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MurrayHenson
 
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  Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
Just hit 8500 kilometers this evening. Right before it turned over to 8500 I filled it up at Statoil (68.8 p/litre). For the last few fill-ups we've been doing between 5.1 and 5.2 L/100 km (45.2 to 46.1 MPG)... during the last 2,000 kilometers there's been a healthy mix of urban/suburban driving with motorway driving. For the last few months there has been a lot of from-cold, in-city driving as I go back-n-forth between our flat and the gym about 5 miles away three times a week. So the fuel economy has suffered a bit but obviously not much. I think the average speed for the entire 8500 kilometers is around 67 kph (41 mph) and average fuel consumption, according to both the car and my own calculations is 5.2 litres/100km. Other than the car desperately needing a bath and that loose bit of trim I mentioned awhile back, nothing needs fixing. Even when it got down to -10C (14F) it still started up right away and that's with 5-10% biodiesel in the tank. I continue to love everything about the car, starting with the EGS and how it drives and ending with how good it looks when it's nice and clean.  I'm planning on taking it to the dealership where we bought it from pretty soon for an oil change and to check the airfilter and so that they can fix that bit of loose trim. Probably have them swap the winter tyres at that point, too. |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
It's Monique's birthday (1st!) this week so it was time for a service and check-up. Before we took it in we stopped at Statoil and filled up. Got a very respectable 4.7L/100KM (60.1 MPG) out of the last tank though admittedly it was about 70% motorway driving. Over the last 13150KM we've averaged around 5.1L/100KM (55.4 MPG). During this first service they checked the brakes, suspension, liquid levels (radiator fluid was a bit on the low side so they topped it up), battery, belts, "rubber fittings" (CV boots?), handbrake, tyres, cleaned the fuel filter, etc. Also changed the oil and oil filter and swapped out the pollen filter for a new one. Oh and since I forgot to tell them not to wash it they washed it, too. I commented that they might find some rust on the brakes - we only ever drive the car once a week, sometimes just once every two weeks - but everything came back a-ok. Which was very good since the oil change, pollen filter change, antifreeze top-up and inspection set us back a staggering 719 PLN (£155). I should quit being an accounting manager and get a stake in a Polish Citroen dealership since it's practically a license to print money. Other than the cost of this service - which technically wasn't necessary since we hadn't even done 20,000 KM yet (but, hey, it's been a year and I figured it was time) - we continue to love the car. My wife and I are always on the look-out for other C4's in particular and other decent cars in that class (Volvo C30, Peugeot 308, Subaru Impreza, etc.) and always come away thinking that we bought the very best car. Not that we bought the best car that we could afford - just flat-out the best car, given our requirements. |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
Hit 15,000 kilometers on a drive from Krakow to Gdynia today. When I started the car in the morning it was -14C (7F) and during the trip the temperature dropped down to -19C (-2F). No issues though before starting the car the glow plug light was on for 2-3 seconds. And because we'd left the car in the same spot for three straight weeks (too much snow and ice and such for driving) the parking brakes had frozen. A little forward/reverse/forward/reverse action broke them loose and all was well after that. Had to put in windscreen fluid rated down to -22C (undiluted) but it was working ok still at -17C last time I had to clear the windscreen. I didn't try the rear windscreen fluid emitter because it always seems pretty weak. Instead, I tried pouring some water on the rear screen and then walking forward to hit the wiper function. Between the time I poured the water and hit the wiper function the water had frozen on the glass. No other comments to make other than at this fill-up, with about 1100 kilometers on the trip meter/tank we found out that average fuel consumption for the last tank was at 4.4 litres per 100 kilometers (64.2 Imperial Gallons). Quite pleased with that, especially considering that all trips recently have had two or three people in the car, in freezing (-5 to -15C) conditions on winter tyres. |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
Quick update to say that last weekend, on the way back from Gdynia, had a loss of power / DPFS fault (incident) when attempting to pass someone. Full details here: - Click Here - ...At this point it seems to has resolved itself. Not much else to add other than that I filled up today. 4.9L/100km (57.6 MPG) from the last tank (1052km, 654mi). |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
