My New Car

[waue1978]

Pleasantly surprised this morning. Phoned Tesco up to see how much the insurance change will cost - £55 to take me through to January.

[waue1978]

No new car now.

Went to pick it up this morning. Got told when I phoned a couple of days ago that the previous owner had lost the service history, but I wasn't massively worried as it isn't the be-all & end-all. Whilst on the phone I asked if there was anything that may need doing soon (air con gas, consumables etc.) as the seller was a garage/MOT station & I figured they'd do me a deal & do it cheaper than I'd get it done here. Got told that everything was working. Admitted that he hadn't checked air con, but said he'd get it gassed if it needed it (which I offered to pay for).

Got insurance changed over last night & managed to get temporary cover on the 406 for 2 weeks so I could sell it. Also sent off the forms to get W4UEJ put on retention until I decided I was either keeping the Beemer or getting a 2.2 C5. Turned up this morning with an envelope full of cash for the Beemer & my father to drive the Pug back. Bodywise was pretty much as described - scuff on bumper & dent on bootlid with a few scratches on the rear bumper. Again, not displeased as I intended fitting M5 bumpers if I was going to be keeping it. Took it out for a drive & engine was sweet, gearbox shifted exactly as it should & no horrible knocks or bangs.

Got back & tested a few buttons. Stereo not working - at all. Not disastrous, but a pain as they aren't that cheap to buy & the design of the housing is such that it looks ridiculous with an aftermarket head unit. Electric windows - passenger side making noises, but window not dropping. Getting like an omen now, I thought.

Went in to sort out money & paperwork & find that it wasn't just the service history missing - there was no V5 either. So I had to fill in the form (& pay £25) to apply to be the registered keeper & hope that nobody else disputed it. That pretty much ended it for me. Wasn't any 1 major thing wrong & at £1370 it would still have been cheap, but I would have been selling the 406 (& losing a packet compared to what's been spent) to have a BMW that was going to be doing 20ish MPG on my running, paying another £260 to tax it & potentially having to pay out more to get the issues fixed.

Seemed a cruel thing to do to the Pug which had driven us there in comfort with no dramas & had then proceeded to take us down to Horsham to pick up 40 heavy rubber tiles (which gave it a DIY rear end lowering job) which it then brought home in a similar fashion. Maybe she doesn't return the 60mpg figures that other people on here get, but the 33mpg she gets around town will keep me happy for now.

At least until I find a suitable replacement. 2.2 C5 (old shape as I'm not as rich as Disco) Exclusive with leather, super comfortable suspension & massive boot ready for a deFAP is the current favourite...

[Bailes1992]

It's a sign! Keep the pug!

[ToddM]

It's a sign! Keep the pug!

+1! How can you not absolutely adore that little red wonder?

[waue1978]

It's a sign! Keep the pug!

For the meantime I will be, but there are things that I just won't get with the Pug. The lack of prewiring means that I can't get cruise control (or those damn puddle lights working) & I really do fancy the idea of the C5 magic carpet ride & possibly an uber-rare 180bhp deFAPped C5 monster (if it will accept the Peugeot file & somebody can help me demolish the nasty filter bits).

+1! How can you not absolutely adore that little red wonder?

It can't be that adorable - nobody was interested in buying it.

[sirwiggum]

Definitely a sign. If it doesn't feel right, walk. I've done that more times than I care to mention (and probably with my old 406) where I have gone along as more and more is uncovered and lived to regret it.

Got the Honda, knew it would do 20ish mpg, but everything worked and it drives great, which is why I changed myself.

I also looked at a C5 (mk1) 2.2 HDi, very comfortable, but the warning lights all over the place put me off.

[Doggy]

Told you it was the wrong shade of white....

I think you're wise to walk away.

[iangt4]

(if it will accept the Peugeot file & somebody can help me demolish the nasty filter bits).

if you fancy a drive to Notts i will do it for u FOC

[rwb]

And let that be a lesson to anyone else thinking of defecting

Seriously though, bummer.

[DiscoPol]

Thats a real bummer Stu, still better safe than sorry mate.

Good luck with the C5 hunt, i have to say i think in standard form they are ugly things but looking at what you did with the 406 i reckon it wont be long before you have the thing looking decent.

(old shape as I'm not as rich as Disco)

You had me full on PMSL at that one, the only rich person near me is my bloody accountant and Citroen bloody Polska

[waue1978]

Thats a real bummer Stu, still better safe than sorry mate.

Good luck with the C5 hunt, i have to say i think in standard form they are ugly things but looking at what you did with the 406 i reckon it wont be long before you have the thing looking decent.

It certainly can be done. This would've been a solid base to start with:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-Citro ... 1e621b05f6

[Doggy]

(if it will accept the Peugeot file & somebody can help me demolish the nasty filter bits).

if you fancy a drive to Notts i will do it for u FOC

This is a highly technical procedure that should only be entrusted to practioners with AWA accreditation.
('andy wiv 'ammer)

[FarmerPug]

Thats a real bummer Stu, still better safe than sorry mate.

Good luck with the C5 hunt, i have to say i think in standard form they are ugly things but looking at what you did with the 406 i reckon it wont be long before you have the thing looking decent.

It certainly can be done. This would've been a solid base to start with:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-Citro ... 1e621b05f6

thats a nice looking car, it seems to be common round here to put black vynl on the rooves of white cars and it wouldnt look too bad on that C5 with some big alloys.

[lozz]

sorry but ithink they look awful in white,
there a nice looking car but in white they look like a Taxi,

are these c5s a facelift Xsara?
they look pretty stylish.

[FarmerPug]

im sure its related, the c5 shares a floorpan with the xantia but its changed quite a bit, as was the top, it was a new model in it own right.
The C5 gets some of the nice dark blues, and im a bit of a sucker for the light interior options:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p