Citroen C4 HDi - Anyone?

elletee

Hi

I'm looking to trade in my current car (2008 Mini Cooper Convertible, Petrol Auto) for a car that does a lot better milage/less emissions/lower tax etc. (plus 5 doors and very importing this bit ... a back windscreen wiper!!)

I've come across the 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi 110 VTR Plus + EGS 5 Dr Hatch (Auto), but know nothing about Citroens.

Anybody out there in form land have one/know about these?

Thanks


Ps I can get around £6k trade in for my car, and looking to spend no more than £1.5k - so total of £7,500.

Herzlos

Does it need to be auto? You can probably drop a tax band by going for a manual

motorguy

Herzlos wrote: »

Does it need to be auto? You can probably drop a tax band by going for a manual

Given their previous car is an auto and they're looking at an auto, then they do seem to have that preference?

motorguy

elletee wrote: »

Hi

I'm looking to trade in my current car (2008 Mini Cooper Convertible, Petrol Auto) for a car that does a lot better milage/less emissions/lower tax etc. (plus 5 doors and very importing this bit ... a back windscreen wiper!!)

I've come across the 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi 110 VTR Plus + EGS 5 Dr Hatch (Auto), but know nothing about Citroens.

Anybody out there in form land have one/know about these?

Thanks


Ps I can get around £6k trade in for my car, and looking to spend no more than £1.5k - so total of £7,500.

The earlier 1.6HDI engines give a lot of trouble. Not sure if they have them sorted out entirely.

They drop in value like snow off a ditch so if you must buy, make sure the price is right.

lemon26

I had a 2005 Citroen C4 5-door VTR+ 1.6 petrol however I loved the look of the car and I never had any problems with it, in spite of French manufacturer's reputation. The only thing people found unusual was the fixed steering-wheel centre hub and the LCD car information display. Otherwise it was very well equiped and a great car to drive. I think people either love or hate the steering wheel, a test drive for a while should help you decide.

Moving on, I replaced it with a 2008 Citroen C5, with the 1.6 HDi, and, even though the car is heavier, it still feels quick and responsive (think they changed the 5th-gear ratio for the weight) and economical. Only downside is 2yr / 12k miles servicing but I don't know if this is teh case with the newer versions, which I think were updated in 2010 model year..

You could also head over to www.c4owners.org, I was a member when I had mine and it's a great forum with loads of knowledge about the C4.

elletee

Thanks so much for your replies.

I did pass my test on a Manual, but not sure I could drive one anymore (safely anyway!) and I sit in traffic every day - so Auto's are for me. Tax on the C4 is only £30 so over the moon with that.

The Steering wheel does look very funky - so will def give a test drive!

Thanks for the link to the owners club - I'm on my way there now !

GolfBravo

EGS transmission is not automatic, it is automated - it is just a normal manual transmission and clutch with electric actuators changing gears for you. Not as nice to drive as standard auto, and they also eventually give trouble (electrics, expensive to fix).

Peugeot/Citroen 1.6HDi engine: personally, I would avoid buying a used car with this particular engine (also used by Mini, Ford and Volvo). They are famous for self-destructing, all because of a £0.12 copper injector washer: injectors get loose (due to copper washer thermal expansion) and develop a leak, and lots of carbon ends up inside the engine, blocking turbocharger oil feed pipe, and eventually the turbo goes (about £1200+ to fix it). Different story with a new engine, you just have to regularly tighten up injector bolts (eg. during each oil change). So when buying a used 1.6HDI car it could be already too late to prevent turbo damage, and you could end up with a very expensive problem.

Citroen future resale value? No such thing.

elletee

GolfBravo wrote: »

EGS transmission is not automatic, it is automated - it is just a normal manual transmission and clutch with electric actuators changing gears for you. Not as nice to drive as standard auto, and they also eventually give trouble (electrics, expensive to fix).

Peugeot/Citroen 1.6HDi engine: personally, I would avoid buying a used car with this particular engine (also used by Mini, Ford and Volvo). They are famous for self-destructing, all because of a £0.12 copper injector washer: injectors get loose (due to copper washer thermal expansion) and develop a leak, and lots of carbon ends up inside the engine, blocking turbocharger oil feed pipe, and eventually the turbo goes (about £1200+ to fix it). Different story with a new engine, you just have to regularly tighten up injector bolts (eg. during each oil change). So when buying a used 1.6HDI car it could be already too late to prevent turbo damage, and you could end up with a very expensive problem.

Citroen future resale value? No such thing.

Thanks for the adivce. Do you suggest anything else in the same price bracket that's Auto/Diesel?

Thanks

UncleZen

I had a 2005 model bought almost from new and over the course of 5 years it had lots of things wrong with it, clutch, turbo, air intake fell apart. I spent £2300 in 2 years fixing it always hoping that it would be the last thing to go wrong, in the end, enough was enough and I traded it. I loved the car, nice to drive pretty good fuel consumption but it really was the worst car I've ever owned. To be honest its put me right of French cars.
Check out c4owners and you'll see what I mean

patman99

The worst car I ever owned was a Citreon BX (suffered hydraulic leaks on a regular basis), however, the most reliable car I ever owned was a Citreon Xantia 1.9TD..
If buying 2nd-hand it all depends on how the previous owner/s looked after the car.
My mate just bought an '04 Picasso with a 1.6HDi engine and the previous owner had already replaced the clutch, flywheel & timing belt. Yes, the injector has a leak, but his garage will fix it. Anything else he will do himself.