2003 Citroen C5 HDi 2.0L turbo diesel from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
A reliable & endearing car that grows on you
Faults:
CD player stopped ejecting CDs.
Oil leak.
Windscreen washer pump failed.
Power window failure.
Air conditioning gate fault.
General Comments:
This is a car that takes time to appreciate.
I bought this car for AU $3,750 with 202,000km on the clock. I was not expecting much, and to be honest, I thought it was a hideous looking vehicle.
However with such a limited budget, it was a winner compared to anything else on offer in my price range, not to mention I was impressed with the immaculate condition inside and out, and how it had stood up so well to the harsh Australian environment.
These cars really do grow on you; they are comfortable, reliable, smooth, unbelievably economical, whisper quiet and a real pleasure to drive.
If you are after a sporty car, then forget it, but if you want a comfy, economical safe cruiser, then it's a winner.
I did have a few minor initial problems, but thankfully I found a great mechanic that fixed everything for a very reasonable cost.
When you buy a C5, add $2000 to the sale price, as this is what it will probably cost you to bring it up to scratch. However, you will be rewarded with a truly fantastic car.
I look forward to driving this car everyday, and I now look at it with fondness, rather than contempt.
Highly recommended. Don't be put off by minor faults, as they are very reasonable to repair, as long as you find a good local mechanic. Whatever you do, don't take it to a Citroen dealer.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th March, 2013
13th Apr 2013, 08:46
Hi, the mechanic that looks after my car is called "grease" located in Caboolture QLD.
My only advice with a C5 is to check the log books and receipts to see if it has been problematic. I looked at 2 C5's before I purchased mine. The first was a V6 petrol, it only had 98,000km on the clock, however it had receipts for many thousands of dollars for work done over the years, and had 4 previous owners, which seems to be an indication that it was going to be a lemon.
The C5 I purchased was a 1 owner turbo diesel, it had receipts for normal servicing and the odd little repair. Even though the car had travelled 202,000km, I felt it was the better buy as it had nothing go wrong with it with more than double the Km.
My logic was if you have a good reliable car, you will drive it a lot more and the owner will keep it for longer. If you have a lemon, it will not be driven anywhere near as much and it will have had a lot more owners. You can get a complete lemon of a car or a great car; I have spoken to owners of both. One guy I met had his from new with 390,000km on the clock and everything still worked, and he said it runs like a dream.
I have clocked up another 23,000km of trouble free motoring.
Hope that's been some help
16th Apr 2013, 22:04
That is a very good point: high mileage means that the car is normally on the road instead of spending a lot of time sitting in the repair shop.
Thanks again and happy motoring!
8th Apr 2013, 18:39
Thank you for your review and sharing it with us.
I am thinking of buying an HDI C5 as well. Some of the reviews I came across are quite worrying, and had stopped me from getting a C5.
Would you be kind enough to let me know where this mechanic is that looks after your car?
Once again, we thank you.