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My Brother In Law has set his sights on a new car. He’s looking to chop his 06-plate diesel Galaxy (which he’s had from new) for a Citron C5 Picasso diesel 1.6.
The C5 is on sale at a car supermarket (think Motorpoint) and only a year old. He plans to keep it for at least 6 years.
He phoned last night to ask what I thought, but seems to have made his mind up anyway. I reckon he’s making a mistake because:
* He only does about 8000 miles a year inc lots of short
journeys. I’d have though he’d be better off with a petrol (Galaxy given it’s age a may not have DPF, so short trips not such a problem)
* The C5 is almost certainly ex-rental – BIL reckons not a problem as that the C5 isn’t the kind of car that someone would hire if they want a car to rag. He’s not fussed if has a few scuffs on it.
* It’s a Citroen –apparently has electric hand brake, keyless start, touch screen controls to operate heater etc. Sounds like future world of pain if (when) goes wrong after warranty is up
* Not sure of the BHP, but 1.6 doesn’t seem like a lot for lugging round an MPV and 5 occupants. But then he’s not looking for a sporty or fast car.
It does sound like a lot of nearly-new car for the money – think he said well under £12k. A lot less than a similar-aged C-Max I suggested he looked at. C5 (on paper anyway) boasts impressive MPG and road fund is only £30.
Anyone had any experience of Motorpoint or Citron C5s?
Should I try and talk him out of it, or just let him get on with it?
By his own admission he knows little about cars, but reckons he’s got a good deal from Motorpoint (inc part exchange).
Cheers
I take it you mean C4 Picasso? I think the C5 is a larger car or estate, rather than MPV.
It's a difficult one, but I have never managed to persuade someone out of buying something once they've set their mind on it.
Nowadays I might mention a concern, but wouldn't pursue it much further.
Thing is, if you talk him out of it and he buys something else that turns out to be a dog, you won't hear the end of it.
Only you know how well he would take you butting in.
On the points you mention the 1st one is the biggest issue. Everything else I wouldn't worry about too much (assuming it doesn't have astronomical mileage)
If he only does short journeys and the Citroen has a DPF he is guaranteed to have problems. I know some car manufacturer's tell their dealers that they should not sell diesel cars to people who only do a few miles at a time as the DPF will clog up.
I would point this out to him.
On the points you mention the 1st one is the biggest issue. Everything else I wouldn't worry about too much (assuming it doesn't have astronomical mileage)
Having got some friends who's Mazda 6 has munched three DPF's in three years doing about 6-8k a year, I agree...
Why does he need a diesel for 8,000miles a year?
BiL's are a law unto themselves he'll have picked up the phone to hear his own voice and confirm that his decision his right.
My Bil is 110% set on a redbricked house near to a motorway. I said BUY STONE as the whole town is predominantly stone for the quality houses...
let him know that a diesel isn't a good choice for lots of short journeys - have a look for a similar (citroen or something else) petrol car with the functionality and at the sameish price and email him the links. You want to open the door to other options not be a blocker
then let him crack on when it comes to buying (as per stumpys last sentence) as falling out with family is never a good result
I had an ex-rental Xantia - no problems other than normal consumables until it died in a flood at about 96,000 miles. If it's a good price, don't let ex-rental put you off.
If hes set on a c4 picasso he would be better looking at the petrol models. Just make sure everything works as it should and expect to see some cars that have been used and abused by families.
It being ex rental or fleet wouldnt put me off as they tend to be serviced and come at good prices.
Enterprise put noddy tyres on and contract their servicing to National Tyres etc.
Enterprise put noddy tyres on and contract their servicing to National Tyres etc.
Whilst it may not be the most upmarket garage in the world, even a blind monkey could do an oil and filter change. Even I can manage it in 20 minutes on the driveway, and that's including putting detergent on any spills afterwards!
And before someone says "but what oil did they use?", I popped into the parts counter at the ford dealer down the road last week for oil and filters for our cars and the oil they were selling was Morris F913D oil for diesel engines (ours are both sigma petrol engines). So even the main dealers are using whatever's cheap and meets the spec. Ford fully synthetic is about £28/gallon, F913D was £16. Another years servicing for £21*/car 8)
Citron C5
Sounds like a right lemon 🙂
"Enterprise put noddy tyres on and contract their servicing to National Tyres etc."
