The car performed well on last months trip from Surrey to Aberdeen. It coped with the horrendous snow and icy roads between Gretna Green and Dundee, where it cleared up nicely. The main problem was the siting of the window washers nozzles, and the fact that they are not heated. Firstly, being sited under the bonnet edge they wipers simply piled the snow over them. What clever designer thought that one up. Secondly, no heating meant frozen tank/pump/ pipes/nozzles for 250 miles. Great spec for the so called "Premium model". My fault? Probably, as I should have drained the system and refilled with low temperature fluid before starting out but honestly, would many people really do that, bearing in mind that the tank is about as accessible as the bottom of the Marianas trench. Once the system had thawed, I pumped most of the water out and filled it with ultra low temperature fluid.....then the snow stopped and the temperatures rose considerably.
On a better note, by driving at a very conservative pace between Birmingham and home, I was able to achieve a magnificent 59.7 MPG
Next, the lack of a handle on the boot. There is an interior release button and an exterior button hidden beside the reverse camera but the hatch doesn't "spring open" so basically, you have to force the tips of you fingers into the gap and lift as best you can. The boss just can't do it as her fingers are not strong enough. May I respectfully suggest that the design engineer who thought this might be a good idea should keep their eyes open for a new opportunity, as auto design doesn't seem to be their particular forte. A career change might benefit the Citroen buying public, as well as themselves.
Rick.
2013 Citroen DS 5 D/Sport
2007 Renault Clio Campus sport. 1.2l
Sometimes the change doesn't work.
