Marc's X7, C3 Aircross, Rants, Raves & Everything Else

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Sorry, I just realised I think you're referring to the C4 Courtesy car they'll be supplying for a few days....

If that's the case ignore my last reply about the 1.5 Blue HDi!

Haven't a clue what it is - I suspect they won't be issuing EVs as courtesy cars yet as most people won't have any facility to charge it up. So I expect it will be a Petrol most likely as these seem to be getting a resurgence.
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Marc
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Zelandeth
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by Zelandeth »

Pretty sure the rear windscreen washer jet on my Pug 107 was incorporated into the high level brake light too.

Which also leaked!
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

It seems once they push the nozzle in it shatters the surrounding plastic of the lens then! It can't do the internals of the light any good - so I'm getting it done now rather than later - and I'll have to keep an eye on this in case it does it again...
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Marc
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Well, I've just learned something new today about my Aircross. It has a Particle Emission Filter and Selective Catalytic Reduction system, but it appears not to have any DPF additive pump or additive system at all.... \:D/

I must admit to having double and treble checked, but no - according to the information I have it does not have one on this engine. :-k

I noticed something didn't read right when I was looking at the BSI data and configuration in particular, when I saw this entry:
ECUValue to
be configured
Comments
Multiplexed Diesel Additive PumpAbsentWithout Particulate
Emission Filter
Or
With engines:
- EB2FA
- EB2ADT
- EB2DT M
- EB2ADTS
- DV5RC
- DV5RD
Multiplexed Diesel
Additive Pump
PresentOther Variant
So according this the DV5 engines don't have an additive pump.

So looking at Parts, I confirmed no additive tank:
Marc Tank.PNG
So I do not have:
(15) Fuel Additive Sump
(16) Fuel Additive Cover
(17) Flexible Fuel Additive Pouch
(18)Fuel Additive Pump
(20) PEF Additive Reservoir

It seems the 15, 16, 17, 18 are for Euro 5 vehicles with Particle Emission Filters, and
20 is for Euro 6.1 Technical Emission Control.

I have Euro 6.2 Technical Emission Control. So there must be some jiggery pokery going on with these engines to get round it. I've found no mention wither in any of the technical info regarding 'additive' or associated terms - so will have to look into this a bit more...
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Well the Aircross has gone in today to the Dealer for a warranty repair to the rear high level brake light that is splintered and cracked, letting water into the unit.

So whilst I was booking that in they asked if there were any other issues and so I reminded them about the ongoing 'Stop & Start' issue - as in it's not stopping!

After the last time they had it in for a few days, for a battery test - it passed, so S&S worked for one set of lights on the way home then that was is - packed in again! :roll:

So I told them it's a waste of time having it if it doesn't work and with only 45.6 MPG (40% less than claimed), I need every advantage I can get :rofl2:

So I have a new C4 Petrol as a courtesy car for a few days. It's a petrol with the EB2 ADTS Turbo charged engine. It has a displacement of 1199 cc, 100 kW of Power and 231 Nm of Torque, and of course 3 Cylinders.

So far my observations and niggles:

1) It's like a canoe to get in and out of. By this, I mean the sills are very high, so you have to literally step over the sill to get into the car and when trying to get out, you have to do the high jump in order to get your leg out :evil: I've already tripped up several times and nearly fell overboard as I've tried to get out.

2) Pedals - terrible! I've seen this before on another PSA vehicle, but I can't remember which model now. Basically the clutch pedal is too near the foot rest, so as you are pressing the clutch, your foot is catching on the foot rest and not the pedal - very annoying and I couldn't drive like this for long. Because of this the brake and clutch pedals when used together cause your shoes to catch each other - it's a total dogs breakfast.

3) This car also has hands free opening and starting - BUT the problem with the system fitted on the C4 is that if you've been shopping say, and everyone has piled back into the car, whilst you do your duty and take the trolley back, the car now automatically locks as you walk away and makes a loud beep beep at you. So the mirrors retract and the car locks with all the passengers. You then have to leg it back and hope nobody has moved before the alarm sets off!

