| Motoring Discussion > Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression | Buying / Selling |
| Thread Author: .... | Replies: 7 |
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 15:32
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - ....
|
|
Citroen C4 Cactus 82PS Pure – no Stop/Start The following is based on a quick lunchtime 10 minute drive, my wife has 6 hours with the car so I may update with her views later. Lime green/yellow with black side mouldings, Mmmmm...and diamond cut alloys *rolls eyes* and wonders how long for the lacquer to start peeling like they have on my Volvo. The passenger airbag is in front/behind the sun visor and apparently unwraps in a comma shape down the windscreen regardless of the size/shape of the passenger. It certainly frees up space in front of the passenger on the dashboard for the glove box. The dashboard is minimalist with only a 12v power point and USB port in the centre console area. All heating, radio etc… controlled from the touchscreen though there was a volume knob and six buttons but I did not have time to fiddle. The touchscreen is easy enough to use, the instrument cluster is restricted to speed, fuel gauge in red which is difficult to read, gear change indicator and idiot lights. No rev counter or temperature gauge. Large button/icons around the outside of the touchscreen take you to the function you want – heater, radio etc…Strangely the climate control on this car did not have an auto function, fan speed is controlled manually. I did not try this while driving but it looks straight forward enough to use. Being a left hand drive and me being right handed helped, not sure how I would get on in a RHD. Under the bonnet it’s easy to see where the weight savings have been made. The inner wing is noticeable by the absence of a big chunk of metal. Behind the lighting units there is a gap of around 7 or 8†where you peer down into the inner wing area, looking down directly on top of the plastic wheel arch liner. You can see the inside of the plastic clips used to hold the wheel arch moldings in place. The wiring down there is also noticeable by the lack of an outer sheath protecting the connectors which is at odds with all the wiring to engine ancillaries which has good coverage right up to the connectors. For a three year lease it would not concern me but for a run it until the wheels fall off car I would want to put something on there to protect the individual wires given I could see the road through some holes in the wheel arch liner, I’m sure some spray/road crud will make its way up into the area occupied by the wiring. The wipers have a water rail which delivers water directly to the wiper blades, the pipe connects to the rail at the short travel end, naturally. I had a similar system on my FIAT Coupe which was useless in winter. Once the fluid freezes (I previously used -60C pure screen wash which froze in the wind chill) there is no heat in that area to defrost only the constant flow of air over the bonnet and up the windscreen. I’m curious how much a new wiper blade will cost with the rail built in? The current C4 we have costs over 60€ for new wiper blades though these can be picked up cheaply enough when in the UK for around £27. To drive, the windscreen is like looking through a post box opening. Setting the driver’s seat to the right height for me resulted in the steering wheel blocking the instrument panel. Steering wheel adjustment is rake only, no reach adjustment. The wheel feels pretty thin in comparison with our C4 Grand Picasso. Not a bad thing in itself just an observation. The car has a good, solid feel not like a stripped out budget box even though it is 200kgs less than a standard C4 hatch. No rattles or creaks to be heard. The 82PS engine pulled OK but no ball of fire carrying three adults and two children, if we were to go for one it would have to be blown whether that was petrol or diesel. The engine was only noticeable when asked to work, the rest of the time it was pretty quiet. Pulling away smoothly would need a little practice, feeling to me like it would stall then pulling strongly. It’s been a good few years since I drove a petrol, manual car, some practice required. The computer was showing an average over 1800kms of 6.4l/100kms ~44mpg. The car had covered around 2,000kms. So some way off 60+MPG but as a loaner/demo car it is possible the car has spent most of its time in town. The boot is a reasonable size and good shape. No idea about the space under the boot floor, we had to put my daughter’s booster seat in the boot so my wife could clamber in the back with the two children. No way will three children’s seats go on the back seat. A comfortable 4 seater, 5 is pushing it. I know a spare wheel is an option so will either go under the boot floor or hang under the bodywork collecting all the crud of the day like other French cars. No split folding rear