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French cars...

jontz01

jontz01

taking refuge in the loft
I've only ever owned VW's and Mitsubishis but since my return to the UK, I've noticed a lot more options in the 2nd hand car markets. Currently looking at a 10 year old Citroen Berlingo to use as a family runaround/work van. It's in seemingly great condition, full service history and 1 owner. 160k miles. I've spoken to the dealer that did the services and they have only good things to say.

All my friends and family say don't buy French cars. Is this just textbook ignorance or is there any truth in it? Despite their horrific ugliness, there seem to be plenty on the roads... thoughts people of urban? Cheers!
 
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I've had 2 both more than 30 years ago, A Renault 4 and a Renault 14, The 14 wasn't too bad it was reasonably sturdy and reliable but parts were hell to get hold of. I swapped it for an Austin Maestro (yes I know) which was far inferior and very quickly swapped that for a Ford Escort Mark II which was infinitely superior to either of them. I gave the Renault 14 to my cousin whose idiot boyfriend smacked it up 6 months later causing her to dump him which made my uncle happy at least.
The Renault 4 was well, it was an experience to own it is probably the kindest thing I could say about it, the handbrake was dash mounted and I had to get rid of the car since my new and very petite wife was not physically strong enough to release it, the environmental controls were basically a flap in the dashboard you could open to let fresh air in.
Between them they put me off French cars for life and I have stuck with Japanese, German or German built American cars ever since.
I don't know anyone who owns a French car nowadays so I honestly can't comment if my experiences of 30 years ago are still valid. Skoda's used to be the biggest nails on the road but since they're now part of VW they're supposedly very good.
Renault is in bed with Nissan and Mitsibushi these days I believe.
 
I went for a Citroen C3 a few years back after 20 years with a diesel peugeot that was pretty dependable and was from an era when cars didn't have all this electronics nonsense...

As with all cars, some will be better than others.

Weak point seems to be the electrics - some of the bulbs are a pain in the tail to change, and I had a spate of problems with the rear light clusters either not working fully, or the alerts thing telling me they were not working fully, which getting them re-wired seems to have sorted out.

Not sure where you are / where you might be going to with a work van, but worth checking if it's ULEZ compatible if you're likely to be in / near anywhere that's gone in for that. Think a petrol that age will be OK but don't think a diesel will.

London ULEZ now stretches as far out as the north / south circular roads - if you have a registration number you can check here (standards may be different in other places with ULEZ or similar)
 
jontz01 said:
I've only ever owned VW's and Mitsubishis but since my return to the UK, I've noticed a lot more options in the 2nd hand car markets. Currently looking at a 10 year old Citroen Berlingo to use as a family runaround/work van. It's in seemingly great condition, full service history and 1 owner. 160k miles. I've spoken to the dealer that did the services and they have only good things to say.

All my friends and family say don't buy French cars. Is this just textbook ignorance or is there any truth in it? Despite their horrific ugliness, there seem to be plenty on the roads... thoughts people of urban? Cheers!
Click to expand...
Oh dear me.
Only ever owned VWs or Mitsubishi's.
Horrific ugliness.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
I went for a Citroen C3 a few years back after 20 years with a diesel peugeot that was pretty dependable and was from an era when cars didn't have all this electronics nonsense...

As with all cars, some will be better than others.

Weak point seems to be the electrics - some of the bulbs are a pain in the tail to change, and I had a spate of problems with the rear light clusters either not working fully, or the alerts thing telling me they were not working fully, which getting them re-wired seems to have sorted out.

Not sure where you are / where you might be going to with a work van, but worth checking if it's ULEZ compatible if you're likely to be in / near anywhere that's gone in for that. Think a petrol that age will be OK but don't think a diesel will.

London ULEZ now stretches as far out as the north / south circular roads - if you have a registration number you can check here (standards may be different in other places with ULEZ or similar)
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. I'm up in Stoke but still worth investigating these things that I'm completely unaware of! :)
 
jontz01 said:
Thanks for that. I'm up in Stoke but still worth investigating these things that I'm completely unaware of! :)
Click to expand...

I have an idea there's something similar either in place or proposed in Birmingham city centre (if work might take you there)

how are the six towns these days? (i lived in that part of the world for a couple of years - eek about 30 years ago...)
 
Puddy_Tat said:
I have an idea there's something similar either in place or proposed in Birmingham city centre (if work might take you there)

how are the six towns these days? (i lived in that part of the world for a couple of years - eek about 30 years ago...)
Click to expand...
I actually hoping to walk/cycle to as many jobs as possible. I'm self employed labour only landscaper/property care kind of very experienced handyman general tradie... The more local I can keep things, the better rate I can offer to clients but will need a van for occasional/family use.

I'm looking around the 3-4k mark as I want something reliable and relatively tidy but also not too flashy that I'll lose money on it quickly. If I sell up and shoot back to NZ in a couple of years, I'm not going to be too fussed on losing a couple of g on a car that I don't care for, whereas if I fork out for a T5 panel van, I could easily see it drop in value by 4-5k without proper upkeep and due care.

