I appear to have an affliction...

[Roverageous]

I have had this problem since I learned to drive. I will be browsing a motoring forum and something will catch my eye, I then start scouring eBay/Gumtree and, inevitably and eventually one ends up on my drive. I gather this is fairly common, and indeed on a well known motoring shitheads.com website there is a thread for this condition. This thread is filled with wonderful exotica from the Alfa 34c to Ferrari 560 spagehttioletties & Porsher +44 987 657 234 ext 560 Career GTs.

 

My sights, however, are set on something a little more sedate, but just as continental:

 

 

Help! Talk me out of it?

[dollywobbler]

Do it. I'm quite tempted by those myself. Many tales of woe when it comes to electrics but, perhaps depressingly, these seemed to be the most abundant car at a recent Citroen rally.

[Parky]

We are the sort of website that actively encourages this sort of behaviour so don't expect us to talk you out of it!

 

The only time I recall we tried to talk someone out of something, they did it anyway and were hailed as a God as a result!

[Six-cylinder]

Your in the wrong place to be guided OUT of buying cars, follow your heart.

[gordonbennet]

It goes against Shiters programming but if you want a C5, get the facelift, lots of regular problems with the pre were ironed out.

 

I like the estate version, a lot.

[Roverageous]

It goes against Shiters programming but if you want a C5, get the facelift, lots of regular problems with the pre were ironed out.

 

I like the estate version, a lot.

Well, see, half the appeal of this one if the £400 they want for it. The cheapest facelift I can find seems to be about £1650.

 

What sort of problems are we talking?

[sludgeguts]

Do it! These are ace and so comfy. I bought myself an '02' plate 2.2 HDI SX estate a couple of months back and it's been a paragon of reliability so far but I'm well aware of the potential electrical foibles it'll probably suffer.

 

These tend to wear the miles well too. Mine has done 217000 odd miles now but it doesn't feel like it. Saying that, it will need some work soon. The back end is getting a bit creaky so the radius arm bearings will need doing at some point but other than that, I'm chuffed to bits with it. 

 

[gordonbennet]

nice looker that, good in green too.

[babydriver]

Get it, I had a xsara for over 5 years and loved it, after it was written off I wanted to replace it with a C5 but couldn't gather enough cash at the time, will have one at the drop of a hat. Had a CX & a BX in the olden days so I like the Citroen brand.

[rml2345]

Do it! Preferably by purchasing the one that's farthest away for the least money. Then do a collection thread.

WCPGW?

[sludgeguts]

Not really an expert on these per se but here's a few things to look for.

 

Make sure everything electric mostly works.

 

If the suspension goes up and down,sits level and gives a comfortable ride then all should be good.

 

Creaking from the back end probably means it needs the radius arm bearings replaced.

 

Certainly the 2.2 HDI has DMF and DPF fitted. Make sure there's no horrible noises from the clutch/gearbox area. Look for anti pollution messages on the dash display for any particulate filter.

 

Honestly, for 400 notes, if that C5 has a fair chunk of MOT and it drives ok then do it. A hell of a lot of car for the money.

[Minimad5]

Luke has two of these up for grans, get THEM bought !

[Sigmund Fraud]

You suffer from an affliction that is most prevalent around here...

 

The cure, I'm afraid, is not a C5. What you need is a Xantia or -even better- a BX !

[RedSparrow]

Imagine a Lancia Beta that's been sitting in a peat bog for 20 years after a severe under bonnet fire and is now being used as a chicken shed.

Now imagine you are considering purchasing it - On this site people will encourage you.

 

Welcome BTW.

[Cavcraft]

They always seem really cheap (and thus ace value for money) to me, probably because people assume they're shit, because they're French. Which they quite possibly are to be fair, but don't let that stop you.

[Micrashed]

Lovely cars, and Ive been looking at them meself.

 

I have no first hand experience of the C5, but I have of the Xantia and the BX (oh god, the BX, have I done my time on that shovel...) and currently have a C8 on the fleet.

The HDi is a good engine, try and get one without the Eloys fluid crap/FAP. Personally Im a big fan of the 90BHP 2.0 which seems to be the one with least tendency to be frail and can be "chipped" to give a few extra ponies, though I know plenty of fans of the 110HDi.

 

A lot of car for the money.

[New POD]

You suffer from an affliction that is most prevalent around here...

 

The cure, I'm afraid, is not a C5. What you need is a Xantia or -even better- a BX !

If you want expensive French repair costs how about a C6 ?