Citroën DS3 (2010 - 2015) 1.6 THP 16V (155bhp) DSport 3d (2011/61) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
Stylish, young and a little different.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
They all think it's great but utterly unreliable. They're right.
Would you buy this car again and why?
No. It's fantastic when it works, but I can't be bothered with a car that can't go 5,000 miles without need some kind of repair.
What are you likely to buy next?
No clue. Fiesta ST maybe. Or a '13-14 Swift Sport. Maybe a 07-08 TT?
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Independent
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£8,200
When did you buy the car?
January 2015
Did you get a good deal and why?
OK deal based on the car's great visual condition.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Very good all around blend of performance, fun, style, practicality and economy.
What was the dealer like?
OK
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Really good. A great do-it-all car. It's a very good daily driver. Driving position is very good for a small car. The ride is on the firm side, especially at low speeds, but overall comfort is good. The seats are great (cloth & alcantara interior ages better than leather), and it's not noisy on the highway at all thanks to its tall 6th gear. When you want to have fun, the chassis is responsive and chuckable, although the steering could be a bit more communicative. Brakes are good with limited fade. Engine pulls nicely from 2,000 revs and offers very decent performance, though it could sound more communicative. The gearbox is nice and rather precise. I averaged 39 MPG with a mix of highway and city driving.
What's it like to park?
Small size & parking sensors make it quite easy. However the rims are fragile and very exposed, so watch out for them.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Yes! A lot! The car's first owner had it sent back to the shop more than 25 times in 30,000 miles, including a complete engine swap due to timing chain issues at 18,000 miles (something the dealer didn't think I should know...). In 6 months / 4,500 miles, I experienced: -several instances of super-knock (carbon builds up on intake valves due to DI, and detaches from valves under hard acceleration causing the engine to knock - in some cases this can blow piston #1). -Engine rattling due to stretched timing chain (this was on the 2nd engine with less than 20k on it... No existing fix for this) -Rattling windows -For some reason, the cabin gets really hot as soon as temperatures go over 18-20°C, forcing you to use the AC.
What's most practical about your car?
It does everything... when it works. Great daily driver, fun when you want it to be, looks good, decent boot & cabin size.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Love the gauge cluster. Backup sensors are really nice to have, too.
