Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple?

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 00:48
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Losta Risin'
Hello, All,

Which Citroën model, far past, recent or present, would you say gives the most cossetting, compliant, 'floating' ride over speedhumps and the lunar surface that typifies the UK road now, please?

I ask because my passenger has a medical condition that isn't going to get better; so my wish is for a magic-carpet-with-a-roof.

Thank you,

L.R.

Edited by Losta Risin' on 22/11/2013 at 00:50

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 04:19
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Ben79

I'd try a C6, but they are rare and some parts are expensive.

Try a 2008 onwards C5 but make sure it doesn't have the steel springs.

The ultimate in ride is an old DS but they need specialist care from someone who knows what they are doing.

Ask on French Car Forum or ask the Citroën Car Club as well.

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 09:08
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - 72 dudes

I had a 2001 C5 with the Hydractive 3+ suspension, very wafty, bit like driving a hovercraft when you first try one.

I've tried a few 2008 onwards C5s with steel springs and found it far more comfortable than most other newish cars, but as OptimaBen says, the Exclusive models with the Hydractive liquid suspension will be better still.

The old Xantia was pretty good too. Basically any Citroen that had proper Citroen suspension as opposed to the C1, C2, C3, DS3 and C4, will have a comfortable soft ride.

Avoid DS4 and DS5 like the plague, they make an Audi S Line seem quite comfortable

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 10:09
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Bromptonaut

Of those that are recent enough for spares etc not to be a problem then either the C5 or Xantia. The key to the ride is the spheres, at least those on the car's suspension units.

If they're worn the ride becomes increasingly firm and ultimately dangerous - like a conventional car with worn shocks. They wear out gradually so there's danger prvious owner may have just lived with them.

A dealer, Cit Cpecialist garage or even a suspension specialist such as Cambridge's Plaedes will regass or replace them. In France they're a fast fit item in Norauto or suchlike.

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 14:02
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - madf

The most comfortable and supple Citroen is the one at rest after a breakdown..(either electrical, mechanical or human)

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 17:57
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - mrnikko

That also applies to all German cars they are comfortable at rest and bone shakers when being driven

Give me a Citroen for comfort any day

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 21:48
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Avant

"Avoid DS4 and DS5 like the plague, they make an Audi S Line seem quite comfortable."

The 'magic carpet' ride was one of Citroen's USPs. Why on earth did they throw it away - especially as they now have two ranges. C and DS, one of which could have preserved the hydro-pneumatic suspension.

I believe that most Renaults are still fairly softly suspended.

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 21:58
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Dutchie

For comfort I can't fault the car I'm driving now.Citroen grand 4 Picasso.Driving positon great suspension excellent.Don't take my word for it take one for a drive.

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Fri 22 Nov 2013 22:09
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - RT

"Avoid DS4 and DS5 like the plague, they make an Audi S Line seem quite comfortable."

The 'magic carpet' ride was one of Citroen's USPs. Why on earth did they throw it away - especially as they now have two ranges. C and DS, one of which could have preserved the hydro-pneumatic suspension.

I believe that most Renaults are still fairly softly suspended.

If a Citroen hasn't got hydro-pneumatic suspension, then it's a Peugeot !

That is/was the fundamental fifference between Citroen and Peugeot's platform sharing.

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Sat 23 Nov 2013 10:46
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Collos25

Driving down an avenue in France in the late forties with my father at the wheel of a I think a Light 15 seemed like the most wonderful car in the world after our 1937 Austin 10.

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Mon 25 Nov 2013 03:10
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Losta Risin'
Thank you, All.

I happened across a gleaming black Citroën C6 just recently. Parked-up and resplendent in mellow sunlight thro' trees, its leather glistening; then I noticed its tax-disc: an eye-moistening £475 a year.

The image of a real DS, the classic 'Goddess' – suddenly came to mind and being tax-exempt all the more attractive it was, too.

Thank you for your recommendations.

I can comfortably say my test-drives are going to be very enjoyable.


L. R.
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Mon 25 Nov 2013 14:48
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Ed V

I have the hydraulic sprung C5, and it is as good as the old BX was. I would advise checking wheels - 16" will be much softer than my 18" ones.

