2004 Citroen C2 VTS from UK and Ireland - Comments

A few starting/cold running problems sorted out by a software update and having the fuel injection system cleaned out.

Good acceleration, great handling, good fuel economy, great to look at and cheap to insure etc. Am very happy with it.

And best of all?? No horrid sensodrive gear box!!!

I'm looking at buying a c2, but not sure what to get vtr or vts : (. Can you tell me the difference between the 2, sorry if this is a silly question, just want to make the right choice,

The VTR is a very good car, 110bhp and a 5 speed paddle shift gearbox with fully automatic mode. It has a pretty high spec, but the VTS adds:

5 speed manual with a close ration gearbox (so prob is a little louder at the 70mph limiy)

125 bhp - new cams, remapped ecu - mine revs to the 7500 rpm limiter

O-60 is quicker, 10.8 I believe for VTR versus 8.3 for the VTS.

Insurance groups are roughly the same, the VTS being a low group 8.

Air con is standard on the VTS

Both have nice bodykit/alloy wheels

Mine also has parking sensors, electric folding/heated mirrors and the modu-seating.

All in all, the VTS is the better buy as by the time you've added the air con to the VTR the prices are within a few hundred pounds of each other. Also, the VTS badge is better respected and performance is better, whilst road tax, insuance and running costs are pretty much the same.

Hope that helps.

Well, the car is over two years old and has now covered 19k miles. So how is it? Still like new!! No loose trim, no rattles and all the gadgets still work fine.

It's needed two new front tyres, a service (that cost £180) and that's it. Very unlike the Saxo's I have had previously.

Engine has loosened up nicely now and is quieter and smoother than when I got it. In fact, my Dad liked it so much he bought one also, which has been fault free as well.

Maybe a few of the other guys on here have had bad luck, or that most people only post a review when they have a problem, but mines been great.

I've had a C2 GT and now a VTS for the past 6 months or so.

Nice car to drive, handles well although not as quick as Citroen reckon. 0-62 in 8.3 seconds... my arse.

Unfortunately though, it has been back and forwards several times now to the Citroen dealership for repairs:-

Two engine management faults, due to dodgy coils.

Paint peelin of the boot tail gate.

Rubber window seal coming away from the driver's door and now to top it off the inlet manifold is leaking!!!

Apparently this manifold problem is well known to Citroen UK as it's a design fault that effects the VTS as it has a heavier alloy inlet manifold compared to the other C2's plastic one. The mounting studs can't cope with this extra weight and eventually shear off. I'm pretty pissed about this as I have an 06 model and this fault has be known of for a couple of years now.

TBH these niggles are starting to vex, if anything else fails I'll get rid of it in March and get something else... and not another "Air Fix" build quality Citroen.

Sorry to hear you've had problems with your C2! I'm the original reviewer and I think it's a shame you've had these problems.

As far as the 0-60 time goes I can see where you are coming from. I think 8.3 is possible, but you have to turn off the ESP and rev to the maximum in first and second. Not pretty, but the engine likes to be revved. Shame flat out in 2nd is 59mph (that's the rev limiter) - odd eh!

As far as the build issue goes, absolutely no problems with mine, paint is good, interior is wearing very well, no marks after 20k.

OK, original reviewer here. First problem with the car. A minor oil leak on the engine was caused by a faulty gasket. Not bad after nearly two years though.

Mileage is no over 20k and I have seen an improvement in mpg. If you're careful on a long run (and by this I mean not revving it up to the limiter! not 50mph or anything daft like that) 46mpg is reachable. First time ever for me! Around town 37ish is my average for the daily 5 mile commute, the better weather now helping out somewhat with this.

No other problems touch wood and long may it continue!

New head gasket was it?

My VTS has settled down since I've had the repairs to the manifold and door seal.

Can't get anywhere near your MPG though, averaging around 34 a gallon, although I do drive pretty hard from time to time and I've also got a Pipercross Viper induction kit on it which probably doesn't help.

Don't think I'll bother with any more mods as it's plenty quick enough and you can't extract too much more form the engine from what I've seen, even with new exhaust manifolds or zorsts. Might get a remap though to try and improve the poor throttle response on quyick gearchanges.

Yes, new head gasket, shame as the car has be fine other than that.

34mpg sounds right if you drive it a bit hard - I usually get 37mpg around town with a light foot. As for performance mods, I've not got any. I understand the Superchip offers 6bhp and some more torque which to be honest does not sound that great for £200...

Anyway have 21k on the clock and it looks like the rear tyres are about to need changing. If anyone is interested, an internet company offers to fit two new Michelin tyres for £150 which I think is very reasonable.

That's very poor... a head gasket should last at least 60k miles! Typical Citroen build quality though, at least they are consistent!

I wouldn't bother with a superchip, waste of money. A remap of the original ECU is a better option, although I still don't think it warrants £300.

I'm quite happy with just my induction kit. I agree it's over priced, but I'd guess I've gained around 4-5bhp and it gives the engine a nice growl too. Easy to take off too, good job as I have my regular trips back to Citroen for repairs to think about! hahaha.

OK, original reviewer here again. 23k covered now, and have had to buy new rear tyres, £80 a piece fitted, so not bad for Michelin tyres, cheaper than before oddly enough!

Car is still good, stone chips on the front are shame, but seems to be a weakness of the C2. Other than that the car is like new still, everything still working and no rattles!

The GT and still VTS driver back again...

Had a few other niggles, but things seem better lately, only 11K miles on clock though. No stone chips to report on my wicked red VTS, my black GT was terrible though, the black paint chipped so easy and looked terrible by the time I traded it in - the reds much better.

Averaging around 35mpg which is pretty good and just swapped the wheels around as the front tyres were showing significant wear.

Still unhappy with the sloppy 2nd to 3rd gear change, Citroen say it's normal though.

Overall still enjoy buzzing around in it and upsetting cars nearly twice the proce when they can't shake me off! hehe.

Original reviewer here for one last time - have recently bought a C4 VTS HDi. Firstly, I still rate the C2 VTS and would recommend it to anyone, but I needed a bigger car and a diesel to boot! Interestingly, after approx 2 1/2 years it's value reduced by only £2500 which I thought was pretty good!

In the time I had the C2 the only expense other than the usual tax etc proved to be 4 new tyres and having a dent taken out, not bad really, plus Citroen have definitely overcome their unreliability gremlins (C4 has been perfect too over 1000+ miles so far).

I took a test drive in the C2 VTR(paddle shift model). This is a Granny's car. Each time you select a gear, it is as if the car thinks about it first, then changes gear. I must say though, it is a lovely car inside and out. If anyone is thinking of getting one, I recommend they buy the GT VTR or VTS Extra...

I have a C2 VTS. The VTR IS RUBBISH. The gear box in them might as well have come out of a reliant robbin. The lagg on them is ridiculous.

I like the car but mine it keeps getting electrical faults and is constantly in and out of Citroen :@.

I've tweeked mine to 0-62 in about 7.9 :) keeps up with fiesta ST's and anhialates 206 GTI's lol.

Overall don't get one there to unreliable.

I have a C2 and at the moment its leaking diesel from engine area? Its just over 2 years old and done a lot of mileage - 59,000. Any ideas?! Or has anyone else had a similar problem?

HELP!