Citroen Xsara Picasso - buying used.

mutty_hc

Hello all,
I am considering buying a Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel 92hp version.

I am trying to decide on the right one and was thinking my criteria should be as follows:

Full Service History and regular MOT.
Reasonable mileage done per year to ensure it hasn't been sitting around too often, e.g. 8,000 + per year?

What I am having trouble with is an 09/59 plate one seems to be at least £1,000-£2,000 more than an 07 plate one with similar mileage.

I have done a lot of reading and it seems newer/ higher mileage is better than older/ lower mileage.

Is there any issue with an 07/08 plate, should I pay more for the 09/59 plate?

Cheers

gilbert_and_sullivan

If it were me i'd try to find a car that has been serviced annually, non of this 20k oil change interval rubbish or you'll be looking at the now famous 1.6 Diesel turbo farce.

So, oil and filter change before 10k, and look see if it's had a new turbo fitted, if it has walk away.

As you approach a potential purchase check the wheels tyres and visible brakes first, decent set of known make tyres, straight unkerbed wheels, nice clean discs with as good as can be expected calipers on show usually means the rest of the car is worth looking at.
Conversely if the previous owner can't be bothered with the most important and easily seen parts of the car what chance the unseen.

I don't buy into higher mileage is best, there's nothing at all wrong with lower mileage cars so long as they've been serviced correctly to account.

colino

I'm really not trying to be rude, honestly, but have you assessed what you need (really need) and want from your car? There are a lot of options out there and I've never heard of anyone looking for one of those other than it is cheap.

BeenThroughItAll

mutty_hc wrote: »

Hello all,
I am considering buying a Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel 92hp version.

I wouldn't. Hateful engines those 1.6HDis. Admittedly, later ones are better, but they're still money-pits.

Strider590

End of the day, they're French and the only thing worse than a French car is an Italian one (unless you like expensive low mileage supercars).

Marktheshark

It is not so bad when its in its designed form of 90 BHP area, the trouble starts when they started chasing the BHP stakes and over ran the engine up to 115 bhp, it blows the soot and muck down the piston bores and it turns to carbon and blocks the engine up.
That and changing the oil every 18,000 is just stupidity, it should have had interim changes between services.

The bit about diesels been better with high miles is an old wives tale from the days of six cylinder 85 bhp chuggers, these days with exception of the merc 320 and the VW pd 1.9 most diesls are pretty shot at 120k like any turbo boosted performance engine.
After this your on borrowed time with any modern diesel.

mutty_hc

Thanks all, lots of interesting feedback.

So is the 1.6Hdi not worth going for then? What would be an alternative worth considering?

It's vastly smaller but would a Honda Jazz petrol be better?

I need a family car which doesn't cost more than £4,500, we do 12k miles minimum a year too, mix of town and dual carriage/motorway driving.

Thanks.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I'd have the jazz over a Picasso any day, although watch out for the jazz manual gearbox bearings tend to fail and can be costly to have fixed.

gilbert_and_sullivan

There is nothing at all wrong with the choice of car, it's basically a Berlingo, get underneath and you'll struggle to spot the difference, none the worse for that either as Berlingo goes on for years if looked after sensibly.

90bhp shouldn't have DPF (FAP) so a lot less to worry about.

Good reasonable mileage servicing sees these engines fine.

gazfocus

mutty_hc wrote: »

Thanks all, lots of interesting feedback.

So is the 1.6Hdi not worth going for then? What would be an alternative worth considering?

It's vastly smaller but would a Honda Jazz petrol be better?

I need a family car which doesn't cost more than £4,500, we do 12k miles minimum a year too, mix of town and dual carriage/motorway driving.

Thanks.

My wife has a 59 reg C4 Picasso (she paid £5,300 almost 8 months ago) and they're actually not bad cars, very economical and tonnes of room. My wifes gets about 42mpg which is pretty good.

My guess about the price difference is that the 07/08 will be the older shape and 09/59 will be a newer shape. With your budget, you should be able to get a newer shape in good condition.

Money_Bags

Hi there, I have a 1.6 petrol Picasso, I have had it form new, (it is now 10 years old) and is still going strong. It has done heavy mileage and is still used everyday. It is the best car I have ever had and I would buy another. It's a great family car, reliable and good in snow plus what you can't fit in to that car you don't need!!!