Citroen C3 Pluriel
Discussion
I was listing my laptop on gumtree last night and saw a Citroen C3 Pluriel on gumtree a couple of miles from where I live; as a 2cv owner 15 years ago I always thought they were quirky and my wife needs a car to do the 2.5 miles to the station and the gym. The seller trailered it from North Berwick (near Edinburgh) to France every year to his holiday home so it has only done 33k miles. I bought it for £1k and couldn't stop smiling driving it back to the house - we then went a drive down the coast and it reminded me of the fun I used to have in the 2CV.
Here it is...
Here it is...
My Mum had one of these, bought nearly new and run for about 4 years, the basic 1.4 with a normal manual box in pearl orange with grey cloth. To drive it was one of the worst cars I've ever had the misfortune to be in (vague) control of. It wobbled if you drove over a cats-eye, the steering had no feel at all, and it was so heavy it barely moved. I understand the 1.6 with the automated manual box is even worse.
When the sun shines it's good fun though, my Mum once got caught out without the roof rails 20 miles from home in the rain and I don't think they ever came off after that
I'm amazed there are any of them left now as ours had a whole litany of roof switch/sensor/electrics problems and I understand that 'they all do that sir' so I guess a lot are now just leaky 3 door city cars 
My wife still likes them though, no idea why!
When the sun shines it's good fun though, my Mum once got caught out without the roof rails 20 miles from home in the rain and I don't think they ever came off after that
I'm amazed there are any of them left now as ours had a whole litany of roof switch/sensor/electrics problems and I understand that 'they all do that sir' so I guess a lot are now just leaky 3 door city cars My wife still likes them though, no idea why!
Word of warning... don't attempt an overtake if you value your life.
I had the misfortune of being "rewarded" a Pluriel many moons ago when I used to work for a main agents flogging s
troens. Thinking it wouldn't perform too disimilarly to the 1.4 C2 Furio I'd just stepped out of; I was proven wrong, very wrong, and narrowly avoided a head-on with a lorry.
They sold a handful (can't have been much more) of the HDi diesel versions that would no doubt feel a bit more peppy and good for the occasional spirited driving, but I wouldn't attempt this in the asthmatic petrol. Aside from the dismal performance, mine also shook, rattled and rolled like an old washing machine by the time it was due its running in service. Terrible cars. For the money, a Vauxhall Tigra springs to mind providing a much better drive, and comes with a proper metal folding roof too. Sorry to diss your new carriage!
I had the misfortune of being "rewarded" a Pluriel many moons ago when I used to work for a main agents flogging s
troens. Thinking it wouldn't perform too disimilarly to the 1.4 C2 Furio I'd just stepped out of; I was proven wrong, very wrong, and narrowly avoided a head-on with a lorry. They sold a handful (can't have been much more) of the HDi diesel versions that would no doubt feel a bit more peppy and good for the occasional spirited driving, but I wouldn't attempt this in the asthmatic petrol. Aside from the dismal performance, mine also shook, rattled and rolled like an old washing machine by the time it was due its running in service. Terrible cars. For the money, a Vauxhall Tigra springs to mind providing a much better drive, and comes with a proper metal folding roof too. Sorry to diss your new carriage!
Edited by ajb85 on Monday 24th April 22:57
Slow, leaky, dodgy electrics and unloved by most. Sounds pretty similar to 2CVs to me! My uncle and cousins were Citroen mad when I was growing up with a long line of 2CVs, Dyanes, BXs, GSs, DSs and even SMs. I thought they were all crap at the time, but now in hindsight, they were all really rather cool in that peculiar French way. I have had a hankering myself for a C6 now for several years.
That looks like a proper bargain though, and if you keep it in good nick I suspect it will be one of not very many in a few years time. Ideal fun car for the summer
That looks like a proper bargain though, and if you keep it in good nick I suspect it will be one of not very many in a few years time. Ideal fun car for the summer
Quick update. I've been on holiday, and have been waiting to sell our other car (sold today) so the C3 hasn't been touched until today.
