I went for look yesterday, and ended up taking out a 2.0 HDi VTS Coupe and a 1.6 petrol VTR+ 5 door.
I think both styles look great in the right colour. The interior is suitably different. Quality is good, but my mate picked me up in his new Golf last night and that felt more robust, if a little drab in comparison. I love the centre instruments - I'm not usually a fan but these were easy to read at a glance. However this leaves you looking at an expanse of grey vinyl-cum-plastic dash which would have been improved if the rev counter had been mounted a bit higher, where it would also be easier to read. I liked the fixed hub steering wheel even though in use it makes naff all difference really.
The ventialtion controls sit a bit low, and are controlled from their own LCD screen - I think it would have been a better touch to put them on the main screen in the centre of the dash and mounted them above the radio - how often do you use the controls on the front of the radio when you've got them on the steering wheel?
The ergonomics are the centre console aren't ideal either - the big armrest is lovely but requires that you contort yourself to reach the handbrake. The sports seats are good - firmer than normal Citroen offerings but not overly hard like a Focus or an Astra. I did however find that I felt perched a bit high even with the seat set at its lowest position. Probably because i'm quite tall.
The above are only minor criticisms, and in 2 half hour test drives its hard to see what the car would be like to live with.
In terms of the drive, criticism is more difficult. They are very good cars to drive, but Citroen purists who like the floaty ride and over assited hydraulics probably won't buy a C4. That said, the ride is excellent for a modern sprung car and I actually found the VTS with sports suspension gave a better ride - a bit firmer but really well controlled whereas the 5 door had a little more give and bounce. Both cars had 17" wheels with thin tyres. Lot smoother than the Golf in both guises. I don't like small petrol engines, the 1.6 felt slow and seemed to make a racket disproportionate to the rate at which it propelled the car.
The 2.0 diesel was much better, but the example I had hit 200 miles on the test drive and felt a bit strangled compared to my 2.0 TDCi - possibly because it was still tight, but on paper it has less torque which is more likely the reason it doesn't throw you back in your seat with quite so much vigour. However you could soon forgive the slight drop in performance for the refinement - even pushed to the redline it was quiet and smooth. I didn't like the gearbox though - the change was notchy compared to both the petrol and my Mondeo, and I kept selecting 4 instead of second. 6th gear was a bit too long - it loses a lot of the urge at motorway speeds that diesels are great for.
The brakes were good - sharp but not overassited and with enough feel and plenty power. Likewise the steering - well weighted and good feel.
They are expensive though. The dealer I visted wasn't for giving much in the way of discount and wanted £17495 for a VTR+ with bluetooth kit, rear parking sensors and met paint. I'd say they're a good buy with £2500 off list on the top models.
For me, the pricetag puts it at exactly the same price as a specced up Mondeo ST TDCi. The Mondeo is less radical, but its more powerful and would probably fare better residually.
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Quinny100, with the spec you quote, the C4 2.0 HDI VTR+ can be had for about £15500 on drivethedeal.com. The Mondeo ST 2.2 TDCi with park assist is over £4000 more on the same site (with discount). Even the Focus Zetec 2.0 TDCi with same spec costs over £2200 more on the same site (no discount available).
So unless you know of a dealer that can offer a massive discount on a Mondeo ST 2.2 TDCi, it is hardly in the same price range.
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I am referring to the new Focus, of course.
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I been priced for an ST TDCI @ £16999 with a not totally unreasonable p/x value on my own car. The spec of the ST is really somewhere between a VTR+ and a VTS/Exclusive - no Xenon's on the ST but you do get part leather heated seats which are a £1k option on the C4, you get pretty much everything else bar tyre pressure monitoring and laminated glass.
I said to the salesman I'd say the VTR+ 2.0 HDi would be a good buy around the £15k mark. That pitches it about £1500 less than the going rate for a Golf.
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If the price you are quoting is with p/x, you are not a really making a like for like comparison. How much, approx, is being allowed for your own car?
With regard to the stance of dealers on the price of C4s, as the drivethedeal.com cars are sourced from main dealers, one would only need to tell a local dealer this to get them to move from a position of no discount.
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