Citroen C3 Pluriel 1.6 16V Sensotronic

I bought the Citroen C3 Pluriel 1.6 16V Sensotronic in 2006, trading in my much loved 1999 Saxo VTR.....What a mistake.

I have had nothing but trouble with the "snowflake" symbol coming on and the car going into neutral for no reason. Each time the fault couldn't be diagnosed. This culminated eventually, in total gearbox failure last October and a bill for nearly £1,500!!!! Not happy and don't really know what to do apart from selling the car.

The Citroen C3 has to be the least reliable car I've owned since I started buying cars in 1971.

The Engine Warning Light comes on, the car usually goes into "limp home mode" and is downwrite dangerous to drive with as close to zero power as you can imagain. Sometimes the light comes on but drives normally.

Citroen UK just do not know how to diagnose this. They read the error codes, and say "looks like the coil" or "looks like the spark plugs" or "looks like a wiring problem" or "change the accelerator pedal and see if that fixes it".

The fault goes away for a few days, then sure as eggs, its back with the SAME symptoms. The parts replaced have had no impact on the problem.

Of course, Citroens strategy is to replace something and generate a bill. Then change something else... and generate a bill. They clearly do not have a clue how to troubleshoot problems like this.

I doubt that they will ever fix this (well, till even the wheel nuts have been replaced), so I'm starting legal action

I know one thing - I'll never EVER buy a citroen, even if they give them away with sugar puffs!

Mechanically the Citroen C3 Pluriel is excellent and very economic. A great fun car. The easiest car I've ever driven and always a joy to drive, especially in summer with the top down. Its also good in winter because the heater is brilliant. Overall, a clever design let down by poor plasticy fittings.