buying a 02 C5

[mooseshaver]

Actually the older SX does have the sunlight sensor too, all C5s with climate control have this feature.

The facelift has an air quality sensor, which means it can adjust onto recirculate or not depending on the outside air quality.

Later C5s do seem better to drive, they feel a bit tighter and more communicative than the earlier ones. Though late S1 VTR cars seem almost as good too, better than the earlier S1s. Though they dont ride as well as the earlier cars.

How do you find the 1.6 for economy and reliability? Is it brisk enough? For some reason the 1.6 C5 has always appealed to me, i like the facelifts and it should be similar in performance to the 2.0 110. Ive heard many good things about them.

Im yet to drive one in a C5, ive driven a couple of C4 1.6HDis and they have been nice. We have been looking at getting another C5 (yes another one!) for my dads business use, though maybe try a 1.6 estate, tax and economy advantages and we already have a 2.0 138 HDi. So i would be interested to know.

Chris.

You sure about the sunlight sensor? I know it had one for the headlights, but my new C5 has gained an exta bit in the centre of the dash under the windscreen. A sort of raised black bit. Also its not mentioned in the manual of the old C5 (although that now is too wet to read!)

I think, on paper my new 1.6 is 0-60 in 11.5 secs. My old 2.2 was 11.9.
The old 2.2 just felt lazy compared to the eager 1.6. It picks up from lower down the revs.
It is noisyer at 60+ compared to the 2.2. If a car ever needed a 6th gear its the 1.6.
The economy is much better. on the computer, which I've not yet checked for acuracy, I get high 40s. Its hard to tell at the moment as we dont have many bridges round here so most traffic is slow going, but I'm getting over 47mpg. The 2.2 was getting about 34.4-35.4 going to work and back.

I have found I can't engage cruise at 30mph shame really.

I have not had it long enough for reliability, its a 56 plate and had only done about 14600 miles. I can see the centre line fo the rear demister does not work, same as my old one. And ocasionaly in first when pulling away there is a suddent drop in power and then it takes off. I have not worked out yet if its me, the cold, traction.
No fault lights or messages.
What I really love, it that when I drive the steering wheel does not vibrate madly, which my old one did. I'm hoping the wheel bolt holes and like all cars and tyres can be balanced by any garage.

[Citroenmad]

Well i remember it has mentioned the sunlight sensor in the brochure spec for the SX cars from launch, so i did think they had it. Though what it does ive no idea, the climate does work nicely. I took the SX to france last summer and its ac was fantastic.

The 1.6 is pretty nippy then, was your old 2.2 a auto? As the 2.0HDi is around 11.? seconds to 60, i thought the 2.2 would be quicker in manual from than the 2.0 110?

Economy sounds very good, slightly better than i get with my 2.0 110.

I forget now if the newer C5 wheels have a big hole in the centre for normal balancing, i think they might. Both of our VTRs have the same 16" wheels which are a facelift design and ive had no problem with vibrations through the wheel. Ive had to have the SXs wheels balanced a few times, but the place i use now is pretty good at getting them right.

SOund slik your impressed with the 1.6 C5 then, ive not met anyone who has said too many negative things about them, ill have to have a drive of one. My dad is looking for an estate to replace his VW, it needs to carry lots of load and do lots of miles, so a self leveling estate with a diesel is needed, a C5 is perfect. The 2.0 138 estate is our family car and my mums car, so we need another for that use. Might get a 1.6 for her and have the 2.0 for the workhorse, but its quite nice for that.

[mooseshaver]

This is what my new C5 has gained and I assumed to be the light sensor, the old one did not have it.



Hope I added that picture right.

I am please with the car, do miss the old one.

The original 0-60 times for the c5 2.2 manual when released wad 11.9 seconds. My 2.2 was manual. I think reviews said the 2.0 was the better engine because it had not particulate filter to slow it down.

Oh and the glove box on passenger side does not have a lock. Bit odd that.

[Citroenmad]

Actually im not sure what that thing does, you might be right. My late S1 2.0HDi has that, as does my parents facelift C5 but the 52 reg SX doesnt. All i can think is it is either the sun sendor (though i thought that would be inc. into the wiper/light sensor? or its to do with the alarm.

Thats odd, our facelift 2005 2.0HDi VTR has a locking glove box, seems they deleted it on the later versions

[Clogzz]

That thing does rain sensing on my C5 2003.
When you cover it on the automatic wipe setting, the wipers go to fast speed.
If there’s sun sensing, I hope it’s that thing too.
There are too many distractions in that car; I’ve got troubles keeping my nose on the road.

[Citroenmad]

That isnt the rain sensor, the rain sensor is in the windscreen behind the rearview mirror. It has to be on the screen or it wouldnt sense rain, and has to be on the wipers sweep to sense if its raining or not. There are two sensors in the windscreen mounted unit, one is for rain and the other for light, to turn the lights on.

That little blob on the dash could well be somehting to do with the sunlight sensor.

I like the rain sensors and usually find they work well, so long as the winscreen is not greasy and the wipers are in good condition. One less distraction as you dont have to keep adjusting the wiper speeds.

[Clogzz]

Well, when I cover that thing, the wipers go to fast speed.
Maybe that there’s derangement in the system, or that darkness causes fast wipe.

When I was there, your rain was better than ours here.
The rain sensing overreacts to our turbulent rain pattern.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR663.loop.shtml#skip

[mooseshaver]

I love rain sensing wipers, in my old 2.2 without that strange knob, my wipers were definatly controled by the thing in the windscreen.
When next back in my car will have a play with the ...thing and see if it does anything to the wipers.
I have ocasionaly found that on my old car the wipers would sometimes not wipe often enough. Ahh I remember we used to play chicken, me vs the car, who would give in and make the wipers wipe first.

[Citroenmad]

Well i know there was a reason for living in the UK, we have better rain!

Im interested to know now, so ill have to go and have a fiddle with that thing later, see what it does.

[Lane]

Last week I bought a 2002 C5 2.0 16V, runs on liquid gas, fully loaded with leather interior.. I highly recommend this petrol engine, because I am a bit sceptic about older diesels.. they have much higher maintenance costs...