1998 Citroen Saxo VTR from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have to admit that I`m not clued up in car mechanics, but I am clued up enough to know that i`ve experienced quite a lot of problems with this particuar car.

After approx 1000 miles the handbrake cable snapped, but hey these things happen so put it down to wear and tear.

Then not long after I was experiencing some squealing when steering sharp into left. It turned out that it was a worn CV joint and therefore had to have the driveshaft replaced as cannot just replace the joint. All was well for approx another 1000 miles and then the squealing was back this time when steering into right, and once again needed another new drive shaft. Why couldn`t the mechanic have pointed this out when car was in the first time getting cv joint replaced.

After 36000 miles I noticed that the engine was starting to lack power and that there was a rattling noise when in neutral (only apparant when clutch released, but not when dipped). Wasn`t sure if these where related to took to citreon who put car through the diagnostic (elexi) machine.

It turned out that lack of power was due to failure of oxygen sensor which was costing £212 to repair.

The rattling noise which made car sound like a diesel bus was the thrust bearing in clutch which I was told was harmless (but annoying) and could only be taken away by having clutch replaced. I have not yet had this done to see if it proves correct, but will hopefully find out when have the money to do so.

Would really like to know if anyone else has experienced any similar problems and if so was your repairs successful.

The car handles the road great at most times, but can slide away from you at the back in wet weather conditions.

Great to look at and cheap to run.

Apart form the above I can honestly say that I love my wee car!!!

I have expereinced these problems with my vtr. it rattles and knocks on turns, it has broken down severel times due to the fuel system being clogged with dirt. I find the car great to drive. also the air bag light comes on all the time.

Jp.

I have had my VTR over 18 nonths, but not a prob with it no rattles ect have spotted a slight gear prob between 2 and 3 but that's just the way I drive compared to my misses I use the plates to change (i prefer a quick shift) and she wouldn't know how to use 1.

I have the same problem with my air bag light randomly coming on.I've also had to replace the clutch, gearbox,exhaust centre pipe, and I also found out that the car slides at the front if you accelerate out of bends in the wet and the brakes are horrific all that go, but very hard to slow.

I would, nt drive a saxo again if my life depended on it, as it did one day on the m62 in the wet (brakes) what! brakes!!! it would have stopped quicker if I would have put my feet out, The airbag light flashes constantly! well! it did till I took the bulb out! The exhaust squeeks. The steerings hard, the cig lighter does, nt work. (spilling a coffee over it while trying to BRAKE!!! I SUPPOSE DID, NT HELP IT MUCH) I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM BEING 12 MONTHS OLD. AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS THESES PROBLEMS OCCURED, And to top it all my radio started smoking while in the middle of a lilly allen song!!! CRIMINAL! THAT WAS ENOUGH!! WHITHIN 24 HOURS IT WAS SOLD! GONE!!!

Well if it was lily allen it blew on, at least it saved you from changing the station.

To 25th Jan 2007, 03:39.

That's bad even by saxo standards!

I have a Saxo vts. I have had no problems with it for the last 3 and half. After it got past 36000 miles, it started to knock, even when idling. I can hear it a bit when driving. Could somebody help me?

The only experience I've had with a knocking engine was when my big end bearings went. It was quite sudden, but it was drivable. It lost a lot of power, and I had to stop in a garage on the way home from work, where it stayed. I'm not sure what you have (problem-wise) unless I hear it, but get it checked out soon.