Citroen C4 Contactless Locking / Unlocking


So there is no touching of the handle involved - the car just unlocks when you enter 'the zone' and does the same when you walk away. I'm not sure I like this and much prefer some physical interaction to indicate what I want.

4) The interface is worse than mine, with different steering wheel controls, it is now overly complex to engage or change the cruise control settings. There are too many buttons in close proximity to deal with and this means taking your eyes off the road to see what the hell you are doing. The extra buttons are confusing and you have to keep checking the display to see what you have done. The rectangular buttons need to be pressed up or down and pushed in to confirm settings - but hard to see what you are doing.

The 'Assist' button just seems to deactivate Cruise and does nothing else except confuse. The addition of the limiter button is ridiculous - who uses this with today with speed sign recognition? By removing the cruise / limiter stalk paddle that most people know how to use and putting extra buttons on the steering wheel, it becomes overly clustered and unintuitive as you now have to take your eyes off the road to see what the heck you are pressing.

Not that you can see anything much displayed from driving position, but here are the display options:

Citroen C4 Instrument Panel


I had a few close shaves coming back, as I pressed the wrong button and it resumed the 70MPH cruise from the dial carriageway instead of the OK button :shock:

5) As per the picture in the table, there was this 'thing' that didn't seem to do much - I did suspect it being cup holders but ruled that out as there are 2 in the gearbox binnacle. I had to look this one up in the manual as it didn't seem to do anything. Turns out it's a mount for a smart phone or a tablet - but here's the catch - you have to buy the custom mounting from Citroen depending on what you want to mount :roll:

Citroen C4 Smart Pad Thingy


So a few pics whilst I've got it:
IMG_3929.jpg
IMG_3930.jpg
IMG_3931.jpg
1) Quite unusual rear end styling.2) The Side shows more aggressive Tonka
Styling. Shows wheels to be dominant.
3) The Front follows similar Styling
found on other later models.
IMG_3932.jpg
IMG_3933.jpg
IMG_3934.jpg
4) Seats are nice, but instrument
display view is hampered.
5) The deep footwell.6) A struggle to get in and out.
IMG_3935.jpg
IMG_3936.jpg
IMG_3937.jpg
7) I need this storage in my Aircross!8) 10" Display & note Climate
controls are now physical buttons.
9) You can just see the instrument panel
through the spoke, but not in a driving position.
IMG_3939.jpg
IMG_3940.jpg
IMG_3941.jpg
10) Display is no better to use
than previous and does little to improve.
11) Can't fit an iPhone XS Max
on the top. Not much use but better than nothing.
The USB is one port for charging and another for Music / Mirror Link.
12) Quite Roomy in the rear.
IMG_3942.jpg
IMG_3943.jpg
IMG_3944.jpg
13) Kept knocking my head on the grab handle.14) Again, had to move camera low to take this shot as obscured by steering wheel.
Though the HUD (shown here) helps keep eyes on the road.
15) Controls now over-complicated.
and really fiddly to use.
IMG_3945.jpg
IMG_3946.jpg
IMG_3947.jpg
16) Removed the thumb wheels and put
awkward switches in place.
17) Pedals have limited space and are
clumsy with the large footrest.
18) Totally awkward to use - even with shoes!
IMG_3948.jpg
IMG_3952.jpg
Blank
19) A 'Thingy'.
I was trying to see if it was a cup holder :roll:
No - it's a smart device thingy.
20) My knee is just above the sill!
Very awkward for entry / exit.
Blank


So it is gutsy and very responsive - but does sound like a diesel at times.

The suspension is of course nice and comfortable as it uses the progressive hydraulic cushions setup - and I do wish I had this on the Aircross :yes:

The boot space is good and so is the rear, but the front cabin dash is a little cramped. Trying to find the right controls / screen for everything is frustrating and so is the auto wiping. My auto wiping is a simple flick down to engage - but I had to fiddle with this as no message came up saying auto wiping was engaged like on mine. Here it just tells you that you've deactivated it at some point! ](*,)

So I'll give my final thoughts when we've had it for a few days before picking up the Aircross.
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Marc
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

You wouldn't recommend it then Marc? :-D
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by white exec »

So, another car not to buy!