It's been quite awhile so it's time for a quick update: Currently at about 20,500 miles (33,000 kilometers). Recently did a 5600 mile (9000 kilometer) trip from Krakow, Poland to Nordkapp, Norway and back. No major incidents along the way although I did get to experience the joys of headlight replacement as the passenger (left-hand drive) went out and then, a few days later, the driver's side went out. First time it took me about 90 minutes, second time about 15-20 minutes. Still, annoying to do. After returning we had the car serviced. No issues but the dealership claims I should get the brake pads (front) and rotors (front) changed in "about four to five thousand kilometers". I think that is an exceedingly conservative estimate and will likely not change 'em for awhile. Certainly after winter, what with all the salt on the roads. We'll see. Also at the service I had the two front wipers changed (but not the rear). Before the road trip, I ordered a "white" USB / iPhone cable for the car from ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk. Works just fine with both the 3G and 3GS iPhones that my wife and I own - plays audio and charges at the same time. Good. Lifetime fuel consumption: 54.5 MPG (Imperial) aka 5.18L/100km over 37 fills (avg tank distance is 540mi / 870km). Other than the notes above, there's nothing to report. My C4 is boringly reliable. |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
It's been awhile again. At about 38,000 kilometers (23,500 mi). Lots of short trips around the city last few months, mostly going to/from work. With it being so cold - typically down to -7C - at night the fuel economy has suffered but the car starts every time, if not a bit rough when it's -7C or lower. First few minutes there is more diesel clatter but after that it warms up enough. Had the car at the dealership (Wanicki on Mogilska) last week. My wife cut a corner in the common parking garage we share with a half-dozen other cars and scraped the hell outta the right rear passenger door, through the clear-coat, on a concrete pillar. No one was pleased about that except the dealer whom will be making several boat payments off've what they received from us to re-spray the door and to replace the plastic guard (also damaged in the incident). The dealership had the car from Monday morning through Friday, mid-afternoon. The door looks fine now - can't tell it was scraped or re-sprayed. As usual: NO other issues. No irritating rattles, no mechanical issues, no electrical issues, no gremlins. Update w/ fuel consumption figures: lifetime fuel consumption: 54.0 MPG (Imperial) aka 5.23L/100km over 47 fills (avg tank distance is 542mi / 873km). |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
Yet another stretch of time has passed, so here's another update in a long-term user report. Last update was at the end of February, 2011. We had around 38k kilometres at that time. As of October 3, 2011 we had just 40,610 kilometres on the car. When I said in my previous post that we've had lots of short trips ...I meant it! There are often two, three or four days that go by where we don't drive the car. We live pretty close to work so we usually only drive if we're running late or the weather is poor. However, as everyone knows, short trips can be as tough or tougher on a car than long trips. The first of October is always time to have our car serviced. The Citroen dealership reported that, after inspecting the brake pads, I've got 70% left on 'em. At this rate we'll sell the car in three to four years with the original pads on! I make a point when driving to coast up to stops whenever possible; I drive by looking and anticipating as far ahead as possible. Other than the pads, there was nothing to report. The dealership did the usual oil and filter change, a/c pollen filter exchange and a quick once-over. No issues, as usual. Our C4 continues to be 100 percent reliable, period. Immediately after having the car gone-over by the dealership we took it next door to have to inspected for the first time. In Poland the first inspection only takes place after 36 months of ownership. The inspection here is more basic than the UK's but more complex than the State of Oregon's, where I originally hail from. Here they drive the car onto a rolling road and do practical tests of the brakes, testing on both the front and rear axles/wheels. Then they test each shock/strut with an odd kind of vibration test. Lastly the car is rolled a bit further down the line and there is a kind of torsion test - I am not sure which exact part of the car is being checked here but individual wheels are on a pad which can slide horizontally (rather than in a forward/backward motion parallel to the car). During this phase the inspector is in a pit under the car, visually inspecting the area where the axle meets the wheel. After this the inspector left the vehicle where it stood and checked the turn signals and lights (checking the beam direction it appeared). After the test we asked about an emissions test - they clearly had the equipment to do it - but the guy said he saw no visible emissions and (thus apparently) felt there was no need to do an emissions test. The inspector had no other comments other than that there were absolutely no issues. Unfortunately I don't have a fuel consumption figure update - but it hasn't been brilliant what with the shorter trips. I think we are averaging around 5.7L/100km per 10,000 kilometres right now but per tank it is usually fairly poor, something like 7.5L to 8.5L/100km. I can't really fault the car on that, though, the stated fuel consumption figures even for urban trips are for something like 20 minute trips whereas ours might be 5-10 minutes, tops. |
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
