2002 Citroen C5 LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

I bought a C5 2.0 HDI from a well know car dealer in Derby. What a brilliant car. Mind you, the con rod went through the bottom of the engine, (costing £2800) and now the gear box needs a few cogs replacing. (costing £??). As I took out an RAC warranty when I bought it, I'm not too worried. Hopefully since its virtually new now, there isn't much more that can go wrong with it? Can there? But apart from that, it's a very comfortable drive. PS. I was going to buy an Audi A8, but my wife liked the cup holder in the back seat of the C5. She's not usually wrong.

I've owned my 2001 C5 HDi 110 SX hatcback for 18 months and I have had no major problems. The car has done 110k miles and cost me £3k a year and a half ago.

In that time I've replaced the rear pads, disks and cambelt as service items - and that's it. Just fill it, drive it and wash it. Oh yes, and the windscreen washer motor clogged up, but cost nothing to fix.

I get 45 mpg (55 on a long run) and my family ride in comfort and safety.

I had a string of 10 diesel Xantias and still run a 2000 year model HDi Xantia 110 for hauling logs (I use it like a 4x4) and trash to the tip. It is still good at 140k miles and fairly quick, looks a bit battered now bit it only cost a few hundred quid a couple of years ago and it owes me nothing.

I note that lots of the horror stories on here relate to new cars and dealers. I've never bought a new one and my C5 (at 97k when we bought it) is the lowest mileage Citroen I've ever bought. That's my rule one, don't buy new.

Rule two is don't buy petrol versions. In the past I owned two BX 1.4 litre (carbs), ZX 1.4 litre (carb) and BX 16v (injected), all were OK, but all broke down, usually with silly things like ignition packs and low tension wiring faults.

Rule three is to learn about the cars and find a good local, independent expert to maintain it.

My multiple diesel purchases have proved themselves to be more robust. Mind you, the 16v BX was worth the pain - it flew.

All I can add is that horror stories like this keep the prices of C5s low and enable people like me to pick up a bargain. My '03 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate with 85k cost about 40% less than a German 'equivalent' would have cost and has been superb over the year I have owned it. It returns 45mpg+ is supremely comfortable and practical and after being hassled by a new 'bearded' Audi A4 on the motorway recently I put my foot down and he gave up the chase at an indicated 135mph. As far as I know the car is not chipped.

I bought a C5 6 days ago with 120000KMs on it, all serviced and all repairs had the invoices, the car drove perfect on the test drive and had no problem with it for 4 days. Then the left headlight went out, next day the computer displays anti pollution fault, and today the left back window stopped working properly. The car runs OK I guess, but haven't taken on long trips yet.

Oh yes.. the CD changer just doesn't play some CDs, weird.. I am terrified what will happen next. I know it is a 7 year old car, but was a first owner and always serviced at Citroen dealers. Anyway.. I owned several used cars and new cars in the past 15 years. And since I was foolish enough to buy a Citroen, I'll keep it for a while since I have a small loan on it, but paying it off early and will get rid of it as soon as I can.

I know for the same aged car in the same condition and mileage, it would cost much more, but I'd rather pay more next time and have peace of mind, I don't think I would buy Citroen again.. Everybody has to decide what kind of car they want. So if you like Citroens, go ahead. As I mentioned I never had one, and I liked it, plus liked all the toys in it.. but I wish they all worked just fine.

I have C5 2002 2.0 HDI Estate. This is a lovely car to drive, but a nightmare for reliability. In its present condition it is unsaleable.

The main problem started when water shorted out the rear window switch and damaged the computer.

Central locking no longer works.

Numerous spurious faults are indicated.

Rear brakes have been a major problem.

Water ingress to the passenger footwell and more besides.

Unfortunately I have to say I would not buy Citroen again...

I was advised by all my friends in the motor trade, don't buy a Citroen C5, but I've had hundreds of cars, including 5 diesel XMs and always fixed my own cars, so I bought one.. Oh boy... please anyone considering buying one, think long and hard, they are a technical unrepairable nightmare, even the main dealers can't fix them, just read the forums.

If the computer was taken out, it MIGHT be okay, but it's still hideously difficult to work on. Citroen, you really need to sort out where you are going wrong, the comments about these cars on the forums are terrible TERRIBLE publicity for your product.