The new C4... really?

[R9UKE]

Just saw the advert for the new C4. Oh dear, what's happening at Citroen?

With the gorgeous new DS3 (I want one), the smart looking C5, and that new C3 ain't half bad either - what happened here???



Oh dear.

A hint of the new Seat Ibiza at the front, the side profile is as exciting as the Proton Savvy and the whole thing is very un-french.

And I thought the new Mégane was a disappointment...

[Deanxm]

it looks like an angry C3, which isnt a nice car to begin with

D

[andmcit]

They've dropped the brilliant fixed hub steering wheel too. I must say, I've
never been the biggest fan of the older C4 but have grown to like it both in
coupe and 5 door versions although for me the ride is too harsh - you can
get too spoiled with spheres and LHM! My sister has a 5door black 1.6 16v
HDi and she adores it but hates the new one and the fact it's a pale shadow
of it's former self.

BIG mistake Citroen. What were they playing at?
Credit crunch austerity design?

Andrew

[HDI]

Errr, I like it !!

[Citroening]

"So so" for me - it's not hideously bad but not WOW good either.

[Deanxm]

when the C6 came out i thought the golden days were back, the C4 coupe was lovely, ok firm but thats what it was about and it was a nice car, like you say Andrew there was THE steering wheel but now they are dumping hydraulics and making stupid looking cars, anyone fancy a DSmini? BMW C5 series? seems like citroen has become pug and pug is still pug too, nice move guys lets hope the DS9 is something citroen can be proud of even if they only sell 3 and its worth £25 after 2 years, pretty soon there will be no midrange green booded citroen and then it will be all over for citroen im afraid

D

[R9UKE]

Errr, I like it !!

I knew there'd be one!

Yes Andrew, my grandmother has an '05 1.6 HDi Coupé and absolutely loves it. It's modern, and still a bit quirky, plus she's getting 55 MPG+

She will certainly not be "upgrading" to this!

[Citroening]

DSmini?

...they're not as bad as the Bini's though!
I think that the DS3 Racing looks brilliant but the bad thing is the price...from £23,000!!


...200BHP sounds fun too!

[Deanxm]

...they're not as bad as the Bini's though!

Ive not driven a DS3 so i wouldnt know to be fair but it is a mini, with a mini engine whats the point in buying it if you can go and buy something else, hell for 27K yopu can have a Focus RS and you get a better looking car with 300bhp.
Thats the point, where is the citroness?

D

[Deanxm]

in fact i wouldnt have an RS i would have a Mazda 3 MPS, 256bhp and only 17k!! would make more sense than a DS3R at 23K, lets just hope it makes Citroen some money!

D

[R9UKE]

The Renaultsport Twingo is bound to be worth a look? I reckon they'd be a hoot

[Deanxm]

.............the williams clio still looks like a far superior car on paper, and imo looks better too, the R5GTT was a better looking car too, anyone else? am i just weird or does evryone else like these horrible surprised looking cars.



D

[andmcit]

Top Gear magazine loves the DS3 awarding it their Car of the Year in the last
issue and testing the Racing in the latest Stratos issue mag. They love how it
drives and has been thought out and executed. They rate it over the Mini and
Golf GTi and mention in passing the only real hardcore alternative that may be
better for less cash are the Clio and Megane Sports.

Problem with Citroen blandifying their cars is the fact that whilst technically
dependable and competent, they're white goods to interface with - the Picasso
MPV that the world want or are copying is trounced by the new flame edged
driver orientated edgy new Galaxy which is the car they prefer in TG mag too.

It could be a grave error of judgement for Citroen to burn all bridges with their
engineering past that other manufacturers would give their eye teeth to have
but they seem set of a course of 'betterment' to offer the lemming zombie
great unwashed exactly what they want and ultimately deserve - though
probably it's the old adage of don't know any better unless they're shown it.

The peril and frustration of my job is being creative and clever is lost on a
great many people who have a safety zone default of 'basic'.

Andrew

[andmcit]

Thought I'd share this with you - DS3 according to TopGear magazine:

Ten pounds says that you were expecting TopGear's Car of the year to be something like a
Koenigsegg Agera or Buagatti Veyron SS - something that sits on the bright razor edge of sanity,
drinking ether and smoking Cohibas. Something that would make Jeremy shout and would have
Richard mopping globs of exhilaration out of the footwells. It isn't. It's the little hatchback from
Citroen that picks up top honours.

But why the DS3? Why not one of the all-consuming warhead hypercars? Because supercars are easy.
Because supercars are simple. Because a car like the DS3 requires more balance, a more complicated
interplay of needs and wants. Because a small, affordable, stylish car is much more complicated to make
than a compromise-no-object supercar. And the DS3 has pulled off that heady mix of ability, excitement
and affordability that's impossible to ignore. It walks so many fine lines so delicately and so comprehensively
that it's hard to find a chink in the armour. It's not perfect - no car at this end of the price range could
ever be, but it's got all the compromises nailed.

The TopGear Car of the Year is a small, thoughtful, affordable, stylish, fun little hatchback.
It's the people's champion. It's the citroen DS3.

So they like it then.

Andrew

[andmcit]

And don't forget there's the DS4 - a car that's trying a bit harder to be more
individual and 'designed' - time will tell.