1969 Citroen DS 21 review from UK and Ireland
"An amazing icon of French engineering"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Major - head gasket started leaking coolant after the engine overheated (this was caused by a simple leak from a perished rubber radiator hose).
Minor - fragile wiring, oilswitch malfunctioned, small fuel leak from a rubber fuel line (pump to the carb). Loose battery connection. All age related, common to any 30 year old car.
General comments?
So far I've been a bit unlucky, but these cars are generally a reliable design.
The Citroen DS remains probably the most advanced car ever made for the mass market. It has more features than most modern cars - the famous 'magic carpet' ride, astonishing looks, incredibly comfortable armchair seats with acres of legroom. Fingertip gear changes, power assisted steering, superb stability and roadholding. The brakes are power assisted and incredibly powerful.
There are some downsides - it only has 4 gears, the bootlid is flimsy, the car is a bit noisy and the frameless glass windows do bow out at speed if not wound up fully. However these are minor faults which don't significantly detract from the pleasure of driving this great car.
Search for New and Used Citroen DSs available in the UK
Click here to advertise your car
Recommended reviews
|
| Timeless design, great car! |
|
| I'm going out to buy a C5 after I sell my Peugeot 306 |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1969 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2 petrol Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 123323 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 125660 kilometres |
| Previous car | Morris Minor |
| Date of Entry | 17th May, 2001 |