Last pedal trouble I had was years ago, when Citroen loaned me an AX 1.1 as a day-and-a-half courtesy car, while the Xantia was being serviced.
Apart from absolutely no go (and I had 300 miles to do on day 2), I found it difficult to pull away off Citroen's forecourt, until I realised I was trying to accelerate with the front right wheel arch :shock: - such was the closeness and poor alignment of the pedals.
Left OH with the AX on day 2, and used the good lady's BX for the work haul. Never more pleased to get the Xantia back again.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

I like the drive, it is comfortable and responsive, but entry and egress are not easy and you can trip over yourself trying to get out - you really have to lift your foot up a lot higher to get over the door sill. So it won't be ideal if you have knee or back issues IMO.

I think it's a shame that the steering wheel being rather thick and rectangular obscures the instrument panel - not that there's a lot there to see. There is a Heads Up Display as seen on photo 14 if (you look at the windscreen, you can just about see it).

Of course these are still available with diesel and there is an electric version. Would I have one - probably not. I've now gone over to the SUV camp as I like the raised driving position and my back thanks me for just being able to 'walk' into the driving seat now!

I do think that putting that large footrest on the left is a bad design job as on a manual, you really can find it difficult to press the clutch pedal, especially when braking at the same time. My shoes were rubbing together getting caught up trying to do this, so that would be a big negative on the practical driving aspect, for which there is little you can do, unless you have pixie feet!

Trying to memorise button functions and feel your way around the steering wheel control switches is a nightmare. I had to pull over several times to get the radio station changed and get the cruise option displayed again.

It took ages to get my phone paired and the heating controls are not easy to sort either:

I thought I had the left and right set up with the correct temperature, but there wasn't enough air flow, so I hit the MAX A/C button and it lost all the settings and turned the fan on full blast. Had to stop to reset all the settings - really frustrating and not the same as previous dual climate systems I've had.

Now I'm very tech savvy, but I don't find the interface intuitive at all and this has been a major criticism of later PSA vehicles with touchscreen interfaces.

People are used to having a tactile interface - buttons which they know where they are located and what they do - find it and push or turn it - simple. Having a centralised system that requires multiple presses in different areas of the screen depending on which screen you are currently in is distracting and not conducive to focussing on driving / watching the road.

So they partly listened by reverting the heating / climate controls to physical buttons - but they have missed the general criticism. It is overly complex and impossible to use without taking your eyes off the road. If they think that by making the interfaces bigger each year and giving you more touch screen real estate this is going to improve, they've missed the whole point.

The only way they are going to resolve this partly is with a full-featured AI voice interaction system that can interpret all requests in natural language to operate all aspects of the vehicle control system - and do it correctly. That tech is not here yet and won't be for some time.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Just had an event invite from Citroen regarding the C5 X - and as you can see from what I was saying above, very little difference from the C4!

C4
IMG_3931.jpg
C5 X
Citreon C5 X.PNG
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

I was not impressed on the video that was supposed to detail the new C5 X Advanced Comfort active suspension system



I left a comment on the video as I was a bit miffed that they did everything but show the suspension!
So this video is not the slightest bit useful concerning the topic of suspension! These are the smoothest roads I've ever seen in my life and probably not typical for 95% of road users! Let's get real - where are all the potholes, manhole covers, drains and bumps that most of us have? Where are all the poorly surfaced country roads? You say this is 'Active'. What is active about it and how does this system differ from the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions seen on the C5 Aircross and C4 Cactus? You have skipped all the important information and glossed over it with silky smooth roads - not at all helpful and tells me nothing about the suspension system that I came here to find out about!
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Well it was too good to be true. Popped out yesterday in the new C4 and 20 minutes in "bing bong" - Collision Alert Warning System Fault! :roll:

Pulled over, switched off, restarted, but no, that's not worked, so no cruise control now either. The car has done 5000 miles!

