Citroen 5 / Peugeot 407

mr_edge_to_you

Hi everyone

Would appreciate if anyone could offer some advice:

I'm doing research on estate cars (growing family and a big enough dog).

In a previous life i had a laguna II which I can best describe as appalling.

Should I be equally as concerned with either a Citroen/Peugeot - years 2007 - 2010. Are they as bad as the Renault? Are the electrics a pile of junk?

Should i consider them as options or just stay away from French cars altogether?

i know that traditionally their HDi engines were fairly reliable.

thanks again.

Stheno

What year/s are you thinking of ?

mr_edge_to_you

cheers for that - post edited

Stheno

Can't help you on those years, I'd an 02 and OH still has an 03, no electrical issues on either. On previous experience, I'd buy another if that was the sort of car I was looking for.

Bpmull

The newer type Laguna 2008 onwards dci didn't give much trouble. The megane 1.5 dci from 2006/2007 onwards gave little trouble. The reason the older type megane diesel gave trouble was that they had a bad brand of injectors. The newer type 2007 onwards megane have Bosch injectors and gave no trouble. So IMO the Laguna from 2008 or megane from 2007 are as reliable as a c5 or 407. We have had 2 meganes a 2004 which gave alot of injector trouble and electric trouble to be fair it had 150k miles. but we also had a 2007 megane which gave no trouble at all 1.5dci and it had high mileage. Did you consider a 2007 onwards megane estate 1.5 dci or is it still too small they can be bought at great prices these days.

Wicklowandy

Hate to say it but if reliability and space are your bag, my answer from experience would be an octavia tour (old shape model, available til 2010) estate, 1.9 105 bhp tdi. (sorry if its a standard boards answer)

They are cheap, easily fettled when the standard things go wrong, economical, nice and torquey, very very big, nice enough to drive, safe and reasonably well equipped.

Had a 407 (saloon) 1.6hdi and while i loved it, it was a niggly car. Id agree it was a nicer car to look at / drive but the benefits of that were outweighed by the niggles.

Just my 2c

Wicklowandy

Any 1.5 dci aint gonna be an old slogger like a 1.9tdi. Simple (not the most refined, but ok and torquey) enough engine and proven to intergalactic mileage.

Have a 6spd 114bhp avensis now, and while its been ok and reliable enough, i miss the torque and ease of driving of the number of 1.9tdis ive ran (one to nearly 400000miles)

Avensis has only needed servicing and a clutch / solid flywheel since i got it (at 120km now showing 300km) maybe another option if octavias are not your thing.

ba_barabus

Would you consider a Ceed or i30 Estate?

Both very reliable and nice enough places to be albeit not as soft as the French cars

bazz26

If you can stretch to the newer model C5 from 2008 onwards then that's the one to go for out of those two. It's a newer design and has more room than the 407, haven't heard of any major problems with them either.

mr_edge_to_you

Thanks everyone.

I currently drive an 05 octavia hatchback. Apart from having to replace the camshaft never had any major trouble- mind you that was hefty bill! A massive change from the Laguna!

I'd have no problem buying an estate unfortunately my OH cannot stand the sight of the estate version. I can appreciate the point - they are a shocking looking car.

I also love the VAG TDi's. I always loved the sound of them!

I'm trying to make the point that reliability and practicality is more important with our circumstances. There's no point having a cool looking car when we're sitting at the the side of the motorway waiting for the AA.

Maybe ill win the lotto this weekend and I can get the car of my dreams - a new Superb estate!!! The OH can buy whatever she wants.

Thanks again!

mr_edge_to_you

Bpmull wrote: »

Did you consider a 2007 onwards megane estate 1.5 dci or is it still too small they can be bought at great prices these days.

First car was a 99 megane. Brilliant car!

Things like the keycard and tyre pressure sensors have left me traumatised. I don't think I could ever buy a Renault again.

mr_edge_to_you

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Avensis has only needed servicing and a clutch / solid flywheel since i got it (at 120km now showing 300km) maybe another option if octavias are not your thing

.

I've been keeping an eye on the 09 Avensis estates. They look like they would tick all the boxes but they might just be outside the budget.

I saw a lovely 05 Avensis the other day.

Wicklowandy

Id take it this is going to be a family workhorse to be kept for a few years? Id worry less about the year (to go back a year or two and still get the same model) and more about buying something which can take the strain.

If octavia estates are not your thing (i actually prefer the look of the 98-2010 estate to the 04 on model) buy the newest avensis you can. A old neighbour and work colleague has one new since 05, and its spent its life full of children, dogs and clobber and has been driven as far as eastern europe yearly (their home country) has been a cheap car to run.

Dont make the mistake of overpayng for an 08 on, if an 07 or earlier is the right car, the difference in tax just isn't that much over the course of a year.

Mine has the 6spd box (06 on) and after driving a few with the 5spd, the gearing actually suits the engine better (imo). Happy purchasing:)

Wicklowandy

The 96 on megane, while not the most exciting thing, was actually not a bad car. Years ago had one, and an r19 rsi before it, and they were reliable as hell at the time;)

ba_barabus

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Maybe ill win the lotto this weekend

I wouldn't get my hopes up as I just picked up the winning ticket

Mycroft H

bazz26 wrote: »

If you can stretch to the newer model C5 from 2008 onwards then that's the one to go for out of those two. It's a newer design and has more room than the 407, haven't heard of any major problems with them either.

I'd look for the 138bhp 2.0HDI aswell. Lovely engine which has a history of being quite reliable.