Faults:

Power Steering faulty in cold weather despite numerous attempt to repair since new.

Engine cuts out every corner till quite warm.

Badly fitting bodywork from new.

Air con problems. (numerous return visits to dealers)

Faulty seat belt.

Various Rattles.

Radio reception problems (numerous return visits to dealers)

Dent and paint problem at new that dealer would not repair.

General Comments:

This is without doubt the worst car I have ever owned, made worse by the dealers lack of ability to solve problems.

I have taken the car to three different Citroen dealers and found them all to be unable to fix it.

I have had Trading standards trying to get Citroen to give me a replacement car because it is not of merchantable quality, but Citroen constantly try to fob me off, and they often ignore the letters.

In my last letter to Citroen almost a week ago, I wrote again asking them to answer within seven days, my previous letter from more than a month before.

Faults:

Left door mirror didn't adjust on delivery. Fixed by the dealer in 30 minutes.

General Comments:

This is an economic, comfortable a quite fast compact saloon. Not very well finished - hard plastics on the interior and a little noisy - but it is cheaper than the rivals.

Car handles and brakes very well and the ride is very good too.

This model will be replaced soon by the arriving C4. I hope this will be as good as the Xsara.

Faults:

Nothing as yet.

General Comments:

Great Car Performance is Great 9.7 Seconds to 60 mph. a little wheezy above 4500 rpm, but all in all a good car it's much quicker than my old 1.6L 16V Fiat Brava.

Faults:

Nothing of course as this car is only two days old.

General Comments:

My car has automatic aircon and is the latest revised version of the Xsara. It is fully computer-managed, something I have always been frightened of (for reliability) but once you know how to use it, it is fabulous. Citroen have obviously got this totally right.

Still running in, and using cruise control as much as possible, I so far have managed 5 l / 100 km of diesel and am not a snail on the road. The LCD screen is always selected to show the current fuel consumption; helps driving at best economy. Road holding on standard fit 195/55 Michelins is excellent. Performance so far promises a lot for when it is run in and I can use its full potential. All controls are logically located. Very comfortable and quiet interior. Fortunately no unnecessary gadgets. Rear visibility is slightly difficult. Excellent luggage capacity.

(Sadly my 1996 AX 1.5D will have to go at 305,000 km and an average diesel consumption of 4.5 l / 100 km. I have never had to add lube oil between services).