Changed the oil/filters and decided to give the interior a good clean with a "rug doctor" I had hired for the house. Next steps will be to order some replacement wheel trims, get the tracking adjusted, and give the paintwork a good polish/t-cut.
|https://thumbsnap.com/zIQLhdWZ[/url]
Changed the oil/filters and decided to give the interior a good clean with a "rug doctor" I had hired for the house. Next steps will be to order some replacement wheel trims, get the tracking adjusted, and give the paintwork a good polish/t-cut.
|https://thumbsnap.com/zIQLhdWZ[/url]Edited by tim0409 on Tuesday 23 May 00:23
I absolutely hate the look of these but at the same time I totally get the appeal. Obviously not designed for the UK but remind me of the Nissan Fargo - I hate them but can see the appeal too!
Family have had 4 citroens, a 1.6 C2 VTR, a 1.6 C3 VTR, a 1.4 C3 and a 1.1 C3, to put it nicely the C2 was my dads, C3 VTR my brothers and the 1.4 my mums, the 1.1 was just a spare but I used it for around a month, nobody liked it but I actually grew a soft spot for it, it had no power yet once you knew the car there was plenty for commuting atleast, the VTR's both had engine failue, 1.1 was traded in and my mum still uses her 1.4!
Anyway looks like a great bargain!
Family have had 4 citroens, a 1.6 C2 VTR, a 1.6 C3 VTR, a 1.4 C3 and a 1.1 C3, to put it nicely the C2 was my dads, C3 VTR my brothers and the 1.4 my mums, the 1.1 was just a spare but I used it for around a month, nobody liked it but I actually grew a soft spot for it, it had no power yet once you knew the car there was plenty for commuting atleast, the VTR's both had engine failue, 1.1 was traded in and my mum still uses her 1.4!
Anyway looks like a great bargain!
The Pluriel has been trouble free up until a few weeks ago. It's mainly been used as a station car by the OH, but she decided to take it to Newcastle (from Edinburgh) to visit family and as she was preparing to come home the left rear hatch hinge snapped. She drove home with the hatch hanging down and the roof pulled back at the front 
After a bit of research I ordered up a new hinge (common fault - £50) - it's made of plastic and has to take a fair bit of weight so a poor design. I had to remove the roof motor in order to force the fabric roof back into position so I could close everything in order for the roof to retract properly to allow full access to the hinge. It is now replaced, so I thought I would try and cure the leak from the rear trim - it leaves the factory with non-setting silicone so I've scraped the old stuff off and re-seated the trim. Hopefully this cures the leak. Fixing it has been quite satisfying as the roof mechanism is quite complicated but there is quite a but of info online.
If I couldn't fix it the car would effectively have been scrap and I really want to get another summer out of it before buying a Z4....
After a bit of research I ordered up a new hinge (common fault - £50) - it's made of plastic and has to take a fair bit of weight so a poor design. I had to remove the roof motor in order to force the fabric roof back into position so I could close everything in order for the roof to retract properly to allow full access to the hinge. It is now replaced, so I thought I would try and cure the leak from the rear trim - it leaves the factory with non-setting silicone so I've scraped the old stuff off and re-seated the trim. Hopefully this cures the leak. Fixing it has been quite satisfying as the roof mechanism is quite complicated but there is quite a but of info online.
If I couldn't fix it the car would effectively have been scrap and I really want to get another summer out of it before buying a Z4....
In answer to those asking about leaving the roof rails at home. You can / could buy a tonneau cover to cover the vehicle when parked.
When I tested one of these in the rain when new, it seemed rain would go overhead so long as one kept moving.
At the prices now, I'm quite tempted for no other reason than that I don't think I could live with the crashworthiness of a 2CV any longer
When I tested one of these in the rain when new, it seemed rain would go overhead so long as one kept moving.
At the prices now, I'm quite tempted for no other reason than that I don't think I could live with the crashworthiness of a 2CV any longer
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