So where's the flippin' "robot" button then? (Citroën C4)

Member Name: The_Patriarch

Product:	Citroën C4
Date:	16/12/05 (12660 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High Tech gadgets, 20K Mile service intervals, smooth ride and good handling

Disadvantages: I can't make it dance .

So, you've all seen the Citroen advert haven't you? Car turns into all singing, all dancing robot thingy. Well, that car's a Citroen C4 (model shown is the 2.0 Exclusive).

The birth of my son finally persuaded me to part with my much loved 3 door Focus ST170. I needed a new family friendly car with 5 doors, but what to go for? So I spent a bit of time researching (and it was mainly based on budget) and came up with a shortlist of affordable (..ish) small family 5 door cars

Now back to the advert. You must have seen it! You know, the Citroen C4 one that shows a nifty looking motor that turns itself into a robot thingy and dances to a catchy tune. It's all high tech and "fandabadoosy".

"Splendid!" Methinks "I'd really like one of those" A proper Boys Toy, full of gadgets….and let's not forget…a car that actually turns into a robot!!

So I pop into the nearest showroom (…must remember to ask the salesman to show me the robot thingy) and look at the range of new C4's. Then I take it for a test drive (....must remember about the robot thingy). OK. So far, so good. Next we talk cash … (damn! forgot to ask about the robot thingy). Well, I know how much it costs in the showroom. So then I spend hours, no days…nay weeks, searching the internet for all the good deals, only to end up back at the first dealer showroom with an offer I can't beat anywhere else. It's a deal. Oh yes!!

I pay the equivalent of £11,800 for the C4 1.6 16V VTR Plus - with metallic paint. Now that's a good deal, because the showroom price (with metallic paint) is £14,645. Even "What Car?" suggest a target price of £12,388 PLUS £350 for the option of metallic paint

Oh joy! Can't wait to get it home and show this one off (… bugger! Forgot to ask about the robot thing again!).

Now then, this is still a serious amount of dosh, so what do you get for your money? - let's have a quick look shall we?

***** Features & Technical Specifications *****

There are a range of models in petrol and diesel engines and mine is the 5 door, petrol 1.6 16V (110 bhp) VTR Plus. (Not the model shown on the advert, by the way). Other than 4 wheels, a body and an engine, standard features on this car are as follows:

* ABS,
* remote central locking,
* power steering,
* leather steering wheel,
* electro chrome rear view mirror,
* air conditioned glove box (nice touch, that)
* climate control (dual zone!),
* 17" alloy wheels,
* immobiliser,
* heat reflecting windscreen,
* cruise control,
* speed limiter,
* rain sensitive windscreen wipers,
* automatic headlamps,
* electric front & rear windows (which are one touch operation with Anti-pinch),
* electric wing mirrors,
* multi-function On Board trip computer
* RDS Radio/CD player.

Apart from metallic paint, I have no optional extras 'coz I'm now skint, as well as tight fisted, but some of the extras available include: Power seats adjustment, Leather Seats, Traction Control, Alarm, Sat Nav, Bluetooth Handsfree system, Electric Sunroof and 5 disc multi changer CD

First impressions are favourable.

***** Exterior *****

The C4 is the replacement for the outdated Xsara. It has a whole new rounded look, with a completely different front end, which features the signature chevrons mounted in the chrome front grille and "boomerang" headlights. It comes in both three and five-door versions and they look very different, with the 3 door version having a "chopped off" rear end. I have the rounded 5 door version of the "VTR plus", in a nice metallic "arctic steel", which is just a posh way of saying silvery grey. It has 17" alloy wheels, which I must confess are an absolute bugger to clean.

