Where are all the new C5's?

Stevie Dakota

Since being launched last month (with post July pricing) I have yet to see one one the roads, what's the story, is everybody holding off until July for collection, or January at this stage, or given that we are now in a recession (:rolleyes:) is no-one buying cars at all? I was looking forward to seeing the handsome C5 brighten up our roads a bit.

Woodgate

I'm in Waterford and have seen a few. Especially a gorgeous Silver one, looked stunning.

crosstownk

I've seen quite a few on the road. July pricing shouldn't have much bearing as it was released at the July price for the 1.6 HDi Dynamique.

Woodgate wrote:

a gorgeous Silver one, looked stunning.

Hmm - I don't think silver is the best colour - maybe in the Ambiance (basic) spec, but in the higher spec'd models the silver paintwork does nothing for the chrome trim - it kind of masks it. Borrasque Blue or Black are my preferred colours.

Stevie Dakota

Good news, I've a hankering for a silver 2.0HDi Exclusive and wanted to see one in the flesh, I'll bide my time.

crosstownk

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Good news, I've a hankering for a silver 2.0HDi Exclusive and wanted to see one in the flesh, I'll bide my time.

Nice - the Hydractive III suspension will be an added bonus on the Exclusive along with the user friendly automatic handbrake. Good choice!!

bazz26

Having a look on carzone alot of them look to be ex-demos for sale at main dealers:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=search&maxrows=100&MakeID=5&xMakeID=5&ModelID=41&xModelID=41&Year=2008&xYear=2008&submit=Find+cars+%3E%3E

Not cheap either.

HungryJoey

I don't know if its just me, but I really can't make my mind up if I like them or not. I'm almost being convinced they're nice looking by the amount of people who admire them but I just can't pull my self to it. I'll wait until I see one in flesh to make my mind up, until then I will say it's "ok" looking.

EDIT: I think its the gigantic lights at the rear that make it look odd for me.

niceirishfella

bazz26 wrote: »

Having a look on carzone alot of them look to be ex-demos for sale at main dealers:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=search&maxrows=100&MakeID=5&xMakeID=5&ModelID=41&xModelID=41&Year=2008&xYear=2008&submit=Find+cars+%3E%3E

Not cheap either.

Agreed.....see for that kinda wonga you'll have a new mondeo,mazda6,avensis etc or the like.
they'll be an ok seller, but not at ford/toyota levels

pburns

I consider them good-looking but a waste of space. Not because of the usual Frenchie-bashing but because they are quite expensive and score abysmally on the CO2/BHP front. As I've quoted before, the 1.6 HDi has the same CO2 as the 2.0d Mazda 6:rolleyes:...

I agree with E92 that CO2 is a flawed concept for an environmental tax but it makes a huge difference to road-tax & VRT and frankly the fact that a new model is so bad in this regard shows it up for the re-bodied 407 it really is. Already 'old' under the skin...

I'd wager the reason there are relatively few about is because most will be diesels and prices are dropping next week.

Also, George Lee et al. weren't scaremongering - there IS a slump looming, even if the tech-related dudes who I think make up a high % of this forum don't realise it yet...

Stevie Dakota

pburns wrote: »

I'd wager the reason there are relatively few about is because most will be diesels and prices are dropping next week.

All C5's have been available with post July pricing from launch as far as I know, so I don't think their prices will drop one bit.

Vegeta

pburns wrote: »

shows it up for the re-bodied 407 it really is. Already 'old' under the skin...
.

Looks like a 407 arse with a new laguna face. Look nicer in the tv ads than on carzone

edit: looks are the last thing I care about in a car, I'm not rich enough to care what my car looks like.

niceirishfella

Vegeta wrote: »

Looks like a 407 arse with a new laguna face. Look nicer in the tv ads than on carzone

+1
I thought it was just me who thought that.

pburns

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

All C5's have been available with post July pricing from launch as far as I know, so I don't think their prices will drop one bit.

