C5 2.0 sx what do u think?

CITROEN-SUCKER · Unread post by **CITROEN-SUCKER** » 13 Jun 2005, 02:48

Just looked at a 2001 C5 full service history including timing belt done less that 20k ago, car has 95 thousand on clock, drives fab looks the part the chap wants £2750 for it.
What have i missed for this price as all seemed to be great?

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 13 Jun 2005, 04:25

Petrols are always cheaper than diesels but this one looks too-good-to-be-true-cheap.
Has it been written off? Is it a ringer? Is it mechanically sound?
Ask lots of questions, if you're still happy after you've asked the questions part with cash, if not walk away it might not be the bargain it appears to be.

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 13 Jun 2005, 04:56

The Parkers price for a Y reg 2.0SX selling privately is 4300 in good nick and 3300 in poor nick. Definitely do a HPI on that one...

CITROEN-SUCKER · Unread post by **CITROEN-SUCKER** » 14 Jun 2005, 05:38

Well all was well got the car seems great
What should the service interval be and I was thing about LPG conversion as I can get a grant for £800 which means could get it done for as little as £900

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 14 Jun 2005, 12:31

I don't like LPG - had an Astra that ran on the stuff at work - the £12 fillups were embarrasing - - it was rattly and needed 1000 more RPM to pull away when running on gas - then the engine blew up.
And because of the way it is taxed the government could make it as expensive as unleaded tomorrow so it's a bit of a gamble.

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 15 Jun 2005, 03:22

I'd get the car inspected. True, £2,750 isn't a lot of money for a big car, but if it has faults then you have been ripped off!
Find an independent specialist and ask what he knows about the beast that is the C5.

JohnT · Unread post by **JohnT** » 15 Jun 2005, 04:44

Have you worked out what mileage you would need to do to get the value of that LPG change? By my calculations you will not benefit unless you do in excess of 16,000 miles in your ownership. You will get less MPG from LPG, they reckon at least 10% less.
So you will need to do 18k before you get a payback on the conversion? Performance will be down quite noticeably.
Would the tank encroach in to your luggage space?

Unread post by **user_3150** » 15 Jun 2005, 11:54

Homer I would say the conversion done on your Astra was a poor one. My work's van run's on LPG and the tank hold's £20 when empty also it has done 80'000 miles of hard driving without any problem's on the LPG side. Was it a factory conversion or was it done after the car was bought? As for running and performance I put in £18-£20 @ 49.9 pence per litre and get 220-250 miles from a tank (van is fully laden all the time with ladder's on the roof)don't know what that is in mpg. The performance isn't good at all compared with petrol but mine is a single point gas injection. The newer conversions use multi point injection which is meant to be as good as running on petrol except the mpg. I would look into fitting an LPG conversion but think about the cost and how long it will take to get your money back and would you mind having some of the boot space taken up by the gas cylinder. All in all mine has been fine just DON'T GET A CHEAP CONVERSION you will regret it.

Unread post by **user_3150** » 15 Jun 2005, 12:07

Forget to say I agree also on the fuel tax. I read an article last year in Practical Classics and basically it said that within 15 year's lpg could cost the same as petrol for exactly the same reason the price of diesel was hiked up (because more people are using it), the reason it's cheap is surely because it is a green fuel Mr Blair!!