Citroën Saxo (1996 - 2003) 1.1i Desire 3d (00) Owner Review

How reliable do you find the car?

Have done about 19k since purchasing to find only minor wear and tear faults. Window regulator drivers side failed and rear brake shoes perished. Otherwise regular oil changes at 6k have kept it sounding sweet. The thrust and release bearings in the clutch are getting clunkier and noises but all still works as it should. It even had its original Michelin tyres from 2002 until 81k

Does the car do everything you expected it to do?

So this is really the best hit about the Saxo. They’re getting scrapped a lot at the moment and spare parts are cheap and easy to source! A good bonus - their prices have bottomed out and so if you’re unsure of buying one this review might help because not only is this car cheap (I got mine wit 6 months not and a full service history with 64k and 3 owners for £180) it’s chep to insure and it is a lot of fun to drive. It’s steers nicely and pulls well great car to accelerate in even being the little 1124cc it’s surprisingly quick and manages 70 on the motorway comfortably at 3.5k revvs. It’s comfortable and has old school comfy seats in unlike modern cars and it is extremely well equipped - fog lights electric windows DAB and PAS, remote locking etc. It’s also really practical and you can fold the seats in a few moments it has a good boot space too. But by far best of all is it’s exonomy. Here is a car that’s dirt cheap to buy and maintain but also crucially to run as well. I regularly get 430-450 miles out of a tank of petrol - £45 to fill and with prices at £1.28 I’m still achieving around 10p per mile. I.e. 64 miles costs about £6.40. I have owned an Mx5 and a diesel golf and to be quite honest - the Saxo trumps them. It has the fun of the mx5 in its drive but the practicality and economy of the golf. I would like to get a newer even Loren economical car one day but this does a good job for now. Would wholly recommend. Probably the most fun and cheap run about money can buy - lighter than a clio or polo and quicker and Loren economical to run too. It’s downsides are it is a little flimsy - build quality isn’t bad but the interior plastics feel quite cheap and in strong winds the car wonders a little but all in all not too bad to compromise if you’re getting good mpg and a fun ride.