Shitroen Xsara Pisscasso - opinions?

[meggersdog]

Ah, should have phrased it differently.The top end not the bit in the sump, just need a pair of pliers to pull the stick out with.

[inconsistant]

Park next to a Picarso at the supermarket and you know you're coming back to a damaged car.

 

Picarso, the car for if you're not bothered about anything.

[Cavcraft]

What's the script with the Zafira? If you get it running on 4 ok give me a shout, please!

[Bren]

Been a passenger in a 1.6 pez loaded with five large adults.

 

I offered to get out and push.

 

See lots with patched sills.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I have a totally irrational hatred of The Picasso and all other mpv's* that don't actually take any more people than an ordinary saloon. The three baby seat thing is just about the only justification and that is blown out of the water by the Zaffira,Multipla or the Honda thing.

The upright seating for giffers excuse doesn't convince me,because older people kept Rover going for 20 years after it should have died and they didn't make many small mpv's did they?

The perfect fleet would be a Vegan ZX and big fuck off turbo estate,say,maybe an XM.

[Talbotman]

A Picasso is essentially a Citroen zx floorpan fitted with Pug 405 rear suspension. They don't rust a lot,the mechanics are pretty ordinary Psa fare. Their cheap to run,one of the few mid sized mpv that have 3 proper seats in the rear,a large boot,and their strong old beasts in an accident.They weren't designed to drive like a race car and yes their very ubiquitous ...but look around and you can still see plenty of them turning 13 14 years old now still looking in fine fettle. Their easy to take the piss out of, and some of their owners! But a Picasso is useful old beast that's cheap to buy and easy to maintain. Simple as that!

[dieselnutjob]

apparently you can't get a fridge / washing machine / dishwasher in the back

apart from that the only problem is the idiots that own them

personally I would rather have a Berlingo or 406 estate but that's me

[Talbotman]

Bootspace up to the widowline is actually larger than my berlingo due to the extra length....ive never carried a fridge in the back of one so I couldn't say...other than I do know that a complete rear trailing arm and axle unit from a Tagora fits in with the seats down! Lol!

[twosmoke300]

I hate them , looks like a baked potato. They are nearly all in that metallic light blue greeny colour and have tar for oil cos no one ever services them.

[Timewaster]

We have been here before. Didn't go well....

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/13360-how-shit-are-picassos/

[fordperv]

apparently you can't get a fridge / washing machine / dishwasher in the back

I call shenanigans on whoever told you that one, I have had a washing machine and a fridge in one (on separate occasions not at the same time)

[Cavcraft]

I've just remembered how brilliant these Picassos are. Spacious, reliable, economical and with three proper rear seats. I believe the 1.8 ones are the best and (obviously) the best colour for these is silver.

 

If you could find one for sale at a bargain price, especially for a 51 plate vehicle, all your dreams would come true. Especially if that car was NOW IN STOCK AT CAVCRAFT.

[beko1987]

She's got auto trader up looking at A class mercs. Do I run away?

[Cavcraft]

Do a Google search on them, Beko. It was enough to make me realise why they're always so cheap.

[ruffgeezer]

The Picasso is an incredibly capable family vehicle but is about as interesting as 1000 swatches of beige paint.

 

The 1.8 is shit and very high tax if post 2001, if it must be pez, get the 1.6 8v as it has much better grunt low down, top choice is the 2l hdi though, and have a good prod of the sills, and check the back tyres for uneven wear.

 

They are crushingly average, but if it's for the missus, that is probably the best thing about it!

[retrogeezer]

I bought my old 2.0hdi one back off my brother in March. 130k on the clock now and still drives really well. Everything still works (inc all 3 brake lights and the a/c) Other than usual wear and tear stuff it's just had a clutch - that's it.

 

Yes, there are better cars to drive but it's spacious, comfy and still tidy looking.

[Richard]

Did they ever come with the XUD engine?

[Cavcraft]

Ithink they were either petrol or HDi, but the 1.8 is the fanny magnet of the bunch.

 

Ive just had to order several new shitty sticks to beat the flange off with.

[steve_earwig]

The Picasso is an incredibly capable family vehicle but is about as interesting as 1000 swatches of beige paint.

 

The 1.8 is shit and very high tax if post 2001, if it must be pez, get the 1.6 8v as it has much better grunt low down, top choice is the 2l hdi though, and have a good prod of the sills, and check the back tyres for uneven wear.

 

They are crushingly average, but if it's for the missus, that is probably the best thing about it!

