C5,407 or laguna estate

[bxzx16v]

I might be looking at selling my Citroen Dispatch van soon as I no longer use it for my joinery . I was considering getting an estate car either the C5II 2.0 Hdi in Vtr spec , Renault Laguna III Dynamique 2.0 150bhp or possibly a 407 2.0 Hdi se spec . Just wondered on the strengths & weaknesses of each and what to look out for . I'm looking for something with 90/100k , is the clutch/flywheel something to watch on the Cit/pug ? My favourite of the three is the Laguna III 2.0 dci as the laguna II my wife has had for five years has been a fantastic car , thanks

Mark

[Citroenmad]

Do you mean a C5II (2004-2008, also known as a facelifted version) or the C5III tourer? As you want a LagIII I assume your on about the C5III too.

They are fairly new cars and so I dont think there is an awful lot of info on them yet. Possibly the best place to look for would be the honest john webpages.

We had a 2010 LagunaIII Tourer 2.0DCi 150 Dynamique Tom Tom (can't say that in a hurry can you!) as a loan car for a week. There were many things I liked about it, the typical Renault reatures of the keyless entry and go was superb, possibly a gimmik but a good one. The built in Tom Tom was fantasic, usual in built systems are not great, especially ones in most Citroens and Peugeots which don't do postcodes. The tom tom was fantastic though, I even changed the little car to a Laguna Tourer picture

The drive was very entertaining, superbly responsive steering, very tight feeling car which could really be chucked around (nothing is as fast or drives as well as a hire/loan car though!). I was impressed with that, given the fact it only had ordinary 16" alloys with quite deep tyres it was fairly sporty to drive for a big French car. The engine was quiet and very economical. I don't quite know what Renault have done with 150bhp as it doesnt feel any faster than my 138 C5 HDi. However there was too much tyre noise for my liking (Michelin Energy Savers - usuall quiet) and the ride was very firm but well damped.

Space, well its not a huge car and its not designed to be the most spacious, the boot is limited for a estate (well its not, its a 'Tourer') and could not carry anything like what our real C5 estate does. I did like the handles in the boot which quickly fold the rear seats flat. Rear space I didnt find as good as the C5 either.

However on balance I liked it, I don't like the rear styling of the Tourer but the hatch is a decent looking car. I would consider a LagunaIII for myself, Id go for the higherst spec possible and with the tom tom, otherwise id look elsewhere. Dare I say it, a new shape Mondeo! At the end of the week I still preferred our C5s to the LagIII.

The C5III is another Tourer, not an estate car, the boot is limited compared to real estates and for this reason one could never replace our C5 estate, its just not big enough. Rear space is also tight for tall people too. Its a very solid car and rides well if its the Hydractive Exclusive. If you are thinking C5III Tourer VTR then it will be a coil sprung car.

407SW, they are cheap now and have a lot to offer. In a lot of ways they are similar to C5IIs and use many of the same switchgear and the same engines. They should prove as reliable as C5s.

The 2.0HDi 138 is a fantastic engine, very refined, lots of torque, very good performance and its really very good on fuel. My C5II VTR has averages 48.6MPG over the last 5000 miles, driven quickly.

The 2.0 150 DCi seems pretty hardy and must be one of the better recent Renault diesels. I found it quiet and great on fuel.

If it is a C5II your looking at then they do have a lot to offer, superb value, more space than any of the others in your list, nice ride quality (again better than the others), they are reliable, fairly easy to find, etc etc. I think my thoughts on the C5s are well documented, I love mine and wouldnt swap it for a 407, Lag III or a C5III.

[bxzx16v]

Thanks for that Chris , it was the C5 II as the C5III would be out of my price range , would even consider a hatchback at the right price , the last C5's I had were fantastic value the first an 8v 2.0 hdi vtr just over 3yrs old 110k fsh £3150 and my other was a 2.2hdi 136 vtr+ 120k fsh and mint condition bought at 5yrs old for £1800 great car just terrible on fuel that one , thanks again

Mark

[Citroenmad]

In that case, I would fully recommend a C5II VTR estate

Ours is great, it hauls heavy loads around doing quite high miles and its never put a foot wrong. It returns between 46-48MPG with the load on board and more when empty. Ours has done 74K miles and its a pleasure to have, all it has needed since we bought it over two years ago has been a set of Michelins and servicing, nothing more. On the C5II VTR you get standard cruise control, duel zone heating (far better than the S1 as you can link the drivers side to the passenger side when your on your own). Overall the C5II is a step forward from the C5I, in terms of drive mainly, but also quality and spec.

The 2.0 138 is the one to have too, the 6 speed box is very nice to use and brings the revs low while at crusing speed, giving even more refinement and economy than the earlier C5s. Its a reliable engine too, its used in a lot of cars (Fords, Volvos etc) and is well proven.

My C5 hatch is the same spec as our estate, is superb and does everything and more than I need and want. The boot is simply huge (the estate is like a van!). You know all the virtues of C5s but the C5II is a more attractive and more polished car. I rate them highly, mine had better go on for many years and miles as I don't know what I would replace it with, no matter what it was it would lose something, probably the ride and self levelling.

They can be found for seriously good value figures too.

[bxzx16v]

Seen a couple of nice 1.6 Hdi Vtx+ estates for sensible money so it may well be one of these , just have to test drive one and check the performance on one , would prefer the 2.0 but it's a case of what's available at the right price

Mark

[cachaciero]

407SW, they are cheap now and have a lot to offer. In a lot of ways they are similar to C5IIs and use many of the same switchgear and the same engines. They should prove as reliable as C5s.

I.

I would suggest that the 407 is more akin to the C5III than the C5II

It is the same chassis pan as the C5 III and it is the same suspension set up as the coil spring C5III.
Has the same engine range as the C5III which is not a lot different to the C5II.
Personally quite like the 407SW and have thought about one more than once.

cachaciero

[bxzx16v]

Just to throw a spanner in the works , just seen a couple of Xantia estates on Autotrader . I know there old but I still love em , first up a 1995 1.9td vsx in a magenta colour which looks tidy for £395 ! Second a 2.0 Hdi 110bhp sx in silver and one family owner from new 145k & £545 this does look and sound nice with recent bills for suspension/injection ? work , two very nice cheapies I think . The second one in particular sounds a well looked after car

Mark

[Citroenmad]

I can't spot the silver HDi but the Magenta TD looks verynice in those pictures. For no money too!