This article is from page 24 of the 2008-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
I HAVEN’T test driven many Citro-
en cars in recent years, but when I do they have been motors to remember. The C6 stands out as sheer luxury; the C4 Picasso is remembered for all that glass at the front and Citroen’s first SUV, the C-Crosser which was launched at the end of last year, is also a massive motor.
Last week I was testing the new C5 and straight away let me say that without a shadow of a doubt this car oozes class. Externally it looks really cool thanks to those beautiful front headlamps and inside it’s so roomy and comfortable. The rear end 1s also very attractive.
When you sit in the first thing that strikes you is the impressive array of slave controls on the steering wheel. They are not really on the wheel, but incorporated into a separate section that doesn’t move with the wheel.
Right in front of you get a digital speedometer, so no excuses for get- ting any penalty points.
Then you notice how comfortable the driver and front seat passenger seats are. They literally hug your posterior. Unfortunately you cannot see out over the bonnet and have to use your judgment when parking, but like most things in life you get used to it.
All good ads create a bit of con- troversy. And Citroen’s ad for the C5 where they say that the C5 is ‘Unmistakeably German, Made in
France, had the bloggers on over- drive. I haven’t seen the ads on Irish television, but you can of course
check it out on You Tube. We are all supposed to be Europeans now, yet there is no better way to start a row
than compare traits from different oles aloe I liked the line from the brochure
which simply stated ‘Passion meets Logic.’
I drove a diesel model and it was very quiet. There is plenty of room for five adults and the boot is huge. It would I feel be ideal for taxi drivers or even for chauffeuring work.
The car was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating, making the C5 one of the safest cars on the road. You get up to nine front, side and curtain airbags plus a specially cre- ated torso-shaped bag for extra safe- ty. In the Dynamique model I drove you also get a host of extras includ- ing 17 inch alloy wheels, fog lights, auto wipers, etc.
It really is a beautiful looking car and would I think look well in any driveway.
Prices start at €27,850 for the 1.8 petrol, while the price of the 1.6 diesel version I drove has dropped to €29,850 from July 1. Citroen say they are the lowest CO2 emissions manufacturer, yet the C5 is rated at the C Road Tax Band which is €290 per annum. Still I suppose it’s not bad for such a large motor.
Overall a most enjoyable drive. In the words of the old song ‘C’est si bon.’