Hello. I used to have a MKI Fabia, and after a brief stint with a rather troublesome Renault I have decided to get another Skoda. The Citigo ticks all the boxes on paper, but I've yet to take one on a test drive. I’m looking at getting an SE 60PS. I'd love to get a top spec Monte Carlo edition, or even an Elegance 75PS, but there aren't any around here in my price range, so I'm dreaming there I think. £5k is my budget, might be able to stretch to a bit more if I can squeeze any value out of my temperamental Renault. The new car needs to last, hopefully as long as my old Fabia did - 7 years. I got that used for a similar price from Skoda and drove it until it died. Do any of you have any tips on what to look out for in a used Citigo?

Welcome!

 

Look for:

 

Poor radio reception (water damage to aerial base amplifier)

Grumbling transmission

Windscreen delamination (milky white around the edge of the glass)

 

Don't fret too much about the 75PS motor. Both the 60 and the 75 have the same torque and the extra 15PS only comes on tap above 4,000rpm.

Edited 3 July, 20179 yr by ronime

Thanks ronime, I'll look at for these things when I'm viewing the cars.

 

3-Door or 5-Door? I was thinking 5-Door, for those occasions when I need to pick the kids up from school. This will be 'the second car', 90% or the time being used only by me for commuting to work. I've been browsing the interweb this evening, and there seems to be more choice and higher specs available for the same price if you go 3-door though... But then, do I need alloy wheels over steel? Do I need fog lights? Do I need a PID? Do I need Greentech? I'd say I don't need any of these things, but they would be nice. What are 3-doors like for getting kids in and out of the back?

 

My current car is Diesel, and I rarely go over 3,000rpm, mostly cruise 70mph at 2,500rpm. I don't know what this equates to in the Citigo until I do a test drive - I know petrol revs faster than diesel - but I'm no boy racer.

3-doors don't have a memory mechanism on the front seats so you need to reset the back rest recliner every time you have tipped them forward. The 5-door does not have drop glass on the rear doors, the glass just pops out on a hinge on the leading edge.

 

If you are planning to carry back seat passengers regularly then the  5-door might be a better option for you.

 

Being quite tall and having back problems I find the B-pillar quite intrusive on smaller 5-door cars and our Citigo is normally one or two up so I opted for a 3-door. Personally, I also prefer the look of the 3-door.

 

The story from the supplying dealer was that my nearly-new low-mileage Elegance was traded in by the original owner for a 5-door because they found the 5-door more practical. Definitely a case of each to their own.

 

I find the PID quite useful. My stand alone Garmin is a better sat-nav per-se but the PID does not have trailing cables and has a useful trip computer function.

 

Fog lights on the Citigo are quite good (same lamp units as on the Scirocco and Amarok) but are hardly ever used.

 

Heated seats and electric door mirrors on the Elegance are something I would not be without now. With cruise control and rear parking sensors it would be just about perfect.

Edited 3 July, 20179 yr by ronime

My wife's 5 door SE L is perfect for her needs except she wishes she'd got rear parking sensors after she backed into a post. 

I guess there is no Citigo with quiet gearbox. So be prepared you hear some grumbling when neutral and engine is idling. They do it already when new.

 

Cruise control is a thing which I couldn't live without. As there's no too much power available you need to move you right foot quite a lot when driving highways or hilly roads. If you have cruise control you don't get ticket so easily.

Have you sat in one?

 

Unbelievably small and basic but a good drive though.

 

Possibly the nearest thing I've driven to a Mini Clubman 1275GT.  

 

Similar handling & performance and lack of interior trim

(I've driven the Citigo SE, and a Mii I-Tech and both appeared to have been stripped out for racing)

 

 

Edited 4 July, 20179 yr by camelspyyder

8 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

Have you sat in one?

Erm, well, no. Not yet. But less is more, right?

I'd suggest you go get a test drive in a brand new one and that will give you a reference point for any 2nd hand one you subsequently examine.

Also means that you will be able to compare 3 door and 5 door for any accessibility issues although for occasional transport of your children to school I would not have thought that 5 door was important. Less nimble adults usually appreciate rear doors though.

This is stating the obvious, but the driving characteristics of a small aspirated petrol engine will be different to the diesel you are used to and you may not like it and something to discover sooner than later.

 

You are buying on a budget and there is probably limited stock in your area so you have to be pragmatic about your options.

In my opinion fog lights are probably the most useless things put on a car.

Alloy wheels at this end of the market are largely a marketing exercise. Sure alloy wheels look nice but steel wheels are lighter and usually run smaller size wheel/tyre combinations that will give a better ride (bigger sidewalls) and economy. Replacement tyres are likely to be cheaper and you won't worry so much about minor arguments with kerbs.

If you just like alloys, then heart usually rules head.

