Somehow, I bought a 5 year old Citroen C5

Somehow, I bought a 5 year old Citroen C5

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Discussion

TotalControl

8,050 posts

198 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
I like these a lot. I really do. But the fact that it's a Citroen keeps putting me off.

Are these FWD only? I'm incredibly happy with the legacy 2.5 auto I have at the moment but wouldn't mind one of these if they are reliable.

But it's a Citroen. Gah! But look at those comfy seats.

Off to the classifieds I go to browse.

stupidbutkeen

1,010 posts

155 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
After a few nightcaps I will just put my hat on the table and pronounce you braver than a brave man with a impulse to be brave,But what a car that is smile

tbc

3,017 posts

175 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
brave, i wouldn't touch a Citroen or Pug with a batch pole.

So many other more refined, faster and desirable cars which won't be rendered useless when the electrics pack up

milu

2,351 posts

266 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Great buy.
I really fancied one ,for the comfort aspect because so many roads are crap.
However I needed a BIG estate so short of cash for an E class I bought a mondeo tit x. With same engine.
I'm happy with it but still like these .

the_stoat

504 posts

211 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
tbc said:
more refined
Not sure you have been in one they are very refined far more so than the E classes I get taken to the airport in. Hugely comfortable and really quiet. For noise and comfort they are not far off an last generation S class.

For many miles per week I think this is a great choice OP smile

DS3R

9,860 posts

166 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Looks comfy. do all the electrics work.

Can we have pics of the orher two cars too please!?

Pentoman

Original Poster:

4,814 posts

263 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
DS3R said:
Looks comfy. do all the electrics work.

Can we have pics of the orher two cars too please!?
All the electrics are fully tested and do work (there's a lot of them too) except for one thing - the tyre pressure monitors. I think this is common with all TPMS systems, my parents VW is the same. I guess it's the sensors in the wheels.

Other two. I had this for 8 years:







And have had this for just a few months:



The red car is not mine - they just share a garage space.

Pentoman

Original Poster:

4,814 posts

263 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
TotalControl said:
I like these a lot. I really do. But the fact that it's a Citroen keeps putting me off.

Are these FWD only? I'm incredibly happy with the legacy 2.5 auto I have at the moment but wouldn't mind one of these if they are reliable.

But it's a Citroen. Gah! But look at those comfy seats.

Off to the classifieds I go to browse.
FWD only I'm afraid.

I was lucky I could be confident everything worked on this. And I know it's history. Owned by a telecoms company, one female driver doing a lot of miles. The high mileage appealed to me, being a modern diesel, as they don't like short journeys. Especially when the condition is so great, I could at least tell it was looked after for all those miles. There is very, very little wear outside and in.

All that helped. What more could I do? I get to hear plenty of expensive repair stories on BMW, VW and Mazda diesels to name a few, from said mechanics. I'll see how this goes. Nearly 2000 miles so far, and no problems. Apparently engines and DPFs are fairly trouble free. Suspension and electrics could be more concerning, but it's made it this far and the ride quality is something else. You can buy them on normal spring suspension if you want simplicity, but only the lower spec models.

Edited by Pentoman on Friday 16th May 08:28

CallorFold

832 posts

133 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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Those seats look very, very comfy! smile

As you mentioned, it does look quite interesting inside!

I've driven past a few Citroen's and always find it very strange when I notice the wheel turns, but the centre piece stays in the same place! It's a strangely "futuristic" feeling.

Pentoman

Original Poster:

4,814 posts

263 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
I'm enjoying the comments and input, good or bad. It's nice to have a car that generates opinion. I would appreciate more thoughts from nightcap guy, since his input (the very first response) made me laugh.

CallorFold said:
Those seats look very, very comfy! smile

As you mentioned, it does look quite interesting inside!

I've driven past a few Citroen's and always find it very strange when I notice the wheel turns, but the centre piece stays in the same place! It's a strangely "futuristic" feeling.
This was the one that was advertised as "a German car from France" or similar, so the interior is fairly German, with quirky
Frenchness such as that steering wheel. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

The seats, they are 14-way electrically adjustable. The top half of the seat back can be folded down, for extra shoulder support. I've never seen that before.

CAPP0

19,577 posts

203 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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Pentoman said:
The top half of the seat back can be folded down, for extra shoulder support. I've never seen that before.
My, non-Citroen, car has this and it makes an incredible difference to comfort levels on long journeys when your shoulders are properly supported (and I'm 6'4")

Kitchski

6,515 posts

231 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Ughh, I could never own a Citroen! It's French, ugh!! FWD.....ugh!!!







Just trying it from the other side of the fence. Nice car OP smile

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Pentoman said:
And have had this for just a few months:



The red car is not mine - they just share a garage space.
<peers> Never mind all that, what IS the red thing? Ginetta?

anonymous-user

54 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
tbc said:
brave, i wouldn't touch a Citroen or Pug with a batch pole.

So many other more refined, faster and desirable cars which won't be rendered useless when the electrics pack up
No surprises there with that comment - you are boringly predictable. I'd also like to know what a 'batch pole' is exactly?

OP, I've always thought these look very smart, and it's a huge amount of car for the cash, looks great!

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
<peers> Never mind all that, what IS the red thing? Ginetta?
D'oh. It's an Elan, isn't it? The lights threw me.

TheAngryDog

12,406 posts

209 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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That has come along way from the mk1 C5. I like the interior OP. If it didnt have the Citroen badge on the steering, I wouldnt of guessed it was from a Citroen.

boyse7en

6,712 posts

165 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Don't worry too much about the suspension. The hydraulic system is very reliable. I've owned three elderly high-mileage XMs over the past 12 years, and not one of them has a problem with the suspension system. You need to replace the spheres every so often to keep it pliant.

Is the Hydractive 3 height adjustable (ie, can it go up and down like a 'proper' Citroen?)

Raoul Duke

929 posts

163 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
If its the Exclusive then it will have the proper Citroen suspension.
Was sorely tempted by one as a company hack, but was put off by the depreciation - our company car budget takes into consideration residual value, so I would have been royally shafted when it came to change again!
But as a second hand purchase, for the OP's intended use, it's a great choice.

95 fiesta si

1,600 posts

152 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
iam liking the interior

andyalan10

404 posts

137 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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I do not need to replace the Volvo V70 D5 on the drive. On the other hand the £225 tax renewal has just arrived. The C5 Tourer is in my opinion the best looking estate out there, and more comfort appeals a lot.

Also more and more inclined to look left field for my next car.

Andy