written by on 01/10/2010
I have had 3 Saxo VTR's now, so it's fair to say I know a fair bit about them. Every Saxo I've had is great to drive, handles very well, has good acceleration and can achieve around 36-40mpg when driven normally. The interior is fairly cheap, and the boot is small but it's what you expect from an older Citroen really. The engine when standard makes a lovely roar without the need for silly induction kits or big exhausts, the car really puts a smile on your face when in the country. It is also good on the motorway, although you do tend to get blown around a bit. Also the MK2 Saxo is much better than the mk1, it is faster, has better fuel consumption and has various other improvements across the board.
The bad points of this car are the reliability, MAKE SURE when you buy one that it's had few owners, full service history and has not been lowered because the rear suspension bushes wear out very quickly resulting in needing a new axle, oop's! You will find with VTR's and VTS's you will constantly be carrying out some kind of repair to it, the parts are not to bad to find or buy but, don't go in to buying one with your eyes closed, if It's a bargain there is a reason!
Hope this has helped!
written by davejoss1 on 19/07/2008
Good little car for some one who is into hot hatches, but they don't take a lot of knocking about, unfortunately thats why teenagers normally go for this type of car.
written by on 27/04/2008
Good fun car to drive and if you can get one cheap enough then it's well worth it.
written by daveturnbull1000 on 24/05/2005
I've had my Citroen Saxo VTR for about 6 months now and I have enjoyed it! Cheap to run and cheap to insure! I had the VTS before the VTR and both are very similar, changed to the VTR because it was a lot cheaper to run. The car can be quite nippy for a small hatch alough the VTR has nothing like the performance of the VTS. The interior is a bit dated and isnt as appealing as similar hatches such as the 106 or the Golf.
One thing that puts me off and i'm sure others too is the fact that lots of VTR's/VTS's are driven by the gangs of boy racers! The engine lacks low end torque and this is a major problem when in the higher gears and you are attemting to overtake!
written by stuartdwebb on 17/11/2003
Overall the Citroen Saxo VTR ia a good car. I Have a 53 VTR in black and polished up it does look smart. The build quality is appaling in places so I would suggest you check the car over before purchasing. Mine had gaps between the wheel arches and the main body and a rippling effect down the side panels, even the saxo badges were falling off.
Don't expect exhilirating performance as you will be disappointed, 0-60 in 10 seconds is NOT fast. I bought mine as it had a years free insurance and its good for an everyday, get yourself to work and back, car. For the money you pay, around £8000 (its being discontinued end of year, look out for deals), its better than a 1.0 litre car that will struggle up a slip road.
The car does handle very well, and grips round tight corners remarkably. The pedles are very close together but you do get used to that quickly. The gears can be stiff and clunky and I have known a lot of VTR's to crunch going into reverse.
I purchased my car from new and it had a three year warranty so I just listed all the little build quality faults for the dealership to rectify at Citroens expense.
If you want to get yourself one I would recommend getting a new one as a lot of the 2nd hand ones are going to be poorly looked after and thrashed, the boy racers seem to think its a porsche beater!!
written by carlospn53 on 05/11/2003
Who are you all trying to kid ive just bought a new 53plate Citroen Saxo VTR and wish i hadnt its not that quick locks up to easily wheel spins to easily not enough grip oversteers far to easily this car is unsafe for a fast driver. Comparing it to my MG zr 120 well it doesnt its certainly not quicker and it sure doesnt handle as well and grip level is awful but it does have rear disc the ZR didnt have those but big deal verdict totally average car not worth the 9000 i paid
written by on 23/11/2010
great car - yes!
fun - yes!
