USED Citroën C3 Hatchback (02 - 10)

My car

I have owned this car from used for coming up to 3 years (it's an 02 plate) it has just done 40,000 miles and has absolutely zero problems (touch wood). I only use it as a local run around but even on the rare longer journey to the coast it has never let me down. I will replace it before having children but for myself and my dogs it's perfect.

My only issue with it has to be the handling in any winds! Very scary to the point of feeling quite dangerous!!

However, I would thorough recommed this car, especially for first time drivers!

My car

I have found my C3 1.4 HDI SX Sensodrive to be reliable, fairly spacious (in the front certainly)and very cheap to run.

As I am retired, but still do some part-time work (my wife likes to shop!) I needed a car like the C3, although it has had a few rattles in the door since I got it, but nothing serious so far.

I have now covered 40,000 miles, and apart from servicing, it has cost me very little, but the warranty runs out at the end of this year, and I was going to get another C3, but after reading all the negative user reports now I'm not so sure!

Also a low mileage C3 diesel automatic is a rare beast to find (I now prefer automatics), so I may have to look elsewhere anyway.

My previous car, a manual brand new C3 HDI SX was also reliable and trouble free, although the electronic dashboard failed after 1500 miles, and was replaced under warranty.

It does seem to be one of those cars which look small outside, but is surprisingly roomy inside, with easy access and good on the motorway. The Sensodrive gearbox works surprisingly well, and is ideal on town journeys, and in stop and start heavy traffic, and the SX model is packed with features,compared with similar cars.

My car

41000 miles and I am told it needs a new gear box at cost of £2000 . Car is barely worth that. Second time in 18 months that gear box bolt has sheared off. Steering has become unreliable as well. Car has only been on the road for three and a half years. will have to get a car I can rely on.

My car

My car is Pizazz green, so you get noticed. The 1.1 engine is dreadful. It's fine in first gear, but there's nothing once you're into second. It's a struggle on the motorway and really is quite scary in crosswinds, and it rolls round corners like Mr Wobbly man.

It has air-con which works really well for such a little car, but the quality of the interior is pretty bad. It's only done 5000 miles and it's now three years old (04 reg), but nothing major has gone wrong, apart from the battery going funny a few times when it wasn't getting used.

It certainly has character, but it isn't the way people should remember a Citroen. Not all Citroens are this bad to drive, have such bad visibility or are as badly built.

Think of the DS, 2CV and C6 when you think of Citroens!