kitbag Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Hi guys! I bought my first car yesterday, after saving for what has seemed like years! (I'm only just 18!) After looking at an awful lot of Corsa's and 206's, I eventually went for a very cute, light blue Citroen C3, 1.4 with a 52 plate. However, I have just been reading reviews online, and most people seem to think that they are awful cars, and are very unreliable. One person even said that the gas pedal got stuck and the car wouldn't stop! Does anyone own a Citroen C3? How do you find it to drive? Is it as unreliable as everyone says it is? Thanks! Megan xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Firstly congrats on your first car! I don't have a C3 but do have a Citroen Nemo and before that a C1. They've both been very reliable (touch wood!) and fun! The thing to remember with reviews is that no one goes online to say they are happy with a car. Only if they've had a problem! So you'll inevitably hear loads of bad stuff! I'm sure if you looked for reviews on any car you'll find similar stories. Don't worry about the stories, as long as you keep it well maintained you should be fine! Enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Hi Megan, how exciting getting your first car. There are the odd problems reported but there are with most cars and people only write about the bad things. You enjoy it and if you have anything wrong go and complain to the seller or get it fixed. I've had cars that others trash but have really enjoyed. If it plays on your mind the report about the accellorator sticking (I've heard about that happening in other cars) ask your dad what to do if it were to happen (very very rare) then you can put it out of your mind. I think I would apply brake and hand brake It's a pretty car and you are going to have loads of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Now is probably not the best time to go canvassing opinion. You've bought the car, and can't change that, so why worry about what you can't change? Having said that, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, it's pretty difficult these days to buy a truly bad car. Certainly you can get bad examples of any model, but that's true of cars, computers, fridges, people. However, manufacturers have been designing and making cars for long enough now to know what are the major gotchas, so cars these days are far less variable in quality or even basic design than they were 30 years ago. For you, this is a good thing. Secondly, your 52 plate car is coming up to 10 years old. In that time, any major flaws with a particular car are likely to have either been fixed or lead to the car being s"Ooops, word censored!"ped altogether. If it's lasted this long, it's far more likley to be a "typical" example of that model, so you can rely more on the long term reviews of the motoring press, and the individual horror stories can carry less weight. That said, as it's a 10 year old car, you will also encounter plenty of the usual problems associated with things approaching the end of their normal life (i.e. bits wearing out and needing to be replaced). That's what you'd expect as a car gets older, so is predictable and can be both planned for and budgeted for; that's why older cars are cheaper to buy, after all. Thirdly, cars tend to be more likely to go wrong with abuse or neglect. At this age, there's no point paying a premium for maintenance at a Citroen dealer, but you do need to find a garage you trust, and you definitely need to make sure the servicing is carried out correctly at the specified intervals. If you do that, not only will the car respond to the care, but you will also get advanced warning of potential problems before they happen, which is far cheaper. As for the specific accelerator issue, you might want to check the date of the complaint you found online, then see if there's anything more that has been mentioned about it since. If it's a known issue, the cause will be well researched by now, and so both fix and prevention well understood too. It may be a bit that needs to be particularly well cared for, or it may be a design flaw, but either way the problem is likely to have been hammered out by now if it wasn't just a one-off. And if you are unlucky enough to find it happen to you, simply put your foot on the clutch; that way, you aren't accelerating any more but you're still able to steer and brake safely. It'll do no good to your engine being allowed to rev freely, but bits of metal can be fixed. Overall, there's no way other than living with the car for a while to find out whether you've bought a gem or a lemon, but I'd be saying the same no matter what second hand car you bought. Does that help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Congratulations on the new car, a very exciting time (I remember it well!!!! ) My first car was terminally unreliable, but I loved "him" anyway and there were tears when he finally went off to the big car park in the sky. Every car has problems, but hopefully, if you keep on top of the servicing (there's no need now to be paying main dealer prices for a service) and maybe learn to do a bit of simple maintenance yourself (by which I mean, it's vital to check your oil regularly and know how to top it up if necessary, check your tyre pressures and treads, washer bottle etc and look out for tell tale patches of oil etc on the drive) and you'll be fine. With a car that's coming up to ten years old there WILL be problems though and I have to say that I think membership of a breakdown organisation (I think Green Flag are FAB and much cheaper than AA/RAC) will give you lots of peace of mind (but that's for ANY car, not just one in late middle age - even the newest poshest car can get a puncture!!!) Enjoy your car, wishing you many many years of safe and happy motoring!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 My first car was a citroen AX and it was the best most reliable car ever The audi I got next was more refined but even new wasn't as reliable as the citroen. We reluctantly got rid of it when the car ignition lock finally went and a new lock would cost much more than the car was technically worth. (gave it to the garage that serviced it ) but really I can't remember anything other than normal wear and tear ever going wrong. I know you're not too far from me so I'm going to pm you the details of the garage I use for servicing, they started as citroen specialists so know citroens really well but are great on other makes as well (I won't buy a car now without checking they are ok to service it). They are based in Wokingham and will collect from the local area for servicing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I don't have a C3 but I do have Picasso which we bought new in 2004, there were a couple of recalls early on and my local dealer were great at sorting them out, so I sure that if there had been a problem it would have been sorted. Happy motoring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thanks guys! You have all helped to reassure me a great deal! Will definately post pictures tomorrow when I pick the car up! Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Congratulations you have made a good choice! I have a '03 Citreon C3 automatic, she is a mucky lilac colour with lavendar leather seats. I love her. I've had her for about 6 years and have only had 1 break down in that time, (hope I'm not tempting providence here! ) She starts really well on cold morning (kept on the drive not garaged), is fairly economical on petrol, the interior heater is superb and I love the way you sit quite high up. You've made a good choice, relax, enjoy her and I wish you lots of happy safe driving years in her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Hey Kitbag, congrats on your first car! Where are the photos then As for problems, official recalls for citroens are listed online - I'll put a link in a sec but first, DON'T PANIC when you see the HGUE list! Very few (if any) probably apply to your car. Recalls go in batches so by date, factory and by a range of VINs = "Vehicle Identification Number" (I think that's what that stands for!!!) which is stamped on a metal plate on the bodywork under the bonnet, usually... or on the logbook/registration document/V5). I've had a few recalls on my Peugeot - and they were all marked up in my service book. Anyhoo, here's the link - don't be alarmed! PS from Googling, it seems to be the C1 was affected by the accelerator jamming and the C3 by "passenger can apply the brakes" as alerted by BBC Watchdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I had an 03 Citrone C3 and it was a lovely little car. It was reliable and had massive servicing intervals. Was comfy to drive and relatively economic to run. I reckon it would make a great first car. The electrics might be a bit dodgy but they will add character!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourfinches Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 My previous car was a 52 misty lilac Citroen C3. I loved it and had no problems with it at all There was an early recall but this was easily sorted out. I only changed it as I wanted to downsize as I no longer have to transport young children. OH has just ordered a C3 Picasso... Enjoy your new car and the freedom it brings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 My parents and my sister-in-law both have C3s and they are really happy with them. Cheap to run, cheap to tax, nice shape. Not sure if yours has a passenger air bag or the extra dashboard storage space instead, but I always envied that particular feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 how exciting first car is always so great whatever it is I dont know very much about citoens, except my SIL had one years ago and it floated off down the Thames once she got it back and dried it out it fired up and lived to survive its adventure. Pretty good endorsement for citroens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
