2008 Citroen Xsara Picasso reviews

Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel Desire 2008

This is my second diesel 1.6 Picasso and is nothing like my 2005 one of the supposedly same spec. My 2005 diesel returned between 51 & 55mpg depending on length of journey, and to a lesser extent on speed. This 2008 Picasso, unfortunately bought from Arnold Clark, returnes about 47mpg at best and during this cold spell is down to 43mpg. I spent a year researching the reason for this diabolical fuel economy with NO HELP FROM ARNOLD CLARK OR CITROEN. Eventually, I found out that some of the newer Picasso’s were manufactured with an exhaust particle filter called FAP. This system has a tank which requires being filled up with a special chemical from time to time costing around £250. It also requires regeneration at 100,000 miles, or less if on short journeys, which costs around £500. Non of these changes to the engine were ever explained to me at time of purchase and I assumed that I was just buying a newer car same as the first. No one would buy a second car same as the first if the first was unsatisfactory!!!!!!! It appears that I was well & truly done and apparently there is nothing I can do about it. BE WARNED - any car, be it Ford, Volvo, Peugeot or Mini and Citroen, which are fitted with the 1.6d v6 engine may well include this expensive FAP fitment.