Not worth it
Heaters don't work.
Constant engine problems.
Airbag light always on.
Window falls down after repeatedly being fixed.
Central locking not too good.
The only good thing going for this car is that it's Canary Yellow.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 24th May, 2009
Fast, fun and cool
Power steering doesn't work sometimes when cold, but after a few seconds loosens up - have been told may be the pump or just needs cleaning out.
Airbag light on sometimes (common Saxo fault!) but if you fiddle with the wires under the front seats, it seems to go off!
Car smokes a lot when idling (worse when hot) and smells like oil in the car - guessing it something to do with oil seals?!
Very quick car and handles really well. Beats most cars off the line and is slightly quicker than my mate's Pug 106 GTi. It's a lot of fun to drive and always makes me smile.
Despite some niggling problems, I've really enjoyed owning the car. Insurance isn't too bad now I'm over 20, and fuel consumption is very good until you drive it fast!
Some people think Saxos are girly, but the VTS is a boy's toy!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th January, 2009
Excellent value, great handling
Sunroof seal leaked at 9 years old.
CV joints started knocking at about 40,000 miles.
Leaking sunroof caused remote central locking to fail.
I have owned this car for almost 7 years and have had very little trouble with it - possibly because of the low mileage and regular servicing etc.
The only real mechanical problem in all that time has been the CV joints that knock when turning tightly and accelerating at the same time - apparently this is quite common (as are other steering/knocking problems!). The CV joints will need to be replaced next service.
I read about the infamous sunroof seals that all seem to fail (UV from the sun perishes the rubber) and sure enough, last year it started dripping in - after filling up the remote locking receiver. That has stopped the sensor from working (except from inside the car!) so I'm back to using a key (!) but worse than that... it seems to unlock itself in the rain every now and again! I will have to sort that out soon but apparently it is about £40 from Citroen for the seal (and scrap ones will be useless as all Saxos have the same fault!) plus I will probably need to replace the sensor and re-program the remote.
Other than the faults above, there is very little bad I have to say about the car. The brakes are pretty weak (even when brand new) and it seems very easy to break into (3 times in 2 years when I lived in central London). Also, it isn't particularly comfortable - it's pretty bouncy - especially with passengers or a full load in the car.
Otherwise, it's great - I never planned to keep it this long but I am so happy with it, it would cost at least £5,000 to get a better car. The handling in particular is excellent and it can be thrown around corners without fear of body roll or under steer. The performance is pretty good without being high performance - you'll want a VTR or VTS for that. It has more than enough power for general driving and accelerates up hill etc. For a design over 10 years old, it also looks pretty good - the skirts and bumpers etc from the VTR range give a vast improvement over the standard body style but it doesn't have the spoiler so doesn't look too much like a chav mobile!
Running costs are good - driven sensibly, fuel consumption is pretty low - I don't know mpg figures but about £10-12 should get you about 100 miles. It is in the relatively low insurance group 5 and tax isn't too bad either.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 3rd January, 2009