Other cars Don't Buy a Citroen C4 instead of a Civic!

[Smifffy]

((Please transfer this to another area if location of this post is incorrect - it may be useful to those about to buy, and have both a C4 and a Civic on their short list))

Took the misses C1 into the garage today - car perfect - 'Free' Ipod playing up (Murphy's Law).

Dealer knows I drive a Civic so gave me a courtesy car C4 (Diesel) for the day saying "this is much better than that Civic you have".

Initial gut feel - Not a chance!! the 15 mile drive home was enough to show me that this is not a serious competitor to the Civic.

Initial comments - "Plasticy" interior, yes I know the Civic gets a rough ride on its plastic dash but this seemed so cheap and brittle. Seats smaller than Civic and seem to lean backwards. Has one of these central instrument displays that you have to keep looking to the left to see and squinting at the LCD info - makes you really appreciate the clarity of the Civic display.
Has a weird LCD tacho on the top of the steering wheel hub (which does not revolve - novel).

Will take it the long way back to the dealers tomorrow and give it a proper spin and let you know how it handles.

[Charles_Harding]

I tried th C4 before settling on the Civic - the price was VERY attractive.

I tried the top of the range coupe and was very disapointed.

It looked great from the outside, but inside the layout seemed all wrong.

The Tacho was in one spot, over there was the Sat Nav and over there was sometning else - very higgley piggley.

A good looking car, fab price and unfortunately that price reflected on the finish.

The Civic was much more expensive but I sam SO happy with it

[karlak]

Don't buy a Citroen , Full stop.

[Tydo]

Sh*troen, enough said.

[Honda100]

Citroen=rubbish residuals.
Cheap to purchase, break down a lot and you get pennies back when you sell.

[Martin]

The residuals thing is right, and reliabilty is a bit ropey aswell.

You might have noticed that they will generally pay you £4k to buy one aswell

[sco77harris]

lol i dont like french cars, stick with the germans and japanese, and if something is built in the uk even better

[jayt43]

Did you try taking it onto the motorway Smiffy? I found the noise levels appalling with the diesel. A constant drone at 60mph+ made it one of the most tiring cars I've ever driven. Also drove a 1.4 petrol version and that was much better. However the dash had really low-rent plastics, whilst the speedo display was inferior to that of the Civic. I mean, why situate it in the middle of the dash? Bonkers!

[generationgav]

Price was good for me too; I could have brought a C4 fully kitted out, but I ended up going for a basic (1.4 SE) Civic.
The civic was much roomier (I'm a big guy) and just a nicer car.

[Bungle]

I can't believe he suggested a C4 is better than a Civic!

I used to work next door to a Citreon garage, and liked the look of the 3dr C4vtr or vts or whatever it is. I would never go anywhere near another french car after what I experienced with my Renaults!

I do think the coupe 3dr looks good, especially the back, but cannot stand the 5 door C4.

When my other half was looking into buying a small car as she is a very new driver, we looked at the C1 (alond with the Aygo - same car, but better!) and had a quick look at the C2. The base model doesn't even have a radio*, we were told by sales guy. The cars felt really nasty and cheap.

*I know the s-spec civic has no radio, but they don't actually sell it, do they?

[Charles_Harding]

One thing that I did like about the C4, apart from the price, - the colour.

The one I saw was a metallic bright red - looked FAB.

Love to see that colour on Civic

[JB75]

I considered the C4 earlier in the year when I decided on a new car.

I was tempted to consider the C4 and Fiat Stilo as, for what I paid for my Civic, I could have had high specification throughout on both these models. I was also attracted to the Renault Megane as it was available at 0% finance, though it does have a bit of a "yesterday's car" look about it.

On having a closer look at the C4 though I decided it looked a bit small and found its apparence inferior to the Civic. I also think the Civic will depreciate less in the 3 years I plan to own it.

[Smifffy]

Originally Posted by Bungle

I can't believe he suggested a C4 is better than a Civic!

I used to work next door to a Citreon garage, and liked the look of the 3dr C4vtr or vts or whatever it is. I would never go anywhere near another french car after what I experienced with my Renaults!

I do think the coupe 3dr looks good, especially the back, but cannot stand the 5 door C4.

