Citroen C5 buying advice
Discussion
Evening all
As the title suggests I'm thinking about diving into French car ownership. I'm looking at getting a 2.0 HDi Exclusive C5 Tourer.
Any advice about what to look for when viewing one and the potential pitfalls of ownership?
This will be my first French car after owning quite a few other marque's.
Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
As the title suggests I'm thinking about diving into French car ownership. I'm looking at getting a 2.0 HDi Exclusive C5 Tourer.
Any advice about what to look for when viewing one and the potential pitfalls of ownership?
This will be my first French car after owning quite a few other marque's.
Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
BigTallG87 said:
The car I'm looking at is a 2009 so I assume that's a Gen 1?
The only thing that really puts me off is the hydraulic suspension and the cost of up keep. Am I worrying about nothing?
Cheers
The suspension is fine. Tried and tested. The only car which struggled with it were the top spec Picassos.The only thing that really puts me off is the hydraulic suspension and the cost of up keep. Am I worrying about nothing?
Cheers
BigTallG87 said:
The car I'm looking at is a 2009 so I assume that's a Gen 1?
The only thing that really puts me off is the hydraulic suspension and the cost of up keep. Am I worrying about nothing?
Cheers
That'll be a Gen2 which was much improved if you don't want the worry then go for the 407/508SW they're the same car but the Peugeot has the passive set up.The only thing that really puts me off is the hydraulic suspension and the cost of up keep. Am I worrying about nothing?
Cheers
Laguna
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101027...
ZX10R NIN said:
That'll be a Gen2 which was much improved if you don't want the worry then go for the 407/508SW they're the same car but the Peugeot has the passive set up.
Laguna
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101027...
There's something about the Citroen that I prefer the look of over the Renault. I did look at a Laguna a few months ago but the one I was after sold. Laguna
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101027...
Cheers
dave_s13 said:
They should make lots more cars with the Citroen hydropneumatic system. It's ace for UK roads.
Don't get a steel sprung one, make sure it has the air suspension.
Yeah I've watched a few reviews saying they're really good over sDon't get a steel sprung one, make sure it has the air suspension.
t roads. Well not exactly like that. Do you have experience of one?
Cheers
Yeah I had a 2004 2.0hdi that I bought off my dad who got it as a new company car.
One of the best riding cars I've ever driven.
Oh and the suspension pump broke shortly after I got it but there's a decent Citroen specialist in Leeds and a replacement wasn't much really.
Obviously a 2004 C5 is an old car now so I'd try and go for the newer shape one, and buy on condition obviously.
One of the best riding cars I've ever driven.
Oh and the suspension pump broke shortly after I got it but there's a decent Citroen specialist in Leeds and a replacement wasn't much really.
Obviously a 2004 C5 is an old car now so I'd try and go for the newer shape one, and buy on condition obviously.
Had one, 09 car, 5 years old at the time. Beautiful condition but 135,000 miles, I'm still impressed how it wore the miles - you'd never guess.
They are nice, and comfortable, and different. Interior feels good quality. I liked it. Refined but still a nice drive with good turn in and steering in that usual superior French way.
I suppose it could be forgiven for the mileage but I expected it to be a little more reliable than it was. Main issues being suspension fluid tank failure - fluid loss and car sat on the ground hardly driveable. Silly for just a tank. Then not long after the suspension pump also decided it didn't like life, so once again down on the ground. This time £700 at dealer.
Both caused me to decide it wasn't a great idea to keep, especially since I didn't need anything that size or diesely.
Rest was reliable - all the electrics, engine (2.2), etc.
Glad I had one, and nice - Citroen with the suspension was on the bucket list. Now done and would tread a bit carefully, mostly because of the sheer cost of that pump change. Had it been more sensible I'd have kept it but bills like that would start to outweight the cost of the car. Oh and the AC condenser failed (totally normal at the age - can't complain) but dealer asked a similar amount for that too. Just seemed to much to spend on a car I didn't expect to have luxury car running costs.
Would recommend if you're otherwise keen on one. Feels good going for the desire choice vs the head sensible choice.
Actually now looking back and comparing to my current (2015 M5) they are similar in their comfort, refinement, build, weighty refined luxury but still driveable sort of feeling. M5 firmer, more power, rwd, obvs. Though economy not that bad.
They are nice, and comfortable, and different. Interior feels good quality. I liked it. Refined but still a nice drive with good turn in and steering in that usual superior French way.
I suppose it could be forgiven for the mileage but I expected it to be a little more reliable than it was. Main issues being suspension fluid tank failure - fluid loss and car sat on the ground hardly driveable. Silly for just a tank. Then not long after the suspension pump also decided it didn't like life, so once again down on the ground. This time £700 at dealer.