however it doesn't like rain! went round a corner I've known for years in the wet last night and the VTR decided to go over a puddle at 45 mph (aquaplaning) and kick the rear end out mid way over, when coming out, I slammed it into 2nd with enough opposite lock to cancel out the slide, to no ovail which I'm still confused about? and before you say I'm a qualified driving instructor (racing) and have an ARDS Licence as well as my standard full licence! don't plan out going out in it for a drove at
night, luckily for me it managed to miss a roundabout directions sign by a couple of inches, and go into a hedge, you may not be so lucky, and plus its only a 2 star NCAP so your not even as safe as you thought you were. still only minor damage, but hedges are forgiving :)
written by Kiirsty09 on 02/07/2009
ive just bought a citreon saxo VTR but worried about the insurance as im only 16 drivin it when im 17 coz every1 has told me that the insurance is gona be through the roof
written by bener5 on 03/02/2007
if your not going to thrash one then go out and buy one because you'll get a good one for £2000.
written by alex007 on 15/04/2005
I owned two of these Citroen Saxo VTR cars- a 1998 mk1 VTR and a 2001 mk2 VTR. I love the way it goes and having passed by test in a 1 litre Micra, the VTR seemed like a Skyline when I was 17. Now I actually do drive an R34 but I'm still a fan of the Saxo's styling which looks timeless on both the mk1 and mk2. Reliability isn't as bad as you are made to believe. There are faults with the car (ie- build quality) but the pros certainly outway the cons with this future classic.
written by montana79 on 12/05/2004
This is a very conservative and honest review.
I bought a 2002 Saxo brand new at the time and after driving it home from the show room noticed that the back quater panels were rippled. They looked awful as if someone had kicked them.
I took the car back the following day and showed the dealer which they said they're all like that, which is true when you look down the side on most saxo's. This is due to the panels being glued on! Anyway, I had my panels replaced after much arguing under the warrenty and they look fine now.
The engine in the saxo is OK, its quite nippy and capable. However I stress nippy and NOT quick. Don't expect to be beating the average family saloon car. The ride on acceleration doesn't give the feeling of much torque, you get to the speed you want to but you don't get any thrills from doing so.
Inside everything is very old fashioned and poorly built, very clunky. The stereo is very average for a standard unit, the CD player often struggles to play CD's.
The gearbox often finds you searching for the gear when driving fast, many a time I've been unable to get the car into gear at speed. Often at low speed the gear box is clunky. The handling of the car is excellent though especially round corners. Driving at excessive speeds the handling is too edgy for comfort, the back wheels seem to loose traction big time.
Outside it looks sporty and quite cool and defintely looks its best in Icelandic Grey or Red.
Overall a very average car, not quick but OK.
Written on: 05/03/2005
I strongly disagree with parts of this reveiw. Yes, the build quality isn't great but what do you expect for the price. This is how they make it cheap. I also disagree with it not being quick. Sure its no rocket ship but a 1st gear launch in the dry is still fun!! Most of these cars are bought by young lads like me. Most of us have been driving small, slow and often old cars. When I purchased my '98 VTR I was delighted! All in all you get what you pay for. If you spend £25k on a Scooby then it'll be quick, but for a car that you can get for sub £4k and only insurance group 7, you can't go wrong. This is the best 'hot' hatchback for the money of the lates 90's/early 00's!
written by quiksilver1234 on 01/03/2004
Ok ill start with the performance becuase of the Citroen Saxo VTR. This is a young persons car and thats what normally catches attention. The performance is pretty average of most 1.6 litre engines however their is an extensive range of parts available for both engine and styling mods. The handling is firm and presice but has an unpredicatble feel to it at high speeds, especially at the back end. The interior is awful looking for a car that looks sharp and sporty from the outside. Overall this would be a great first car but I recommend you shop around, I regret not looking at the Fiat Punto sporting after my friend got one which is overall a much better car.
