Its nice to be back in a Citroen again...

[robert_e_smart]

Evening Chaps,

As some of you will be aware, it has been a long time since I drove a Xm daily, and drifted over to Citroen's sister Peugeot for a almost a year and a couple of cars and 20K miles of 407 action.

Well I have got rid of the 407, and now have a 2008 C5 Exclusive with 35K miles on it. Still sticking with the 2.7 HDI and 6 speed auto. So why not buy a C6 some of you will be thinking? Well, I feel that the C6 is totally obsolete now. Also the biggest plus of the C5 over the C6 and 407 is that the road tax is £200 a year cheaper! Or in other words, a C5 2.7 Auto is only £30 a year more to tax and a C5 2.0 Auto!

The Exclusive have the full Hydraulic suspension, and the only thing this C5 has in common with my father's C5 in the background of some of the pics are the name and colour! Suspension comfort is up there with Series 1 Xms and Cxs!!!! With all the benefits of Hydractive suspension that we are familiar with,

Enough of my ramblings, here are some pics.

[russ92xmsed]

Love it! Excellent choice Robert.

[Duke]

Bet you're smiling Robert - what a fab car. What a great looking car, inside and out.

How are you finding it?

[robert_e_smart]

I am very happy with my new purchase! I am looking forward to driving to work on Monday! How many people can say that!

[Duke]

Excellent! Bet it eats the miles, just like the C6 does.

Look forward to seeing it one day (or will you be XMing it for the Rally?!).

Modern Citroens are the way forward...!

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff Robert I've heard only very good things about the latest C5. Looks lovely in red.. I like it and I can't say that about very many modern cars!

[robert_e_smart]

Thats a tough call Franklin! Depends if I can get XM leather into the back of it!

I have driven 3 moderns on hire this week Jim. The first was a Yaris - Yuk! Just like the Avensis I drove lately, absolute garbage! I thought people bought Toyotas because they were meant to be better built! They will be disappointed now! Second up was an Insginia. I was impressed; far, far away from the Vectras and Signums! But fairly bland. Nice to drive though.

Finally I had a Hyundai I40. It was perfectly fine, and having driven the Insginia before, I can see where Hyundai got their inspiration for the dash and centre console! The Hyundais have come on a long way, but still not quite in Mondeo territory. Still nicer than the Avensis! I hope to get a Pug 508 on hire soon so I can compare it to the 407 and C5.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, having the opportunity to drive and ride in many moderns with work, my short list to replace the 407 was the C5, the C6, Alfa 156 2.4 JTD and the Volvo S80 and S60.

My friend has a Mondeo 2.2 TD with the PSA 2.2 (not the old 2.2, the new 170 bhp - his is manual, and he only got 2 mpg more than my 2.7 pug auto!).

[captainhaddock]

OK Congrats from rainy France! Will you please please please hang to this car for the next 15 years or so, so I can buy it off you when your good ol hard driven Turby diesel finally gives up:)

[citroenxm]

God they must pay wages well in ireland.. i want one of these one day but still way out my range..

Beautifull robert.. i hope you may bring it to Ccc national or cxm this year for mexto have a look over.

As for c6.. she is virtually a c6.. its the same underpinnings is it not??

[xmexclusive]

Robert

I should not worry about what you can fit in it.
The speed with which you swap cars these days will it still be with you by CXM?

John