This will be my final update of the long-term user report of our C4 because, sadly, we're about to sell it. Since the last update in early October 2011 we've put another 24,000 kilometers on the car. Around 6,500 of those were during a four-country road trip (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and back to Poland) last year. We've continued to have the car serviced each October and have only had one issue - the alarm was spazzing out occasionally. It turned out to be some sensor related to the bonnet. Since the faulty sensor was replaced we haven't had any other alarm-related issues. Fuel consumption has remained the same, around 5.7L/100km. After close to 65,000 kilometers the summer tyres are just about down to the wear bars (as are the winter tyres - both are Michelin) and last winter we had to have the rear brakes replaced (first time). The front brakes need to be replaced soon as well but we're not going to bother prior to selling it - although we are disclosing that it needs to be done! We haven't had to replace or repair anything else - I've never had a car so fault-free and easy to own. The new car: as my wife is able to get a ("free") car through the company we both work for and the company doesn't have much in the way of restrictions/criteria, we've been looking at a lot of different cars. Eventually decided to leave the Citroen family after two cars and nine years. It didn't appear that we could get a DS4 or DS5 spec'd the way we wanted (EGS again, fuel-efficient engine, loaded with goodies). My wife thinks that the latest version of the C4 is a bit boring. She likes the DS4 a great deal and thinks that the DS5 isn't half-bad but neither had available, in Poland, the combination of EGS plus various goodies plus "the right price". The DS4 basically doesn't have enough interesting stuff available for it and the DS5 just barely does but costs a LOT more. So, we eventually settled on a VW CC (a fastback Passat) that we were able to get spec'd out with the stuff we wanted. VW has extra rebates/discounts available to the company we work for so their offer was extremely competitive. The very good price combined with the goodies we'd get on the car and the fact that my wife likes how the CC looks pretty much sealed the deal. The CC should arrive in mid to late September. Both my wife and I are a bit bummed to both be selling our C4, even though it's to a family member so it won't be going to far. The C4 has been extremely good to us and nearly faultless. I'll continue to recommend Citroen even though we went with something else this time. PS: Especially prior to ownership and in the year or so after ownership, C4owners.org made an already special car even more special. |
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riven1962
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   Member No: #18905
Joined: Mar 23 2011Location: Widnes, Cheshire |
Sounds as though you have had a few years of trouble free motoring with the Citroen. I am sure you will be sad to see it go. Good luck with the VW by the way, you can always pop back on here for a chat you know. | ||||
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MurrayHenson
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Member No: #1827
Joined: Dec 31 2007Location: Krakow, Poland |
I might do that. I spent a few hours checking out the various VW owners forums and most are a combination of visually ugly, too few/infrequent posts, US-centric, low-brow/crass, etc, etc. I liked C4O because it really doesn't have any of that. I finally settled on volkszone.com - it's no C4O but it seems to have plenty of Brits and is pretty active so I'll see how it goes. |
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Dave_Retired.
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  Member No: #1
Joined: Aug 07 2006Location: Northumberland |
MurrayHenson wrote ... I might do that. I spent a few hours checking out the various VW owners forums and most are a combination of visually ugly, too few/infrequent posts, US-centric, low-brow/crass, etc, etc. I liked C4O because it really doesn't have any of that. There was a concious decision way back at the start to avoid the low brow/crass postings and the 'Pit Crew' did a great job cutting it out. We get the occasional one but it's always firmly dealt with. Good luck with the new car and I hope it's as reliable as your C4 has been. |
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BigJohnD
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  Member No: #82
Joined: Jan 22 2007Location: Hoylake |
MurrayHenson wrote ... I might do that. I spent a few hours checking out the various VW owners forums and most are a combination of visually ugly, too few/infrequent posts, US-centric, low-brow/crass, etc, etc. I liked C4O because it really doesn't have any of that. One of the consequences of "txt" speak is that online translators can not successfully interpret the shortened words. This deters non-English speaking members from using the site. A classic example is using "ill" when the writer actually means "I'll" Some of it is deliberate to show "cool", while the latest smartphones and tablets do not readily capitalise the first word nor put a full stop at the end of a sentence. A stream of unpunctuated lower case is very difficult to read (unless you're James Joyce writing Ulysses though even he used capital letters in the correct place!) |
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