***** Interior *****

Inside the cabin, the bucket style seats are upholstered in a black and blue cloth called "Mesh 3D X Ray", which both looks and feels luxurious. These seats are exceedingly comfortable and there's ample leg room for passengers. The steering wheel has a fixed centre area which keeps the controls mounted on it in fixed positions. These are easy to reach and make the rest of the facia look neat & tidy. There is a large LCD display in the centre of the facia top, which is see-through, thus making it easier to read in sunlight. This mainly acts as your speedometer and display for the on board computer. Further down the central dash is a smaller LCD display, a quality looking "unique fit" Radio/CD and controls for the Dual Zone climate control. There's an innovative air freshener (aromatiser) that's built into the centre vents. The boot is a fair size and everywhere you look inside the car, there are storage spaces of varying sizes and push/pull drawers, for pens, loose change, bottles of drink, etc. Yes, it's still a little bit plasticky in places, but it does look "the biz".

Citroen claims the C4 to be the roomiest car in the class, though I'm not too sure about that.

Now the details.

***** Performance & Handling*****

According to the book, this has a top speed of 121 mph and will do 0-60 in 10.6 seconds. As a law abiding citizen, I obviously haven't tested the top speed. I haven't yet had the occassion to use either the speed limiter or the cruise control and have rarely gone beyond 90 mph (…and that was only by accident, you understand…), but it cruises nicely on the motorway producing a quiet, smooth and comfortable ride. It does add a burst of energy as it passes the 3000 rpm mark. Pulling away from the lights is no problem (except when they're red of course, in which case expect a lot of problems!), although it's certainly no "speedy Gonzales".

Although it's a little less fun than my old Ford Focus, it moves along the road sedately with no problems from bumps, humps and dips. Steering is accurate and it nicely navigates a turn with plenty of grip to keep, keeping the wheels firmly on the road and not drifting.

***** Behind the Wheel ..AKA "Gadgets" *****

The controls in the steering wheel's centre are simple to use - it's just a thumb span away. That thumb can then control the stereo, the computer and display screen, the cruise control and speed-limiter device. Just behind the steering wheel is a pod-mounted rev-counter whose scale, apparently, glows red as the limit approaches, though I have never experienced this as I am a sedate driver (hee hee). The central LCD display includes the speedometer and everything else.

I'm still looking for the button that turns this into a robot…..I know it's here somewhere!

I've read that the speed limiter uses the drive-by-wire throttle to limit the C4 to a pre-set speed, which you can exceed only by pressing hard against a resistance in the pedal. Not tried this yet.

***** Safety & Security*****

Fortunately I haven't been in a position to have tested the safety or security features of this car. I do know, however, that most of today's safety knowledge has been applied to the C4. It has front, side and curtain airbags as well as the electronic stability system, which would help to avoid any crash in the first place. The aluminium bonnet is clear of the engine beneath, hence aiding pedestrian protection. The front end is specifically designed to be easily repaired due to sacrificial impact absorbers, which divert collision forces away from the passenger compartment, and the front wings are plastic.

An immobiliser is standard and the electric tailgate lock can't be picked. I haven't actually noticed, but apparently the doors and tailgate lock as the C4 moves off.

***** Running Costs *****

Day-to-day running is relatively cheap, as the engine is fairly fuel efficient. I've only done about 6,000 miles so far, so I don't think it's reached optimum performance yet. However, according to the on board computer, I'm averaging about 37.5 mpg, which isn't at all bad for mainly urban & city driving. Servicing is an annually or at 20,000 mile intervals and the Insurance Group for my model is Group 6. At the moment it's unknown how this car will fare with depreciation.

***** Further Information *****

As it's quite new, you'll no doubt find plenty of independent road tests from institutions such as "What car?" For full specs and options go to the Citroen website at:

http://www.citroen.co.uk

***** My Opinion *****

Not the fastest 1.6 by a long way, but incredibly good value for money! So far I'm well chuffed with this car and haven't got 'round to using all the gadgets yet. I'm buying lots of pens to put into all those cubby holes. I'm giving it 4 stars.

...Bit disturbed that I can't get it to dance (like on the advert) ...still haven't found the "robot" button yet ......where is that button? Must be here somewhere!

Thanks for reading. Cheers!

Summary: A very comfortable and smooth ride, but not the quickest off the block.

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