I think seats today are more firm than of old, and this doesn't help. It's German-led I believe, with the BMWs in particular highlighting the need "to race" (along with the AMG stuff in Stutgart too of course, and the whole Audi RS nonsense.

They are prioritising road holding over comfort - driven perhaps also by the abundance of motoring journalists, who like to test such things, have endless space to fill, and are mostly in their 30s.

I notice in the US or continental Europe the tyre profiles are all over 60%. No-one else drives on rubber bands.

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Mon 25 Nov 2013 15:18
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Armitage Shanks {p}

DS23 Pallas or Citroen SM

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Mon 25 Nov 2013 16:51
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Collos25

German roads were and are in general smooth French roads in the past required the suspension of the Citroen while UK roads are well what can you say apart from they are some of the worst in the civilsed world.One point Andre Citroen was famous for his gear cutting hence the loco.

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Tue 26 Nov 2013 23:35
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Avant

"I notice in the US or continental Europe the tyre profiles are all over 60%. No-one else drives on rubber bands".

If UK roads are generally in a worse state than in the US or western Europe, why do we have to have these low-profile tyres? My otherwise excellent Octavia vRS is fitted quite needlessly with 225/40/18 tyres. I had all-weather Kleber tyres with 16" steel wheels put on last winter, and ride is greatly improved with no loss of handling precision: I've had them on all year.

Sadly the new Mark III Octavia vRS that I'm about to get has brake calipers that are too big for 16" wheels.

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 07:45
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - dan86

Because its fashion to have rubber bands for tyres. Like many people I prefer ride quality over race car handling as I drive my car on the road and not a glass smooth race track.

10 years ago I workd in a garage abd a large amount of our business was was selling tyres, we used to fit tyres to light weight magnesium wheels for a guy that built his own drag racers. I askd him why the wheels were so small (14") and he said skinny low profile tyres had no more grip than a ryre with a high side wall. But then again these wheels where extremely wide as well.

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 08:55
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - RT

Because its fashion to have rubber bands for tyres. Like many people I prefer ride quality over race car handling as I drive my car on the road and not a glass smooth race track.

10 years ago I workd in a garage abd a large amount of our business was was selling tyres, we used to fit tyres to light weight magnesium wheels for a guy that built his own drag racers. I askd him why the wheels were so small (14") and he said skinny low profile tyres had no more grip than a ryre with a high side wall. But then again these wheels where extremely wide as well.

It's pure fashion - I've seen people order brand new cars with the biggest diameter wheels and lowest profile tyres "because they look cool" and then complain bitterly that the ride is terrible compared to the demonstrator they tried, which had smaaler wheels/ higher profile tyres.

The main advantage of very low profile tyres is cornering stability - drag racers don't need that!

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 09:16
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - dan86

In the real world ultra low profile tyres have no advantage over 60 profile tyres. You only need them if your on a race track or your commute includes the Nerberg ring.

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 10:38
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - gordonbennet

In the real world ultra low profile tyres have no advantage over 60 profile tyres. You only need them if your on a race track or your commute includes the Nerberg ring.

I went the other way, my old MB came on 195/65 x 15 tyres as standard, always suffered from roll on bends and roundabouts, so ended up on 225/45 x 17 both in summer and winter sizes, yes i've lost the magic carpet ride but the car handles with such precision and stability now that it compensates...well almost...indeed high speed corners are a joy almost BMW on rail like.

Ideally i would have gone for a 16" wheel and kept a 55 profile, but at the time when i changed sizes, probably 9 years ago now, there were very few aftermarket wheels available in 16".

Would i do it again..no, but then i'm an old geezer now, no more sensible but wiser :-)

Edited by gordonbennet on 27/11/2013 at 10:39

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 14:43
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - skidpan

While tiny sidewalls and their handling advantages are often used as a reason to fit ultra low profile tyres (not for their stupid looks of course) the truth in the racing world is very different.

Ever looked at a Formula One car, they have very tall sidewalls but the tyres are designed to work with those sidewalls.

