BY STEVE WALKER
Were not going to beat around the bush here. Citroens C5 wasnt a roaring success as a new car. It transpired that buyers preferred the extra dynamism of their Mondeos, the predictability of their Vectras and the upmarket feel of their Passats to the C5s soft and comfy Frenchness. Were not necessarily concerned with that here though.
Here, the question is about the C5s ability as a used car and specifically, about the ability of the extended C5 Estate. A competent but largely overlooked new car can quite easily become a diamond in the rough of the used car market once our friend depreciation has worked its magic. So how does the C5 Estate fair?
The C5 Estates sole link with Citroen load luggers of yore is probably the feature most likely to give it the edge over the alternatives, examples of which include the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Avensis. It is, of course, the Hydractive 3 suspension, which is capable of giving the C5 either the lowest rear load height of any similar model in order to lug heavy items inside, the highest, which is handy for tipping items in without a crash or any point in between, making hitching trailers, boats or caravans an absolute doddle. Its self-levelling capability automatically increases ground clearance on poor surfaces, lowers the car at motorway speeds to improve fuel economy and stability and can even instantaneously switch between comfort and sport settings when it senses the need. After all, this isnt a Sport Tourer, a Sportwagon, a Touring or an Avant.
Its an estate and a very good one, designed for people who are less interested in ultimate handling and more concerned with the ability to swallow massive loads without a grumble. The Citroen offers just about every conceivable aid to expediting that aim. The load floor is wide and flat, giving it a large capacity of 563 litres. More importantly, its possible to exploit that space without significant intrusion from the rear suspension turrets, the Hydractive 3 system being tucked away beneath the floor.
This means that the available width of 1,176, measured at the narrowest point between the rear tail lights beats virtually anything else similar. The depth of thought thats gone into the C5 Estate is massively impressive. The tail lights are narrow vertical strips to aid visibility and to allow the hatch to be as wide as possible. There are no tailgate struts, which make loading bulky items simplicity itself.
The rear window can be opened without opening the tailgate, making it far easier to fling towels and such like into the back. Two concealed storage bins sit in the side of the luggage bay, whilst the carpet is reversible, the other side revealing a washable PVC surface that can easily transport a filthy dog or sandy wetsuits. To protect valuables, a parcel shelf features a retractable boot cover, whilst theres an enormously sturdy two-position vertical net to prevent your load getting ideas above its station and joining you in the passenger area if the ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is used with gusto. Tie down eyes, standard roof bars, an underfloor storage area, the boot mounted suspension raise/lower button we could go on, but you probably get the picture by now.
The C5 Estate is a sizable car but its prices arent. 1.8-litre LX models that cost somebody over £15,000 in 2002 are now changing hands for well under £3,000. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol models are less desirable thanks to their high running costs but £4,000 for a 2004 model in Exclusive trim might be enough to persuade some. Its the diesels that get most of the attention on the used market and these have retained their value somewhat more tenaciously. A 90bhp 2.0HDi might be somewhat under powered for heavy usage but a 2004 model should be available for under £4,000 in LX trim.
Far better is the 2.2 HDi which will cost in the region of £5,000 on an 04-plate. The sharper look of the facelifted C5 Estate begins at £5,700 on a 54-plate, thats for the 1.8-litre petrol engine and LX trim.
Again, the diesels are the cars to seek out and the 1.6 HDi model of the same age is available from £6,500 in LX trim. The 2.0-litre HDI with 138bhp will cost £10,000 on a 56-plate which around half its original list price and the powerful 170bhp 2.2 HDI commands £12,000 in VTX+ trim on an 08 registration.
There are plenty of C5 Estate models about so be picky. The electrical systems can be a problem and the C5 does a nice line in warning messages to ensure that none of these appear on your test drive. The interior trim does rattle a bit so when youre told that they all do that sir, this time the dealers telling the truth. The complex suspension system is pretty reliable, but make sure that it's been checked out because replacement parts for it are pricey. Insist on a service history.
(Approx - based on a C5 V6 Estate - ex Vat) Clutch assemblies are about £205, brake pads around £45 and an alternator around £175. You'll pay around £220 for a headlamp, around £245 for a radiator and around £110 (exchange) for a starter motor.
On the move, you monitor what the suspension is up to via a multi-function screen built into the top of the fascia. Theres the choice of normal or sport modes, though drive the car hard and youll find that it switches automatically to sport mode anyway. Where you notice Hydractive 3 most however, is on bad roads or in hard cornering. The worse the surface, the better this car feels.
Its real party piece however, is reserved for sharp corners. As you enter the bend, you expect the car to start rolling in the normal way except that it doesnt. In fact, all the way through the turn, the body stays absolutely flat. Its a rather weird feeling.
Comfort then, is this cars number one priority. Its not seeking to deliver as sharp a driving experience as you could expect in a Mondeo though in fact, its not that far off. Certainly, the engines are up to the job. These are sourced from the Peugeot/Citroen empire and include some familiar favourites.
The HDI diesels in particular are worth a look with the 170bhp unit in the later cars making the C5 a formidable motorway tool.
The Citroen C5 Estate is a big departure from the usual upper medium sector load-luggers. If you want a sporty drive you should really look elsewhere. If you value space, clever technology and a ride better than a Bentley then a used Citroen C5 Estate makes a lot of sense, especially at the kinds of prices they can now be purchased for.
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