Berlingo/Pug Partner Reliability

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sun 1 Dec 2002 22:34
Berlingo/Pug Partner Reliability - KB.
Perhaps my enquiry, made in the CITROEN DEALER post elsewhere, should have been better placed here, so here it is.........

I'm not able to respond to the specific question here, but instead, have a question about Citroen and Peugeot in general. I, at present, have a Yaris and because it's a Toyota don't have any great concern re. reliability. I've been looking at the correspondence about the new Berlingo/Peugeot Partner and am well aware of the comments and experiences regarding French versus Japanese. HJ often expresses doubt over French models (including the Scenic, this week in the Telegraph column). Yet he recommends the Berlingo as much as the Yaris. I'm a bit confused as to whether to expect the French to be as reliable as the Japanes given their poor statistcal showing in JD Power and almost everywhere else - and yet there are so many Kangoo's, Scenic's, Picasso's, Berlingo's, surely they wouldn't sell if they were that bad? The Gas Boards/WaterBoards plus a million other firms use them - they surely wouldn't keep buying stuff that was patently duff?

My Yaris is great - provided you don't want to put anything bigger than a shoebox in the boot. The Berlingo HDI is much more useful - the Picasso equally so. Yet they're as cheap as chips (comparatively). I'm concerned that if I sold a Toyota for a Citroen and it all went wrong, everyone would say "What did you expect?

Finally, it is my perception that Peugeot wasn't/isn't known to be as quirky as Citroen, yet the Berlingo and Partner are virtually identical. Are they made side by side - in which case where's the grounding for my argument?

Advice please - particularly from HJ himself in order to square the points about his recommendation of a brand which, elsewhere, he is much less enthusiastic about.


Incidentally, there's a newer version of the Picasso with black rather than beige dashboard - to reduce the glare problem presumably.

I note the deadline regarding the discount on Citroen's, but cannot help but feel that Citroen have 'always' heavily discounted their models and even if the 17.5percent deal does finish soon, then there'll be another just around the corner.


Look forward to replies in order to put my mind at rest.


KB.
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Mon 2 Dec 2002 08:48
Berlingo/Pug Partner Reliability - Ben79
The Berlingo and Partner are made in the same factories in Mangaulde in Portugal and Vigo in Spain, (also made in Argentinia). Most are made in Spain along with the Picasso, however according to the PSA 2001 Annual Report, the mechanicals are all made in France.

I personally think that the discounting will reduce in the beginning of next year due to the consolidation of trim levels, eg now no C5 Exclusive SE, and the spec changes of current models eg new stalks and colours on Picasso. Discounting will presumably resume again.

Ben
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Mon 2 Dec 2002 12:00
Berlingo/Pug Partner Reliability - terryb
I've never had any reliability problems with any of my Citroens, from an elderly Visa to new XMs and most models in between. But there are rogue cars in all makes, it's just the luck of the draw. IMHO of course!

Terry
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Mon 2 Dec 2002 19:09
Berlingo/Pug Partner Reliability - KB.
Thanks, both, for info and opinions.

Regards,
KB.
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If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?