I don't believe all that 'available with post July pricing' b0ll0cks for a second. I think Nissan are saying something similar. If the cost/VRT of getting the car to the forecourt is going to decrease significently post-July it's gonna leave more margin for the importer and/or dealer (which can be used for 'unofficial' discounting).

Most of the manufacterers claiming post-July pricing are the usual bargain-basement, pile-em-high-sell-em-cheap, to-hell-with-the-residuals brigade...

Mc-BigE

might be a good 2nd hand buy in a few years, after some other sucker takes the hit on deprecation.
it will be a nice car for 10K in not much time at all

Stevie Dakota

pburns wrote: »

I don't believe all that 'available with post July pricing' b0ll0cks for a second.

Check out E92's sig, official new Citroen pricing is there for all to see.

pburns

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Check out E92's sig, official new Citroen pricing is there for all to see.

Yes official Citroen pricing...

But since when did a Citroen's list price equate to what you actually pay in real folding green? What I'm saying is that in the latter part of '08 and beyond, even though the list price may remain unchanged the dealer (or importer) will have a bigger margin for offering discounts. A diesel car will be costing the importer, and presumably the stealer, significently less so it stands to reason there will be more margin, more room to manouvere.

I'm sure Citroen are playing this down so they could move a few cars pre-July and to try counter their reputation for whole-scale discounting...

LolaDub

The french ambassador has one i think, i've seen it outside the residence on ailesbury road a lot

Stevie Dakota

Well I hope you are right, but I doubt this C5 will follow the last in terms of big discounting, it is selling like hotcakes in Europe and a UK agency rates its retained value second only to the Passat. Time will tell.

pburns

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Well I hope you are right, but I doubt this C5 will follow the last in terms of big discounting, it is selling like hotcakes in Europe and a UK agency rates its retained value second only to the Passat. Time will tell.

You talkin' to me?

Steve, I've just noticed from previous posts that you've bought a diesel C5 pre-July. So if I've dissed this.

I think residuals should be better than the old C5 but I stand by my scepticism about official 'July prices'. It just doesn't make sense when you examine the €€€€.

But hey I'm buyin a Legacy diesel next week and God knows how that'll fare as an ownership proposion - new engine, new model next year etc. I don't care - I just want it...

Stevie Dakota

I haven't bought it yet...€35K for a new Citroen kind of freaks me out so I am going to wait and see what happens in 6 months or so with prices here and in the UK. One thing is certain, if I do change that will be the car, the Exclusive is a smashing package, why anyone would pay substantially more for a stripped out 3 series or A4 is beyond me.

Good luck with the Legacy.

Henry Ford III

I can't see the C5 having significantly higher retained values than other cars in it's class.

Against it are:-

1/. Size. All cars of this size depreciate relatively quickly.
2/. Origin. The advertising describing it as German is a bit of a giveaway.
3/. History. Last model wasn't hectic in used values. Citroen used sell them by offering deep discounts too.

I've no doubt the new car has improved btw.

unkel

Have seen very few of them. I like them, but the list price of the cheapest one with hydractive suspension was very high the last time I checked. Even if you could get a healthy (>15%) discount

Mc-BigE

the hydractive suspension one is around 38K, the same price as a new 318d ?

hmmm.

Stevie Dakota

Mc-BigE wrote: »

the hydractive suspension one is around 38K, the same price as a new 318d ?

hmmm.

2.0HDI with metallic is around €35K cash, the 318DSE is nearer €41K (just avoid the option list).

The BMW is smaller, less well equipped (and then some), not as comfy and looks like a bag of spanners. The HDi engine is also smooth as silk, if not as quick as the BMW.

The BMW or course will depreciate less and will handle better, but I still can't see the logic in buying one over a C5.

Mc-BigE

[QUOTE=Stevie Dakota
The BMW or course will depreciate less and will handle better[/QUOTE]

that's exactly why i wouldn't buy one (C5) new, 2nd hand maybe.

and there's also the Citroen electronic glitches that were in the first c5 ,will they be in the new one?

Stevie Dakota

Mc-BigE wrote: »

that's exactly why i wouldn't buy one (C5) new, 2nd hand maybe.
?

