All models / City cars / Citroen C1 / What to check

What to check: Citroen C1

CBy age

BBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Citroen C1, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 11.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 5.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

WheelsRuns high on this modelLook at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 3.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Underneath, with a torchRuns high on this modelGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 3.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 27.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 11.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 13.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

On a pre-2009 manual, push the clutch pedal through its full travel from cold.A sticky, heavy or notchy feel is the known early clutch fault, not just normal wear.

On an automatic (two-pedal, automated-clutch) car, pull away uphill from a cold start.A beeping alarm means the automated clutch is worn and heading for replacement.

Drive off gently on the first go of the day, ideally after the car has sat overnight.Grinding or the car pulling to one side points to corroded rear brakes binding, common on short-trip cars.

Check the MOT history for repeat brake advisories.Recurring brake notes line up with this model's measured weak spot; get the rear brakes inspected properly before buying.

Listen underneath at idle for a rattle from the rear silencer box.A loose exhaust box is cheap to fix but worth knocking off the asking price.

Pair the seller's phone to the infotainment system and try Bluetooth or MirrorLink.Freezing screens or failed pairing point to the software gremlins owners report on 2014-on cars.

On a high-mileage manual, try selecting first gear from a dead stop.Reluctance or refusal to engage first can mean worn transmission internals, not just the clutch.

Full Citroen C1 reliability report