Discussion
Been offered a reasonable deal on a C3 Picasso, manual diesel.
12mths MoT, worth finding out more or are they a pile of dung?
Would be used as a runaround, dog truck, MtB’s, tip runs etc, low mileage, short journeys mostly with the odd longer run.
ETA, posted in the wrong place - Mods please feel free to move!
12mths MoT, worth finding out more or are they a pile of dung?
Would be used as a runaround, dog truck, MtB’s, tip runs etc, low mileage, short journeys mostly with the odd longer run.
ETA, posted in the wrong place - Mods please feel free to move!
Edited by LordHaveMurci on Thursday 23 November 17:52
I looked into getting one previously, they have a few common issues one of which was not a cheap fix (i think it may have been the steering rack but i could be getting confused with the earlier A class) and the 1.6 diesel of death wouldn’t be my choice of engine.
Im not saying dont get it, but condition is king if your buying it to run into the ground.
Im not saying dont get it, but condition is king if your buying it to run into the ground.
We have owned our 2011 diesel C3 Picasso from new. In nearly 130,000 miles other than maintenance items, a washer pump and outside temperature sensor the only problem has been the power steering rack. This seems to be an issue specific to 2011 cars and it was replaced free of change by Citroen even though the car was eight years old at the time. They are great cars for runs to the tip due to the square back and the fact that the seats fold completely flat. My only concern with the car you are looking at is being diesel you need to give it a good run every so often which you say you plan to do.
Edited by Feetup on Thursday 23 November 19:28
I had a 2014 C3 Picasso with the 90bhp 1.6 diesel. Very practical, pretty comfy, 60mpg.
The only problem I had was a squeaking clutch slave cylinder. Replaced by an indy for £130.
Power steering motors seem to be the most common real fault, but not super-expensive to fix.
The only rust issue that I'm aware of is the exhaust hanger bracket. Cheap fix.
Fuse box can rot if the scuttle drains get blocked apparently.
It wasn't perfect, getting a bit noisy over 70mph. It's an old design, which Citroen didn't really alter apart from a nose job and different engines.
It also struggled a bit going up really steep hills at low speeds - relatively narrow power band and widely-spaced lower gear ratios - but a remap to 130bhp sorted that. Power came in lower down the rev range, so I could change up a bit earlier.
The C3 Aircross that replaced it is much more refined, but not as practical.
There's a lot of positives to the C3 Picasso, if you can live with the slightly challenging looks. I think the pre-adblue diesels are the ones to go for
The only problem I had was a squeaking clutch slave cylinder. Replaced by an indy for £130.
Power steering motors seem to be the most common real fault, but not super-expensive to fix.
The only rust issue that I'm aware of is the exhaust hanger bracket. Cheap fix.
Fuse box can rot if the scuttle drains get blocked apparently.
It wasn't perfect, getting a bit noisy over 70mph. It's an old design, which Citroen didn't really alter apart from a nose job and different engines.
It also struggled a bit going up really steep hills at low speeds - relatively narrow power band and widely-spaced lower gear ratios - but a remap to 130bhp sorted that. Power came in lower down the rev range, so I could change up a bit earlier.
The C3 Aircross that replaced it is much more refined, but not as practical.
There's a lot of positives to the C3 Picasso, if you can live with the slightly challenging looks. I think the pre-adblue diesels are the ones to go for
We are on our second, the first a 2011 1.6 diesel which had the electric power steering pump failure but not an expensive fix. Other than that very economical, practical, comfortable, quirky and nice to drive.
We now have a 2013 diesel and again it has had no major issues, has the 6 speed box and is very economical, ie averaging over 50 mpg.
Tax is only £30 pa and insurance for us this year is still only £250 FC despite the big increases.
My other half won't have anything else she likes it that much and I must admit to being quite taken with them myself. The back has lots of space with the rear seats down so great for the tip runs or moving bulky items.
Both ours have been the Exclusive model which has a slightly better interior, ie heating controls and nicer looking steering wheel.
We now have a 2013 diesel and again it has had no major issues, has the 6 speed box and is very economical, ie averaging over 50 mpg.
Tax is only £30 pa and insurance for us this year is still only £250 FC despite the big increases.
My other half won't have anything else she likes it that much and I must admit to being quite taken with them myself. The back has lots of space with the rear seats down so great for the tip runs or moving bulky items.
Both ours have been the Exclusive model which has a slightly better interior, ie heating controls and nicer looking steering wheel.
Ok, it's a March 2010 1560cc diesel on 123k miles, fresh MoT with front brake pads & tyres as advisories.
MoT history is pretty clean
I know there was a clonk from the front suspension recently, the garages advice was 'spray it with WD40 & get it sold', I think they suggested £200-300 to sort properly.
I'm rubbish at buying cars, partly why I haven't bought one for nearly 14 years!
Worth a punt do you reckon?
MoT history is pretty clean
I know there was a clonk from the front suspension recently, the garages advice was 'spray it with WD40 & get it sold', I think they suggested £200-300 to sort properly.
I'm rubbish at buying cars, partly why I haven't bought one for nearly 14 years!
Worth a punt do you reckon?
I run a fleet of cars - about 90 at the moment, and all of them are somewhere between 2005 and 2013 models.
I have a pile of C3 Picassos. They are tough and reliable, and not so far prone to major issues. There is no DPF or DMF on the 90 bhp engine, and everything is simple and quick and easy to service.
They are cheap to run, low tax, very good fuel economy, and drive OK. Would I have another. Hell yeah, I'd have another 20 if I was able.
Not as good as a Toyota Yaris, but pretty much up there, and loads better on the criteria I judge on than the German brigade.
I have a pile of C3 Picassos. They are tough and reliable, and not so far prone to major issues. There is no DPF or DMF on the 90 bhp engine, and everything is simple and quick and easy to service.
They are cheap to run, low tax, very good fuel economy, and drive OK. Would I have another. Hell yeah, I'd have another 20 if I was able.
Not as good as a Toyota Yaris, but pretty much up there, and loads better on the criteria I judge on than the German brigade.
I've had two of them, 1.6 manual diesels, base models with 5sp boxes, both bought new. One in 2012, the other in 2016 when I traded the 2012 one in for it.
I didn't do big mileages in them, but they were both reliable and economical, used as local runabouts and airport runs. Servicing wasn't what I call cheap, they had some sort of exhaust injector 'bladder' (not adblue) that needed to be changed periodically and added to the cost.
First one had two warranty claims for a couple of failing ABS sensors, second one nothing went wrong at all. I put new tyres on at around 28k miles, but could probably have got another 3k out of them.
Would recommend.
I didn't do big mileages in them, but they were both reliable and economical, used as local runabouts and airport runs. Servicing wasn't what I call cheap, they had some sort of exhaust injector 'bladder' (not adblue) that needed to be changed periodically and added to the cost.
First one had two warranty claims for a couple of failing ABS sensors, second one nothing went wrong at all. I put new tyres on at around 28k miles, but could probably have got another 3k out of them.
Would recommend.
clockworks said:
I sold my C3P last year for £3600. 2014 Exclusive 1.6d with 36k miles, but the bodywork had lots of dings from previous owners.
2010 with high mileage is probably worth £2k in good condition from a private seller.
I’ve been offered it for less than that & was hoping to pay about £1200!2010 with high mileage is probably worth £2k in good condition from a private seller.
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