I agree that they are amazing and cheap cars but they lack modern safety features and you will definetly not be bullet proof if you crash into modern heavy SUV. In that case you will have engine on your lap while modern SUV will have just scratched paint. There are many crash test videos on RU-vid showing old cars vs new one and it opened my eyes why not to drive old cars especially with two young kids inside. You risk your life every drive and it is not worth it for saving few thousand Dollars.
If you are considering a C3 MK1 these things you should keep in mind: Avoid Sensodrive automatic gearbox, reliability is bad. If you can, find a 1.4 HDi 68hp (no DPF, no MAF, no variable vein turbo etc.), or a 1.6 HDi. 1.4 petrols can blow headgaskets ( the same engine is found in fiesta 1.4 and peugeot 207 from same era). 1.6 i dont know much about but they seem reliable. If you get a 1.4 hdi then only a few things can go wrong: diesel lines running up to the HPFP can develop holes, usually under the air box, which causes diesel to flow back to tank (vacuum suction up to the HPFP). other than that no real common issues. maybe if you are unlucky a coil spring breaks, diesel injectors may break, abs wiring can fray giving abs sensor out of range error... i have had these issues, but i bought a very bad example. Make sure you get one with good history and you will save big bucks.
I had mine for a few years been fine. Picked it up for £100 its mint was serviced every year body work and interior good. Just had a worn clutch me and a mate done it. Its on 49000 miles now was a deal. The lady just didnt want to drive no more. Just done a timing belt on it just to keep it sound for years engines smooth and silent.
I had this car for 7 years and drive it daily. Maintenance is incredibly cheap as OEM spare parts are very cheap. They made a lot of them so there is also a ton of second hand parts available. These cars were made incredibly simple and reliable so every car mechanic can service them. I had 1.2L petrol and fuel consumption was about 5L. But it lacks power so definetly go for 1.4L. My C3 was 20 years old and it started to rust so I bought DS4. To sum it up my C3 was very reliable, incredibly cheap to maintain, low fuel consumption, tons of OEM cheap parts available, tires are cheap etc. Now bad part is that it is old car and if you will crash in it to modern SUV than you will die even in low speeds. It is very unsafe these days to drive old car when road is full of heavy SUVs and everyone drive so fast. That is the main reason why I switched to DS4. It is much safer car with side airbacks and much better made frame.
It depends. Its cheap and reliable but it lacks modern safety features. Buy second generation at least. Progress in safety between 2000 and 2010 was incredible. I bought 2012 DS4 for that reason as replacement for my old C3 2004.
The 1.1 and 1.4 petrols are hugely capable and robust. My family have had two 206s with 1.1 engine and did over 200k driving to Germany and back. Easy diy ubiquitous spares. Weak link is torsion bar on rear. Superb cheap transport.
I dont got any problems at all. You got the 75HP or 88HP engine? And what Probleme do you got? I got the 88Hp engine and the only problems i got is that my timing belt makes some noise
@@Risinjockeys I also got the 1.4i 73 hp but i have no major problems. I definetly not call it very unreliable. I had to replace the throttle body once. Very unreliable was my vw polo 1.2 gasoline 54 hp.
