Cactus

Unread post by **Richard_C** » 21 Sep 2016, 19:51

My next car will be smaller than my C5 Tourer, our needs have changed. Also my wife is beginning to suffer arthritis and clambering in and out of the C5 (seats are quite low and have deep side bolsters) after long trips is getting harder. Not keen on Golf/Focus although they are very fine vehicles, too mainstream.

Thinking about a Cactus. Anybody got one, driven one, any thoughts?

Unread post by **vborovic** » 21 Sep 2016, 19:53

It's a Citroen thing, you either love it or hate it ... shame that there is no AM6 gearbox, only the EGS, but if you can live with that, it's a practical car that looks like a living room. Didn't have a chance to test it on longer runs, but the city drive was comfortable enough (coming from a steel sprung C5 X7)

GiveMeABreak · Unread post by **GiveMeABreak** » 21 Sep 2016, 22:24

Richard_C wrote:My next car will be smaller than my C5 Tourer, our needs have changed. Also my wife is beginning to suffer arthritis and clambering in and out of the C5 (seats are quite low and have deep side bolsters) after long trips is getting harder. Not keen on Golf/Focus although they are very fine vehicles, too mainstream.

Thinking about a Cactus. Anybody got one, driven one, any thoughts?

I've driven 3 or 4 over the last 12 months, but only as loan cars whilst mine has been in the Dealers Richard (that tells you how many times my C5 has been with Citroen - just with a Cactus)!
I find them perfectly adequate for general driving. They are quite roomy, the seats are slightly higher than the C5 - but there is no passenger height adjustment on the model I had. Very basic but solid interior. The finish on the dash has thick heavyweight glossy plastic finishings - and on the handles -feels quite solid. Lots of room on the dash for placing your coffee if having a takeaway (same cannot be said with the X7 as you know). Very economical, I've driven the Petrol and Diesel engined versions. The Diesel had Stop and Start Mode - which can be turned off if desired. There is also a display that tells you when to change gear. Just about all the controls are handled from the large touch screen display - and I mean just about everything! It has DAB radio too, Bluetooth of course and retains FM radio as well.

The car is very roomy in the rear and the boot is more than adequate. It is very quiet to drive and of course it has the anti supermarket trolley menace devices on the sides of the doors - basically a rubberised mattress on either side for protection.

Nice bright DRLs and no doubt can be enhanced with each trim level / option pack.

Unread post by **Zelandeth** » 24 Sep 2016, 07:45

I like it. Comfy by modern car standards and a bit bonkers as I reckon a real Citroen really should be. Just reckon they've missed a trick by not offering the plastic cladding in ridiculous colours. If I could have one in black with neon yellow or orange detailing making it look like something out of a science fiction movie I'd be all over that...

Main gripe we had about the demo we had was the touch screen which controls everything. I have a pathological hate of all things touchscreen in cars (or in general), and the one in the Cactus we had was very sluggish and clunky - though I do believe that this is an issue that has been or is about to be resolved. Sorry, my reading on the current motoring world is somewhat lacking these days!

momag46 · Unread post by **momag46** » 24 Sep 2016, 18:37

I was very unsure about the touch screen on my C4 Picasso but soon got used to it and now think it's a great idea. The testers complained (what!) about it and also the number of buttons on the steering wheel BUT they only do a few miles so never get used to anything - remember the steering on the CX!

Maurice

Ocellia · Unread post by **Ocellia** » 25 Sep 2016, 13:52

CX steering! Ah lovely memory.
Imagine; a car with diravi, 6 headlights, 2 steerable, Hydractive3 suspension, cyclops speedo,single spoke wheel, boxer 6 cylinder engine.......
Then he woke up.

momag46 · Unread post by **momag46** » 26 Sep 2016, 16:34

Stop it - I've just wet myself with excitement

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Sep 2016, 17:17

Ocellia wrote:CX steering! Ah lovely memory.
Imagine; a car with diravi, 6 headlights, 2 steerable, Hydractive3 suspension, cyclops speedo,single spoke wheel, boxer 6 cylinder engine.......
Then he woke up.

Lovely

If only..

Be lovely wrapped in a nice rust-free S1 XM body...

I suppose the early LHD PRV V6 XM with Diravi was about as close to your dream as it got Ocellia... It had Hydractive I though and that had shortcomings although a bit of work could convert it to Hydractive II via a suitable donor...

Now that could be a dream car (almost) in reality

Unread post by **Richard_C** » 10 Oct 2016, 23:12

Thanks all for the Cactus comments and nostalgia various. I've been away so my thanks come late.

I had just about settled on a Cactus and started looking at one or two, cautious me thinking about a sinister black one with black bumps, the other me thinking about yellow, red, purple. Getting quite excited. Then my son who is a classical percussion student called to say he was about to buy a set of 4 timpani drums which we will keep here and take out to concerts as required. Downsizing is on hold for a while.

It's now a toss up between a C4 Picasso and a Berlingo Multispace. Not got the Citroen-ness of the Cactus, but high up should help my wife's stiffening joints, flat floor should let us transport at least 2 timps at once. I hope to be able to pick up a 2 or 3 year old one (it will have to be diesel, most seem to be 1.6 Hdi 115 bhp, no second hand 3 pot petrol ones about) so it won't lose me too much money in the medium term. Will downsize and turn to petrol 'one day'.

Unread post by **Eddie Nuff** » 11 Oct 2016, 18:49

I just don't understand the thought process in that it would be a good idea to put a headboard on the side of a car!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 11 Oct 2016, 18:55

Eddie Nuff wrote:I just don't understand the thought process in that it would be a good idea to put a headboard on the side of a car!

demag · Unread post by **demag** » 12 Oct 2016, 20:21

Yes they just don't do it for me. Citroen was always about flair. The Cactus has all the flair of a cardboard box.

Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk

Unread post by **mickeymoon** » 12 Oct 2016, 20:31

Eddie Nuff wrote:I just don't understand the thought process in that it would be a good idea to put a headboard on the side of a car!

For doggers.

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Stickyfinger · Unread post by **Stickyfinger** » 12 Oct 2016, 20:40

To me it looks like a Slapped Pig....I dislike the new high front - slit eyed style, not my thing at all.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Oct 2016, 04:10

demag wrote:The Cactus has all the flair of a cardboard box.

I howled at that Dave. Still giggling now

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