As with anything else these days, lots of short journeys - derv, lots of short ones - pez. Mate of mine has a 1.6 8v pezzer and he's always telling me his mate with a 2.0HDi one gets worse economy for similar use. Only issues seem to have been a cracked exhaust manifold (which he sawed up & welded) and some old coffin dodger tried to drive his Merpanzer through it while his wife was parking up. It survived that nicely but needed a couple of doors. For me, it's an ugly car but can move mountains with the seats out, his 1.6 is quite nippy so I guess the 1.8 must be quite enjoyable to drive. Oh, seats aren't the most comfortable but they're better than a Berlingo/Partner. There are loads of them floating around here, I've yet to see one with rust issues but I've only just come across this thread so I'll be taking a closer look from now on, maybe they suffer the same blocked sill drain issue as 406s...

[beko1987]

Interesting to hear that about the Hdi. 94% of her driving is locally, pops up the m40 a few junctions occasionally to go to Wycombe but then normally comes home the back way...

[beko1987]

The Picasso is an incredibly capable family vehicle but is about as interesting as 1000 swatches of beige paint.

 

The 1.8 is shit and very high tax if post 2001

Tax is the same as the Meriva so not too bad! I agree it is very very boring, I;ve nearly fallen asleep a few times looking at them!

[retrogeezer]

I've never seen mine below 43mpg even with short journeys. I guess short journeys would be more of an issue with the later 1.6 hdi as that has dual mass 'technology' I think.

[messerschmitt owner]

the 2l HDi 8V is a great engine - the 1.6HDi is a pile of poo.

Service intervals are too long at 20k on them by about 10,000 miles.

[steve_earwig]

The 1.6HDi is probably the Frod lump (DV6), they eat turbos for breakfast...

[beko1987]

My old 206 had a 2l HDI, seemed bulletproof enough. I'm eering to a 2l HDI

[retrogeezer]

fuel consumption figs from the handbook if it helps: 

[Cavcraft]

So as you can see, the 1.8 is the clear winner here. Would sir like a free interior valet or a complimentary air freshener?

[retrogeezer]

fwiw - with them being so much cheaper I'd go for a pez one. Unless you are doing loads of miles it's going to be a negligible saving.

[scooters]

I'm not a fan of them as a car. But as a tool for lugging snotty kids around they were a game changer and are very very good at it. Little points like walk through cab and seats at a height you don't have to cripple yourself inserting a small child all make life easier. Having said that Mum's one on the A68 between Carter Bar and Hexham. Scooters junior has twice now technicolour yawned over the inside of the car. Body roll on these higher vehicles is pretty grim. The kids have never been sick in the CX 850 or even the XJ6 which has the old car smell of leather and petrol usually enough to turn small tummies.

The Picasso is a tool. Those without kids won't necessarily understand why it is so popular amongst skint or tight dad's.

I couldn't bear to own one as my sole car. But how many of us are in that situation. The 1.8 we are swapping the 850 for from Billy is far cheaper to run than any of the other cars with the exception of the Phil XM which I've yet to collect. 35-40 mpg is pretty impressive when I've been used to the CX. ..ouch or the XJ6....arrgh!

[scooters]

Last point. We know the tools vs toys theory. Some cars are tolls and some toys. The single most important factor IMHO in a tool is reliability. All cars will break down. But it's when and how they break down and how often. With a tool the trick is to minimise the frequency of this occurring. As shitters most of us are competent enough to understand this equation which is why we have the ability and courage to break out of the financial slavery most of the population is in concerning car ownership. I do not know one single friend. .you lot excepted who.would consider buying and driving a car for under a grand. To them it is too risky and will end up costing them a fortune. To us it makes financial sense.

 

Now the thing about tools is that it is always a good idea to buy a car that seen in production for at least 10 years and of which there are heaps around. This keeps running costs low and reliability usually a good risk vs cost.

Mum's had a 1.4 Picasso since 2004 other than a clutch it has never broken down or needed anything in 80 k. It gets an annual service and keeps plodding on. Apart from the rear seat trays nothing is broken on it and the suspension is tough enough to cope with Edinburgh terrible roads.

image...well I've never given a fuck about what anyone thanks about me but I can see how it could influence against.

I'm more interested in it not breaking down on the motorway in the winter with full luggage and kids. It's ok for a toy to break down but never a tool. This is why we don't use Range Rovers or Discoveries as family cars any longer in our house.

In an ideal world I'd have something different. But for an under 500 quid sturdy family tool with a go if breakdown to cost ratio it's hard to beat.