seat back, if you need three seats plus an extended half width boot look elsewhere. No idea about roof handles (for those interested in these), the door pulls are leather flexible straps not the solid door pulls we are all used to. They worked though will need some care to avoid cracking I suspect. Will we order one? Probably not. The driver’s seat is height adjustable but no lumbar adjustment and the lower seat back was pushing in all the wrong places for my wife to get comfortable. Unfortunately, this can’t be added from the options list even to the top spec model. Overall, if the above reads as a bit down on the car it’s not meant to be. Many people have spent a lot of hours and money to come up with this car. It is very good at what it does. It drives well considering it only has 3 cylinders and 1.2 litres with no turbo. The problem is the competition, everyone else builds a good hatch these days and while I did not see anything (other than the wipers) that made me think Oh! the lack of metal and the wiring at the front might be a concern for some. |
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 15:52
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - Runfer D'Hills
|
| Marmite looks though. I find them hideous, others may not of course. I suspect it won't date well. |
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 16:08
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - Runfer D'Hills
|
|
Further to above. An example of "challenging" design which has come full circle for me. When I first saw a Range Rover Evoque I didn't like it. Then after a while they grew on me and I didn't mind them as they became a more common sight. Gradually though, I've tired of them and dislike the styling again. In fact, totally irrationally of course, I find them a bit annoying. The Cactus is already in phase 3 for me ! I think it's those quilted door panels. Makes me think of a cheap MFI head board for some reason.
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Wed 15 Oct 14 at 16:09
|
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 16:48
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - ....
|
|
This was the first one I've seen. Judging by some people's reaction it was their first time too. I didn't mind the appearance (a hatchback is an estate is an SUV to my eyes - utilitarian might be the word), similar to the original C4. If it were to be our only car I might feel different but as the shed for local running about it would be more than capable and the display certainly bettered the fuel consumption of our current 1.6 turbo diesel. Just spoke to my better half, the problem is the driver's seat, it's not a support it's actually the base cushion which is kicked up at an odd angle at the back which is the issue. Last edited by: gmac on Wed 15 Oct 14 at 16:48
|
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 16:59
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - WillDeBeest
|
|
I quite like Marmite. Sometimes. Other times I prefer something else. No strong feelings really. Not seen one of these in the metal but it looks horrible in pictures. High fashion too, which means it's likely to date badly. I do quite like the Evoque, incidentally, having reacted initially like Humph. Too many Entitled Blondes in them round here, though - which would usually elicit something pithy from Alanović. Where has the old class warrior got to? |
|
New Wed 15 Oct 14 21:58
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - Boxsterboy
|
|
I cant stand the Evoque-never have. It's just so expensive and inefficient in its packaging. The fact that it appeals for its 'style' above everything else is the final nail in its coffin for me. The Cactus I like - for its unpretentiousness and sensible but different design - can you imagine the Germans ever doing anything as wacky as those Airbumps?? |
|
New Thu 16 Oct 14 05:43
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - ....
|
|
Not sure about high fashion WDB. Strip away the colour and wheels and it looks like an ordinary hatch raised by maybe 10 or 15mm The airbumps did not protrude anywhere near what I imagined or expected from the photos. Driving it I noticed how close in height from the drivers seat it was to Focus and Passat estates. German people are naturally conservative but fling their car doors about with gay abandon in car parks. I expect a few city dwellers may be early adopters when airbump type tech appears on some metal not wearing two chevrons on the nose. |
|
New Thu 16 Oct 14 10:57
Citroen C4 - C4 Cactus initial impression - Mike Hannon
|
|
My pal has a C4 Picasso and likes it but he had to have two training sessions at the dealer when he bought it. No way will I ever, ever, own a car controlled by a distracting, inefficient touch screen. Luckily, I'm old enough to probaby not have to worry about that possibility. |
Forum Version 3.0 - By Khoosys
Car4play Forum
