Citroen C5 - 1.8l petrol or 1.6HDI

yoshiktk

Hi,
I have quick question about engine in Citroen C5 2004-2006.
Currently i have my eye on two C5's, one with 1.6HDI and second with 1.8 petrol in it.
As my mileage is rising I would prefer the the diesel but till now I found two completely different opinions for it. Some ppl love it and some hate. The more I read the more is unknown to me. Is it really such a big "mine" that is better to go with the petrol?
Thanks for help

HandsomeDan

The 1.8 is smooth, quiet, adequately powerful (not slow, but defo not fast), but not particulay frugal 35MPG - in a 406 anyway

No experience of the 1.6HDi

porsche boy

1.6 hdi engines are unrealiable and have many weak points that like to fail. 1.8 petrol is more realiable but regardless of engines you can expect electrical gremlins from various items in the car. The hydrolic suspension can be troublesome also and the specific LHM fluid is expensive if it needs to be filled up or changed. Is someone holding a gun to your head fourcing you to buy a Citroen or could you consider other cars?

yoshiktk

porsche boy wrote: »

1.6 hdi engines are unrealiable and have many weak points that like to fail. 1.8 petrol is more realiable but regardless of engines you can expect electrical gremlins from various items in the car. The hydrolic suspension can be troublesome also and the specific LHM fluid is expensive if it needs to be filled up or changed. Is someone holding a gun to your head fourcing you to buy a Citroen or could you consider other cars?

Not to the head but to the back. My current car is slowly killing my back. The seats are so uncomfortable that I need to get something ASAP, I have bad back and their are not helping me but getting it worse.
As for C5, the problem with getting a car for me is that I would like something comfortable, with soft suspension and good looking. And bigger then "average" hatch so I have the space for my 2m and 100kg+.
With my current tight budget is hard to get something decent, of course I would prefer A4 for example but ones in good shape cost to much for me now. If I didn't had the back issue I would probably wait and save, but like You said I have gun pointed at me...
Plus my wife doesn't make it easier Santa Few or 407, that her types.

peter barrins

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peter barrins

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slimjimmc

peter barrins wrote: »

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Indeed, and at about €14/litre from gsfparts the price is no more expensive that many premium engine oils, and rarely needs to be changed. Fluid price should not be the slightest consideration.

Leonard Hofstadter

I don't think I've ever heard of a complaint about the reliability of the hydro pneumatic suspension, I'd be much more worried about turbo failure in a 1.6 HDi that doesn't have a full, on-time and verifiable service history. Those engines are notoriously intolerant of not being serviced bang on time and with the correct oil. That said while I've never heard of any reliability issues with the 1.8 petrol, it will be impossible to sell on in the used market.

toyotaavensis

OP if you want comfort consider a saab (not saying get one but have a look). You would get a comfy 9-3 for a good price they come in 1.9 diesel or 2.0 petrol.

yoshiktk

We did consider Saab as well, but if possible would like to stick with 1.8L petrol at max. Most of the mileage which we do now are city based, im afraid that 2.0L would be not to great in this situation. We plan to do more trips around Ireland but still that's unknown when.
The problem for us is that we would like to buy something not only in decent spec, but with good look as well which not always goes with reliability, like 407 for example.
Currently our eyes are on 407, Mazda 6, Citroen C5, Nissan Primera, Audi A4 and last but not least Saab 93.
Besides Saab most of them arent that great as far the reliability goes, the hard part for us is can we afford to take "ugly girl" with make up on. Its a gamble, with our budget bracket will be hard to get something decent without having to spend additional money at the start.
I know that buying a car purely based on it looks isn't the smartest idea but its so tempting.

pred racer

suspension is great, no problems on my one for 4 years.
1.6 HDI is ok but a bit gutless if its loaded (even though it has the same power as the 2.0, the 2.0 Hdi is much better)

peter barrins

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peter barrins

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peter barrins

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yoshiktk

Thanks for all replies, I was so busy at work that I didn't had time to even sit for a sec to PC.
As for my story with car we did check few recently. Mazda 6, Saab and Grand Scenic.
Fell in love with Saab, the front seats even thou aren't to high from the road they are comfortable like grandmas sofa chair. The only problem would be petrol, in town it gets around 10-11l/100km (24MPG). Not a great result. Could LPG it but it would add the cost to the car. Would think about that if we were buying something for longer. I would need to drive a lot km to get the cost of LPG in a year.
Probably we will get Mazda 6. Not so thirsty on petrol, space inside similar to Saab, maybe the seats aren't so good but still compared to Accent a lot better.
As usual when I did check cars month, two before there was loads of them to sell. Now when I have money nothing interesting pops up. Especially that we want to get higher version.

porsche boy

Saab all the way. Had a 9-5 a couple of years back amd it was thr nicest car. Your right on the fuel though, a bit thirsty.

snaps

My 1.6hdi is over 200,000kms now. Serviced every 10,000kms with correct oil (low saps 5w30). Possibly the kiss of death, but it has all the extras too, leather, cruise control and is very economical on long runs. Just drove 700kms on 34l of diesel.

ArnieSilvia

Wouldn't recommend LPG on a turbo saab due to high output per cylinder and factory injectors running at 100% at times causing problem with controlling LPG injectors in turn. Needs to be mapped using bigger petrol injectors first then LPG'd

Of course, when money is no object your limit is the size of LPG injectors