USED Citroën Xsara Hatchback (97 - 04)

My car

I bought this car about seven weeks ago from a main dealer mine is a 2003, '52' plate. I traded my seat leon 20v in for it as i needed a diesel for long journeys. After driving my parents Picasso with the 90bhp 2.0 hdi engine I thought it was rather slow but on my test drive the 110bhp 2.0 HDi is utterley superb. The amount of torque on offer is brilliant. My xsara is definatley quicker than my Leon 1.8 20V.

Economy is great 50mpg plus at over 70mph. 130 miles on £10. Cabin isn't the best I have been in but for the money a great car. Insurance premiums are a little on the high side for such a small car. My xsara in sx trim is LOADED!!! Auto lights, wipers climate control, cd changer, veloue upholstery. SX and above are definatley the models to go for.

I bought my xsara as a second car as I own an Audi as well but I will definatley be trading it in for a new C4, quite soon.

My car

I had this car for less than six months. I bought it at an auction when it was four year old and in very good cosmetic condition (apart of the interior - that was knacked).

I loved its looks and superb handling, as well as the running costs (insurance group 4 and superb fuel economy for a petrol - I remember doing Manchester to Bury St. Edmunds on half a tank!).

Unfortunately, the weak 1.4 engine couldn't cope with my daily 100 motorway miles, and it started to overheat. I part-exchanged it for a diesel and lost £500 - quite a lot of depreciation for a four-year-old car, I think. I still miss it, however, and regret not having bought the 1.6, which promised to give more performance with near the same economy, or the superb 2.0HDI.

If I had done so, I would still be driving it, I'm sure. Overall, it's a nice car, apart from low-quality cabin and seats.

My car

Having had a ZX, we bought the Xsara as the new model, and what a mistake! If we ignore the minor niggles about squeeks and rattles, the wobbly headlights and similar, all the problems have been monsterous.

The ECU entering safe mode every time it rained, the crown wheel bearing in the diff failing TWICE resulting in a new gearbox TWICE, it's only done 85000 miles.

Don't buy one of these, one of the worst, most unreliable cars ever built.

My car

I have the Stateside version and have had it for four years. I bought it at just three years old.

I have to say of all the cars I have owned this has been the best. I have never had a moment's problem with it, apart from fair wear and tear.

It is susceptible to exhausts, but on the up side, the back tyres have lasted for 71,000 miles - every time I go in to get them checked, they keep sending me away and telling me to come back in 10,000 miles; truly astonishing.

I can average 40mpg on town and motorway work, and I normally drive at over 70 miles per hour.

As for the comfort, as I said I have driven lots of cars in my time - it's my job, and I always love getting back into my Xsara.

I would recommend it to anyone. One thing I would say is to get your servicing done by an independent. Citroen dealers are shocking for service costs.