USED Citroën C5 Hatchback (01 - 08)

My car

I must be one of a few a very very few people Own a Citroen C5 3.0 V6 some say i must be mental i probably am however its proved to be worth its weight in gold. I bought the car in 2006 with 60k on the clockfrom a main dealer in London the car was cheap and and it suited the nature of what i needed a car for. Granted its not the best looking car in the world as its the MK1 version but its still got that something that people think its expensive. Now having covered over 140k yeah its done a few miles in two years ok alot of miles and i don't want to know what the fuel bills totals up too. but it has given me two years and a bit of total troble free driving. its never let me done does not want or need anything either. Tyres last for ages the brake pads last a good 40-45k which is great for an auto and a car that size. and only needs a service every 20k. My only adviseis that ifyou do own one or any other car infact if your back box does give up the ghost then make sure you price a long life one as well as a standard one. A stanmdard one for my car would have cost me about £940 thats alot but the longlife one only cost me £230 and i watched it being made too. All in all its a cracking car its worth nothing in this current market granted but its worth alot more to me.

My car

Just a follow-up to Daniel James' letter, I too am getting excellent Tyre life from my Michelins (over 70,000 kms and still good tread left). Still looking for information on how to fix my Automatic Gearbox. A small garage said I should get the "Valve Bodies" replaced. Is there an expert in the U.K. who could advise me on this? I really love this car but unfortunately the Citroen Agents don't seem to care about After Sales Service in South Africa (and perhaps all over the world). My wife likes the look of the new Citroen DS coming out this year but we would be reluctant to buy one with the attitude of the Citroen Agents in the Johannesburg area. She will stick to a Mini Cooper or the Honda Jazz. Honda's reliability and service is superb!

My car

I have owned this car from new, a 51 plate, and have done 49,000 miles in it. First of all, I want to say how surprised I am at the huge difference between what a reader paid for his 51 (used) when it had done 75,000 miles, and what I am being offered for mine as a trade-in (buying a Mondeo as I don't like the new style C5) - he paid £5000, I am offered £1000 for mine! Exterior is perfect, full SH, one careful lady owner etc... dealer said 'Great outside, but inside has so much dog hair.' Surely a valeting would take care of that?

Anyway - C5 has been great, not one breakdown, only 2 faults over the 7 years, quiet, comfortable and stylish compared to the Mondeo! Very surprised to read of all those faults - mine was an excellent car.

My car

I bought this car (a 51 plate) on 75,000 miles (it has now done 140,000). Although cheap to buy at £5000, it has cost me a fortune in replacement parts.

The first complaint was squeaking brakes. The Citroën dealer told me that 'Citroën doesn't make decent brake pads, we'll use substitute pads'.

The result still the same. Next, the radio failed. The same dealer said 'It's a faulty aerial'. It wasn't - it was the radio unit itself (the mechanic couldn't be bothered to check his work).

Then the big 'uns. The hydraulic pump failed (C5s can't be driven without it) - that cost 900 Euros. Next, the head gasket - that cost £1500.

Nine months later, the hydraulic pump failed again (again in France, where the dealer just gave me the usual Gallic shrug).

In 40 years of owning cars, I can honestly say that this is the very worst car I have ever had - with the possible exception of my first (student) vehicle, a clapped-out Austin Cambridge that I bought for £10 in 1969.

To cap it all, it also has one of the most uncomfortable driver's seats that I have ever encountered - cheap foam rubber that, on 600-mile journeys to and from France, has absolutely killed me. Were I to be offered a free Citroën tomorrow, I think I would actually turn it down.

Having had a couple of Renaults over the years, and now this pièce de merde, I can unequivocally say that I shall never, ever, ever again buy a French car!