Faults:

Electric window failure.

Catalytic converters failed on the front; quoted over $1500.

Rocker cover gasket gone, leaking oil in spark plug wells.

Lots of errors (anti pollution, catalytic failure, engine service).

Engine immobilizer failure, stuck at traffic lights, could not start the car for 15 minutes.

Expensive timing belt service.

No parts available in Australia, have to wait weeks.

General Comments:

I would never buy a Citroen again. Even though it was serviced every 5k, it gave nothing but problems. If I lived in France, maybe I would, but not in Australia.

These cars are a nightmare. Stay away from the 3.0 engine.

Faults:

Serious oil leaks (sump /rockercovers) at 123000kms; fixed all OK to now.

Changed belts at the same time.

New starter motor in 2011. Old one slow to release.

New automatic fitted 165000. Oil pressure too high and blew a hole in the trans case. Very expensive. Almost what the car is worth, but love the car too much to get rid of it.

Have only replaced plugs once, and have only replaced 2 coils since having the car.

General Comments:

Great car overall. Was warned by Citroen mechanic that I would have a few problems between 125000 and 160000kms, so was ready for them.

Car runs on Dunlop Sport3000s now, and have virtually no effect from side winds.

Faults:

Nearside interior door handle snapped off.

Radio started to lose stations (common fault).

Replaced front drop links (again, a common issue with Citroens, but it takes 30 minutes to swap them, and even my mum could do them).

General Comments:

This is my third Citroen in a row, replacing a Xsara HDi and a Xantia TDi before it. I wanted something cheap to buy, cheap to run and easy to repair, and it has fulfilled that brief very well. It's no Subaru Impreza in the corners, but it suits my daily 80 mile commute perfectly, averaging around 50mpg for most tankfuls, my best being 823 miles on one tank.

The vast interior is regularly filled with four muddy mountain bikers; the boot happily takes all their kit, and the roof painlessly supports four heavy downhill mountain bikes without complaint. It's easy to keep clean, and with the exception of the radio, everything is still working perfectly some 40,000 miles after I bought it for the same price as a decent 3 piece suite.

It's partial to front tyres, but at around £60 each for decent ones, it's not the end of the world.

Would I buy another? Definitely yes, but it would be the estate.