rear window is a good thing (provided you also have air con).

I'd be very interested in one, a basic spec one though as I've been burned before with options/toys... and they start at around £13K.

http://info.citroen.co.uk/Assets/pdf/new-cars/pric...

Edited by ManiacGT on Tuesday 19th August 15:54
Maniac, There's no split folding rear sear option for the Cactus in the brochure at the link above...
Having said that, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

marctwo

3,666 posts

259 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
I think it looks good. Well done Citroen for daring to be different.

rob1234

851 posts

196 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
No-one will buy it, but at least they're making a car that isn't pretending to be something it's not. Good on 'em.

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Car companies are strange institutions.
If you conceive a car (such as the Cactus) around low running costs & selling price, low weight, simplicity and a break from the norm, why do you provide the press with top spec £20K examples of the model for their first drive in the UK.

I'm looking forward to a test of a model with the 82hp petrol with a manual gearbox and the second cheapest spec level - I can't do without the demisting power of air con... Surely this will play to the Cactus' inherent strengths more than a fancy diesel with pearlescent paint and Habana leather?

Investment banks are also strange institutions. They are like inverse ant colonies, comprising hundreds or thousands of intelligent individuals that collectively make terrible decisions.

uuf361

3,154 posts

221 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
I thought when this was first announced it was supposed to be cheap, c.£12k - now it's out it's anything but imo and no idea why you'd buy one - not a fan - would have made marginally more sense if basic and cheap but I think.....

Allaloneatron

3,123 posts

239 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
rob1234 said:
No-one will buy it, but at least they're making a car that isn't pretending to be something it's not. Good on 'em.
You say that, but the C3 was a pile of ste and I see loads of them on the road. I think there will be plenty of these on the road soon.

Bluebarge

4,519 posts

177 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
uuf361 said:
I thought when this was first announced it was supposed to be cheap, c.£12k - now it's out it's anything but imo and no idea why you'd buy one - not a fan - would have made marginally more sense if basic and cheap but I think.....
Starts at £12990 if you pay full-price - all cars can be specced up to silly prices.

Costs even less in France - about £11k at today's exchange rate

NomduJour

18,973 posts

258 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
They seem quite popular in Spain already. Quite desirable as far as cars I'd never dream of buying go.

uuf361

3,154 posts

221 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
missed that bit - thought it said £18k and £20k for the one with options.

Makes more sense at the lower price....

Pesty

42,655 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
dukebox9reg said:
Don't get me wrong, I think the car doesn't handle bad for a 5 seat MPV thing but it gets very upset on twisting roads etc, undulations driving anything above 5/10s etc. I know its not a sports car. It's just an observation.

Below that I would say its above par. Not far of the CMax in its execution. You mention you have the GP aswell. The extra weight on the back axle might make it a bit more settled I dare say without driving it.

Ive driven a C3, C3 Picasso, C4 and C4 Picasso. Have to say the newest Picasso feels the most disconnected to the road followed by the standard C3. I can't imagine where this is being aimed that its going to handle much different to the standard C3/4 Picasso.

Probs still be 10X better than the Xsara Picasso mind.
ahh yes sorry different car and with air suspension on our GP not sure if the non GP has that. extra weight may help i think its a bit longer too.