C3 - any known issues

[CitroenCrazy]

Please could I ask for your forbearance ? I know this forum usually covers the more interesting end of the Citroen spectrum. However, my mother, who is a sprightly 78, is looking for something to replace the increasingly rusty Rover 25, so I'm thinking, a nice C3 would be right up her street.

I've driven one, once, but otherwise, have no experience of the model.

There are plenty out there; I just wondered whether anyone can offer advice on known weak points, or jobs that prove to be worse than they might appear at first sight.

A quick scan suggests I'm looking at a 2003 - 2006 model, probably petrol, since these days, 3,000 miles in a year is a is a lot for my parents.

TIA

Andrew

2001 Xantia HDi estate, Exclusive nearly 200K
2000 Xantia HDi estate, Exclusive
GSA
DS x 2
HY

[myglaren]

My eldest daughter is on her second one, this time a 1.4 petrol 56 plate. Hasn't had any problems with it, just the usual stuff - blown fuse for the wipers, bulb replacement, tyres coming up for renewal.
I have driven it and it was much better than I had expected. Not too comfortable in the rear seats.
The sensodrive models suffer from the shift mechanism breaking and they have a reputation for the power steering giving problems where it is electric power steering.

[Sl4yer]

Hi.

There don't seem to be many of the pre-facelift cars left on the road now. I suspect many will have been written off by an ECU failure of one sort or another. Ours has cost more to keep on the road than my Activa, despite only being half the age.

If you're going to get one, make it cheap and cross your fingers! And, as already said, avoid the Sensodrive.

James

[CitroenCrazy]

Thanks James

Sounds like you've had a bad experience; sorry to hear that.
My one experience was of a 1.4 HDi used as a loan car by a certain Derbyshire-based independent specialist, well known to this parish.
It had clocked up over 300,000 miles, and drove very nicely, so they can't ALL be that bad