Citroen Picasso Desire
1.6 Hdi 110 Bhp
26405 Miles
MOT
Fiasco
Where does the story begin? Assuming everything has to have a beginning and an end we’ll back pedal in time to 2005, much like a Pedalo at some romantic seaside resort back pedalling bringing the Pedalo to a stop.
2005 was a decision year in many ways – the past was still holding on with a few gizmos from my previous life as a Surf Board Instructor – no – only joking – mind you I do like a good bit of the old surf, from a distance if only to admire the sand, sea and girls… David Hasselhoff move over …
I had brought with me, from a previous life, my trusted and much loved ‘Daihatsu Four Trak’ or Rocky as it is called in other countries. 2.8 c.c. of pure pulling power, 3.5 tons easy. Driven carefully, she as I called her, returned 30 miles per gallon. Mine had been a top of the range girl with everything that could be put on her – had been.
Situations change and circumstances and now with increasing fuel, insurance and potential road tax hikes meant serious consideration for a change.
Once a decision is made I move on it and anyone who knows me and my cars and equipment all know how I take care, service and keep a complete service history where possible.
We (my partner Carol and I) were driving through Glastonbury when I had this call – to drive down the Old Wells Road and look at the Avalon Citroen garage.
Michael's Citroen Picasso Desire
Photo Michael Dixon - ITR-UK
Without reason I pulled in and the next thing I was driving off in one of the demo Picasso’s.
It felt very different and quiet against the ‘Four Trak’ – lower, but not much, in the driving position department with everything built in. I was a little put out by the central Speedo, which was a little off-putting to begin with.
Having seen so many families driving the Picasso and not being particularly enamoured by the shape and look I was ready to criticize anything I thought wouldn’t make the standard I’d set against the Daihatsu.
We drove a good 20 miles or more – driving over the Somerset Levels and on roads that were not particularly easy driving. The more I drove the more comfortable I felt – I was concerned, however, on sharp blind right hand turns with the ‘quarter-light’ bar which cuts off part of the forward view.
The seats were comfortable and easily adjustable in rake, length and height. There were Air Bags, something the ten and a half year old Daihatsu lacked. Another fault, I felt, was the flashing indicator, which did not indicate neither left, nor right but flashed as if the 4-way emergency lights were on – something I could not and never have got my head around.
These were just niggles – here was a vehicle that was far more comfortable than the vehicle I’d driven for over ten years, a vehicle much larger internally than the ‘Four Trak’ and when I later found out that all the seats easily removed for storage giving van-like dimensions with a large up and over boot door the odds moved their stake somewhat.
We were driving back on the A38 towards Street when I found the on-board fuel consumption computer and I saw that we were averaging nearly 60 mpg! That was a shock that has never stopped amazing me since.
We went back to Avalon Citroen in Glastonbury and soon we had struck a deal.
I can’t say I was over the moon as the Daihatsu was so over-spec’d, needs must and we had soon signed the changeover deal – all that was left to do was to exchange the number plates to my own plate that I’d had for over 20 years (this caused a few problems with the new changeover laws meaning that the Daihatsu had to go to Bristol for verification).
Just a note – the Daihatsu ‘Four Trak’ was sold, Avalon Citroen told me, within an hour – the fastest second-hand vehicle they’d ever sold… my baby was gone and I was now in the modern world of eco-saving with a greener image in a Mediterranean Blue Citroen Picasso that changed colour with the prevailing light condition, leaving me feeling that I had a different car with each change of the light…
There were still a few niggles – I know this happens with any new car and these niggles were sorted out quickly and efficiently.
I became further impressed when we had to make long distance journeys either to my mother in Windsor near London or Carol’s family in North Yorkshire with fuel consumption easily returning 60 mpg + with careful driving.
All of the above is now history – here was a vehicle I could not fault apart from a few minor niggles.
