My wife has a C1, 3cyl 1.0l, 45k miles and running fine.

The C1 is dog slow, but that’s the measly 68hp, not the fact it’s 3cyl. The Polo is a better car to drive all round, but that’s because it’s larger capacity gives it more mid range.

I agree though, the C1 is great around town but we have to work it hard on the open road. Overtaking simply isn’t an option most of the time. This may have an effect on life, but not if otherwise driven sympathetically and well serviced (my Saab Aero is driven very hard – it’s on 104k, and my previous Rover 800 Vitesse Sport, 200PS Turbo was similarly driven hard and I sold it on at 187k to an ROC member who was chuffed to bits with it)

We are thinking of chopping in the C1 for a Clio 1.2 turbo though. Having recently driven my Saab for the first time, the Wife wants more oomph now!

I also have a C1 at 54,000 miles. It hasn't had any issues and still sounds like new IMO. These engines like oil changes but that's because they have a chain cam. Being chain cam is brilliant IMO, changing belts is expensive and even more expensive if they break.

I disagree about the performance. While they certainly aren't in hot/warm-hatch territory, they are pretty good compared to other city cars. It's pretty torquey from idle up to high revs and it'll do 60mph in 2nd gear. However, I have heard some people say that the original ones (like I have) feel a lot faster than some of the more recent ones which are supposed to get an extra mpg, but I don't know whether that's true. Overall I think the engine is brilliant and even now, the fuel consumption (in the real world) is still among the best.

Edited by SLO76 on 04/10/2016 at 13:56

Edited by SLO76 on 08/03/2018 at 11:20