Citroën C4 Coupe (2004 - 2010) 1.6HDi 16V VTR 3d (2005/05) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I listen to my heart rather than my head when buying a car.

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

Everyone says it looks nice and I should keep it - they don't believe me when I tell them how little fuel it's cost me to visit! If only they were to come with me on the M1...

Would you buy this car again and why?

Never in a million years. I still love it when it's on the drive but it's awful on the motorway where I spend most of my time, and the depreciation is alarming.

What are you likely to buy next?

A new Honda Civic. I've just done the deal. A quantum leap in build quality but I still get to keep the gadgets!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£5,840

When did you buy the car?

May 2008

Did you get a good deal and why?

I thought I did at the time - about £1100 off the screen price but depreciation is a killer on a French car, even with this being one of the supposedly newer/better class.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

The looks, the colour (Wicked Red), the gadgets!

What was the dealer like?

A bit pushy once he sensed I liked the car (Evans Halshaw Citroen) but it's the same everywhere you go in my experience. Had to fight for my p/x - took in printouts from Autotrader to prove my point.

What's it like to drive?

Under 50mph, wonderful, smooth, quiet. On the motorway...genuinely frightening..although the 1.6HDi feels very capable and refined at any speed.

What's it like to park?

Easy. The flat rear screen is pretty much the rear edge of the car. The power steering is weighted just right.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Oh dear oh dear....nothing major but I've never had so many silly minor problems with any car of any age before. The C4 is a dream to drive around town but get it over 50mph and everything rattles...four different garages have tried repeatedly to correct the front-wheel alignment without success. As a result at 70mph it feels constantly like it's about to spin off the road in anything but summer/dry conditions. Maybe the optional traction control would make it feel more secure? The heat shield over the turbo is so thin it corrodes in no time, works loose and is very costly to re-secure. It can't go anywhere but rattles like anything. Had to replace locking wheel nuts with standard ones as the key is made of stronger metal and just chews them up meaning I had to hammer them off!

What's most practical about your car?

The large digital display is good. The fuel economy is so good it (almost!) makes me want to keep it despite everything else. Anglesey to Southampton on half a tank!

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

USB box is very handy - you can control your iPod using the steering-wheel buttons.