When I was racing my normal tyres were 8.2 x 20 x 13 and had what were probably "40" profile sidewalls (not easy to tell since they were cross plys and had different sizing parameters, would guess they were about 225 40 13). With no air in they would still support the car when stationary, found out when one punctured and still looked OK, thought the pressure gauge had broken. On some tracks I used 8.2 x 22 x 13 tyres to improve the gearing (easier than changing the diff) which were 2" taller (probably equivalent to a 225 50 13) but they were just as stiff and made no difference to the handling.

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 16:47
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - RT

F1 doesn't have high profile tyres because they're better - it's because they fixed the rim diameter at 13" many years ago and haven't changed it since.

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 18:53
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - corax

F1 doesn't have high profile tyres because they're better - it's because they fixed the rim diameter at 13" many years ago and haven't changed it since.

Really? I would have thought that F1 would be looking for every advantage possible in order to improve handling, even if all the cars have to have the same equipment.

So is a 13" wheel the best compromise, or is it just an old regulation that hasn't changed?

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 19:43
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - RT

F1 doesn't have high profile tyres because they're better - it's because they fixed the rim diameter at 13" many years ago and haven't changed it since.

Really? I would have thought that F1 would be looking for every advantage possible in order to improve handling, even if all the cars have to have the same equipment.

So is a 13" wheel the best compromise, or is it just an old regulation that hasn't changed?

Just an old regulation that's never changed.

F1 isn't about ultimate performance, although you'd expect it should be - every time they get too good, too fast, the regulations are changed to slow everyone down.

Edited by RT on 27/11/2013 at 19:44

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Wed 27 Nov 2013 23:01
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - SteveLee

I've owned most oleopnumaticaly-sprung Citroens over the years, in terms of pure ride comfort the order is (IMHO)...

1) DS - although the DS is over-soft and lollopy at today's road speeds.

2) CX - the most comfortable real world Citroen ever and perhaps the best car ever over speedhumps.

3) XM - (avoid MK1s) My Mk2 was faultless - much better handling than the CX but almost as comfy.

4) C6 - although strangely you can feel small ripply undulations at low speed - supreme on the motorway.

5) C5 (Mk2), C5 (Mk3), C5 (Mk1) obviously not the steel sprung ones which do admittedly ride nicely for conventional cars. The rebound damping of the Mk1s is badly judged making it crashy off speed humps if you take them too fast, but otherwise comfy.

6) Xantia

7) GS/GSA

8) BX

What's your budget? The X300-X308 Jag would be high up the list but might be a bit low for someone with a bad back.

The previous air-sprung Jeep Grand Cherokee is pretty comfy over the bumps.

The current steel-sprung citroen C3 Picasso rides surprisingly well, is very easy to get in and out of for people with limited mobility and is cheap to run.

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Thu 26 Dec 2013 19:02
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Piowolf

XM better than C6 ?

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Thu 26 Dec 2013 20:45
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - daveyK_UK

C6 is lovely

you may find this strange but the hyundai sonata/kia magentis rides well.

shame it cant corner, so all that lovely soft suspension is soon lost on the occupants at any bend at a decent enough speed

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Thu 26 Dec 2013 21:00
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - RT
you may find this strange but the hyundai sonata/kia magentis rides well.

shame it cant corner, so all that lovely soft suspension is soon lost on the occupants at any bend at a decent enough speed

Earlier Hyundai's had too much North American influence in everything - the Sonata is now left to the Americans while it's successor in Europe, the i40 is much more geared for European tastes - probably doesn't ride as well though.

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 04:41
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - SteveLee

Better? Don't know about that, but the ride is better. At speed both are superb - at lower speeds the XM has a much better ride than the C6 which can feel fidgety for a big Citroen.

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Sun 29 Dec 2013 15:22
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - Piowolf

I wonder whether the problem of repeated periodic changes in the hardness of the suspension also applies to the C6? Much is said about this phenomenom in the case of XM, it might be nice & soft for let's say 2 weeks and then suddenly it seems really harder, and here we go all over again

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Sun 29 Dec 2013 18:42
Citroën - Which Citroën's the most comfortable and supple? - SteveLee

Never had that problem with my XM - always beauifully supple. Maybe you have an electrical fault incorrectly isolating the extra hydra-active sphere intermittently?

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