2002 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Best car I've ever owned

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I purchased my C5 2.0 SX because it had just about everything I was looking for in a family car. For a start it’s one of the most spacious cars I’ve come across which means that I can get two child seats and an adult on the back seat, a double push chair in the boot, and still have lots of room for luggage. I tried out MPVs and midi-MPVs, but quite frankly they’re no wider and who needs all that headroom? Maybe if you’re a six-footer, but I’m not. And whereas the MPVs I tested all strained to lug their massive bulk up to reasonable speeds, the C5 (especially the 2.0 petrol engine) has very decent acceleration.

And then there’s the gizmo's! Automatic wipers, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, trick suspension (automatically adjusting, of course!), electric windows throughout (one-touch, anti-pinch), steering-wheel mounted CD/Radio controls, on-board computer…….and much more. Wow!

The deciding factors were the looks (which grew on me until I now think it’s a very good looking car), and the price. I bought it as a pre-registered from Dixon Motors, which meant it had only five miles on the clock and a full manufacturer’s Warranty, and was a massive discount on the Citroen dealer’s price.

Shortly after buying it I discovered this Web site and read the C5 reviews. To say I was surprised was an understatement! I can only assume that the early C5s had faults which have since been sorted. My car has none of the faults mentioned (touch wood, after only 3,500 miles) by other owners and is by far the best car I have ever owned (and I’ve owned quite a few). And there aren’t many other cars out there which can offer so much entertainment in a traffic queue: simply raise and lower the suspension and watch the bemused looks on other car driver’s faces!! (I really should get out more).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th December, 2002

7th May 2003, 16:56

I bought my C5 2.0l HDi new and I have had it now for some 15 months, very smooth, quiet, comfortable car. It has now done 57,000 miles, but it is permanently going wrong. Never has anything worked at the same time. Door locks packing up, radio remote controls stopping working, maximum speed/temperature button stops working, oil filler cap vibrating off and disapearing, they can't get the fasteners for the engine cover (waiting since last November), windows going up and down when trying to close them, remote key fob not unlocking doors and having to be re-programmed, radio display showing "eco-mod" having to disconnect the battery to re-set, flashers and interior lights not coming on when in this mode (or mood) until you start the engine, badly creaking windows, clutch travel notchy and creaking, passenger window closing then re-opening, boot latch had to be replaced, radio aerial had to be replaced corroded up and poor reception, rattling back seats, (I have to pack them out with a piece of rag), The day I took delivery of this car, the heater wouldn't work, they had it for three weeks, but it had to go back in to have a new indicator stalk to be fitted, that took three months! When I asked Citroen (UK) what happens when it's out of warranty, he replied "you're on your own". I have to work very hard for my cash to buy this on finance, and when I took it in for a part exchange, they offered me £5,500 for it! (all dates and times supplied by request. Steve Ward Nr. Coventry) Tel: 024 7649 1234.

2002 Citroen C5 HDi 2.0

Summary:

Would take a look at alternative manufacturers given a second chance

Faults:

4 problems in the first six months.

1. Handbrake sticking in locked position

2. Drivers side door leaking

3. Passenger window failure

4. Indicator column failure.

General Comments:

Nice comfortable economic car that performs well, but I am getting tired of the problems. What is next?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th December, 2002