your views please on Mk1 C5 2.0 Hdi automatics please?

[CitroJim]

Nigel, it would be ride every time for me...

C5 vs. PT? - no contest...

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Jim. My problem is I'm looking for a reasonably comfortable. Economic vechicle for everyday use so let's look. At c 5s . if I need to buy a mk1 the years are limited up to around 2004 when I believe the facelift model arrived with fap and lots of other unecessary trinkets like 16 valves. Now I remember buying a certain xantia estate at six years old with no mot parked up with the drivers door hanging off for £1300 but it was only six years old. Any mk1 c5 probably deserves gentle retirement as a second car by now
I'm not sure I can get any longetivity out of buying a mk1 c5 for everyday use that is already almost as old as my xantia at 18. Sorry to be the defeatest but I'm starting to wonder if my days with Citroen's are over. Im feeling very down on this at the moment worrying about what to do. I have up to 3k to spend. I am concerned that I won't be able to buy certain parts for such an old car and there won't be any on Scrapyard's after all these years. I remember having to replace a worn steering column on the xantia at 125k do you think it reasonable to be able to find a steering column for a car that is so old
The enemy is what you have learned before which paves the way to the future. Even your activa isn't an everyday car anymore.

[lexi]

The bits are still around for C5 mk1 mate. Make sure you get the 110BHP , ask seller and id. it. You should get a tidy one for say £700 max
private sale. They are ok on ride but not XM like. Mine is the simple 4 sphere model. The hydractive plus on the vsx etc will have extra spheres. The estate has the handy suspension height adjust in the boot. These models might have a better ride than my basic LX, I dont know. It would be good if someone who knows C5'S could go with you, as a quick check over can tell you quite a bit. You should have some money left over for upgrades, plus wine women and song
These old C5 are just transport, they are not classic things like Xantia etc. They are grinders....but solid things!

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Lexi. Thanks for that it is appreciated. Have had my eye on an exclusive hatch but was worried about age and parts. I'll definitely give it some serious consideration.

[Hell Razor5543]

I have a C5 Mk1 VTR estate, and I was able to add cruise control and an automatic rear view mirror to it for only a few quid (the cruise control also needed a Lexia to let the car know the stalk was fitted). 2.0l HDi, and almost bomb proof.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Ok then one last very important question.

what's the difference between SX and an Exclusive hatchback 2.0l hdi C5 Mk1

is it just interior trim or does the exclusive have lots more toys/better suspension i.e more spheres.

Thanks again.

Nigel.

[Paul-R]

You'd like to think that the 2.0l HDi Exclusive would gain the extra spheres but only the petrol and 2.2 HDi did for the Estates. I think that the hatchbacks are the same.

The only thing I am not sure about is the auto Exclusive against the manual Exclusive. I still don't thing it gained extra spheres though.

What it boils down to is extra levels of trim and equipment such as cruise control, indexing passenger door mirror, Xenon headlamps with washers, supposedly better quality steering wheel, different alloy wheels, (possibly the six-cd changer under the driver's seat), etc. Items such as leather seats, heated seats and auto dipping rear view mirror were optional extras even on the Exclusives. I think some of the Exclusive options were also available on lower levels as a cost option.

[Paul-R]

There's the very clever double sun visor setup which I think might be an Exclusive only option. Very worthwhile in low sun conditions and something much missed from my X7 exclusive.

I think that auto wipers and lights might be Exclusive level as well.

[CitroJim]

Nigel, I'd not dismiss out of hand the later C5s despite your worry about DPFs and DMFs. I believe what you have to spend might well buy an awful lot of quite a late C5...

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Great Jim the stress has just doubled thanks mate.

[CitroJim]

Great Jim the stress has just doubled thanks mate.

Sorry Nigel I do apologise

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Its alright mate. Unfortunately the process of considering a C5 vtr has already been looked at believe it or not my fully comp insurance for a two litre c5 2007 vtr would stack up at over £500 a year the insurance groups are up in the 16-17 groups way above a group 12 xantia. Fair enough the road tax is lower at around £145 a year but insurance after a bump on my birthday gets slightly silly. And knowing my circumstances as you know Jim. I think I've been very lucky to afford what has been fairly High maintenance motoring for. The last three oR four years in my xantia estate. Anyone floging a Bx by any chance? Only joking if only there was a middle car like the bx. I've got my beadies on a 2002 execlusive hatch hopefully its a good one. Do I need yo check anything specific on a 14 year old c5 executive. I know the usual colour and taste of lhm compared to dot 3-4 brake fluid. Check for oil in the expansion bottle or white sludge under the oil filler or on the dipstick. OR expansion cap. Anything else please? Would like to.make a list as my meds muck up my thought processes sometimes. I very nearly bought a van for my son in the spring with a blown head gasket just wasn't paying attention to the important stuff under the bonnet. I shall still subscribe here whatever I decide to do Jim. Anyway i am still the owner of a 2cv. It didn't sell.

[myglaren]

There's the very clever double sun visor setup which I think might be an Exclusive only option. Very worthwhile in low sun conditions and something much missed from my X7 exclusive.

I think that auto wipers and lights might be Exclusive level as well.

No - auto lights and wipers on an SX, as is the dual visor.

As said, higher rim level and inbuilt satnav.
I have heated leather seats and the multichanger under the driver's seat but they came from a 2.2 VTR

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Ahh that's the answer isn't it. Buy an lx model and go on the hunt for exclusive trim and cosy leather seating.

[Hell Razor5543]

Make sure to get a fairly high spec C5, as if you get the basic spec it may not have the wiring loom to accept major extras (such as the loom for electric seats).