Ditto that for any BMW, the Germans are far from depreciation proof, just ask the hapless owner of a 07 520D! (not a fair example I know)

King Kelly

Allocation of RHD cars to Ireland is an issue. Majority of production going to the UK. Less than 200 units were landed in Ireland up to end May. The larger dealerships have been allocated around 16-20 units from April and May production to cover sales for May, June and July. Almost all are 1.6 Dynamiques spec. 3 month lead time for Exclusive/hydractive

Athe hydractive suspension one is around 38K, the same price as a new 318d ?

hmmm.

2.0 HDI Exclusive (hydractive)ex works price 1st July is €35,295. The C5 is substantally roomier and better equiped but I don't think Citroen and BMW are serious competitors! Theres certainly a lot of desirable, competitively priced cars in the high 30k's post July.

and there's also the Citroen electronic glitches that were in the first c5 ,will they be in the new one?

Like the new C4 Picasso, build quality appears to be a huge improvement over the original series 1 C5. ( Series 2, post 2005 C5's are fairly trouble free.) Without raising the French v German debate again (yawn), the German reputation for reliabilty has also taken a hit lately.

Have seen very few of them. I like them, but the list price of the cheapest one with hydractive suspension was very high the last time I checked. Even if you could get a healthy (>15%) discount

The dealers don't get 15% margin on new cars!

Mc-BigE

King Kelly wrote: »

but I don't think Citroen and BMW are serious competitors!

if that's the case why are the advertising it as german? why does it look like an Audi A4/A6 from certain angles?

Theres no thought that this a good looking car, but if i want a german car, ill buy one, not a german look a like.

the french should stick to what their good at, style, individual looking cars, not copy sometimes dull looking german cars.

Stevie Dakota

Mc-BigE wrote: »

if that's the case why are the advertising it as german? why does it look like an Audi A4/A6 from certain angles?

the french should stick to what their good at, style, individual looking cars, not copy sometimes dull looking german cars.

I think if you put the A4 and a C5 side by side the C5 is by far the better looking car, the Audi is just SO bland and looks far to like its predecessor (or any other Audi). Sure the C5 takes certain Germanic design cues but it also injects much of its own flair. Then there is the interior design which also is very distinctive.

I also suspect if Citroen hadn't based their ad campaign on Being Unmistakably German, then people would not be making so many German styling comparisons.

King Kelly

Mc-BigE wrote: »

if that's the case why are the advertising it as german? why does it look like an Audi A4/A6 from certain angles?

Theres no thought that this a good looking car, but if i want a german car, ill buy one, not a german look a like.

the french should stick to what their good at, style, individual looking cars, not copy sometimes dull looking german cars.

Personally I think its possibly the worst advertising campaign I've ever seen!

However if the public perception of German built cars is one of reliability or strength I guess there's no harm in trying to align yourself with that. I don't get a impession from the ad's that its trying to copy "dull looking german cars".

I think Citroens should be marketed as what they are, in the main, good quality, well designed, stylish, comfortable and affordable motors.

alpina

Citreon are obviously eager to play with the big boys, their General Manager, Gilles Michel states point blank he aims to compete with A4 & C-class, doesn't mention BMW actually, clever man....but by the looks of things to come it won't be long before they're knocking at the Munich door!:eek:

Stevie Dakota

alpina wrote: »

Citreon are obviously eager to play with the big boys, their General Manager, Gilles Michel states point blank he aims to compete with A4 & C-class, doesn't mention BMW actually, clever man....but by the looks of things to come it won't be long before they're knocking at the Munich door!:eek:

And why not, BMW are doing great with ED but are just another mass market player with oddball styling, Audi seem incapable of breaking out of it dull styling rut, Mercedes have woken up with the C-Class, but cars as good as the C5 in that segment expose them all as being way overpriced for what they offer. I think the Germans have become complacent churning out the same stuff, the French are a breath of fresh air, good luck to them.

crosstownk

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

All C5's have been available with post July pricing from launch as far as I know, so I don't think their prices will drop one bit.

