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Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 Blue HDi 100 Flair: Second report

Citroen Cactus longterm 2
Looking better for a clean the Citroen C4 Cactus test car

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20 April 2016

Smashed light stops play…

THE second month of Citroen C4 Cactus ownership has basically been a case of smashed rear light stopping play.

Things had been going so well since the last report too, with the engine loosening up nicely now it has covered over 1,000 miles – although the Cactus has seemed to have spent too much time in airport car parks for my liking.

Which is surprising, considering I still managed to wind on another 250-odd miles travelling to and from launch activities.

Damaged light on Citroen C4 Cactus
Damaged light on Citroen C4 Cactus

One of these trips was to Docklands in London to drive the new DS DS3. While I was driving DS’s re-nosed premium supermini, members of the launch team took pity on my now impressively filthy Cactus – giving it its first wash.

The valet guys did a top job, with the Tapenade grey, red highlights and those gloss black alloys looking better than when it was delivered at the end of January. It wasn’t just the exterior of my Cactus that received some attention – they even gave the interior a welcome clean.

I think it certainly cut a dash on the suburban streets of North London, especially after the navigation system in the Cactus’s infotainment system decided for no apparent reason that this was the quickest way back to my Hertfordshire home! I got stuck in a lot of traffic that day!

So with all the time spent in car parks, I was expecting that despite those Airbumps, there had to be some damage to the Cactus’s bodywork. Instead it was a careless neighbour, who annoyingly didn’t have the courage to own up to his or her mistake that damaged this Citroen and curtailed the mileage this month.

The damage wasn’t too serious thankfully, with just some evidence of rubbing on the rear bumper and a broken rear light cluster. The rubbing looked like it would polish out, but Citroen were keen to get the Cactus back to its Coventry HQ to replace the rear light cluster.

So, the Citroen was taken away for a week and I was left with another PSA product – the excellent Peugeot 308 GT in diesel auto form.

The return of the Cactus coincided with the arrival of my new Long-termer – a MINI Clubman Cooper D, so I managed to squeeze in another couple of drives before its new keeper, Digital Content Manager Glynn, took it over.

Whilst the Cactus wasn’t perfect, the lack of rear space and slow touch screen infotainment system being the two biggest disappointments, I’m missing the Cactus already and wish Glynn well with the rest of the time with this quirky Citroen crossover.

Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 HDI 100 Flair – the figures

Doors and body style  Five-door hatchback
P11D: £18,140
Engine/gearbox: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder Euro 6 turbo diesel/5-speed manual gearbox
CO2 Emissions: 95g/km
Economy (combined): 80.7mpg
Power/torque: 100PS/ 254Nm
0-62mph/top speed: 10.7secs/ 114mph
Company Car Tax band: 17%
Company car tax at 20% yearly/monthly: £617/£51.42
Company car tax at 40% yearly/monthly:  £1,234/£102.83
Insurance group: 18A

 

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