2000 Citroen Saxo VTR 1.6

Summary:

A good car for the cost or for someone on a lower budget

Faults:

Overheated and needed a new Radiator.

Power steering failed, inside heater and rear window heater failed due to ignition switch and cost £280 to repair.

Rear window cracked for no apparent reason.

Airbag light flashing on dash due to split wire under passenger seat.

Exhaust Blowing, needed rewelding.

Rear arch bodywork starting to come away from car.

General Comments:

My old Nissan 200sx kept breaking down and in desperation because I needed a car for work I decided that the best car on the dealers forecourt was a Saxo VTR.

I’m 24, earn a decent wage, drive 70 miles a day to work and wanted a fairly economical car.

I have to admit it is a very cheap car to run and insurance is a bargain, it took a bit of getting used to with the pedals really close together and I am not a big fan of the driving position. The other dislike I have is that the brakes are very stiff and often when crawling along on the motorway it can get very tiresome to drive.

Considering I have only had the car for a year I have had a lot of things go wrong with it, new radiator, new ignition switch, rear window cracked for no reason, exhaust needed re welding.

The most annoying fault which I am sure Citroen designed so that they could get more money out of people is placing the airbag wire under the seat, so if you move the seat too far forward there is a chance you will split the wire and cause the airbag light to flash on the dash. This happened to my mates VTR too and cost him £150 to take it to citroen to have the wire re crimped. They told him they had to reprogram the ECU (what a joke).

The handling of the car is superb, the suspension and fat tyres all add to the superb grip, I have yet to lose control of the car around a corner. It is very nippy and although it cannot compete with sports cars it has enough acceleration for motorway driving.

In conclusion the poor build quality annoyed me, don’t buy it if you drive long distances, cheap to insure and cheap to run. It’s a good car for the cost, it’s aimed more at younger people. I definitely won’t miss it when I trade it in for an Audi TT Quattro next week, but that’s a bit of an unfair comparison =)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th December, 2005

2000 Citroen Saxo Furio 1.4i

Summary:

Cheap and Sporty

Faults:

Steering wheel vibrates a lot when braking above 60mph.

General Comments:

I've had this car for a few weeks now and I am very pleased with it.

The car is very similar to the Saxo VTR. It has arches, oval exhaust, wider bumpers than the normal Saxo's and a spoiler.

I find that the car handles very well.

It is quick of the mark and quick through the gears. 0-60mph takes 10.9 seconds (tested with stopwatch). Surprising for a 1.4 engine.

I have took the car to 105mph so far, don't think I need to go any faster.

The car comes with a CD player, electric windows, sunroof, TOAD alarm system, central locking, power steering and some good safety features.

The only real complaint I have with the car is that the foot-well is cramped, so I had to buy some new shoes to drive it properly!

Overall a good car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th October, 2005

25th Oct 2005, 01:34

Your discs are probably warped.

17th Nov 2006, 03:05

They didn't come with a TOAD, bloke before you must have added it.

Buyers watch out for tapping noises from the front, CV joints are prone to go on 106/saxos. Also the general ticking from the engine usually means its been ragged.

17th Nov 2006, 15:30

Original Author: The bushes did go on it, but an easy fix.

Last month I bought a 2003 VTR. It ticks like mad when its cold. I had the tappets reset, but that didn't work. Overall it's a great little car. You here horror stories about these cars, but I've been lucky so far! I'm going to look after this car and do all the scheduled maintainance. Hopefully it will last me a good 5 years.

18th Nov 2006, 10:31

My brother has an 01 saxo VTR, there is a ticking sound from that, but only in neutral with the clutch released, when the clutch is depressed it goes, or when its in gear on the move. So its probably a clutch or gearbox link problem isn't it? would appreciate an answer cheers. And the furio is a good car too.

18th Nov 2006, 14:21

It will probably be your thrust bearing. Does it make a squeeking sound on occasion when releasing the clutch?