Only the 1.6HDi Dymanique is on sale with the post-July prices. That said, this will be the most popular seller in the new C5 range.

LolaDub wrote: »

The french ambassador has one i think, i've seen it outside the residence on ailesbury road a lot

Wrong. The French ambassador has a C6, but it is possible that he may have a C5 on demo.....

King Kelly wrote: »

Like the new C4 Picasso, build quality appears to be a huge improvement over the original series 1 C5. ( Series 2, post 2005 C5's are fairly trouble free.) Without raising the French v German debate again (yawn), the German reputation for reliabilty has also taken a hit lately........
.......The dealers don't get 15% margin on new cars!

Agreed on all counts.

Henry Ford III

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

And why not, BMW are doing great with ED but are just another mass market player with oddball styling, Audi seem incapable of breaking out of it dull styling rut, Mercedes have woken up with the C-Class, but cars as good as the C5 in that segment expose them all as being way overpriced for what they offer. I think the Germans have become complacent churning out the same stuff, the French are a breath of fresh air, good luck to them.

They'll need it.

bazz26

Mc-BigE wrote: »

if that's the case why are the advertising it as german? why does it look like an Audi A4/A6 from certain angles?

Theres no thought that this a good looking car, but if i want a german car, ill buy one, not a german look a like.

the french should stick to what their good at, style, individual looking cars, not copy sometimes dull looking german cars.

I think the marketing idea behind their "German" advertising campaign is to emphysise on improved build quality and attention to detail rather than German styling. This is something the last C5 lacked.

Stevie Dakota

crosstownk wrote: »

Only the 1.6HDi Dymanique is on sale with the post-July prices. That said, this will be the most popular seller in the new C5 range.

Not so sure about that, I was offered a 2.0HDI Exclusive around €35.5K, that was based on Citroens published post July prices. As it was a factory order it must have been the post July price. Correct me if I'm wrong...

crosstownk

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

As it was a factory order it must have been the post July price. Correct me if I'm wrong...

Yep - it'll be delivered post July.

E92

Citroen's website has finally been updated to show July prices(ages after we had their July prices here).

Because so many manufacturers left it until only a few days/weeks ago to tell us I don't see sales improving realistically until next year.

Perhaps BMW/MINI will fare best of all for this year, since they released theirs in April?

May is a bad time of the year to launch a new car, that's the simple reason why there are so few C5s around.

It deserves to sell much better than the old one did, but I certainly wouldn't buy one new until I saw how the residuals pan out. Certainly in the UK they're expecting it to be much more resistant to depreciation than before, but I'd say it'll take some time for that to happen in conservative Ireland.

LolaDub

crosstownk wrote: »

Wrong. The French ambassador has a C6, but it is possible that he may have a C5 on demo.....

Does the c6 have the curved rear window as well?

crosstownk

LolaDub wrote: »

Does the c6 have the curved rear window as well?

Yep - it sure does.

cabra64

Alittle off topic but yesterday our 03 HDi C5 flashed up as over heating. Less than 60k on clock. Not a major prob just replaced the thermostat and driving away again this evening. I am aware that citreon electrics are not famed for there reliability but was wondering have many had this problem?

crosstownk

The thermostat is not an electronic component. Thermostats fail regularly in a lot of cars - not just Citroëns. You're right, the C5 (series I) is not the most reliable yoke on the planet.

cabra64

update on previous post-apparently it was a cell in the computer that went and not the thermo (thanks for correction). The car is running so not sure what the plan is it'l have to see the Dealer nowanyway cos it has FCSH. Right pain tho these small things going.

Padraig Mor

Fancy getting one of these at a good price and don't mind the higher running costs of the petrol? Well, Citroen have passed off the remaining 1.8 petrols to dealerships as they will be unsellable come tomorrow. They were registered last week - most are still in the shipping yard. 24K cash (maybe even less) should get you the Dynamique model. That's a good 5 grand less than you'll get the 1.6 diesel for...