Opinions please - used Citroen C5 Estate in Wembley

[993kimbo]

Hello everyone, thanks for reading.

Opinions appreciated on this Citroen C5 Estate that has been for sale from a private seller since Covid in Wembley.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

It seems to have everything I'm after apart from highish mileage, but a few bob has been spent on it doing various things.

Just wondered what you thought, price seems fair. Only snag is, the car is a long way from Eastbourne where I live and the buyer doesn't speak much English.

However I might be prepared to take a punt, buy it over the phone and get it put on a trailer for £175.

Should I get an independent inspection done before i do this? Is that a crazy idea?

Thanks as always.

[stevemcs]

I think this might have the horrid manual gearbox with the automatic shift control, have you driven one ? I personally would run a mile

[Twig62]

stevemcs said:

I think this might have the horrid manual gearbox with the automatic shift control, have you driven one ? I personally would run a mile

As this is a 2ltr it will have a "proper" torque converter auto. The 1.6ltrs had the EGC automated manual, and yes they are dreadful to drive and not very reliable.

[993kimbo]

I think these are fully automatic and drive beautifully. I've not personally driven one but owners reviews I've read are really good. This model is the 2.0 Exclusive - top of the range. The 1.6's are a no-no.

[t400ble]

Rubbish advert and cannot even be bothered to clean car out!

[S100HP]

They suffer with rack failure. Worth looking into that.

[993kimbo]

I agree t400. Communication via email is a bit challenging too.
Basically he says 'there is nothing wrong with it' to all my questions.

[deeen]

My first thought was just that looks expensive for a 12 year old Citroen? Also do these still have hydropneumatic suspension? I used to find 120,000+ was new spheres time.

[S100HP]

deeen said:

My first thought was just that looks expensive for a 12 year old Citroen? Also do these still have hydropneumatic suspension? I used to find 120,000+ was new spheres time.

Only the exclusive had hydropneumatic suspension

[mikal83]

I owned a saloon for 8 years and towards the end of ownership something went wrong every other month, in the end I traded it in as any chance of a private sale was just not there. Buy it if you dare and just run it into the ground

[deeen]

S100HP said:

deeen said:

My first thought was just that looks expensive for a 12 year old Citroen? Also do these still have hydropneumatic suspension? I used to find 120,000+ was new spheres time.

Only the exclusive had hydropneumatic suspension

Ok thanks! Seems things have moved on since my XM.

[993kimbo]

mikal83 said:

I owned a saloon for 8 years and towards the end of ownership something went wrong every other month, in the end I traded it in as any chance of a private sale was just not there. Buy it if you dare and just run it into the ground

I'm no mechanic so it would be a bit of a dare. However this a family car and I do not want to break down in it especially with Madam on board.

Were you not a bit unlucky? From the stacks that I've read over the last six weeks, owners say they are a good reliable car. VW's, BMWs, Audis are not.

[Twig62]

RAC car inspections range from £99 for a basic to £239 for an advanced. Might be money well spent if buying sight unseen !

[deeen]

You can get a fair amount of Mondeo for that money? Random example https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[dmsims]

993kimbo said:

However this a family car and I do not want to break down in it especially with Madam on board.

Don't buy it then