2001 Citroen Picasso SX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Hi Vic again,

Just a few points,

The headlamp leveling system is only a dip beam adjustment -- the main beam does not appear to alter, which in my case of mainly driver only loading is a little too dipped.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the drivers seat had an under seat storage try only if the auto CD changer was not fitted suggesting that the changer is mounted under the drivers seat.

With regards to the means of communication between the various pieces of electronic equipment, I believe Citroen are now using the CAN (Controlled Area Network) system. This basically uses a 2 wire signal bus to pass data between the central controller and the peripheral pieces of equipment such as the radio and CD changers. For the technically minded details of the system can be found at www.omegas.co.uk/CAN/canworks

For the racers amongst you, I have found a firm in Germany that can rechip the 90 HDI engine to give 115 hp and give a 62,000 mile engine and transmission guarantee. Details can be found at www.eg-autos.de/sxantia2,0hdi90.htm

vic.fielding@pace.co.uk

Good to read comments from fellow Picasso owners.

I bought a new 1.6SX a few weeks ago from an Internet site (www.tins.co.uk) for £11,100 including metallic paint. Reasonable price (I thought anyway), delivery was only 3 weeks from ordering and no hassle. Only downside was they tried to shaft me with the part-exchange price of my car at the last minute but I stood firm. Just thought I would mention this as a warning to other readers who are considering buying through the internet.

Anyways, very pleased with the Picasso - great value for money. Can't understand why any family would want a normal hatchback or estate with cars like this around.

On the plus side, I rate the comfy seats, the high driving position and especially the overall space.

Things I don't like as much are the noisy engine (sounds more like a diesel), the stereo controls being on the steering wheel - would have been better on a stick like the lights etc as the controls would be in the same position all the time - and the intermittent wipers which go too fast at high speeds.

The engine struggles at times but I've only driven a few hundred miles at the moment so it could be that performance isn't at its best yet.

I like the velour trim in the SX but perhaps the light colour wasn't the best idea from Citroen bearing in mind a lot of buyers will have young children (think chocolate think nightmare!)

One final point. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean the roof and top of windscreen? Being a bit of a midget, I have to stand on a stool to reach which isn't ideal!

Excellent review Keith.

Will we keep our Picasso's long enough to worry about rusting?

Regards.

Kevin.

Regarding the recent discussion about satellite navigation systems and CD auto changers (thanks especially to Paul Moss), I confronted my dealer and if he is telling the truth, I think I now have the answer to some of my (and maybe others!) confusion.

Seemingly the Clarion and Daytona Sat Nave systems are available for the Picasso - but (according to my dealer!) NOT as factory fitted options.

The only factory fitted sat nav systems available is the Siemens system (which apparently although only a monochrome (not colour) display, is 'one of the best' and will navigate down to actual house number! Similarly, there are CD auto changers available for the Picasso - but NOT as factory fitted options. However, according to my dealer, you can always have one fitted after you have taken delivery (the cost is about £250.00).

Is my dealer telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?!!!

Paul.

Paul@jazzmusician.co.uk.

I have now covered 8000 miles in my 1.8SX. A few comments in response to the notes above.

There is very little interior noise, in fact on the newly surfaced sections of the M25 it is incredibly quiet and smooth.

With regard to upgrading the hi-fi, be careful with any electrical extras as the car uses a multiplexer and my dealer quoted a story of a £1000 repair bill for someone who tried to fit an after-market alarm. A good way to upgrade is to fit Sony Custom fit speakers. Both front and rear door speakers are available, not sure about tweeter's.

I have a squeak in the back which I cannot trace - could be the seats moving against each other?

Fuel economy improves drastically after 3000 miles.

Does anyone know where to get a plug adaptor for the 12v power outlet in the rear?

Enjoy your potato.

Hi everyone.

Just thought you might like to know that there is an 'Unoffical' Picasso website at: CitroenPicasso.org.uk

Cheers.

Kevin.

Well my Red Potato (a King Edward?) has spent the week sitting on the drive. My commute to work is quicker and still marginally more economical by motorbike.

As I said in my previous comment interior noise is relative, my Mondeo was very quiet but on the other hand I learnt to drive in a Bond Bug! I even appeared in a punk rock video driving an Isetta Bubble car, now they were noisy!

I took the CD player out last night. It has absolutely nothing on it to identify the manufacturer!

FYI the Model No on it is PU-2295A.

I have emailed a friend who runs Richards car radio in Maidstone and hopefully he can obtain some details. There is a large blue unused multi connector on the back of the unit which is probably for the CD changer.

