30-09-2013, 11:06 PM
Hi All
Been on the forum now for about a month and have already asked a couple of questions and have had positive replies, so I though it was time I introduced myself.
In August I bought my 10 plate Wicked Red 1.6HDi 110 from a Citroen dealer as an ex-mobility vehicle with 38000 miles on the clock.
At the time I had a choice of two, the 110HP model or a light blue 90HP model.
After taking both for a spin, I settled on the 110 because it was noticeably more powerful and as I will be using it extensively for carrying a lot of camping gear around and eventually to tow my Turbocharged Classic Mini Clubman 1275GT around the car shows when it is finished.
I've always been a 'hands on' type of guy, doing all my own car work, not just servicing, but full engine rebuilding and body spraying - I used to be our local Mini club's resident Mini repairer until time constraints at work forced me to scale back my commitment big time.
Since the Mini was taken off the road in 2003 for the full restoration, I have gone through many cheap cars to keep me going, Cavaliers, Astras, Vectras (there seems to be a Vauxhall theme going on there) all costing under £1000, which would last me for a couple of years.
This year though, after a promotion at work, I decided it was time to get something more modern and would suit my needs exactly.
Having always hankered for a van, but having to resist that urge due to having a family, I decided to look for a large estate car, but mainly one with a large boot so that I could carry a dog crate in the boot without having to fold down the back seats.
Looked at loads of different makes and models, but nothing was quite right for what I wanted or more importantly 'in my price range'.
Then one day at my local Peugeot garage, after explaining what I needed, the sales rep pointed to a Partner Tepee in the corner of the compound.
I went to have a look at it and was amazed by the storage space in the back, coupled with the removable rear seats (this was a real selling point for me), I went away to investigate further.
It was only then that I realised that Citroen do the exactly same car, but with smarter exterior styling than the Peugeot.
I also wanted Air Con as standard, so that meant an XTR model as very few VTR's came with Air Con fitted.
I was hoping for a 2010 model, but most of them were just out of my price range.
The I noticed two 10 reg XTR's in Bournemouth for £7990, one a 110 and the other a 90.
My wife and I decided to make a trip of it, so loaded up the Vectra with all our 'glamping' gear and off we set on a £200 mile journey to Bournemouth.
The intention was to view the cars, make a decision and then have the week's camping holiday in the New Forest and pick up the car at the end of the week.
After test driving them, I realised that for the past few years I had been putting up with sub standard older cars just to get by, and we wanted to take possession of the keys as soon as possible.
We managed to persuade the sale rep (who was very nice by the way and in no way pushy), to get the car serviced and ready for us in two days.
Two days later, we turned up in the Vectra fully loaded with camping gear, and started to transfer everything from one car to the other.
When we had finished I had to do a double check that I hadn't missed anything because the amount of space that was still available in the Berlingo was vast and I could actually still see out of the rear view mirror.
When I packed the Vectra, I had to slam the hatchback closed very hard just to get the lock to catch as it was full to the roof.
It has now been over a month with my Berlingo and I have to say it is the best car I have ever owned (apart from my Mini of course).
I love it, my wife loves it, the dog loves it and everybody who travels in it loves it.
It is just perfect for my needs.
Yes, the interior is a bit plasticky, but it is a 'palace' compared to my previous cars and on another planet compared to my Mini.
Best decision I ever made, and I finally got to have that 'van' I always hankered for.
Definitely one very happy Berlingo owner
[Image: 2d26v7o.jpg]
Been on the forum now for about a month and have already asked a couple of questions and have had positive replies, so I though it was time I introduced myself.
In August I bought my 10 plate Wicked Red 1.6HDi 110 from a Citroen dealer as an ex-mobility vehicle with 38000 miles on the clock.
At the time I had a choice of two, the 110HP model or a light blue 90HP model.
After taking both for a spin, I settled on the 110 because it was noticeably more powerful and as I will be using it extensively for carrying a lot of camping gear around and eventually to tow my Turbocharged Classic Mini Clubman 1275GT around the car shows when it is finished.
I've always been a 'hands on' type of guy, doing all my own car work, not just servicing, but full engine rebuilding and body spraying - I used to be our local Mini club's resident Mini repairer until time constraints at work forced me to scale back my commitment big time.
Since the Mini was taken off the road in 2003 for the full restoration, I have gone through many cheap cars to keep me going, Cavaliers, Astras, Vectras (there seems to be a Vauxhall theme going on there) all costing under £1000, which would last me for a couple of years.
This year though, after a promotion at work, I decided it was time to get something more modern and would suit my needs exactly.
Having always hankered for a van, but having to resist that urge due to having a family, I decided to look for a large estate car, but mainly one with a large boot so that I could carry a dog crate in the boot without having to fold down the back seats.
Looked at loads of different makes and models, but nothing was quite right for what I wanted or more importantly 'in my price range'.
Then one day at my local Peugeot garage, after explaining what I needed, the sales rep pointed to a Partner Tepee in the corner of the compound.
I went to have a look at it and was amazed by the storage space in the back, coupled with the removable rear seats (this was a real selling point for me), I went away to investigate further.
It was only then that I realised that Citroen do the exactly same car, but with smarter exterior styling than the Peugeot.
I also wanted Air Con as standard, so that meant an XTR model as very few VTR's came with Air Con fitted.
I was hoping for a 2010 model, but most of them were just out of my price range.
The I noticed two 10 reg XTR's in Bournemouth for £7990, one a 110 and the other a 90.
My wife and I decided to make a trip of it, so loaded up the Vectra with all our 'glamping' gear and off we set on a £200 mile journey to Bournemouth.
The intention was to view the cars, make a decision and then have the week's camping holiday in the New Forest and pick up the car at the end of the week.
After test driving them, I realised that for the past few years I had been putting up with sub standard older cars just to get by, and we wanted to take possession of the keys as soon as possible.
We managed to persuade the sale rep (who was very nice by the way and in no way pushy), to get the car serviced and ready for us in two days.
Two days later, we turned up in the Vectra fully loaded with camping gear, and started to transfer everything from one car to the other.
When we had finished I had to do a double check that I hadn't missed anything because the amount of space that was still available in the Berlingo was vast and I could actually still see out of the rear view mirror.
When I packed the Vectra, I had to slam the hatchback closed very hard just to get the lock to catch as it was full to the roof.
It has now been over a month with my Berlingo and I have to say it is the best car I have ever owned (apart from my Mini of course).
I love it, my wife loves it, the dog loves it and everybody who travels in it loves it.
It is just perfect for my needs.
Yes, the interior is a bit plasticky, but it is a 'palace' compared to my previous cars and on another planet compared to my Mini.
Best decision I ever made, and I finally got to have that 'van' I always hankered for.
Definitely one very happy Berlingo owner
[Image: 2d26v7o.jpg]
![[-]](http://berlingoforum.b-cdn.net/images/collapse.png)
alut:
