C5 buying advice needed please

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 28 Apr 2011, 17:26

Hi all
Been mega busy of late and not been on here much but could do with some advice from those with greater knowledge than me

Am looking at buying an 2008 C5 1.6 16v VTR+ but have no knowledge of the little faults/niggles that may need investigating

All suggestions hints greatly appreaciated

Colin

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 28 Apr 2011, 17:31

Its a shame Chris (citroenmad) is off on holiday as he would have enjoyed answering this one

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 28 Apr 2011, 17:33

im not going to see it till week saturday so i can wait for his input

Colin

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 29 Apr 2011, 08:45

Would this be a MkII or the latest so called MK3?.

There have been a few post's of late that touch on the merits of secondhand C5 MkII generally including the 1.6.

If the MK3 well that's a bit new and anyway isn't really a C5, has a lot more in common with the Peugeot 407.

cachaciero

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 29 Apr 2011, 09:52

yes its the new mk3 shape just couldnt remember which engine people had said to try and steer clear of

Colin

mooseshaver · Unread post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Apr 2011, 11:05

admiral51 wrote:yes its the new mk3 shape just couldnt remember which engine people had said to try and steer clear of

Colin

The 1.6 HDi. But, newer ones probably have the faults designed out of them. Later ones have modified oil feeder pipes for the turbo.
In my limited Citroen experience, don't buy the first version of a Citroen engine, wait a few years for them to find the issues and fix them.
Applies to computers, games consoles and most electronic stuff really.

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 29 Apr 2011, 16:52

admiral51 wrote:yes its the new mk3 shape just couldnt remember which engine people had said to try and steer clear of

Colin

Ah! Not really a C5 then

. Given that it's probably a bit new there probably isn't a lot of experience out there for people to comment on. Seriously I would suggest asking questions of Pug 407 owners, the current C5 shares a lot with the 407 suspension, engines, gearboxes etc.
The VTR trim will NOT have hydraulic suspension the only trim level that does have hydro-pneumatic is the Exclusive level.

On the 407 the 1.6 engine has a reputation for blowing turbo's and although Mooshaver reckons that this will have been fixed by now I'm not so sure. Clutches / DMF flywheels seem to be a weak area with failures often as early as 70K miles. Have read quite a few reports of early wear on front suspension bearings.

cachaciero

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 01 May 2011, 11:53

red_dwarfers wrote:Its a shame Chris (citroenmad) is off on holiday as he would have enjoyed answering this one

Im back now

Unfortunately I dont know too much about the 'Germanic' C5III, the VTR+ obviously wont have hydraulic suspension, so your going to be left bumping around on bits of bent steel and some primitive dampers

Actually I hear they don't ride too badly but im yet to experience a non-hydractive C5III.

The 1.6HDi is a good engine, some reports are known for the turbos to fail, im not sure if this has been remedied but its mainly put down to the silly long 20K services and the wrong oil. Its worth bearing in mind that it wont be a ball of fire, 110 BHP in a C5I or C5II is ok, but the C5III has put on pounds and infact the 2.0HDi 138 in the earlier C5III has a similar 0-60 time as the C5I 2.0HDi 110 ... so the 1.6 aint going to be up to that much.

Later C5III have had the 138 2.0HDi replaced by a 160bhp version of the same unit. Oddly the 138 is not available in that now, despite it being in the Peugeot models and the new and bigger Peugeot 508.

Just as a general question, why is it your looking at the C5III?

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 01 May 2011, 12:06

Hi Chris
Looked at lots of other makes/models but SWMBO wont touch the old style C5 but does love the looks of the new C5.

We are looking for something that will last us a good few years and if we are going to spend around the 8K mark then the new C5 isjust about in our range albeit on a 08 plate

Not rushing in to it,if it not right then we walk away, but it is a lot of car for not that much money,would love to get the Exclusive but cant stretch that far

Guessed it wont be setting any speed records but for general 6-7k mileage a year with some good long runs it seems to fit the bill,and this one has done just shy of 50k with full service history so thought id take a look and see

Just need as much tech info on it before hand,like the poss turbo issues and if any recalls/software updates that i may need to look out for

Cheers

Colin

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 01 May 2011, 12:16

They do indeed offer great value for money, and if you dont need a hatchback of a large boot then they will fit the bill perfectly.

I do quite like them, though not sure how much of a worthy replacement to the original C5 they are, what with them being smaller inside and a saloon body, not a large hatchback. If I do ever get one it will need to be a Tourer (saloon is useless for me) in Exclusive spec so that it has hydractive. Though they do demand a premium!

TBH for the money a VTX+ 1.6 looks a very good buy.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 01 May 2011, 12:43

The thing with progress with car design/packaging is that every replacement
model get's bigger on the outside but tigher/cramped inside with all the extra
baggage the car needs to accomplish high NCAP ratings etc.

My brother in law has a Peugeot 306 that he carries my sister's huge
ullmastiff dog around in the back of - there's less room in my sister's C4
5 door hatch - there's progress in 10 years...

Andrew

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 01 May 2011, 15:02

There is that, I agree Andrew.

However, the Germanic C5III Tourer is shorter than the C5II estate (C5I is about the same I think, given its shorter front). It is wider though, but having compared dimensions of the C5II estate and C5III Tourer, the Tourer is much smaller, so would not be able to replace our C5 estate.

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 02 May 2011, 13:37

I reiterate if looking at a C5III go and look at the Pug 407, it's basically the same car available in the same versions i.e Saloon non hatch or SW basically a short estate. The advantages are that they have been out longer and on the secondhand market there is more choice at better prices, personally I fail to see that the none hydro pnuematic Cit has any advantages over the Pug (and no disadvantages either).
IMHO the 407SW is a nicer looking car than the C5III tourer.

cachaciero

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 02 May 2011, 19:30

I dont get a lot of say in the matter here,its her inheritance and she does not want a pug as she thinks the C5 is better looking than the 407.

I have managed to put her off a Freelander 1.8 petrol at 20 mpg so Citroen C5 it is going to be

Colin

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 May 2011, 19:38

Its worth bearing in mind there depreciation, it does seem like good value but over the next year or so it will no doubt drop to around the £5000 - £6000 figure, which is when id be thinking about getting one, as I hate depreciation and usually avoid it or reduce the effects with buying and then selling at the right times.

Spending £8000 of inheritance and then to loose a few thousand over the next 18 months or whatever seems a little off putting.

I wanted to buy a new car to replace my previous C5, I then thought to myself what with the depreciation and the fact my C5 cost me very little in terms of repairs (especially when compared to depreciation, insurance costs on a new car etc)

Its not always the case that a new car is any more reliable than an older one.

The conclusion I came to was to spend a bit more money on a car and get a good one, rather than a new one or even a much newer one. I found this C5II HDi with 12K miles in as new condition (I left it in the garage for last week, when I got back in my nose filled with that new car smell!) and I couldnt resist.

Its a real shame your other half doesn't like the real C5, as they represent stunning value for money.