Both caused me to decide it wasn't a great idea to keep, especially since I didn't need anything that size or diesely.
Rest was reliable - all the electrics, engine (2.2), etc.
Glad I had one, and nice - Citroen with the suspension was on the bucket list. Now done and would tread a bit carefully, mostly because of the sheer cost of that pump change. Had it been more sensible I'd have kept it but bills like that would start to outweight the cost of the car. Oh and the AC condenser failed (totally normal at the age - can't complain) but dealer asked a similar amount for that too. Just seemed to much to spend on a car I didn't expect to have luxury car running costs.
Would recommend if you're otherwise keen on one. Feels good going for the desire choice vs the head sensible choice.
Actually now looking back and comparing to my current (2015 M5) they are similar in their comfort, refinement, build, weighty refined luxury but still driveable sort of feeling. M5 firmer, more power, rwd, obvs. Though economy not that bad.
Ex Citroen service manager here. I’d avoid the 1.6 HDI-it’s a troublesome engine unless scrupulously maintained (the oil feed to the turbo blocks with predictable results, and injector seals leak-if left this allows carbon into the oil, now see first fault...) and to be honest feels a little underpowered in the C5.
The 2.0 HDI (DW engine from memory) is a cracking unit-not many problems, powerful and economical.
The V6 diesel is lovely too, didn’t see many of them but again seemed pretty trouble free, apart from the odd EGR valve.
Only Exclusive spec cars got the “proper Citroen” suspension, which again from the cars we saw rarely gave trouble. The normal steel sprung cars weren’t much aggro either.
It’s not a sharp car to drive but as a comfy, spacious, slightly left field cruiser it’s a great choice.
However-the inbuilt sat nav is rubbish. Don’t be sold it as a worthwhile addition-it’s SD card based (check the card is in the front of the unit), slow and data entry is fiddly.
Trying to think back of the common issues we saw but it was mainly stuff to do with the DV6 and aforementioned window regs-the actual car itself was very well put together. Little quirks like having two wiper motors which require synchronising if one is replaced, but a Citroen specialist should be able to deal with it no problem.
I had a 1.6 EGS as my company car at one point-the EGS gearbox is a bit ponderous and prone to shift actuator faults from memory so just get the proper auto in the 2.0 HDI (changing the box oil regularly in this will certainly help the quality of the shift and length of life you get).
These are all comments based around the C5 II-just do yourself a favour and avoid the first generation car. You’ll be forever chasing random electrical faults and sorting out sticking rear brake calipers (not as simple as it sounds-they suffer aluminium corrosion which causes the two halves of the caliper to fuse together!).
The 2.0 HDI (DW engine from memory) is a cracking unit-not many problems, powerful and economical.
The V6 diesel is lovely too, didn’t see many of them but again seemed pretty trouble free, apart from the odd EGR valve.
Only Exclusive spec cars got the “proper Citroen” suspension, which again from the cars we saw rarely gave trouble. The normal steel sprung cars weren’t much aggro either.
It’s not a sharp car to drive but as a comfy, spacious, slightly left field cruiser it’s a great choice.
However-the inbuilt sat nav is rubbish. Don’t be sold it as a worthwhile addition-it’s SD card based (check the card is in the front of the unit), slow and data entry is fiddly.
Trying to think back of the common issues we saw but it was mainly stuff to do with the DV6 and aforementioned window regs-the actual car itself was very well put together. Little quirks like having two wiper motors which require synchronising if one is replaced, but a Citroen specialist should be able to deal with it no problem.
I had a 1.6 EGS as my company car at one point-the EGS gearbox is a bit ponderous and prone to shift actuator faults from memory so just get the proper auto in the 2.0 HDI (changing the box oil regularly in this will certainly help the quality of the shift and length of life you get).
These are all comments based around the C5 II-just do yourself a favour and avoid the first generation car. You’ll be forever chasing random electrical faults and sorting out sticking rear brake calipers (not as simple as it sounds-they suffer aluminium corrosion which causes the two halves of the caliper to fuse together!).
Edited by itcaptainslow on Tuesday 12th January 01:33
sparkythecat said:
If you're taller than Napoleon then getting in and out can be a bit of a palaver. The windscreen is so steeply raked that you almost have to limbo dance your access and egress.
Are they really that bad? I'm 6ft 6in and 17+ stone so I need something fairly spacious inside. Although I'm no gymnast but I can flex if I need to though.
Cheers
cptsideways said:
I have my eyes on one of these, having owned many a sphered Citroen in my youth. Need an estate these days, tempted with the V6 variant or is that a really bad idea?
The V6's are only auto, I did look at a few but my semi sensible head tells me the 2.0 HDi will be more than enough.🤔Cheers
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