Not a good drive at all

[stu9]

I attempted to drive just over 200 miles this morning (Glasgow to Leeds) weather was hellish I left at (7)....seemed to ages to get 50 miles never mind 200!!. I know the C5's are realatively good cars but not long after Hamilton on the 74, there's no lights on the rd for about 30 miles and the cars lights are s**t too, I even had the fogs on, still crap!. Not to menton the wind, it's like trying steer a fkn boat, not good at all!

I honestly think after that experience, I dont think I'll have it long

Maybe with ordinary shocks and hids it'd be better who knows

What got me too was vans....I was sitting about 60ish and they were flyng past as it was a sunny day with no wind, wtf are these nutters all about

[den169]

Must be something wrong with it then.Iv'e had my c5 estate 6 years never had any problems like that.Its by far the best motorway drive iv'e had and i'm up to about my 30th car now.

[Mandrake]

If the car keeps going off course in the wind needing constant corrections you've got worn suspension joints.

Could be any one or more of:

Lower arm bushes
Hub lower ball joint
Track rod ball joints

[Peter.N.]

I would agree. the handling on them is not exactly sharp but that's not what you buy them for, well I don't anyway. I would check your tyre pressures and tyres, also your blood sugar level If you really want a reasonably comfortable car that handles well I would suggest a 406.

Peter

[citroenxm]

I was in the understanding that C5 headlights were Very Good, and side wind drives were quite stable..

Im no expert though, Ive not had a C5..

[Deanxm]

Light are fine, certainly wouldnt say they are poor at all, and on the motorway its rock solid, i wonder if yours has been owned by someone who has fitted comfort spheres and had an economy map done.................there is nothing in the C5's class is as nice to drive on the open road/ motorways.

D

[bxzx16v]

I did a similar drive a couple of years ago in similar weather on our way back from loch lomond in our old Laguna II estate , it just ate the miles and tbh was a better car alround than my C5 I had at the time , in fact the only car that matches it was a R25 V6 turbo I used to have years ago .

Mark

[SaabC5]

I think its a case of horses for courses, some don't like the C5 and some do. For example the above post, i had a MKII Laguna and hated it. I ached like a bar steward after a long drive in it and found it generally very wearing. The C5 however i love, it eats miles and remains comfortable for me after 5 straight hours driving, it is however a bit slab sided and susceptible to side winds on exposed roads.

[qprdude]

Firstly, you don't say what Mk C5 you have, so it's kinda hard to judge.
My Mk III is by far the best motorway car I've driven in over 40 years of motoring. From Ford prefects to S type Jags, I've ploughed up and down from Aberdeen to Cornwall, London, Kent, Lowestoft York and all points between.
Last time coming from London the weather was horrendous from Birmingham to Gretna, with lashing rain and howling wind. The car sat firmly in the wind, with no wandering at all. Visability was very poor but when darkness descended the lights coped quite well. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly not a problem.
I agree that although my Renault Laguna Priviledge was a nice car, the seats were not built for 1000 mile trips. Backache was a constant problem.
I love my C5 III Exclusive. I had a Mk I many years ago, but didn't go further than Glasow from Aberdeen, (a mere Sunday afternoon jaunt), so couldn't comment on the comfort over a REAL journey.
It would be good to know exactly which C5 people are criticising so we can make an informed comment. I can't be bothered scrolling back to see, but I think the OP has had problems from the start, and can only find negative things with his car. It's a bit depressing for c5 owners and perhaps it would be better to get rid of the car if you so dislike it, instead of posting how bad it is.
Sorry but it's obviously not for you Stu, so find something you are happy driving instead of torturing yourself.

[Northern_Mike]

Must be something wrong with it then.Iv'e had my c5 estate 6 years never had any problems like that.Its by far the best motorway drive iv'e had and i'm up to about my 30th car now.

I agree with you. I've only had my 2003 C5 LX 110 HDI a week or so, but I picked it up and immediately did a 250 mile trip in it. Very good on the motorway, very stable, even at *ahem* mph.

Lights are very good, on a par with my Berlingo which also has good lights. I work 12 hour shifts from 7-7 and my commute is mostly on unlit roads, so good light are essential.

I drove home this morning and it was absolutely peeing down, as it had been all night. Lots of standing water, no problems at all on the Michelins that the car has on it. Obviously, in the few places where the local stream had overflowed it was a bit deeper than that, so I had to slow right down.

Great car, I like it more than I like my Xantias.

I'm on my 128th car now..

[stu9]

Nothing but praise for them then....must be mine, it's an 03 2.0 hdi LX, and gutless....all filters are clean/replaced a month ago....no fault codes, egr's blanked too

Mark, I noticed you said it might have comfort spheres and an economy map....how I tell (with spheres anyway)

If anyone was close to Glasgow I could have met and you could have a go

[Xantidote]

it's an 03 2.0 hdi LX, and gutless

You've told us the model type, but I'm wondering which engine you have. Ignoring the 2.2, you could have either 90 or 110 HP 2.0L engine. Maybe yours is the 90?
Also, what's the mileage, as a high mileage could suggest worn front suspension bits, which would make it not so nice in cross-winds. Wouldn't explain the poor lights, but maybe the reflectors aren't so good now, or the wiring has developed a bit of electrical resistance, over the years

[stu9]

The 110....135000, it's was mot'd just before I got it (2 months ago) with only one advisory for misting on a front shock, no worn bushes ect....but that's not to say that now something somwhere's "went"

As for the lights...yes I buffed them the next day after I got it as I went out that night and thought ffs they're crap....lets put it this way (and this is no lie) i can drive with the high beam on night or day (but especially at night) and no one flashes either oncoming or in front ie putting their brakes lights to let me know....that's how bad they are!

[myglaren]

It could be corrosion on the wiring terminals dropping the voltage to the lights and a clean up might improve things.
If you can measure the voltage at the bulb seat, it should be very close to 12V or you won't get the best out of them.
May also be cheap bulbs - I have seen them for as little as £10 for eight bulbs, wouldn't expect them to be the best, I just put a pair of Philips X-Treme Vision H7s in and there is an appreciable improvement over the ones replaced and no, they are not the horrible blue things. £19 a pair from Amazon.

I have no problems with the stability of the C5s, not quite as stable as the GS but better than most of the cars I have had or have driven.
Seats aren't too bad but I suspect a higher model would improve on that. The most comfortable seats I have found were in my youngest daughter's SAAB 900 Aero. Absolutely superb. Jim's Activa seats are pretty wonderful too.

[Xaccers]

The 110....135000, it's was mot'd just before I got it (2 months ago) with only one advisory for misting on a front shock, no worn bushes ect....but that's not to say that now something somwhere's "went"

As for the lights...yes I buffed them the next day after I got it as I went out that night and thought ffs they're crap....lets put it this way (and this is no lie) i can drive with the high beam on night or day (but especially at night) and no one flashes either oncoming or in front ie putting their brakes lights to let me know....that's how bad they are!

Could it be cheapo bulbs or badly adjusted?