Citroën C3 (2002 - 2010) 1.4 HDi 16V Exclusive 5d (2003/03) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It says I am very mean when it comes to paying for my transport. I can't believe Citroen don't make much more of it's frugality as that would be a tremendous selling point. People don't believe me when I tell them how much I spend on it and I have not come across a cheaper car to run.

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

They love it, in general, but can see that there are drawbacks when you need to cart something a bit bigger around (like the wife).

Would you buy this car again and why?

I would definitely have it in my stable of cars, if I were a Premiership footballer. It is a fantastic second car.

What are you likely to buy next?

I have always hankered after a Jaguar, so that's what I going for. I will stick to an X-Type because they are cheaper to run (being a Mondeo in disguise). I will get the diesel version as a nod to Global Warming (although I don't believe all the hype) and towards my meaness for transport.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£5,250

When did you buy the car?

January 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

We got a good deal on a part exchange of a Hyundai Sonata.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Economy.

What was the dealer like?

Very helpful and friendly, but we have known them for 25 years.

What's it like to drive?

This little car drives very well indeed. The engine is very nippy and responsive. The steering is neat and precise. Brakes are good, but the turning circle (as you might expect from a front wheel drive car) is pathetic. In fact a 40 ton artic lorry could perform a U-turn in a tunnel easier than this Citroen, but that's ni-picking - isn't it?

What's it like to park?

See above for turning circle. Parking is a doddle as it is so small. The doors open very wide so you have to be careful about whacking other cars when you get out. The boot lid opens up very high and, because I am very tall, I don't crack my head on the thing.

Have you had any problems with the car?

The cars computer trips out once a month. All the lights come on, the speedo doesn't register and the guages don't work although the car still runs OK. The cure is to whip off the battery connection for a few seconds (don't do this while the car is in motion :-) and, hey presto! everything OK again. The gearstick froze in very cold weather last week (January), but this was caused by water on the gear transmission link; this cured itself after a few minutes idle running. The A/C has packed up after spending a fortune on refilling it by 'experts' including Helix Citroen of Chelmsford. They then asked for another £70 to try again before announcing the compressor had gone bust and would I like to give them £450.00 (plus VAT) to fix it? The 'automatic' window wipers are VERY erratic.

What's most practical about your car?

Economy. When it runs low on fuel, I drive past a garage, it takes a deep sniff and then drives on for another thousand miles! I exagerate slightly - I get around 70 mpg from it. Road tax is £35.00 only. Spares are pretty cheap, but nothing goes wrong with it except that it had new front brake discs and shoes at around 75k. The headroom is exceptional for a tall driver like me. I can sit in the drivers seat and still have several inches of head room above me. Likewise legroom is plenty, but that does mean that only a nat can sit behind me!

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The economy.