Your opinion - Citroen Xsara Picasso

quietheart

We're considering the above, haven't decided whether to go for new or used, we just know our 206 isn't accomodating a family of four very well. The Renault Megane Scenic seems better safety-wise but costs a lot more....
Would love to hear what you've got to say!

vansboy

The Picasso is proving a VERRRRY popular choice - finding a good used one at a sensible price, won't be easy.

You'll be surprised at just how good a deal you'll get on NEW, if you take up the regular VAT free, or substantial discounts that Citroen themselves make. These deals are on top of what you can negotiate with the dealer.

So if you can budget for NEW, well worth thinking on this route & if you can, go for the bigger diesel engine. It'll cost more now, but easier to sell on, later.

AVOID smaller petrol engines & anything without air conditioning.

& if you ever thought of trying auctions, the best choice of these models is in Citroen own sections, within the sale, or Motability section.

Also https://www.honestjohn.co.uk check in CarByCarBreakdown link for lots more hints n tips.Also his link ThisWeeksBestDeals - over £5000 off Picasso in the dealers, there!!

VB

Sobraon

We have had one of each (both diesels). Kids view is that the Scenic was roomier. I found the Picasso good to drive (probably better)and of course as vansboy pointed out Citroen often have good short term deals (vat free etc) which we picked up on. Resale value was good on the Picasso (3yrs old)
Changed because kids got bigger (14,12,8)to a Sedona,

Hunnymonster

My father bought a 1.6 petrol in 2000 - and I was impressed enough to bring a 2.0HDi (the old 90 bhp model) back from Ireland in 2002 (saving a hefty sum at the time) - it's roomy, economical and has shifted some gear in it's time (including moving house twice) and my old man (a dyed in the wool petrol boy) loves my diesel.... and I get more mpg than he does.

1st set of front tyres at 46k, rears at 54k
1st set of brake pads (& discs - made of tin I'm sure) at 67.5k

bylromarha

Or you can get the Citroen Berlingo, same 2.0l diesel engine, loads more space, sliding doors (a must for tight parking spaces) for cheaper than a picasso I believe.

Just have to put up with its van looks...

if you're set on a Picasso, ask the dealer to show you round a Blingo too and see how they compare for your situation.

Incidentally we found it nigh on impossible to locate a used ( up to 2 years old) Blingo in November/ December anywhere in the country...points to the fact its a car that is rarely passed on when this age, which is a good thing IMO.

michaels

Have driven a picasso and scenic (old model) but wouldn't change from our multipla as it is soo much bigger on the inside (3 proper - recline and every thing - seats front and back) and the big windows give excellent visibility for everyone and better to drive - the diesel is actually quite quick (v quick with a 300 quid engine remap :-) )and returns mid 40s mpg. Good discounts are available for new/nearly new although not quit as cheap as picassos. The downside is fiat dealers are cr*p but I would suggest you take a test drive before you buy one of the french clones.

Unknown

I would first like to say I have driven hundreds of cars and tested many.

The Picasso I bought 2 years ago for a family and spacious and economical car. This it is.

However, reliability- electrics and many RECALLS!

The handling is worse than a transit van and it has the seats as comfortable as a wooden chair.

The turning circle is worse than any car I have driven- even the VOLVO V70 is better(an estate car).

The driver visiblity is terrible due to the extremely dangerous 'A' pillar(the metal joining the bonnet area to the roof) due to the silly window to the driver front offside. This makes blind spots huge(at junctions/roundabouts where motorbikes and bikes can be easily hidden behind). To get a great view you have to keep moving your head around from left to right to make sure nothing is approaching from the right and left.

The suspension is sickly- like being on a North sea ferry in a storm! Long distance driving is economical in the 2.0hdi however very uncomfortable due to the small seating area(for taller people very bad due to short seat that doesnt reach the knee), and the lumber is useless. Short town driving isnt that economical in the diesel- 37 mpg.

Loads has gone wrong with this cheap car- but what do you expect at the price. It looks good, great for family outings(fits loads in especially when the easily removed rear seats are taken out) and great with the air con and a multi changer- pretty nippy for a diesel aswell.

This is no car for someone without a family!! Get a car that can be driven well with a good suspension and acceleration etc.

averagepunter

Unknown wrote:

However, reliability- electrics and many RECALLS!

Loads has gone wrong with this cheap car- but what do you expect at the price. It looks good, great for family outings(fits loads in especially when the easily removed rear seats are taken out) and great with the air con and a multi changer- pretty nippy for a diesel aswell.