I noticed during the week that Halfords offer a dashboard trim kit for the Picasso at £124 in mock walnut, red and yellow. Anyone know how much the Citroen supplied one is?

Kevin, just had a quick look at your web site, very promising. Why not try to get it added to the Citroen web ring at :-

http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=citroenring&list

Rgds

Keith.

Oooh I'm all excited again!

Our brand new Citroen Picasso 1.8 SX is now sitting in our drive looking rather cool! It still only has 35 miles on the clock as believe it or not, we have so many little commitments within our village that we can't find an excuse to use it this weekend!

Nevertheless I am sure that will soon be rectified.

Plus points so far!

I have transferred all the car seats, pushchairs, maps, mobile phone chargers, tissues, wipes... from our Fiat Punto into the Picasso, and guess what? Yes, there is room for us as well as our legs YIPPEE!

Auto Air Con is absolutely fab if not a little noisy, hey, but who cares, we are not cooking!

The large road atlas fits snuggly into the drawer under the drivers seat which means when (not if!) I next get lost I don't have to struggle to exhume it from under a pile of 'stuff' somewhere in the back of the car. What an absolutely revolutionary idea!!! I love it, absolutely love it!

Minus Points so far!

We have to almost slam the boot and doors shut as they don't seem to shut first time properly. It is already getting quite tedious and we have done so few miles. Is any one else experiencing this trouble or will it improve with age?

Can't wait to give it a proper run and once we do we'll let you know our thoughts!

P.s. Don't tell too many people how nice they are as they will end up as being as common as those Renault Megane Scenics! "Mum's" the word eh? shshshhhh!

Ttfn.

Lynda.

Your not going to believe this but after my youngest started calling the car a Potato instead of a Picasso I thought what if...

And yes there is a variety called Picasso!

"Picasso,

An early maturing maincrop with very high yields of attractive cream fleshed tubers with excellent cooking qualities, especially for boiling, and baking, coupled with good disease resistance."

Even stranger it is a red potato as well!

I have obtained a Picasso accessories brochure from Citroen and the Wood look dash kit is £100 + VAT.

The brochure also shows a CD changer for the standard fit radio cassette. Close examination of the picture shows it to be a Clarion unit. I have sent an E-mail to Clarion to see if they can confirm which unit it is. I will let you know if they reply.

The price for the changer from Citroen is £212.77 + VAT plus fitting fit and Cable at a further £75.96 + VAT. That would make it about £150 more than a standard Clarion unit!!!.

Regards.

Tom.

steven@carsurvey.org:

Hi everyone.

It's great to see my website being used like this. The discussion was getting a too bit long for one page, so I've updated the website to split discussions into multiple pages. Hopefully this will make it easier to continue your discussions.

Best Wishes,

Steven.

Hi.

I am currently looking at buying a new or nearly new Picasso after looking at the Renault Scenic and the Merc 190 as my other close choices. I have checked out options on Grey Imports.com and they do have CD changers for the Picasso. I would have liked the Pentland Green colour, but Citroen don't do this with my preferred Vinyl sunroof - Why?

The car has great design very exciting lines and I hope the acceleration on the 1.8 SX doesn't disappoint me. Great comments for people like myself who are looking to buy.

Thank you one and all.

I have received a reply from Clarion on the fitting of a CD changer, it is shown below :-

Regards.

Tom.

>>>>>>>>>

Thank you for your email that has been passed to me for reply.

The only CD changer that is directly compatible with the current range of standard fit audio equipment in the Citroen Picasso car is the 6 disc model part number PU2293, available exclusively from the Citroen dealership network under their part number 656445.

The Van Bus connection system is the recently introduced data exchange protocol used exclusively by the PSA group and for this reason, due to the different "Languages" used, a Clarion aftermarket CDC634 C-Bus autochanger will not work with a Picasso head unit for example. Clarion and other audio manufacturers are now required to design their PSA products to this standard. Peugeot/Citroen are not alone in doing this - most of the other car manufacturers such as Ford, Honda, Nissan, VW etc also currently use their own data bus systems in such applications.

Please contact me here should you require any further information on this topic.

Yours sincerely.

Nick Grattan - OE Sales Division/Clarion GB.

<<<<<<<<<

Just had the official alarm fitted, The volumetric detection override switch looks really naff, the flashing LED (yes another one is fitted) is only visible on a dark night and they did not tell me they had disconnected the battery and wiped out all my stored radio channels.

Apart from that it works, and I am still in my in love phase with the car, but I must be becoming really sad now -- I drive around watching the MPG indicator. An indicated mpg of 62.8 consistently works out at 57.4 mpg, I am trying to break the 60mpg barrier.

Vic.