Citroën C2 (2003 - 2009) 1.4i SX 3d (2005/05) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I'm a simple, undemanding driver looking for something small and practical.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Small, nippy and fun.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Probably not. Though the car has been excellent for the past few months, I think I'm ready to move onto something more spacious and practical since my future work demands it. Plus the overly-light steering is making longer journeys fairly tiresome.

What are you likely to buy next?

Putting aside daydreams about a Land Rover Discovery; realistically, I'll likely go for something with more room like a Fiat Panda or even a Citroen Berlingo. If I'm not able to go for something larger, then I'll probably go for a Peugeot 206 or similar.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,000

When did you buy the car?

June 2008

Did you get a good deal and why?

.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

We originally bought this car for my mum back in 2008. I was later given the C2 as a gift since I was on the verge of taking my driving test and needed my own transportation. Since then, it has been used almost entirely for personal and recreational trips locally.

What was the dealer like?

.

What's it like to drive?

Around the town, the C2 is absolutely superb! The tight turning circle, light steering and fairly decent 1.4L engine give it excellent handling in traffic and car parks. On the main road, it copes reasonably well even if the light steering feels vague at speed and the engine often struggles getting up inclines while in fifth. However, it never feels overstressed and is fairly quiet, even at motorway speeds.

What's it like to park?

Easy! The thick pillars, particularly at the rear, do create noticeable blind spots, but the car's small size and turning circle more than make up for it.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Though the engine has generally been robust, we've had various problems with it throughout the years, the wheel bearings being the worst culprit. While my mum was driving it, three bearings went (both on the front, one on the back) and the same rear bearing starting going again last month; £80 each to fix. The right-hand side has recently started to rust, requiring us to repair a section beneath the driver's door and replace the front wing to pass its MOT. One of the rear springs also needed replacing, which the garage demanded £150 (!) to fix. However, we managed to bump the price down to about £30 by buying a spring off Ebay and paying a local mechanic to fit it (always think twice before paying the garage).

What's most practical about your car?

It's absolutely perfect for carrying two people and light loads on day trips around the countryside or doing odd jobs. The small size makes handling while town driving a doddle.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Probably the flexible rear seats; which can fold down and tumble forward, giving oodles of boot space for such a small car.