 

I would not disagree about comments on the usefulness of rear sensors and cruise control but if I am buying a car then I place more importance on mechanical and body integrity than options.

 

Of course something may come up that offers everything at a good price .... then happy days.

 

 

The MC edition is all dress up and doesn't offer any proper spec upgrade from an SE really. I was interested in a colour edition when buying mine purely as I didn't actually want a white one, I wanted the nice blue colour they bought out for MY17 and the colours are all bundled in the price. The tinted rear windows are nice but nowhere near essential. The only toys I'd have specified would have been the small leather pack and the dynamic dashboard as for iirc £350 odd they add a whole lot of class to the otherwise basic interior and I see a plastic steering wheel as such a cheap feeling item for a control you know you're going to use every time you get in the car! I bought the MC because it was there and I got it for colour edition money and could have it right away so I suppose what I'm saying is don't worry too much about the Sport and MC trim, you don't actually get any extra equipment.

 

I always wanted a 5 door as I have a young child but the lack of memory on the seats when folded is a real pain and for that alone I would say it's worth having the 5 door. The PID is a waste of time really but it's nice to have for the trip computer alone but if you just want to be able to answer that emergency call or listen to music, get yourself one of these 

 

https://www.kitsound.co.uk/product/accessories/adaptors/myjack2-aux-wireless-converter

 

I have the previous MyJack that I've used in quite a few cars in the Citigo and I have a PID, it simply won't connect with my phone so this with its improved battery life can only build on the previous MyJack's qualities and for £15 they don't break the bank.

 

I hate to be the one to say it but aren't parking sensors a little overkill on such a tiny car?? Maybe I'm just used to driving bigger cars or cars with large blind spots (my convertible Audi A4 has lots of those!) but I find the Citigo so easy to park and see out of. Cruise control would have been nice but I don't miss it when I'm driving even though I thought I would. I would avoid the lowly S trim as it lack the 2 most crucial (IMO) toys, remote locking and air conditioning as standard. Stick with an SE or above and you'll be fine. An Elegance or SE-L would be nice if only for the electric mirrors but if they don't often get moved its not worth spending the extra on. 

 

Mine's a 60ps one and its adequate enough to drive and it's lots of fun. I really like it and I wouldn't seek out a 75ps one over a 60 because as mentioned the torque is the same and the power only comes in over 4000 revs.

 

Good luck with the hunt!!!

I'd just like to add, if you're still looking for a used one, don't be afraid to shop around, nationally. My car came from Newcastle (95 miles away) and was delivered free of charge to me. It was the best price Citigo 3 door I'd come across at the time on autotrader looking at all over the UK. My budget was also around the £5k mark, and for that I managed to grab the following;

 

1,500 miles

65 plate 

SE model

afew extras; stripes, spare wheel? 

Good condition (they sent me pictures and a walk around video) except for a little dint below the back window which they managed to sort out.

 

The previous owner only traded it in because they wanted a 5 door. 

 

 

Got a bargain there.

We've not had our Citigo Elegance ASG for just over 3 years and its covered 53,000miles

 

We went for the 5 door as it is more practical than the 3 door... yes the 3 door does look better visually but with the way (today) other drivers park and treat other cars in carparks 3 door can be PITA when parking with larger doors getting out and it also allows a greater surface area for parking dents from doors on doors situation.

 

Our Citigo has been very reliable, other than the radio reception problems we have only had a front light replaced as the internal adjustment failed.... all covered under warranty.

 

The above post for the 65plate looks a fantastic price! But I wouldn't be scared to seek Citigo with higher mileage if it has been serviced correctly. Our's at 53,000miles feels engine wise as good as day one we picked it up.

 

Good luck with your search

Thanks everyone for your advice, I was really surprised by the response and I've found all of your comments really helpful. What a great welcome! 

 

I have found my Citigo now, within budget, 5-door 60PS SE, 2014, low mileage, alloy wheels and a full sized spare wheel, spotless and fantastic to drive. My old but bigger, slightly faster and more powerful diesel Renault feels like it's working harder to get where it needs to go in comparison! This little car is better than I expected, it really put a smile on my face!  All that remains is for me to dot the i's and cross the t's and I can bring it home.

 

I'm already putting together a shopping list for it too, although maybe for later. I had a play with the variable boot floor in the showroom car and I like that idea a lot, it could be a very useful addition for the various random items I am often sent out to collect by my other half, making a nice level floor with the back seats folded flat. And rear arch splash guards (why on earth are they not standard?), mudguards, rubber floor mats, sill protectors, and one day maybe a PID, just to play with...

 

Happy days! 

I'd say look at my thread as all of those items on your list I have done along with the boot side carpets and auto lights but you can't right now as Photobucket has killed the thread!! I'll download all the images over the next few days and re host them in a series of replies to re document the process.

 

It's amazing how good these little Citigo's are, they are great to drive and I really like mine. Good luck with the one you have found

On 04/07/2017 at 13:25, camelspyyder said:

Have you sat in one?

