Have the opportunity to buy a 2001 C5 HDI 110 SX for what I feel is a decent price, going to see it tomorrow and have read the car by car breakdown to get a flavour of what to look out for.
Does the suspension cause huge problems? Basically any advice of how to check the essentials and will it serve me well as an economical cruiser!
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 14/01/2008 at 00:20
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Lovely large cheap barges if i was going to buy one having had three in the past I would go for the top of the range with sat nav as these are much better trimmed out and will not cost much more discs wear a little quickly so check them.A six year old c5 sx has to be very cheap £1500 £1800 max with good service history.
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The suspension is the least of it's problems - although I've done a few spheres.
Electrics, electrics, electrics. Loads of complex electronics that the French haven't got a clue how to fix - let alone the UK garages.
Not to mention a leggy common-rail engine - there are good reasons why these go for pennies at the end of the lease.
If it's cheap enough to throw away if it goes badly wrong, buy it. If not.....
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So a check of all the electrics is a must and service history is key?
Thanks for the advice, will always try and knock the price down so should be aiming below the 2 grand mark - got the feeling the buyer wont move much from initial price of £2100 - which I thought was reasonable, shows what I know!
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Initial fleet discounts can be 45% on these - with 80-90K on the clock, they go for £24-2800 at the end of the lease.
For that one £1200 sounds right if the miles are the right side of 100K - 7 year-old Cits are hard to sell for any sensible money.
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Looking around though prices seem to be £1200 - £1600 for the petrol equivalent, and up to the £3k for the diesel, I know its probably the more desirable buy hence the reason I want one but it still seems a large jump!
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Honestly wouldn't touch it - I had one for 4 months and couldn't wait to get rid of it. Electrics are very iffy - despite several dealer 'fixes' the car constantly went into limp home mode, suspension hand a mind of its own and would raise or lower at will. Economy was not what you'd expect and neither was ride comfort - the hdi 110 sx does without the extra suspension spheres which actually make the ride better than a conventional set up. You will be buying someone elses nightmares at £2K which will cost bucket loads to sort (if they can be sorted at all). DON'T DO IT!!!
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Thanks for the advice - liked the car and everything was working as it should, at least I think it was!
Am pondering, was kind of hoping it was going to be a no to back up the sentiments of the backroom but it was a nice drive.
One to sleep on I think!
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Decided against it it in the end, looking at the c5 I would only be one big bill away from being off the road. Not good!
At the risk of sounding any more indecisive what are your thoughts on a 1.4 Skodia Fabia Classic, again have seen a one within price range and know it is the base model but would this be a more sensible purchase?
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It's a lot more sensible than a C5; but the 1.4 8-valve is the ancient push-rod Skode Estelle engine - and that's not a nice set-up at all.
See if it's the one with the 16-valve VW engine. [Get the engine code to be sure.]
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