When my other half was looking into buying a small car as she is a very new driver, we looked at the C1 (alond with the Aygo - same car, but better!) and had a quick look at the C2. The base model doesn't even have a radio*, we were told by sales guy. The cars felt really nasty and cheap.

*I know the s-spec civic has no radio, but they don't actually sell it, do they?

Had the C1 for the misses, great little car plus as you say it's a Toyota Aygo with a Citroen badge. Cheap yes, not nasty though, lots of fun to drive, £40 road tax, low insurance and 60 plus to gallon, NCAP 4 rating. Ideal second car. The other thing is that they designed them to be low cost, not the usual way of cutting costs once designed.

[Smifffy]

OK took the C4 back (thankfully), good spin down the motorway - yes jayt43 it droned awfully down the motorway, there was not even a temptation for me to take it any faster than 70 either (as if I would) as it just did not feel that stable at speed. Digital tacho is hard to read while driving, over rev and it does not seem as if a limiter is cutting in - the tacho just flashes bright red.

Seats very uncomfortable - seatback seams to curve backwards just below the shoulder blades. Does not like bumps in the road. Engine responsive but noisy. Boot smaller than Civic plus valuable space taken up by novelty of spare wheel.

A few good ideas - Nice storage bins at rear of rear wheel arches. lots of pop out drawers for change. Central button for door locking while in car. Locking glove box.

Trouble is I like my Civic too much

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Smifffy

Had the C1 for the misses, great little car plus as you say it's a Toyota Aygo with a Citroen badge. Cheap yes, not nasty though, lots of fun to drive, £40 road tax, low insurance and 60 plus to gallon, NCAP 4 rating. Ideal second car. The other thing is that they designed them to be low cost, not the usual way of cutting costs once designed.

Sorry, the C2 was cheap and nasty, I quite liked the C1/Aygo and would have bought one ourselves, but my sister was selling her Ka, and it ended up being £2k Vs £6.5k. The cheaper Ka won.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by Smifffy

Central button for door locking while in car.

Smiffy - apols for this if it's a stupid question - but you do know the Civ has this too?

Just from your list you seemed to be pointing out things the C4 has that the Civic doesn't...

[Smifffy]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

Smiffy - apols for this if it's a stupid question - but you do know the Civ has this too?

Just from your list you seemed to be pointing out things the C4 has that the Civic doesn't...

No such thing as stupid question - well on this site anyway.

I was refering to the lock button being in the centre of the dash the one on the civic is fine for the driver, but sometimes I may pull into a garage or shop at night and pop in leaving the misses inside. She has to reach across and find the right button to press if she wants to lock herself in for added security.

[mike lufc]

Originally Posted by Smifffy

Had the C1 for the misses, great little car plus as you say it's a Toyota Aygo with a Citroen badge. Cheap yes, not nasty though, lots of fun to drive, £40 road tax, low insurance and 60 plus to gallon, NCAP 4 rating. Ideal second car. The other thing is that they designed them to be low cost, not the usual way of cutting costs once designed.

my wife also has a c1 and i love driving it nice nippy little car, really nice gearbox.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by Smifffy

No such thing as stupid question - well on this site anyway.

I was refering to the lock button being in the centre of the dash the one on the civic is fine for the driver, but sometimes I may pull into a garage or shop at night and pop in leaving the misses inside. She has to reach across and find the right button to press if she wants to lock herself in for added security.

good point - well made

The missus won't let me go anywhere without her if shopping is on the cards...

[IWANTACIVIC]

Yes as Smiffy said And others before. I like the design touchs and the ideas of the french, pitty they cant make a reliable cars, like we said in the furture toys need on the civic topic theres quite a lot of things that if the civic wasnt so good looking and so bold we mite put up with the french's half heart mechical atempt for the good ideas that work sometimes . When i first went to look at a civic i opened the boot and was shocked at the size of it, and the genral size of the civic inside, but after emptying my 307 of all my stuff i was amazed at how much stuff u can fit in these hidey holes, I supose ill have to find places for all my stuff in the civic but i think im going to miss things like the sunglass holder pocket and i love the under seat drawers etc , but hopefuly me and my 3 big bags of stuff will enjoy the WHOLE ownership of a civic not just when its, just got fixed as with the 307. We will see hoply on thursday maybe i wount need all my breakdown stuff etc so I wont need a place for 30987564332 spare parts Come on dealer dont let me down, I ready to broard my spaceship.