 

Unbelievably small and basic but a good drive though.

 

Possibly the nearest thing I've driven to a Mini Clubman 1275GT.  

 

Similar handling & performance and lack of interior trim

(I've driven the Citigo SE, and a Mii I-Tech and both appeared to have been stripped out for racing)

 

 

"Possibly the nearest thing I've driven to a Mini Clubman 1275GT. "

 

Totally agree - most fun car to drive since I used to have tuned 850 minis a long time ago (I could never afford an 1275 as a lad)

17 hours ago, dave_scotland said:

"Possibly the nearest thing I've driven to a Mini Clubman 1275GT. "

 

Totally agree - most fun car to drive since I used to have tuned 850 minis a long time ago (I could never afford an 1275 as a lad)

 

My first car was a 1976 Mini 1000. The closest thing to this in the go-kart stakes since then for me was a brief period of ownership of a 2004 BMW MINI Cooper R50 on Sports+ suspension and 16" run-flats. I sold the MINI to buy the Citigo as the insurance was silly on the MINI for my 17 year old son (but quite sensible for my 21 year old daughter).

 

There's a fair bit more body roll in the Citigo so gaining trust/confidence to chuck it about is taking some time. I think it deserves something a little bit better than the Bridgestone Eco tyres for those kind of antics!

Edited 16 July, 20179 yr by ronime

On 04/07/2017 at 12:35, Emil said:

I guess there is no Citigo with quiet gearbox. So be prepared you hear some grumbling when neutral and engine is idling. They do it already when new.

 

Cruise control is a thing which I couldn't live without. As there's no too much power available you need to move you right foot quite a lot when driving highways or hilly roads. If you have cruise control you don't get ticket so easily.

My Citigo had a quiet gearbox.

Must be the only one then. I've owned 3. And 2 at the moment. 

I am now the proud owner of a Citigo of my own! :-) What a fantastic little car! So my next mission is to accessorize it...

 

I got my Citigo from a Skoda dealership miles away from home, and the salesperson I dealt with wasn't very helpful at all when it came to accessories, so I came away empty handed. Where is the best place to get genuine Skoda accessories from? I've yet to try my 'local' Skoda dealership - it's still half an hour away - but I will have to go there for the variable boot lid as I can't see that online. A question about that - is it the same part/parts as fitted to the VW Up!, as I do have a VW dealership just around the corner.

On 29/07/2017 at 18:01, XTC2017 said:

I am now the proud owner of a Citigo of my own! :-) What a fantastic little car! So my next mission is to accessorize it...

 

I got my Citigo from a Skoda dealership miles away from home, and the salesperson I dealt with wasn't very helpful at all when it came to accessories, so I came away empty handed. Where is the best place to get genuine Skoda accessories from? I've yet to try my 'local' Skoda dealership - it's still half an hour away - but I will have to go there for the variable boot lid as I can't see that online. A question about that - is it the same part/parts as fitted to the VW Up!, as I do have a VW dealership just around the corner.

Yeah Seat and VW ones fit the Skoda boot. Look on eBay in case there is a used one - saves you abit of cash.

 

I'm sure there's a website where you can buy Skoda accessories (it is from overseas though) a lot on here use it and can give good reviews. 

Have to say that the gearboxes on the high mileage loaners I've had over the last couple of years have all be whisper quiet even though they have been one owner vehicles with hundreds of drivers who don't give a shi*te about the way they drive them. I also took a hire car Citigo 75ps to Wales (630 miles all in). That had 12k miles on the clock and it was very quiet at all speeds town or motorway with a delightful gearbox and clutch. I love them and may have even bought one but for the fact my wife needs a Fabia size car. I wouldn't worry about the gearbox, it can look after itself!

Citigos are just happy little things.

I took swmbo's down to collect her from the airport one day just to see what a long drive was like. Stuck to 135kph indicated all the way down the motorway and back. 100miles trip and it just buzzed along happy out and so was I. Gave a few bigger cars a surprise to get passed by a gokart with a roof and even at that speed was pretty efficient. 60 little shetland ponies isnt much, but when the vehicles weights as much as a lunchbox the power-weight ratio gets better

On 30/07/2017 at 20:45, Jonny118118 said:

Yeah Seat and VW ones fit the Skoda boot. Look on eBay in case there is a used one - saves you abit of cash.

 

I'm sure there's a website where you can buy Skoda accessories (it is from overseas though) a lot on here use it and can give good reviews. 

skodatuning.de  Run it through Chrome and translate from German. If you want to make the boot look more factory go for their side carpets and if you want a variable boot floor get it then as it saves on postage. I believe if you get the floor from them along with the carpets it saves about £30 compared to the standard dealer price which is £122 from memory

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.skodatuning.de/&prev=search