107 / C1 / Aygo experiences?

[Bobupndown]

Will be getting a small used car for our son as a learner next year and considering options.
Anyone any experience of one of these trio?

[nordboy]

I'd be interested in the answers. My beloved daughter is learning currently, so we got a Fiat 500 twinair for her to practise in and then have. I think it's a cracking car but she just doesn't like driving it because the clutch is heavy and the gearbox and handbrake is different to her instructors Focus?????

Anyway, I'm considering the Aygo, but interested to hear about the French versions as I'm a bit French car adverse. If it's not an Aygo, it'll be a Fiesta I think.

Bloody kids.....

[ChocolateFrog]

They're great. They're all the same, built in the same factory.

Think the 107 is the rarest of the bunch.

They're prone to water leaks and I found aftermarket parts to be even more dreadful than usual. Bought some cheap drop links, tightened them up and the rubber split immediately.

I've had both petrol and diesel versions, the diesel isn't worth the slight economy improvement.

[steveo3002]

had my mk1 3 years now , all its cost is service parts and a back box

sorted the water leaks soon after buying it and its been ok since

watch really early ones for rust around the rear end /sills

good cheap cars , dont expect any refinement or luxury , theyre built cheap and lightweight, some seem to use a fair bit of oil so get in the habit of checking it weekly and check the one for sale hasn't been ran dry

[Bobupndown]

Where are the water leaks from, lights, door seals?

[steveo3002]

Bobupndown said:

Where are the water leaks from, lights, door seals?

do all of these - bumper flaps , rear lights , rear brake light, aerial base - tube of silicone sorts these out

can also be door seals and or ripped membrane under the door card if someone been fitting speakers etc , you can see these dripping in heavy rain /hosepipe

[nordboy]

steveo3002 said:

Bobupndown said:

Where are the water leaks from, lights, door seals?

do all of these - bumper flaps , rear lights , rear brake light, aerial base - tube of silicone sorts these out

can also be door seals and or ripped membrane under the door card if someone been fitting speakers etc , you can see these dripping in heavy rain /hosepipe

Sod all that. And this is on all three? Aygo, C1 and 107?

[steveo3002]

yes theyre all the same car apart from some styling changes , all can leak the same

[nordboy]

steveo3002 said:

yes theyre all the same car apart from some styling changes , all can leak the same

Great info, thanks

And how exactly do you sort out these issues?

[steveo3002]

steveo3002 said:

- tube of silicone sorts these out

[PositronicRay]

We've had a few, no leaks.

[Norton850]

We have had our 2017 Aygo from new and never had any water leaks or mechanical issues in 50k miles..Oil and filter change every other year and certainly not doted on.



Totally reliable and great fun around our local country lanes..

Edited by Norton850 on Sunday 29th October 17:47

[nordboy]

Great stuff. I've sold the daughters Fiat 500 today so now going looking for something else. These are deffo on the cards.

[Bobupndown]

I think these are probably the modern(ish) equivalent to the classic minis I drove in my teens, a bit under powered but fun to drive flat out on back roads with decent handling.
Are there any common engine or mechanical issue worty of note? I believe they are chain driven and quite reliable.

[steveo3002]

oil burning and noisey cam chain , also clutches dont seem overly strong its not uncommon to see them replaced before 30k lol

all above possibly due to the young/thriftful/old biddy owners they attract

they seem to plod on with oil changes and keep on top of the oil level , theres no oil level warning so get into a habbit of checking it , although some owners report theirs uses none

[itcaptainslow]

I’ve a bit of experience with these, especially the Mk1, as I used to manage a Citroen dealership a dozen years ago, and now run a C1 as a daily. My partner has also had a couple, and my Dad has a Mk2 C1 currently.

Mk1 issues;

• Early neglected ones are starting to rot around the rear inner & outer sills.
• The petrol engine can suffer from piston slap and use oil - they’ll carry on running forever like this, though.
• Water pumps leak, it’s a cheap, easy repair though.
• Clutches aren’t particularly robust, they don’t last too long and tend to bite high. They’re an easy one to replace, though, and Exedy do a modified, uprated clutch which seems good.
• They suffer from water ingress into the interior via the high level brake light, rear lights, door & boot seals and door membranes. Don’t use silicone - it’s a bodge. Buy the uprated seal kit from X8R for around £130, I’ve fitted one of these and mine hasn’t leaked a drop, since.
• Later Mk1’s have a modified gear linkage and a nicer stereo with Bluetooth. This stereo however is impossible to replace for an aftermarket unit due to the weird wiring harness used (ask me how I know).
• Sometimes instrument packs fail and cause weird and wonderful electrical faults, quite a rare thing, though.