Services no longer every 3000 miles but an annual 12,500 miles (or 12 months) whichever came first and a car with lots of space in the voluminous boot for luggage and still enough room for 5 adults comfortably. Citroen had a winner here hence the sheer numbers sold.
2009 arrived. The Picasso’s MOT was due in May – the car was now just 4 years old, well to be truthful, 3 years, 11 months and a few days as I was going to be away at the end of the month, so Avalon Citroen agreed to do the work earlier within the prescribed legal time limit.
Car dropped off at Avalon Citroen, Carol had followed me to the garage, and she then took us into Glastonbury to the ‘100 Monkeys Café’ in the High Street. We were going to meet up with the owner and his wife Matt and Abi who we have known for many years to have lunch.
Sometime later the phone rang and I heard the familiar voice of Andy from the Service Department. It was a good news/bad news conversation but the conversation ended with “it’s failed the MOT, the Indicator Switch Unit on the steering column”.
Michael's Citroen Picasso Indicator Unit
Photo - Michael Dixon - ITR-UK
My first reaction was disbelief that the Picasso had failed the test and then a sinking feeling as I inquired, “How much will it cost to fix?”
There was a distinct pause “It has to have a new complete unit, it’ll be somewhere around the £450 mark plus the lights and the MOT, it could be more – the indicator light bulbs are fading too and the tyres have outside scrubbing, but they’re ok…”
To say I was shocked would be an understatement – I felt numb as I talked while still finishing off my meal.
My mind went into an automatic response. “Are you joking I don’t understand – I’ve had no problems?”
Andy was being serious as I told him I needed to see this for myself. We finished our meal, paid and we made our way back to Avalon Citroen in disbelief.
The young engineer who did the test showed me that the indicator was going past the centre point into the other position – I explained this had never happened in a ‘real’ situation – snatching and swinging the steering wheel in the stopped position is something that would never happen when driving!
He explained that it was part of the test and he had to follow the rules…
Here’s where I find this very difficult to understand – Citroen offers a 60,000 miles or 3 year guarantee (or they did at the time of purchase).
Here was a vehicle with 26405 miles on the clock with a full Citroen Service History, never driven hard – I boringly sit at 60 – 65 mph on the motorways always looking to save fuel plus the fact that I had, for the first time in my 40 years driving experience, received a 30+ speeding ticket the second week of driving the Picasso through a Wiltshire village on my way home with a full sun at 3pm full in my eyes and I missed the 30 mph sign!
Mortified that I had been caught exceeding the speed limit, I had restricted myself to watching eagle-eyed for every speed sign, after all I was now, to all effect, a convicted criminal. To help me be aware I purchased a Road Angel to make sure I was aware at all times.
Now I was standing with Andy in the Service Department of Avalon Citroen stunned by the reality of the failed MOT. I could understand more had the vehicle been driven extensively in some city, hire or taxi situation, but this was a vehicle with less than 4 years limited driving and 26405 clocked miles failing the MOT – the cause – a faulty indicator switch!
Over the years I have driven many vehicles, including buses and private hire and vintage vehicles, some of these with nearly 200,000 miles, some which had gone round the clock and all with the original steering wheel and ancillary equipment!
There is one other fault that is now becoming evident with the Citroen Picasso it would seem and I suspect this is another ploy by Citroen to capitalise on their service income – the steering wheel!
During the month or so before the MOT I had noticed a strangely different feel to the surface of the steering wheel, I pointed this out to Citroen Service, the reaction was “oh, it’s started peeling has it?”
Michael's Citroen Picasso 'Peeling' Steering Wheel
Photo - Michael Dixon - ITR-UK
I find this a little disturbing – if this is such an obvious occurrence and when I inquired the price “oh, somewhere around £250 plus”… the plus obviously the fitting.
Now if Citroen has a common problem with their steering wheels it must be a design fault.
I’ve seen shiny worn steering wheels but never seen or heard of peeling ones!