With the very smooth suspension ride on the progressive hydraulic cushions I am really impressed with the system. It is a frim ride, with very nice cushioning on the road - near C5 quality without the self-levelling.

This system has active cruise control, so uses an ARTIV unit in conjunction with the camera (Autocruise Adaptive Cruise Control Radar Module) or distance alert radar.

I know from issues with the later C4 Picassos that have this system, that the slightest misalignment of the radar unit can cause it to stop working - and of course all associated functions. I know that it can take days to calibrate these units on the road, so I'm glad I don't have that part of it on my Aircross. It does not seem very robust and even on a car with this soft suspension it seems to have nobbled it!

So that won't be a quick fix when it goes back and will likely need recalibration.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

Seeing how 'deep' the tub is (with very high sills) I wonder if the designer had worked on the Dutton Surf, Marina and Commander, and forgot that not many cars need to have such deep footwells?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutton_Cars
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by Zelandeth »

Those steering wheel controls look almost identical to the ones VAG use - which is who every other manufacturer seems to feel the need to emulate these days.

I've only driven two cars with them and just gave up on using any of the functionality as I knew I was going to end up driving off a cliff trying to turn on the cruise control, so just used my feet instead.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

:rofl2: That's about it!

My C5 X7 had a rather complex looking steering wheel and I had many comments form passengers saying they'd "...never seen so many buttons in a car.."

Click Image to Zoom
X7 Steering Wheel.PNG
But on this it was logically organised and had the fixed centre boss, so the controls always remained in the same place when you turn the wheel.

On the left are the speed limiter / cruise controls, a button for night panel activation and phone answer / cut off.
On the right are the audio and media controls - volume up / down, mute, channel search and menu.

These have subtle raised 'bumps' on the relevant button that corresponds to increasing anything - volume or speed, so provides a tactile feel so you know when your finger or thumb is on that switch. The decrease button is always directly underneath on either side. They also have solid bars to separate sections of the controls - again providing a tactile way of navigating the most important buttons.

So these are somewhat easier once you get used to a fixed boss and the layout.

Now on my Aircross, they retained the standard cruise control paddle stalk on the left - which a lot of PSA users are already used to - so that is easy to use: forefinger to increase, middle finger to decrease speed. Press on the end button to pause and resume or confirm speed sign recognition recommendation and set.

But the C4 has done away with that and added more buttons which you can't 'feel' to distinguish which does what and can't easily locate the button.

Perhaps the designers ignored all the practicality of the previous system and thought it looks too dated with the new digital instrument panels and threw common sense out the window.
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Re: Marc's C3 Aircross SUV, Rants Raves & Everything Else

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

Well had a call today saying the Aircross was ready, so went to pick that up late afternoon.

So it went in for a spider's stress crack on the around the high level brake light lens, where the rear washer nozzle protrudes. The lens was filling with water and was getting badly misted up. No issues, was replaced under warranty - they keep these in stock - so what does that tell you? :cry: So may be back for another one in a year or 2!

Next issue was the ongoing saga of the Stop & Start (or lack of both). It had already been in a few months back and the battery was tested and recharged - but on my way home it failed at the second and last set of lights and never worked again. I couldn't be bothered to take it back again, so when the other issue popped up with the lens, it seemed like a good time to get it done at the same time.

Verdict: The battery was again charged for 48 hours and tested, but failed, so a new one has been fitted under warranty.
Outcome: I got caught out - as I'm so used to it not working, but on the way home it stopped at the roundabout as I popped it out of gear - Panic! Then I realised it was the stop start kicking in :lol:

I must say that when I started the car up after picking it up, it really started a lot quicker that before - so much so that I did say 'bloody hell, that's quick' to myself! Not that I'd say it was turning over slowly at all - just that now it's super quick. Let's see how long that lasts - I've now got to decide whether to use it to get my atrocious MPG up a bit or just turn it off and save the starter!
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