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Citroen decided to take a more conservative route in designing the Saxo - as indeed they were forced to do, given that the car had to be based largely on Peugeot's 106. For British buyers, the Saxo emerged as probably the better bet.
It shared all the little Peugeot supermini's virtues - fine handling, good performance and strong packaging - but was generally better equipped. The same holds true on the used market. Here, the Saxo is a far more reliable bet than its AX predecessor.
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What you get
From a practical perspective, whether you choose three or five doors, it has to be said that rear seat passenger space, though adequate, isn't the best in the class. Citroen intentionally traded it for boot space, maintaining (with some validity) that superminis rarely carry more than two people. So it is that the Saxo's boot capacity is substantially larger than rivals, with a generous 9.9 cubic feet - the Fiesta has 8.8 and the VW Polo only 8.6.
Any Citrophile will feel at home behind the wheel, for the switchgear comes straight from Xsara and Xantia models of similar age. Everything falls pretty easily to hand, though the wheel isn't adjustable and the electric window switches are rather fiddly to find. At least Citroen's ridiculous keypad immobiliser was replaced by a transponder built into the ignition key.
It's also pretty safe, with substantial crush safety zones and side impact protection that, until the Saxo's time, you simply wouldn't have found on such a small car. Pre-tensioned seatbelts and a driver's airbag are also included. That stiff bodyshell has also produced impressive levels of refinement, enabling the Saxo to be one of those small cars you could conceivably live with on a long journey.
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What to look for
Poor panel fit, notchy gear selection in second, ex-driving school cars, rattly trim, poor RDS radio functions, thrashed VTR and VTS models and engine clatters signifying a hard life. The 1.6-litre unit has been known to suffer poor throttle response and engine management problems.
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Replacement parts
(based on a 1996 1.4SX approx excl VAT) A clutch assembly is around £240. Front brake pads are around £70, a full exhaust about £190, a catalyst about £270 and an alternator around £230. A headlamp lens is about £70.
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On the road
Fun to drive. Just like a Peugeot 106.
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Overall
The Saxo may not have been as interesting a Citroen as the purists would have liked, but the simple mechanicals and reliability make it a lot more interesting to the used car buyer. As a Peugeot 106 with more equipment for no more money, it makes a lot of sense.
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