This is no car for someone without a family!! Get a car that can be driven well with a good suspension and acceleration etc.

Juist to balance the argument - we are on our second Picasso. Our first was a 1.6 petrol and now we have the 2.0 Hdi.

We have covered almost 100,000 miles between the two of them and have had no reliability issues at all. Our current HDi has almost 60,000 miles and our only costs have been regular servicing, new tyres and brake pads. Yes, there have been minor build quaility issues - the odd annoying rattle etc - but you don't expect VW build quality at this price.

Yes, there have been a couple of recalls - but nothing excessive when compared to new cars I have owned from other manufacturers. Agreed, the seats aren't the most comfy - but to describe them as a wooden chair is a bit harsh. (and at 6'4" - I fit into the tall category.) Agreed, the lumbar support is useless though.

Also agreed, suspension and acceleration are poor - but it was never built for keen driving.

IMHO, the Picasso represents superb value for money in this segment - citroen always seem to have deals on - and most dealers are keen to negotiate. Running costs are low too.

Good luck with your choice.

Munki_2

We bought a second hand picasso with 4,500 miles on the clock for 6,995 a year ago. We've had no real problems with it except for the fuel sensor sticking and making us run out of fuel, knackering the fuel pump. But this was repaired under warranty and they said they had never heard of it happening before, so may be a one off.

Ours is an 03 reg 1.6 petrol LX model... so the BASIC model. It doesn't have A/C and the engine is a little under powered, but hey for a practically new 5 door mini MPV at under £7k I wasn't going to complain. It fits all our gear in the boot and we have room in the back to fit 2 adults along with the baby seat for our little-un.

I really can't see anything out there this practical for the price. I guess if you bought a cheap estate car, or a big booted saloon you may get similar space, but with the picasso you can drop all 3 seats down in the back individually, and remove them too. So this gives plenty of space to transport things.

I would agree that you should avoid the 1.6 if possible... but don't totally write it off as an option, if the price is right. A/C is neither here nor there for me... Yes there are days in the summer when you wish you had it, but that's soon outweighed by the potential of A/C going wrong and the requirement of it needing servicing every few years. Apparently the diesel version is better, so try and spend the extra 500 on that.

IMO don't bother buying new at the moment. There are LOTS of good deals on practically new Picassos. Even though you are apparently saving 3,000 off the list price, they have been having this offer for over a year now so it's nothing special. Plus the 10k SX model will be worth at least 2k less the second you drive it out the forecourt.

The new model Picasso is due out in '06. So take this into concideration before forking out too much on a new Picasso now.

Look out for ex-motability cars. The car dealer we bought ours from mainly deals in ex-motability cars and says he swears by them. He gets them very cheap, and they have hardly been driven. They are almost all in very good condition and those that had the odd scratch or two he had enough margin in his costs to get the scratches properly fixed by a Citroen dealer.

Most people who come on this board must have families... and I would recommend anyone looking for a cheap, yet quite reliable car, seriously concider the Picasso.

Look at the info :

Family car
5 doors
Big boot
foldable, removable, reclinable seats.
Fairly comfortable seating (IMO, and I'm 6ft5, 16.5st)
Child seats fit well (all that I've tried... just don't recline the seats)
Airbags - side and passenger. Passenger air bag can be disabled)
Rear cig lighter socket (only mention that because the GPS plugs into it nicely)
Quite a bit of storage - 2 floor compartments, removable boot trolley, door compartments, under driver seat drawer + more.

Anyway... to conclude... go try a Picasso... but don't spend any more than £6,500 on one with up to 10k on the clock ;-)

Munki.

quietheart

Unknown wrote:

The driver visiblity is terrible due to the extremely dangerous 'A' pillar(the metal joining the bonnet area to the roof) due to the silly window to the driver front offside. This makes blind spots huge(at junctions/roundabouts where motorbikes and bikes can be easily hidden behind). To get a great view you have to keep moving your head around from left to right to make sure nothing is approaching from the right and left.

Squishing a bike is one of my biggest fears so I don't like the sound of poor visibility, have the rest of you experienced this as well?
I guess I'll have to drive it to find out........

michaels

I'd take this anyday over a bottom of the range Picasso jelly blob
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-Fiat-Multipla-1-6-Eleganza-Unregistered_W0QQitemZ4576027147QQcategoryZ9843QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem