2011 Citroen C1 Airdream 1.0 petrol from France
Summary:
Great value for the money
Faults:
The clutch had to be replaced at 162,000 km. Common flaw on these cars, so it was factored in when I bought it and didn't come as a surprise. Note that the car could still be driven and the gear changed, you "just" had to press the clutch pedal like mad...
The A/C condenser gave up the ghost at 185,000 km. Hardly a surprise either, I don't know a lot of people with pretty high mileage cars who didn't have any A/C failure (condenser, compressor or leak).
One anecdote : when I took it for technical inspection (the MOT equivalent here in France), it had 183,000 km and passed with flying colors, but the technician told me he had recently tested a Peugeot 107 (i.e. the same car with a Peugeot badge, for those who don't know) with 450,000 km, and that one had passed as well, so he wasn't surprised...
General Comments:
Great car for the price I got it (€2,000). Reliable so far and very, very economical: the tires seem to last forever and are cheap to buy. The fuel economy is unbelievable, as I've averaged 4,75l/100 km so far over 50,000 km - that's 59.5 MPG in the UK or 80 MPG in the US. Moreover, I've regularly averaged between 3.5 and 3.8 l/100 km on my commute (80 MPG UK, 108 MPG US). It's also cheap to insure and anyway to maintain overall.
It's light and nimble, easy to park, good in the snow thanks to its skinny tires, inconspicuous, spacious enough for three people (four if the passenger behind a driver like myself (1.84 m) isn't too tall.
The trunk is a joke, though, not much bigger than the glove compartment on a minivan, and the ride is a bit bumpy (although I have to say I don't mind that). Soundproofing isn't its main quality either.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 31st October, 2021