written by Rick. on 22/02/2003
I bought my saxo vtr from Reg Vardy in September 2001 after i just got my new job. I picked vardy's because at the time they were offering saxos with the full Dimma Concept body Kit (which i might add is the nicest looking kit on the market!). I snapped there hands off at the time so i could finance the car with the body kit on it, which was also included under the paint warranty etc. After two months of having the car paint started to chip off the body kit in numerous places but in particular on the side skirts. I took the car straight back to vardy's and they tried to blow me off saying that it was stone chips. Yeah, whatever! So i decided to take the car to an independent bodyshop to get a second opinion. My suspicions were correct and the bodyshop confirmed that the kit wasn't primed properly before it was painted!! It then took me 2 months of countless arguing with the sales manager at vardy's to respray the kit!! As a word of warning don't automatically assume a big dealer is going to do the best job because they will do anything to sell you a car at the end of the day. Since the business with the body kit i have spent a whopping £4500 on the car which includes: Exhaust, blitz induction kits, superchips, high lift camshaft, 16'' momos and lowering springs etc. The car is now running at a healthy 133bhp which is pretty impressive for a vtr, needless to say i've had countless fun with vts's over the year! The only thing i am disappointed in now is the ride quality. With it being lowered 40mm and wearing 16's the ride is now very jarring and at the least very annoying. The car has also developed alot of rattles here and there since the suspension setup has changed due to the deplorable build quality. Due to my own experience i would actually recommend this car for a little run about because it is such a blast to drive. However i wouldn't advise anyone to muck about with the suspension and wheel setup because the car is simply not built to take the consequences. Besides you can spend all the money you like on this car and when you come to sell it you won't get a penny back. I am now looking at buying the new Astra GSI because i am completely fed up with the saxo, can you believe the dealer has only offered me £6500 for it!!!! Doh!! BE WARNED!!!
Written on: 19/05/2003
LMAO @ 133Bhp. £4500 pounds later......excluding the £8k you spent on the car itself! Man, people dont understand the words 'rip off'
Written on: 18/05/2004
Another good insurance company to use is elephant.co.uk My premium is now low enough for me to get insured on practically anything for £5/600.
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<br>But to be fair, the VTR will probably be one of the most crashed and neglected cars you can buy. If you want a sporty car choose one that's not so popular, and you'll be laughing!
Written on: 19/04/2004
Oh dear, I can't believe it. 133bhp, that's less than my dad's 1.8 mazda 6.
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<br>And you spent over £15k. You could buy almost any second hand car for that, an Impreza, a lotus elise, BMW M3, Delta Integrale, an old Jag, whatever! But you all go for the same Saxo with the same 17" alloys and the same body kit, the same induction kit.
<br>Well good luck to you, enjoy it and i'll enjoy laughing at your car when its in Auto Trader for £3000 in a couple of months!
Written on: 18/04/2004
Try Tescos insurance mike. They are usually the cheapest. But even with them I don't reckon it will be much different to the others. I wouldnt bother getting a nice car to start with anyway. You will probally ruin it. Wait a year and then get a nice one. plus that way you will have a no claims bonus, as long as you dont crash so that will bring ur insurance down. hope this helps.
<br>lisa
Written on: 01/03/2004
I really don\'t understand why everyone bangs on about Saxo\'s, everyone has got one and they look rubbish with those budget bodykits.
<br>If I had to get one, I would just get a lightly modded vts without all the rubbish hanging off it.
<br>These cars are 10 a penny, everyone and his dog has got one so u r not gonna turn any heads anymore!
<br>If you want a cheap hot hatch get a fiat uno turbo, it\'s only group 11 and is massivley tuneable and quite rare, and if you have a little more then a 205 1.9 is brilliant!
Written on: 25/06/2003
im 17 just taking my lessons now, im looking at the saxo for my first car ive seen a v-reg 1.4 i like the look of but its only £4000 n all the insurance companies ive tried want stupid money like £5000 just to insure me, its stupid! anyone give me any hints about lowering my insurance quotes! and ye that is with pass plus! what can i do?
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Elainemathewson's Response to carlospn53's Review
Written on: 13/07/2004
I reckon you bought a dodgy one mate... yours must be a complete one off...
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<br>bought mine for £5,000 at 2 years old, only 20k on the clock... never had any problems with it bar the usual replacement break pads etc...
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<br>excellent little car, light, nippy, can accelerate quickly if you want or need it too, looks nice, sticks to the roads better than anything I have ever driven. I live in a city full of roundabouts and can go round one fully at 50mph no problem... corners like its on rails...
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<br>I'd take yours back to Citreon if I were you!