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And I'm still in love <3
Well it's been 3 months since I collected my yellow and black DS3 from Howards Citroen, Taunton (great sales, shit valeters) so I've decided to do a 3 monthly report so anyone considering buying a DS3 can see what to expect.
I picked it up with 8 miles on the clock and my first impressions were ok, wasn't as quick as I expected and didn't handle as well as I expected with some quite pronounced oversteer. My one has the Michelins, in case you're wondering.
That aside, I spent the first few days wondering if I'd made the right choice and should've gone for the C4 instead. I filled it up (£60) and after putting a few hundred miles on it, started to settle in and find out what does what and why. The kids loved it and named it Buzz straight away, they still love it and randomly say just how much!
First few days out of the way and once the novelty wore off, it was time to have a good look around...
First thing I noticed is how much Citroens build quality has come on in leaps and bounds, it really is a world apart not only from their earlier offerings but also compared to the competition. Talking of which, I did shop around before I went for the DS and I don't think anything can hold a candle to it in it's class. I've yet to find anything this small that can comfortably seat 5 like this does, it really is tardis like inside.
One of my concerns while shopping around was the fact I have 2 young children, would they be able to get in and out the back ok? No worries with this, the seats slide forward more than enough to give ample space for even adults to get in and out although you have to make sure the front seatbelt has been slid all the way back on it's lower mount, otherwise they get their feet caught and end up falling out of the car on to their face. Luggage space is acceptable although with 3 daughters, I can imagine going on holiday is going to be a hoot with the amount of crap they want to lug along.
Three months down the line, what do I think?
Well, it certainly gets looked at if nothing else. The car seems to have settled in now, handling has improved to the point of being entertaining and very chuckable. Performance has really come alive, the car pretty much flies now apart from a flat spot when pulling away. Only way to cure this is plan ahead at junctions or pick the revs up to get the turbo working first, which isn't very kind to the clutch.
Although the fuel consumption has improved and is amazing on a run, majority of my driving is around town where I'm only managing 360-400 miles on a tank. I found using Citroens gear shift indicator makes this worse, so I've gone back to driving normally and it did improve. I've turned the climate off too now to see what difference this will make.
Gripes? Well, a few but nothing serious. The cup holder one has been done to death, so I won't go there. If you have young children who need booster seats, they slide around on the leather back seat like nobody's business and if the kids aren't in the car, the booster seats end up in the footwell first time you brake. I'm too tight to buy isofix ones before you mention them!
I find the rear intermittent wiper stops working after a while and has to be turned off and back on again.
No spare wheel! I mean WTF? (not you Joni) a can of gunk is no use to a split tyre, as a friend of mine found out on her way to her holiday destination recently. Being stranded until 4am in the snow over the peak district with the car fully packed and 3 young kids was no fun. A spare is NOT a luxury, Citroen. Sort your shit out.
But thats it, nothing more. Honestly. Oh, apart from the huge pothole on the M6 that put 2 scrapes on my bellones but that isn't Citroens fault.
I've worked in many main dealers of all makes and I wish other manufacturers would build cars like this, they really are that good.
If you're reading this because you're wondering if you should buy one, you're doing exactly what I did 4 months ago. We all have different tastes but if you want a good allrounder that you will look at more like a family member than a mode of transport, you won't find better than a DS3.
If you already have one, then you know you've already started having a love affair.
Well it's been 3 months since I collected my yellow and black DS3 from Howards Citroen, Taunton (great sales, shit valeters) so I've decided to do a 3 monthly report so anyone considering buying a DS3 can see what to expect.
I picked it up with 8 miles on the clock and my first impressions were ok, wasn't as quick as I expected and didn't handle as well as I expected with some quite pronounced oversteer. My one has the Michelins, in case you're wondering.
That aside, I spent the first few days wondering if I'd made the right choice and should've gone for the C4 instead. I filled it up (£60) and after putting a few hundred miles on it, started to settle in and find out what does what and why. The kids loved it and named it Buzz straight away, they still love it and randomly say just how much!
First few days out of the way and once the novelty wore off, it was time to have a good look around...
First thing I noticed is how much Citroens build quality has come on in leaps and bounds, it really is a world apart not only from their earlier offerings but also compared to the competition. Talking of which, I did shop around before I went for the DS and I don't think anything can hold a candle to it in it's class. I've yet to find anything this small that can comfortably seat 5 like this does, it really is tardis like inside.
One of my concerns while shopping around was the fact I have 2 young children, would they be able to get in and out the back ok? No worries with this, the seats slide forward more than enough to give ample space for even adults to get in and out although you have to make sure the front seatbelt has been slid all the way back on it's lower mount, otherwise they get their feet caught and end up falling out of the car on to their face. Luggage space is acceptable although with 3 daughters, I can imagine going on holiday is going to be a hoot with the amount of crap they want to lug along.
Three months down the line, what do I think?
Well, it certainly gets looked at if nothing else. The car seems to have settled in now, handling has improved to the point of being entertaining and very chuckable. Performance has really come alive, the car pretty much flies now apart from a flat spot when pulling away. Only way to cure this is plan ahead at junctions or pick the revs up to get the turbo working first, which isn't very kind to the clutch.
Although the fuel consumption has improved and is amazing on a run, majority of my driving is around town where I'm only managing 360-400 miles on a tank. I found using Citroens gear shift indicator makes this worse, so I've gone back to driving normally and it did improve. I've turned the climate off too now to see what difference this will make.
Gripes? Well, a few but nothing serious. The cup holder one has been done to death, so I won't go there. If you have young children who need booster seats, they slide around on the leather back seat like nobody's business and if the kids aren't in the car, the booster seats end up in the footwell first time you brake. I'm too tight to buy isofix ones before you mention them!
I find the rear intermittent wiper stops working after a while and has to be turned off and back on again.
No spare wheel! I mean WTF? (not you Joni) a can of gunk is no use to a split tyre, as a friend of mine found out on her way to her holiday destination recently. Being stranded until 4am in the snow over the peak district with the car fully packed and 3 young kids was no fun. A spare is NOT a luxury, Citroen. Sort your shit out.
But thats it, nothing more. Honestly. Oh, apart from the huge pothole on the M6 that put 2 scrapes on my bellones but that isn't Citroens fault.
I've worked in many main dealers of all makes and I wish other manufacturers would build cars like this, they really are that good.
If you're reading this because you're wondering if you should buy one, you're doing exactly what I did 4 months ago. We all have different tastes but if you want a good allrounder that you will look at more like a family member than a mode of transport, you won't find better than a DS3.
If you already have one, then you know you've already started having a love affair.
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