19 Nov 08
The so-called D-sector is declining as buyers increasingly shift towards smaller and more economical vehicles - so there are some great bargains and incentives out there, and some very enticing deals and huge discounts on pre-registered, nearly-new and ex-demo models. Yet it's still a competitive market: the Ford Mondeo set the pace last year and this been followed by Vauxhall's Insignia, recently voted European Car of the Year. If you don't do a huge mileage and have the space to park a big 'un, buying a cut-price car this size may well work out nearly as cheap in the long-term as buying and running something smaller.
4Car: Cars for sale
Now less bulbous-looking and more conventional in its engineering, the super-comfy C5 is both big and cheap. Citroen dealers continually offer cashback deals or money-off promotions, and although residual (resale) values are dismal, there are savings up front...
The saloon's a pseudo-executive cruiser, while the estate's a family-friendly and immensely roomy load-lugger or caravan tower. Build quality has improved and - best news of all - the C5 now comes with conventional steel-spring suspension rather than Citroen's problematic self-adjusting air-sprung set-up (still optional, but we wouldn't bother). No longer does it feel the need to levitate at traffic lights.
The 1.6 HDI diesel (50.4mpg, tax band C) is strong enough - no point paying extra for the 2.0, 2.2 or the lovely but utterly ridiculous 2.7 HDI - and worth the extra £1000 or so that it costs over the 1.8i petrol.
Cars for Sale: Citroen C5
