2005 Citroen C4 VTR+ 1.6 HDI (110)

Summary:

The best in its class!!!

Faults:

After owning the car for 6 months the cruise control started switching itself off after it had been running for either a few minutes or a few seconds.

At approx 9 months small blisters appeared under the paint on either side of the colour coded spoiler.

General Comments:

To start with the car is a real head-turner, especially in the coupe version. If possible make sure you order a colour coded spoiler as it makes the car. I have noticed some coupe's have black spoilers regardless of the car colour. Always specify that you want it to match your car!!! When mine went back to get the spoiler replaced due to the blistering paint, they tried to tell me that they were all black now!!! I don't think so!!! Believe me, that's complete nonsense. Just be aware of this.

The cabin is roomy and spacious, unlike both the Ford and Vauxhall which I found to be claustrophobic. Night driving is especially good as the interior looks stunning as it lights up beautifully. The inside of the doors are also something which stands out as being more refined, especially in comparison with the Astra which I felt had a cheapness about it. The Focus I felt was much the same. With there being no dials in the C4 it makes many other cars appear out-dated and boring. They don't say the C4's alive with technology for nothing!!

The electro-chrome rear-view mirror is a real bonus and something that you don't want to be without once you have one.

As far as comfort goes the sports seats are some of the best that I have come across. You really appreciate them, especially if you try the seats in the Vauxhall which are very poor in comparison.

After about 2 or 3 thousand miles the engine started to loosen up and it really does go when you put the foot down. At the moment I am getting 56.4 mpg which is excellent.

I had extras such as the security pack, disc changer, rear parking sensor, supaguard, mats, mud flaps etc and the total cost of the car was still unbelievable.

The scented air fresheners are brilliant and a really nice touch. This is what I really love about this car. Thought has gone into even the smallest detail.

One thing that I saw on television, (I think it was Fifth Gear!) and that was the 'sloppy gearbox'. Never heard such nonsense. You have this image of the gearstick flapping about and nothing could be further from the truth. The gearstick on mine is perfectly good.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th May, 2006

6th Jun 2006, 15:59

Own one myself and I know what is meant by the sloppy gearbox its not very precise and well it doesn't like to be changed quickly.

If you have driven a focus the gear change feels lovely by comparison so smooth and precise in comparison to the rather cruddy box in the citroen, but most citroen / Pug boxes are the same just a marque trait.

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2005 Citroen C4 i 1.3 petrol

Summary:

A fantastic automobile

General Comments:

This is an excellent car.

I was considering buying a second hand landrover freelander. After looking at the survey results on this website I changed my mind.

The C4 is great value for money in the Irish market.

Efficient on petrol.

As a 5 door hatch it has plenty of leg and head room for back passengers.

General handling is very good. The only problem is the suspension feels a little bit tight especially over potholes and bumps.

Reliable so far, it has 23000kms on the clock and no problems.

Excellent styling and looks. Its worth it just for that.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th April, 2006

19th Nov 2007, 04:35

This is an update of my original review posted in April 2006.

The car now has nearly 60,000km on the clock. It is still going great with one or two very minor problems.

The cruise control and speed limiter stopped working a few months ago, every time I tried to use it would beep at me and the service light would flash.

I had it fully serviced last week and mentioned this, the guys in the Citroen garage just cleaned in and around the switch and now the cruise control and speed limiter are working.

Also the back wiper used to come on automatically when I put the car in reverse (if the front wipers were on), but they also just stopped working in the last few months. I mentioned this when getting the car serviced last week, apparently I need some sort of software update, but I could not be bothered with it, only a minor fault, but slightly annoying that it has stopped working, but do not want to pay for the software update.

If this has happened to anyone else and they fixed it let me know what you did.

Apart from that she is still running very smooth, have had two full services now, at 40,000km and 60,000km, both cost me about EUR 200, I also bought new front wipers myself which cost about EUR 30 and that is all I have spent on the car.

Very reliable and would recommend it.

Hope this helps.

29th Sep 2009, 02:31

September 2009 - Update.

Still have this car, and engine wise she is sound, although I do get the Citroen Service every 12 months.

This is to let you know that the service charges in Citroen dealers are through the rough.

Once it cost me near €400 to get a full service, i.e. sparks, oil change, filters etc.

After that I just did it myself.

The cars also devalues something terrible. I know times are tough and we are in a recession, but I am looking to change now and am getting offers of only €4k to trade in.

Finally, I was on a European Road trip with the C4 over the summer. I was driving along a motorway in Italy about 100km and the bonnet popped up, smashed into the roof, then came clean off. Thankfully there was no one else near us, but bonnet and roof were obviously badly dented.

I would seriously consider NOT buying a C4 just because of this.

There you go, I am selling this week.

Au Revoir Citroen.