Firstly a bit about what the car has, both inside and out as standard.
I'm basing this on a 2000 W plate Mk2 5door automatic model.
Inside
Electric heated mirrors Electric windows Tilting/sliding sunroof Two air bags, driver and passenger Standard CD player Three speed fan Rear heated windscreen Valour upholstery Rev counter Digital clock Spit folding rear seats
Outside
Colour coded side strips and bumpers Colour coded mirrors and grill Power steering Servo Assisted Brakes Alloy wheels as standard Remote central locking Car alarm Boot spoiler
Statistics
According
to book figures
Top speed - 103 mph 0-60 - 13.9 seconds 3 speed gear box Mpg - 35 Torque 82 lb-ft Petrol Insurance group 5 1360 cc 8v Weight - 880kg
My own opinion and thoughts on this car.
I had this car as my first car, after driving past it parked up on the side of the road, I bought it for £2500 two and half years ago with 60,000 miles.
It's cheap to insure as a first car and still a fast, nippy little car because it's so light. I've found it to be very economical both around town and long distances, doing about 100 miles to a £10 when petrol was 100.9 a litre. The handling is amazing when it has decent tyres on Michelin Energy being the standard tyres used. Goes easily around corners and is easy to drive around traffic fitting through most gaps. The suspension that Citroen is famous for is brilliant, goes over any bumps easily without feeling them. Including large speed bumps. I've added Citroen Saxo VTR wheels to mine which adds loads of extra grip and has improved the handling greatly, although they are very close to the rear arch when there is a lot of weight in the back.
The gearbox is smooth and easy to work, it drops down a gear as soon as your foot is flat down. It never has a problem changing into gear or with reverse.
The engine sounds as smooth and quiet as the day I have it, never had any engine problems starts from cold even after a week or two of not being used.
The inside is spacious for a small car with adjustable front seats, there is lots of room in the boot and the seats fold to make more space if you want to put something large in the back. The seats are comfy on long journeys and are a nice grey shade not looking to floral.
I find it a fun little car to drive all though long distances in the summer are missing air-con instead you get to smell the fresh air and have all the windows and the sunroof down. The handling deteriorates when you have passengers in the back or any large weight.
They are not a very safe car and are only 2 stars NCAP rated and I have known people who have crashed their Saxo and the air bags haven't even gone off when they should of. The panels on the car do feel thin and weak.
I have never had anything major go wrong with mine just small bits that you would expect on a nearly 8 year old car with 90,000 miles on it. A few problems common to the Saxo are the sunroofs and aerials leaks usually caused by a blocked pipe or loose seal, the steering sometimes knock meaning the strut top bearings need replacing, the airbag lights often flash when the wires under the seats come loose. Standard brakes are beyond rubbish you might as well not have brakes, it has disk brakes at the front and drums on the back, I have upgraded the brakes on my Citroen Saxo VTS to those off a Peugeot 306gti-6 which have made amazing difference so I plan to do the same to my 1.4, all it needs is a bit of grinding and they fit straight on.
Citroen main dealers are very expensive but Saxo parts are very easy to get hold of parts from other places and either fit them yourself or get someone to do it cheaper. Some dealer branches are not very helpful others are it varies which one you go to. Servicing is also expensive from the main dealer and can be done by your self or a back street garage, the Haynes manual for the Citroen Saxo is very helpful.
You get a 1.4 Citroen Saxo for around £1800 which is very cheap compared to other cars of that age, they are definitely worth that kind of money being a fun cheap to insure, economical car. I think the outside looks stylish with smooth lines, the new style front end on the Mk2 has modernised them a lot. My model has a spoiler on the back which finishes it off nicely. The colour coded bits look nice blending in well with the rest of the car.
I would definitely recommend this car to anyone either as a first car or a general car with cheap insurance and tax.
I love my Citroen Saxo so much as a second car I went and brought the top model Citroen Saxo but still have my original one.
I hope this review helps anyone looking at these cars.
Pictures of Citroen Saxo 1.4
with standard wheels on
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I crashed my V reg Saxo four weeks ago. It was a small impact but the thing was written off. The side panel and bumper seemed to explode and shot up in the air when the other car made impact with mine. The air bags never went off either- but maybe because it wasn't a great impact. I never liked my Saxo though, it was a seriously basic model and didn't even have power steering. I only paid £300.00 for it though so I can't complain. Yours sounds much nicer. A great detailed review... have an E from me. Lisa x
Advantages: Very nippy, sporty feel and look, cheap insurance, excellent road handling Disadvantages: A little noisy if anything - due to sports suspension
K8marie 27.03.2003 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Citroen Saxo 1.4
Mar 22nd, 2008
exceptional by (28%):
very helpful by (69%):
helpful by (3%):
