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The worst hire car ive had was defiantly a Citroen C3. It was a new 2017 model so expected better, but it was noisy, slow and horrific to drive. So soft, vague and light, all by design of course. Why would anyone want something so awful to drive? It would be far more terrifying than a Cupra because at anything over 30 you felt completely detached from the car, like you were trying to walk on ice. Worse of all everything was operated via the touch screen, which I swear is not safe. You have to look, whereas real buttons and dial can be done with feel.
My best friend used to have a Toyota Aygo. Yes it was slow and basic, but it had a certain honesty about it, and it drove fine. He even managed to exceed the manufacturers economy figures with it, getting 68mpg on a 500 mile trip.
Despite me not liking a 2004 first-generation 'auto' Citroen C3 I was lent years ago, I have to defend the current version to an extent,
(not least because I chose to buy one over other similar cars for my Missus.)
For sure it's no driver's car, but then it's not sold as such and - (the odd hot hatch version aside) - Citroen's never have been.
Comfort is what they are supposed to be about and the current C3 certainly rides more comfortably/deals with speedhumps
better than all of it's supermini rivals that I tried, including the rather tinny-feeling Aygo. It is also surprisingly quiet, (certainly no
noisier than Father's 6 month newer 1.2 Leon.)
Although the steering is too light and feel is rather limited, so it is with most modern electric-assisted systems. The car handles perfectly
ok at low/medium speeds without the pitching/yawing of her previous GM supermini and cruises quite well at high speed on the motorway.
A B-road blast reveals it's handling limitations quickly enough, (the poorly set-up rear suspension being the main culprit) and is certainly
unpleasant to drive in such circumstances, but then it's not built or sold for that and most owners wouldn't drive it in that manner anyway.
The 3 cylinder engine has enough power for this type of car and has a good amount of low-down torque which suits the relaxed nature of the car well. The touchscreen is annoying at first until you get used to it, but the 'important' safety functions like instant demist and HRW are on 'normal' buttons below the screen anyway. The screen icons just mean it takes longer to change some features than is ideal - a minor PITA
sometimes, but nothing more. In short, it suits it's intended clientele pretty well - but wannabe racers certainly need not apply.