Regarding the Mk2, I strongly recommend avoiding the 1.2 EB wet belt engine. It’s economical and torquey, but predictably, the wet belt breaks up and blocks the oil pump. PSA are on about the fourth revision of the belt now. They need special tools to change, and while not as horrendous as the Ecoboost, still aren’t an especially nice job.

I sound full of doom and gloom, but they’re hardy little things that are very cheap to run, fun to drive (if somewhat slow) and easy to fix. I’d highly recommend them.

[nordboy]

itcaptainslow said:

I’ve a bit of experience with these, especially the Mk1, as I used to manage a Citroen dealership a dozen years ago, and now run a C1 as a daily. My partner has also had a couple, and my Dad has a Mk2 C1 currently.

Mk1 issues;

• Early neglected ones are starting to rot around the rear inner & outer sills.
• The petrol engine can suffer from piston slap and use oil - they’ll carry on running forever like this, though.
• Water pumps leak, it’s a cheap, easy repair though.
• Clutches aren’t particularly robust, they don’t last too long and tend to bite high. They’re an easy one to replace, though, and Exedy do a modified, uprated clutch which seems good.
• They suffer from water ingress into the interior via the high level brake light, rear lights, door & boot seals and door membranes. Don’t use silicone - it’s a bodge. Buy the uprated seal kit from X8R for around £130, I’ve fitted one of these and mine hasn’t leaked a drop, since.
• Later Mk1’s have a modified gear linkage and a nicer stereo with Bluetooth. This stereo however is impossible to replace for an aftermarket unit due to the weird wiring harness used (ask me how I know).
• Sometimes instrument packs fail and cause weird and wonderful electrical faults, quite a rare thing, though.

Regarding the Mk2, I strongly recommend avoiding the 1.2 EB wet belt engine. It’s economical and torquey, but predictably, the wet belt breaks up and blocks the oil pump. PSA are on about the fourth revision of the belt now. They need special tools to change, and while not as horrendous as the Ecoboost, still aren’t an especially nice job.

I sound full of doom and gloom, but they’re hardy little things that are very cheap to run, fun to drive (if somewhat slow) and easy to fix. I’d highly recommend them.

Would you recommend the 1.0 engine as the better pick then?

[itcaptainslow]

Absolutely, just purely from it being a reliable, proven unit.

[Bobupndown]

itcaptainslow said:

I’ve a bit of experience with these, especially the Mk1, as I used to manage a Citroen dealership a dozen years ago, and now run a C1 as a daily. My partner has also had a couple, and my Dad has a Mk2 C1 currently.

Mk1 issues;

• Early neglected ones are starting to rot around the rear inner & outer sills.
• The petrol engine can suffer from piston slap and use oil - they’ll carry on running forever like this, though.
• Water pumps leak, it’s a cheap, easy repair though.
• Clutches aren’t particularly robust, they don’t last too long and tend to bite high. They’re an easy one to replace, though, and Exedy do a modified, uprated clutch which seems good.
• They suffer from water ingress into the interior via the high level brake light, rear lights, door & boot seals and door membranes. Don’t use silicone - it’s a bodge. Buy the uprated seal kit from X8R for around £130, I’ve fitted one of these and mine hasn’t leaked a drop, since.
• Later Mk1’s have a modified gear linkage and a nicer stereo with Bluetooth. This stereo however is impossible to replace for an aftermarket unit due to the weird wiring harness used (ask me how I know).
• Sometimes instrument packs fail and cause weird and wonderful electrical faults, quite a rare thing, though.

Regarding the Mk2, I strongly recommend avoiding the 1.2 EB wet belt engine. It’s economical and torquey, but predictably, the wet belt breaks up and blocks the oil pump. PSA are on about the fourth revision of the belt now. They need special tools to change, and while not as horrendous as the Ecoboost, still aren’t an especially nice job.

I sound full of doom and gloom, but they’re hardy little things that are very cheap to run, fun to drive (if somewhat slow) and easy to fix. I’d highly recommend them.

Thanks that's very helpful.

[Scrump]

My daughters have 2008 107. It has been in the family for years and is amazingly reliable .
I often take that if I am doing a local journey, it is surprisingly fun to drive.