I had a Passat CC from them to drive around north wales in the winter, bloody thing kept trying to crash.
Good conti's on the back, Sunnys on the front. dread full.
With NT its more about whether the work gets done.
Sounds like the 170(?) bhp diesel Insignia I had from them- It loved to wheelspin every opportunity. I checked the tyres and they were a name I've never heard of- and I've heard a few Ditchfinders!
I spoke to them about it at the desk and they said they had a national agreement for all tyres/servicing- I imagine the servicing is a wipe round and pretend its been done in a fair few of the garages if the contract was won on cost..
Well he phoned to ask your opinion , you gave it to him . That should really be the end of things . In a few years time one of you will be saying to the other " I told you so ."
>electric hand brake
Cue psycho music and screaming woman.
I had one from new, barely workable when delivered, after 3 years when every part was worn I ended up chasing the car down the street on more than one occasion.
£12k for a 1 year old C5 sounds like a bargain. It will be the 115bhp hdi. It's a tried and tested engine.
It's a decent sized car but it will be no slouch.
a mate of mine swears by c5s, he's had a few & they really are cheap for a lot of car. In saloon format if u lower the rear seats u d easy get 3 bikes in there. Leather/massive space/electric everything.
I d avoid as they are French & big, saying that I had a big peugout & it refused to die.
So if its cheap go for it, at least you have a repair fund.
Great set of responses - cheers guys.
I suspect there are a lot fewer petrol C4s about than diesel, don't think Motor Point had any. I think BIL having experienced no reliability problems with his old skool Galaxy diesel engine assumes a newer engine will be equally reliable. We'll see...
It's certainly a lot for the money - BIL basically said what he's saved on going for another Galaxy or S-Max will more than cover any potential future garage bills.
The C5 Tourer is a looker - I'd buy one of those 😀
As long as it is not a Sinclair C5..
I do about 8k/ year and have a diesel
Would get one again, as love the torque
Mondeo tdci by the way – which is the standard STW car..
I hate to say this but hora speaks the truth:
BiL's are a law unto themselves
BiL #1 needed a new car so called BiL #2 who is regarded as the oracle. BiL shows his oracle-ness by telling BiL he definitely needs a Nissan Micra.
BiL #1 buys a Nissan Micra which goes wrong lots and eventually a garage tells him that his Nissan Micra is actually lots of Nissan Micras all bolted together.
BiL #1 then needs another car so BiL #2 in his infinite wisdom, along with the outlaws, tell him because he drives home a few times a year, a round trip of about 400 miles, he definitely needs a diesel. The rest of his journeys are a few miles to and from work. So 6/7k a year and they're pushing him towards a diesel.
This is where I step in and thank god, he actually listened and got himself a very nice petrol Fiesta Ghia or something.
I wouldn't kick it out of the garage for farting
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Pretty sure it's something like this, in 'hire car silver metallic'. Not quie such a looker as the estate...
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Most (almost all) recent C4 Picassos seem to be diesels. 1.6HDI is fine really.
As long as it's getting on the motorway occasionally DPF won't be an issue. More recent DPFs are better able to deal with frequent short journeys anyway.
You won't win - if you recommend something else and it (inevitably) has some issue, it'll be your fault. Let people make their own choices.
Make your points, leave him to it.
OP - stay well clear of giving the advice. Everything that goes wrong will be your fault, a fallacy you will nonetheless be reminded of constantly along the lines of "I bet this wouldn't have happened to that Citroen..."
My BIL bought a 307 CC. I kept my mouth shut!
Sounds like good advice. If he buys a petrol C-Max and it turns out to be a a dog I'll never hear the end of it
I bought a 306 cabriolet in a van auction for the grand total including fees £600. It was 5 years old. Full leather, petrol. Mrs iolo drove it daily for 5 years. The air con broke after 3 months. Other than that it never missed a beat.