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By
EWAN KENNEDY
31 October 2005
A
medium-large French machine, the Citroen C5 replaced the
slightly-smaller Xantia in Australia in June 2001. A much more
imaginative car in styling and general feel than the Xantia, the C5
delighted Citroen enthusiasts with its return to the roots of the marque
famed for doing things differently.
Even more interesting was that the C5 caught the imagination of some
average Australian buyers as well. Particularly people who wanted to
pull away from the increasingly common German machines in this class on
our roads.
Some may find the styling of the Citroen C5 is an acquired taste, not an
unusual thing in any Citroen, but more and more buyers are coming to
appreciate the big swooping lines, not to forget the volume of interior
space they permit.
The C5 is extremely pleasant to drive and ride in. That’s thanks to
the hydraulic suspension system, now in the latest ‘Hydractive 3’
format, that Citroen has used for many years. It gives a magic carpet
ride on most roads and even severe Aussie corrugations seldom find it
wanting.
Citroen C5 even recognises when it’s on rough roads and can raise its
body to help clear obstacles. It’s not just there just for rough road
driving, the ride-height system also helps get the big Citroen over
awkward gutter crossings and the like.
Mind you, this big Cit isn’t as far ahead of steel-suspended
competitors as the French company once was. That’s because there have
been major advances in conventional suspensions and tyres in the last
decade or so.
It’s not just in the suspension, the Citroen C5 also features some of
the latest advances in voice controlled satellite navigation, phone and
radio/CD player. On a slightly more mundane, but no less useful front
are door mirrors that automatically fold inwards when the car is locked
and air conditioning that automatically adjusts cabin temperature to
compensate for the effects of direct sunshine or the chill of the
night.
Body types on offer are sedan and station wagon and there's quite a
variety of models within each shape. Within the Citroen's cabin there's
stretch-out space for four adults, with room for another in the centre-rear
position, though it’s best if the three in the rear are children
rather than large adults.
Citroen C5 comes with a host of engine choices: four-cylinder petrol,
four-cylinder turbo-diesel and V6 petrol. The four-cylinder turbo-diesel
has proven to be the surprise package, selling in quite large numbers
even before the price of fuel went crazy a few months ago. The 2.0-litre
turbo-diesel can reduce fuel consumption by around one third in
comparison to the V6 petrol, though you do pay a fair bit more to buy
the engine in the first place – so do your homework before rushing
into a diesel.
If you’ve never driven a Citroen before take it for a good long test
drive to become accustomed to its different feel and sound. Indeed, make
a point of telling the seller you’re not interested in buying the car
until you have done so. If they are true Citroen people they will
understand fully.
These aren't cars for the do-it-yourself guys. Though some items are
relatively conventional in design, there are many others that really
should be left to the trained Citroen mechanic. These guys aren't as
scare as they once were and most major population centres have a Citroen
dealership these days.
Insurance premiums vary quite widely, probably because some companies
simply haven’t caught up with what you could call the ‘new
Citroen’ for the 21st century. Shop around for the best deal, but
don’t just look at the price of the premiums, also check the fine
print in the contracts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Ideally go for a used C5 that comes with a full service record from a
professional Citroen mechanic.
Any engine should start promptly and idle smoothly virtually from the
moment it lights up. The four-cylinder petrol engine isn’t the
smoothest unit on the market but if it seems too bad be suspicious of
it.
The typical diesel engine ‘sound’ should be all but unnoticed from
inside the car in the oil burners, though it’s quite obvious from the
outside, especially with the engine at idle.
Look for sagged suspension, usually only noticed after the C5 has been
sitting for a long period.
Make sure there are no loose parts in the interior and that rattle
and/or squeak on rough Australian roads.
Check all electrical items work correctly, after sitting down with the
owner’s handbook and working out where all the switches are.
Though these are still relatively new cars it’s still wise to have a
full inspection from someone who understands the complexities of this
marque.
CAR BU
YING TIP
Cars that are out of the ordinary tend to be bought by enthusiasts.
Setting a price and finding the right buyer can be frustratingly slow at
times. So be patient…
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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