| Motoring Discussion > Mrs H's new new C3 | Buying / Selling |
| Thread Author: hawkeye | Replies: 0 |
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New Sun 20 Feb 11 13:56
Mrs H's new new C3 - hawkeye
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After a rather tricky Christmas, with the old C3 coming up to 90K miles I again raised the subject with Mrs H of replacing it. We'd been through the midlife crisis stuff of considering a Mazda MX-8, Toyota Celica, toyed with the idea of a Fiesta or a Peugeot 206 but conservatively came down in favour of the latest C3 we could find before the new model. We couldn't possibly afford a new shape C3. Within days of the discussion a dark grey metallic '09 diesel appeared at the local garage. I walked over the road and noted it was as clean as it should be and had tasty alloys fitted. Mrs H dismissed it on learning it was an 8v 75bhp engine. She is used to 90. Then we forgot about cars for a week or two. I was sat in my car waiting for Mrs H and H junior pondering how it was that my new satnav could Bluetooth so effortlessly to my 9 year old mobile when the name of the chap who had sold me the C8 and had since started selling cars on his own popped up in the address book. I called him and asked if he wanted to sell us something. Whether this is completely true or not I really don't know but he said he was about to deliver a 59 new shape C3 VTi in silver to a Citroen garage in Morpeth. Would we like to have a look and see if a deal could be done and save him the journey? It was only a month since I had coughed up £600 to have most of the diesel particulate filter system overhauled on my C8 so I was more than ready to consider a petrol car again. I loved the car on test, seeing it as a logical progression from the old C3. The ride was in a different league, especially over speed bumps, and the handling felt tighter and more controlled. Performance with 4 adults aboard wasn't spectacular but the engine felt tight and as if it would give more as it loosened up. Mrs H, although she likes the massive overhead windscreen still prefers the cuter old shape C3 and claims the new car doesn't go as well as the old. I think she's mistaken; she's been used to flooring the throttle and feeling the tiny turbo ease the car forward. I would like her to rediscover her gear-changing skills and spin the engine a bit but, if she has, she's not admitting to it. The position is complicated by a display on the dash advising the driver to change up for economy. Stuff that, it makes a lovely thrum when you boot it for a cheeky overtake. The story's run away with itself. A deal was done with us taking a nice discount for no trade in leaving me to valet the old car and Ebay it. The figures might be of interest. C3 1.4 HDi 92bhp, 1 owner, MoT and tax 'til August; Webuyanycar £1300, trade-in £1600, actually made £2250 on Ebay. Less costs, new plates and taking winter tyres off, I cleared £2100. Costs included putting it on a garage forecourt, insurance and some accompanied test drives. I haven't costed my time cleaning it after every test drive, changing the number plates, polishing it and photographing it. My take on the new model Is that it's lost a lot of storage, gained some firmer seating and a more modern, aggressive stance. Accommodation is similar, 4 adults finding comfortable but not roomy. In the old C3 when we changed drivers, we just raised the seat fully for Mrs H and dropped it fully for me; a couple of seconds. Mirrors and steering wheel position stayed where they were. Now the seat height adjustment is a tiresome ratchet lever that takes ages and traps my fingers. Talking of mirrors, we discovered last night that it has no vanity mirrors. At all. Curses! Fuel consumption is about 45mpg against the previous car's diesel 60mpg, but that's my fault, borrowing it and caning it whenever I can hee hee. I really don't know if Mrs H will grow to like it, I'm hoping she will. After all, 10 years ago, she was sorry to see the old diesel AX go. That puts things in perspective. |
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