Stoke is rough as ever. The people are (mostly) lovely and humble. Family is family, it's great to be back but I'll also be glad to go home to Marlborough when the time comes.
 
jontz01 said:
I'm wondering more about the general build quality and developing problems of 2010 era diesels...
Click to expand...

can't offer any insights (my 205 was 1993) but there's cheap ones to be had round the outskirts of london, with the ULEZ having happened a couple of months ago...
 
I've owned a second hand Citroen C2 from 2006 since 2014 and have nothing but good things to say about it. Never broken down on me, and it's cost me an average of £150 a year in repairs over the years, usually for minor stuff like a new clutch kit, battery, switch etc., which have been straightforward and fairly cheap jobs.
 
Is it petrol or diesel? (ah diesel)
What size engine? 1.6?
How old is it? (ah 2010)
Who are you buying it from?
Why are they selling it?
What's the price like? (3k sounds pretty reasonable to me! I wouldnt pay 4 though.)
Have you test driven it?
Have you had a mechanic or someone savvy look at it?
Have you plugged in an OBD2 reader and had a good scan for error codes and issues?
Have you looked up the MOT history online and had a look at tyres lights etc?
Have you looked up user reviews on Parkers etc?
Do you actually like it and does it serve your purposes?
What's the service history like?

These quaestions are all more important than it being a "French car". IMO this is a van not a car, different market kind of. Yes it's easy to say German or Japanese but this isnt really that meaningful. Plenty of Japanese cars arent made in Japan nowadays anyway (Toyota Aygo for example.. you'll pay more for what is almost identical to a Citroen C1 made in the same Czech factory). Plenty of Citroen Berlingos and other vans exist which work fine and can be repaired fairly easily.

In the end this is a competitive second hand van market and you want a van so unless youve got many a grand to spend you may have to opt for something thats fine/decent rather than your number one preference.
 
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I've got good answers for most of those apart from the tyres and the error code readings... I'll go and have a look at it with a mate. Quite a few miles on the clock so I need to make sure that the timing belt is newly fitted. Service history is bang on, I rang the dealership to confirm this. Mot/warranty all in place. Need to check out for suspension rattles and alignment issues but there's always going to be SOMETHING that needs fixing. I just need to make sure it's nothing major.
 
I have had loads (15+) of sporty Renaults (5 Turbo 2, Clio RS, Clio Williams, Clio 182 Trophy) and they were all great but the Williams was the best. Excellent hooligan tackle. I had the 'Phase 2' with no ABS. :eek:

renault-clio-williams-5.jpg
 
The trouble with all cars today is that they are all much of a muchness and there is so little to choose between any of them. Many cars share various bits n pieces. There will be good and bad in every make. Alfas had a notorious reputation but in the few years I had my brera it never gave me cause for concern.
For those who didn't check links, the Ami.
2Q==(2).jpg
 
it's one of these with an engine of some sort, isn't it?

1640881342813.png

:p

hash tag said:
Perfect about town car. Who needs more than that for travelling a few miles here and there?
Click to expand...

to some extent, yes, although i can't help thinking that it encourages multiple car ownership if you have the money - one for town and one for going away at weekends - and not sure whether the lower emissions in town offset the environmental impact of making both, if you see what i mean...
 
I see just what you mean. Unfortunately many people who live in town prefer the tractors for height, comfort, luxury etc.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
it's one of these with an engine of some sort, isn't it?

View attachment 303766

:p



to some extent, yes, although i can't help thinking that it encourages multiple car ownership if you have the money - one for town and one for going away at weekends - and not sure whether the lower emissions in town offset the environmental impact of making both, if you see what i mean...
Click to expand...
It did make me think of those kiddy cars.

It's like someone gave an automotive designer a pack of crayons and a hypnotherapy age regression session.
 
hash tag said:
Perfect about town car. Who needs more than that for travelling a few miles here and there?
Click to expand...
I think it falls down on the lack of boot/ luggage space. A small electric vehicle might be useful and practical if it could be used for shopping, but sounds like it would be no good for the weekly shop.
 
I have a newer Berlingo (2019). It's OK, I'm not in love with it but it is much less tiring driving on the motorway than my Hyundai i10.

It was bought as a camper/furniture van. I don't know why I am always carrying furniture around but I am.

I am totally failing on the camping front, but hey, covid.
 
Thinking about it, think I've had a Berlingo as a hire van once or twice.

About the only thing I can remember is that the handbrake lever was weird, but you'd probably get used to it after a day or three.
 
In the 80s and 90s French cars had a reputation for relatively poor reliability- the electrics being a main culprit, though of course it was the going stereotype at the time so not sure how true a rumour it was.

I’ve hired the odd French car when doing a holiday rental, and they have been every bit as reliable and enjoyable as the competing models from all other mid market manufacturers.

Having said that, I’ve just had a major upset with my very expensive Peugeot three-wheeler bike. Not a car, but still a valid examination of a French manufacturer imo. The computer’s CPU has unexpectedly died, and my garage tells me that it’s going to be rather expensive to replace. This for an upgraded new model first produced in 2018, and the most expensive three-wheeler in the market by some margin. I was also lucky that the engine died while I was on a city street doing 15 mph, rather than on the fast lane of a busy motorway.

But I guess at the end of the day Peugeot is mostly a car maker, and their motorcycle arm is not their primary business, so probably not a valid anecdote for the premise of this thread.
 
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