2001 Citroen C5 SX review from UK and Ireland

Rear brake bolts corroded. This cost £200 with new bolts, new discs and new pads, all service items and required anyway. The locking wheel nut adapter failed, slung the locking wheel nuts, no problem!

Nothing else has required attention outside nprmal service items.

After ten years of Xantia's I was nervous about the replacement. No problem. This car is the best car I have owned in 25 years of driving and 50 vehicles owned. The car cost me £3200 on Ebay and at the time these were £7000 on the forecourts.

It made my XJ6 look and feel like an old boot - so I flogged it!

Ride is excellent and handling is also good provided you understand that body roll is not always a bad thing.

The 2.0 HDi does not pull away as briskly as it does in the Xantia HDi (my rubbish tip run car now) but in gear acceleration is fine - 60mpg is finer still.

We have done some monster drives in this car including 600 mile round trips, and we always arrive feeling fine. This car is comfy.

We have the optional sunroof as well as air con and it is a great piece of kit to have.

Space is excellent and we carried full camping kit (BIG tent) and two kids with stuff for a week including toys to Cornwall from Manchester last year.

My next purchase will be a C5 Estate and I'm after leather and a sunroof. I have read all the horror stories, but there are a few things to be understood about Citroens:

1. You MUST get the diesel.

2. You need to learn about your car so you can identify and diagnose problems before they get out of hand.

3. Always use an independent specialist for service and repair (DIY for filters and fluids of course is easy).

4. Never buy a new one!