Used Citroen C3. Style and comfort at a good price

A city car should have a relatively small body, but a spacious cabin and look good. The first generation Citroen C3 meets these requirements. Contrary to popular opinion about French cars, it is not too emergency.

Citroen C3 I (2002-2010) - the history and design of the model Debuting in 2002, the Citroen C3 was one of the most interesting cars for the city at the time of its premiere. Its rounded shapes were the opposite of the angular lines of its predecessor, the Saxo model. The body turned out to be not only pretty, but also practical, and the C3's styling has withstood the passage of time.

The first generation Citroen C3 was initially available as a five-door hatchback. In 2003, the C3 Pluriel convertible appeared, followed a year later by the XT-R version. The latter car also has five doors, but also a greater ground clearance and additions referring to the style of off-road cars. All-wheel drive was not added, but a differential lock appeared.

In 2005, the Citroen C3 underwent a facelift. The changes were cosmetic. From the outside, the modernized car is most easily recognizable by the radiator grille with fewer crossbars, while inside, the chrome vent covers and other buttons on the center console stand out. The quality of materials used in the cabin has also improved, and a 1.6 HDi 110 HP turbodiesel with a particulate filter has been added to the engine range.

Production of the Citroen C3 I ended in 2009. The C3 Pluriel disappeared from the market a year later. The Euro NCAP crash tests of the French car passed just after it was put on sale. It got four stars out of five.

Citroen C3 I - interior and equipmentIn the cockpit, the most avant-garde element is the electronic speedometer combined with an analog tachometer. After years, the plastics look worn, but compared to competitors it is not that bad. A big plus is the spaciousness of the Citroen C3 cabin. Even tall people do not complain about the lack of space above their heads or the narrow range of adjustment of the front seats. The volume of the trunk is 305 liters, which is not a bad result.

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The basic equipment of Citroen C3 included i.a. ABS, four airbags, central locking, electric power steering, on-board computer, folding rear seats and front electric windows. Air conditioning and a six-speaker radio were available on request. Cars imported from the West usually have these extras, they are often equipped with cruise control or leather upholstery.

Citroen C3 I – drive and its faults As for a city car, the Citroen C3 engine range is wide. Individual drive units differ in performance and reliability, but they have a moderate fuel consumption in common. The transmission was handled by a five-speed manual gearbox, a five-speed Sensodrive automated gearbox and a four-speed automatic transmission. It is better to avoid cars with Sensodrive gearbox. For people who focus primarily on cheap operation, petrol engines will be a better choice, because diesel engines - although offering good performance and economical combustion - are usually heavily worn, and thus more expensive to service.

We advise against the weakest 1.1 engine due to poor performance. Better acceleration is offered by sixteen-valve engines - 1.4 and 1.6. Especially the latter allows for efficient driving also outside the city. The only recurring fault on these engines is ignition coil failures. Their replacement costs PLN 300-500 depending on the parts used. When looking for a Citroen C3 with a diesel engine, you have to be careful, because many copies are simply worn out. That is why we recommend copies with a documented service history. All HDI engines used in the C3 are powered by common rail fuel injection and are sensitive to fuel quality.

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It is better to look for a sixteen-valve version of the 1.4 HDi engine or a 1.6 HDi unit, because the weakest diesel is characterized by lower durability. If it was necessary to regenerate the injectors, you have to take into account the cost of approx. PLN 400 each, replacing the clutch with a dual mass flywheel will cost approx. PLN 2,500, and the turbocharger will cost approx. PLN 2,000. Regeneration of the latter component costs about PLN 1,000.

Citroen C3 - other typical faults and suspension Regardless of which engine version we choose, we should remember about problems with electronics, which are not uncommon in this car. The Citroen C3 uses a CAN network that is susceptible to damage in the event of an accident. There are defects in the turn signal levers, on-board computer display, air conditioning or radio. Often, the BSI computer, the so-called comfort computer. Efficient electronics should be able to remove these faults for several hundred zlotys.

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There are also defects in the gear shift mechanism (repair up to PLN 550) or steering gears (regeneration up to PLN 1000). The suspension - MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear - is not overly durable, but its repairs are not expensive. In cars before the facelift, it happened that the front springs broke (replacement for PLN 800 / set).

Used Citroen C3 I - summary and market situationCitroen C3 is a nice, spacious, B-class car that is inexpensive to buy and repair. If we find a well-maintained copy, especially with a petrol engine, its operation should be predictable. Due to the sensitive electronics, we advise you to avoid post-accident copies, in the case of diesels, authentic mileage and service history are important. It is worth choosing a car after modernization due to better workmanship. Citroen C3 prices start from PLN 6,000. For facelift cars in good condition you have to pay about PLN 10,000, and diesel cars from the last year and low mileage cost PLN 16-18 thousand. zloty.

Video buying guide for those interested in buying a used Citroen C3 I:

Petrol engines - range and performance: 1.1 (60 PS @ 5,500 rpm, 94 Nm torque @ 3,300 rpm, avg. fuel consumption 6.0 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 15 .9 s, v-max 157 km/h, from 2002 to 2010)1.4 (73 hp at 5,400 rpm, torque 116 Nm at 3,300 rpm, avg. fuel consumption 6.1 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 12.4 seconds, v-max 167 km/h, from 2002 to 2009) 1.4 16V (88 PS @ 5,250 rpm), torque 133 Nm @ 3,250 rpm, avg. fuel consumption 6.2 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 11.9 s, v-max 177 km/h, from 2003 to 2009)1.6 16V (109 hp at 5800 rpm, torque 147 Nm at 4,000 rpm, average fuel consumption 7.2 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 10 seconds, v-max 192 km/h, from 2002 to 2009)

Diesel engines - range and performance: 1.4 HDI (68 PS @ 4,000 rpm, 160 Nm torque @ 2,000 rpm, avg. fuel consumption 4.4 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 13.4 s, v-max 165 km/h, from 2002 to 2010)1.4 HDI 16V (92 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 200 Nm at 1750 rpm, average fuel consumption 4.5 l/min) 100 km, 0-100 km/h in 11.7 seconds, v-max 180 km/h, from 2002 to 2005) 1.6 HDI (92 hp at 4,000 rpm, torque 215 Nm at 1,750 rpm, average fuel consumption 4.4 l/100 km, 0-100 km/h in 10.8 s, v-max 180 km/h, from 2005 to 2009)1.6 HDI (110 HP at 4000 rpm, torque 245 Nm at 1,750 rpm, average fuel consumption 4.5 l/100 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, v-max 190 km/h, from 2005 to 2009)