Another big Frenchie - C5 estate
Another big Frenchie - C5 estate
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Discussion

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Originally posted on French car forum this morning.

I was going to wait a bit for this, but thought I might as well get it under way.

After 18 months of driving around in a Volvo XC70 I decided I needed to get back into a Citroen. Having had an estate for 18 months and having a child, 2 dogs and a plethora of bikes I decided I needed another estate. I also decided that I wanted an auto as I seem to get stuck in traffic often and my driving style has become much more laid back over the last few years. So I decided I needed a Citroen C5 estate with an auto box. I also like petrol as I only do circa 4/5k per annum, so decided I might as well get a V6. On top of this, I wanted the facelift as the original is a bit ugly, the facelift looks marginally better to me smile

Do you know how rare a facelift V6 estate is?! I didn't!

In the last 2 months, only one has come up for sale in the usual places. A blue one on eBay for £1200. I offered the guy £1k, then £1200 and he turned them down and took it off sale. As I'm impatient I posted on here asking if anyone knew of one for sale, and Malcolm from Savoys pointed me to his website, where he had a slightly damaged one for sale. Grey, 96k. The car had a small knock to the front wing.





Malcolm had fixed it with a new wing and bumper as he thought it too good to scrap. The only issue with this car was the fact it was in Burnley, I was in Southampton, I couldn’t really see it. Malcolm was great, sent me a multitude of images, including pictures of the damage and pictures once fixed. Now beggars can’t be choosers, and with a real lack of these cars around, and my impatience a deal was struck. I’ve never sat in one, never driven one, don’t actually recall seeing a facelift in the flesh, but I now owned one!

Malcolm had to apply for a logbook and send the car off for a MOT, so I had a wait a few weeks for the car to arrive. In the meantime, I did what any normal person would do, and researched the car that I had just purchased. I’ve watched countless youtube videos (like this one)


https://youtu.be/PJHeHR2HVEc

read many reviews and reimmersed myself in the world of FCF and the Citroen Facebook page.

Fast forward to today, and the car is ready. I’d found someone on Shiply to transport it, and he was picking it up at 9am this morning and driving it down to Southampton for me. I’ve just received a text advising he has collected, filling up and should be here around 2pm. Fingers crossed it makes it!

Few more pics Malcolm sent me once fixed







Edited by S10GTA on Monday 29th February 20:05

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Posted a bit later

So it has arrived. First thoughts are:

Its huge! Feels so much bigger than the Volvo
Inside is pretty grubby
I feel low sat in the drivers seat
Boot is epic, and I don't need a dog guard as the dogs wont be able to jump over
Gutted it doesn't have directional headlamps
Gearbox seems alright for the few meters I've driven it
Ride quality, not driven far enough yet but harder than I expected
Its had a polish
Tyres are a bit mix and match
Stickers: Few on the back, but I hate stickers!
Did I mention it feels massive?!

dave_s13

14,015 posts

297 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
The hydropneumatic suspension on these is brilliant for our ste roads. I had a 2.0 hdi saloon for a while and really liked it.

Good cars.

LordHaveMurci

12,334 posts

197 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Really like the idea of a C5 estate, have had a few frenchies over the years but scared to add one of these to the list, should I be? Looking at jap oetrol estates, Accord, Mazda 6, Avensis as well as V70's - should I buy a C5?

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Having driven the car home I'm impressed. The 6 speed box is great, it goes quite well, it's comfortable. All in all its pretty good. Couple of little issues to sort such as the manky steering wheel and a non folding mirror but ultimately it seems alright.

Want to add that Malcolm at savoy has been great too, would recommend, between us we've saved this rare car from the scrappy.

Edited by S10GTA on Monday 29th February 20:50

0a

24,132 posts

222 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Great to see an unusual car saved from being scrapped. I bet it's a comfy way to do high miles. I paid for an interior steam clean of my old Merc when I got it - it was very grubby. The difference when it came back was like night and day - it came out like new. I am sure you can easily find a local place (or do it yourself if you have the kit).

jamiebae

6,245 posts

239 months

Monday 29th February 2016
quotequote all
Get some more pics taken, I'm morbidly curious....

I guess these are rare for a reason, I'm fairly sure CAP had this as the heaviest depreciating car you could buy when it was new, so the only ones out there would be Citroen UK management cars or dealer demos. Add in the £500 a year tax for post March 06 examples and you'd be committing financial suicide!

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Will get some pics over the weekend hopefully. Have driven to work this morning so getting a bit more of a feel for the car, and started to notice a few things that need attention.

So I am now looking for a few bits and bobs:

Passenger side folding mirror - mine does not fold
Leather interior
Replacement Steering Wheel
Mats

Think this will do to start with. If anybody can help I would appreciate.

Regarding the depreciation, I think you are right. I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would buy the petrol V6 version, the diesel makes so much more sense in this car!

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Think it might benefit from a set of spheres too

DSLiverpool

16,464 posts

230 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Did you scrap the XC70 ?

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
DSLiverpool said:
Did you scrap the XC70 ?
No, its up for sale

Kitchski

6,550 posts

259 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would buy the petrol V6 version, the diesel makes so much more sense in this car!
So you bought it because........


biggrin

jamiebae

6,245 posts

239 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Kitchski said:
S10GTA said:
I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would buy the petrol V6 version, the diesel makes so much more sense in this car!
So you bought it because........


biggrin
I assume it was cheaper than a cheap thing given it's a repaired write off, and I guess it's rarer than most Ferraris #ClutchingAtStraws

RemyMartin

6,759 posts

233 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Approve.

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
Kitchski said:
S10GTA said:
I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would buy the petrol V6 version, the diesel makes so much more sense in this car!
So you bought it because........


biggrin
Because V6

boyse7en

8,143 posts

193 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
It may go up in value now. A V6 XM i was watching on eBay went for £4850 yesterday.
These were worth about £500 10 years ago.
Wish I hadn't sold my ones now...


Con't know if the C5 has the same level of passion as the XM has among Citroenista yet, but no real reason why it shouldn't in the future.

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
It may go up in value now. A V6 XM i was watching on eBay went for £4850 yesterday.
These were worth about £500 10 years ago.
Wish I hadn't sold my ones now...


Con't know if the C5 has the same level of passion as the XM has among Citroenista yet, but no real reason why it shouldn't in the future.
I'm not sure I'll have it 10 years. The Volvo for 18 months is a bit of a record!

Kitchski

6,550 posts

259 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
Kitchski said:
S10GTA said:
I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would buy the petrol V6 version, the diesel makes so much more sense in this car!
So you bought it because........


biggrin
Because V6
A fair and valid response. Plus there are no other decent petrol engines in the C5!

boyse7en

8,143 posts

193 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
OK, I'll give you £500 for it in 12 months time... smile

S10GTA

Original Poster:

13,751 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st March 2016
quotequote all
So...errr....yeah...