15th Jul 2007, 11:46

Hi, I have a W reg Saxo VTS with 44k miles. I have just started to get that idling problem as well! When I'm on my own it's fine, but when there is four in there, it has cut out a couple of times when stopping at lights etc! It's funny how everyone gets the same problem! Anyway, I had the air bag light problem - it flashed non stop, I just ignored it for ages, but when I fiddled with the sensor under the drivers seat, it went away, its worth a try.

Does anyone know if it's expensive to get one of internal sensors fixed or replaced (for the alarm). If I don't turn the internal sensor off before locking, the car the alarm goes off after a few minuets!

10th Sep 2007, 15:19

Hi I have just got a Saxo VTR, but when I start it up it ticks over fine, but when I press the throttle it and it gets to 2000 revs, it starts juddering and borks, and the engine management light comes on.

Please please can someone help?

Thanks.

26th Sep 2007, 12:03

My Saxo 2000 Desire has a flashing handbrake light on the dash. Does anyone know how to get to the switch? Do I have to take the seats & the carpet out, or can I get to it from underneath?

27th Sep 2007, 13:37

The switch is under the handbrake I think. You can see it if you look, should be easy to work on. Probably just the wire is loose or something.

23rd Nov 2007, 08:58

My Saxo 1.4 West-Coast is giving me trouble. I drive for weeks with no problem, then it starts to behave in a frantic way. It cuts off while am driving. Sometimes petrol leaks from the petrol canister. I have had this one changed by Citroen, but it still leaks. When it leaks I stop for some time and drive off again. It used to take another couple of days, but now I just can't drive this car. I also have this light in the shape of an f flashing on the dashboard.

Someone please help, this car is driving me crazy, I have wasted so much time and money on it.

7th Jan 2008, 10:44

Hi, I have a 1997 3dr Saxo VSX 1.4i and have had it for 4 years with no problems - However, last year some idiot drove into the side of me and ever since then it won't drive straight. It pulls to the left terribly and I've had the wheels balanced, the tracking done and the alignment checked and all are OK, but it still does it, any ideas? Would a bent track rod end be to blame perhaps?

8th Jan 2008, 12:12

A bent chassis, maybe?

12th Jan 2008, 09:19

I have an Irish i.4 8 valve year 2000 Saxo. Just after I got the timing belt done it began to suffer from idling problems. It would cut out and the rev needle would drop below 1000 revs one min, and the next would rev up to 2 or 3000 revs on its own. I brought it to a mechanic and he changed the coolant temp sensor and said it was fixed; charged me quite a bit and sent me on my way. The next day it did the exact same thing, so I brought it back to him and over the course of 2 days he couldn't find anything wrong. So I took the throttle housing apart and noticed that the idling actuator was filthy as was the potentiometer. I replaced both of these and I have my car back to normal.

17th May 2008, 14:33

I have just bought a Saxo VTR with quite high mileage. It still shifts like a new car, but when I stop and get out of the car, I can smell a burning smell coming from the engine. I have checked my oil and coolant and they are fine. Does anyone have an idea what this burning smell is?

18th May 2008, 07:24

If you drive like a maniac it could be the clutch. Possibly even the brakes, check they aren't sticking. Or you may have spilt some oil or something onto the engine which is cooking once the engine is warm?

18th May 2008, 14:01

Probably clutch, brakes, and tyre. mmm toasty.

25th May 2008, 09:19

Well I'm glad I bought my car because I wanted one and not from reading these reviews.

(this is going to be long-winded but it's a positive =) )

I bought my w reg (2000) about 8-months ago and up to yet haven't had any major problems. It got through the mot only needing a new tyre and an exhaust bracket welding.

A few things I have read on here are from people whom have taken the car to the garage, and seem to have been over-priced.

Here are a few things I have done to my car; I know there is nothing major, but I am just trying to show not all repairs are expensive.

Needed a new front pipe (£40 fitted)

Discs were getting ready but could have done another K miles but I wanted something to do. It cost me a tenner because I'm well in with a company that manufactures them, and they are really easy to fit (about Min's a wheel if that). I also swapped pads all way around.

Oil and filter change (like all cars needed one so did it kinda thing) cost around £25 for quality oil and filter.

On the car itself, I have found that when it rains, for a long while the car seems to leak, but it doesn't do it when I wash it or when there is a slight drizzle. (So if anyone has cured this problem please let me know what it is!) This is the only problem I can't seem to cure on the car.

As for performance, I did a 0-60 with me and a friend in the car and going half round a roundabout and got 8.SEC. So on my own and on a straight road, I bet it can get 8 sec, but I don't know if the car was re-mapped before I got it. When going against big cars (Mondaoe, Astra (new ones) Focus) as long as they are turbo-ed you can be 99% sure you will kill it. Unless it's a 2.0l, then you can take it to around 60-MPH before they start to pull past.

Handling is great in the dry, and with it having discs all the way round, you have got to be careful not to brake too hard before entering a corner. If you do, the back wheels will overtake the front and cause you to spin, due to the weight shift (best thing to do is hard brake B the corner then use the throttle to pull the car round and out. It is loads faster and more fun! and a lot safer). And in the wet, the car is pretty its usable at motorway speeds but the brakes are only about half as efficient, so be careful!

Fuel economy; well I filled the tank up (£44) and got 330 miles (around 230 miles were constant motorway miles) so the mpg isn't too bad, but if you drive it like you stole it and the way it likes to be driven, then you get about 30miles on a tenner.

Insurance is all so quite cheap; mines £773 3rd fire theft with 1 years nc.

One thing I will say is if you have any minor problem with the car and you know what it is, do the work yourself because the car is really easy to work on and pretty straight forward.

Overall, from my experience I think its a great car; looks cool, drives well, easy to look after, and if you show it respect and look after it, you shouldn't have any problems with it. It is worth taking notes of peoples' faces when they look at me thinking, 'a boy racer with a 1.2l' and then I go on to beat them; its priceless!

And swap the back box because they are so restrictive!