Sensible Secondhand Reviews: 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus 1.2 Touch - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Thank you very much for reviewing my car Joseph, it is one of those cars you will either like or not. It is a strange spec and I can confirm the phone button on the steering wheel does nothing, even the indicator stalk has a button on the end which does nothing (possible a horn push for another Citroen or Peugeot Car) it's very quirky and I found out the other day the touch screen has also a calender and a calculator hidden in the menus! The thing I like most about the car is the pop out windows, the one thing I am not keen on is I find the clutch has a high bite point but I beleive this is quite common.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I didn't really notice the clutch, sir, to be honest! Probably because lots and lots of the Rovers I have been driving recently are like that, or even worse. Strange specification, but surprisingly relaxing and easy to drive. Thank you again, sir!

[@Pmjs]

I think my 405s had the horn at the end of a stalk.

[@richardkirke]

I had one of these as a hire car and I absolutely loathed the thing. It seemed to be filled with exciting design choices and they were all bad. Glad someone likes them.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's probably one of those Citroëns that is a bit polarising, some people love them and some people aren't so keen on them.

[@alaricbragg7843]

For all its faults, the Cactus deserves praise. 3 Cylinders are very much the future, such as it is, for petrol cars. The interesting engine and strange design suggest that Citroen are going back to their roots.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's not a bad car, I just don't think that it's exactly me, if you see what I mean!

[@colinhicks4174]

I looked at these when they first came out. They seem to sit in an odd place in the Citroen range. You have some luxury features like the snazzy dash and trim. But then really budget features like pop out rear windows and no rev counter; across the range. But it is a nice looking car, the engine is fun to drive. I drove one in a Mini One with 100hp. I think it has one of the large boots in its class.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Mini doesn't have that engine, sir. The engines were separated out between the firms after the Prince engine debacle... Very strange specification in this one, as you say, but surprising pleasant to drive, actually.

[@markonmotoring]

I remember these being out when I had my DS3. The Cactus was a very interesting car with the air bumps and unique styling. Some had different coloured air bumps too giving a very personalized custom look to these cars. The one piece folding bench, pop out windows and modest power plants kelt this at the more affordable end of the Citroen range. The car certainly has a charm missing from many other cars in its class but could also be a missed opportunity to make something special, perhaps a premium DS version just as Citroen had already done with the C3 and C4. I love the glovebox styling and again I recall seeing higher spec cars with a choice of interesting interior colours. I'm sure this will be serving Davy well as a daily family car. Cost effective family motoring seems increasingly hard to find these days

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the higher specification cars were available with all kinds of other interesting things over and above this base specification car. Same platform as the DS3, of course. A very cost-effective family car for modern times, and those Air Bumps do look rather unique.

[@kenbakie4590]

I used to have one of these in Flair spec, but it was a forbidden fuel version. It had loads of kit in the Flair spec including climate control, satnav and a rear parking camera and sensors. It was very comfortable, but it still handled fairly well. I would contemplate having another one, but it would have to be petrol with the 100hp engine.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Indeed, sir, we don't talk about the forbidden fuel ones, I am afraid... The handling was perfectly fine and it was indeed quite comfortable.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

The fake armor plating on the sides is something one would see in GTA Online, nice car design overall, very much a fan of Citroën strangeness.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's amazing, isn't it? As polarising as the older Citroëns, I can see these eventually becoming a classic now that the entire C4 line has been replaced.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes MR Lloyd definitely will be.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. , interesting, isn't it?

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes interesting car, not my taste but nevertheless one does feel it has a place in the future as a classic. I do miss the bigger Citroëns, CX & XM. The C6 is still growing on me at the moment. Big French cars of any kind are so rare nowadays.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. , we do hope to cover an XM on the channel at some point, sir.

[@mwheatley2365]

I really think this is quite a timeless design…love the size of the pre facelift air bumps, and im a fan of the pop out windows and elevated driving position…hadn’t realised they had fallen into the sub £5k price range. I think the auto came (or at least could be optioned) with a front bench seat which also appeals.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Mr Watters and I have discussed this, and you can get an early high mileage one comfortably within budget. The automatic did indeed have a sort of front bench seat option, at least for a time. Thank you again for watching, sir!

[@tryoutvid]

Great content Mr Lloyd, especially enjoyed your multi-part shuffle at Bromley. I was one of the crowd and appreciated your moment in the arena. Regarding the pre-facelift Cactus, I love the aesthetics and comfort and was seriously considering buying one, but three things put me off. First, the front doors are prone to rust, a known problem that Citroen fixed by replacing both doors under warrantee in the early years (although some owners noted that when refitted the airbumps could cause ridges in the newly painted door skins). Secondly, the heater controls (and aircon in models above the Touch) are all part of the touchscreen system which is fiddly and a tad slow. Thirdly, a neighbour has a 2015 Cactus 1.2 Puretech and says it burns half a litre of oil every 1000 miles, which apparently is not unknown with this engine. So instead I went for a 2016 Suzuki S Cross 1.6 petrol which was relatively cheap to buy and run, and eminently practical.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I have driven that engine in a 2016 Vitara (which is also on the channel as an epiosde of Tweed Jacket Reviews), it's a very reliable one. I have driven both the previous generation S-Cross and the current one, they both share the same platform as the Vitara, and they are all very nice to drive, and have those easy to use separate heating and ventilation controls. Strange that those C4 Cactus doors rust. Glad that you enjoyed the coverage from Bromley Pageant!

[@tryoutvid]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Many thanks for your reply, I'm glad you approve of the S Cross, my only gripe is the firmish ride. I'll take a look at the Tweed Jacket review, thanks for the heads-up. The cactusforum is a great resource and there's a fair bit of chat about door rust. Shame really, but it could well become a future classic!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Bottom of my the inside of my driver's door has rust on it, either going to get them replaced under warranty or touch then up myself.

[@tryoutvid]

@@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain Oh no, sorry about that. If you go for a warranty claim I'd try to get both front doors replaced, because the other one will likely show signs in due course. It's a stunning car, looks wonderful in Artic Silver.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

@@tryoutvid thanks for letting me know what the actual colour is, new to Citroen so I am still learning. And will defo be looking into claim for the two doors.

[@adamtoms2726]

It's not one of my faves I'm afraid. But good on Citroen, for doing something a bit wacky, and a bit different. Since Peugeot got hold of Citroen they really restrained them. It's nice to see that this seemed to represent the start of Citroen doing some more interesting designs, like the new Ami.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's absolutely right, sir. They went crazy with this car, even if the chassis, etc, isn't particularly unusual. These will quite possibly become modern classics for that reason.

[@seancooke7332]

I love the practicality of the C4 Cactus, the space and the comfort. The looks are very different and very striking and it does look good without going out of fashion quickly. Unfortunately pop out rear windows on a 5 door family hatchback do not make any sense. Still, I would buy one. Thanks Davy, I will follow this car because I really like them and I want to discover how that 1.2 performs.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

I think the pop out windows was to save on cost and weight as I beleive the car is just over a ton in weight.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well sir, the 82 bhp engine was OK, although not as quick as I would have ideally liked. The pop out rear windows must be to do with cost and weight saving. Mr Watters certainly has bought something unusual, hasn't he?

[@Pmjs]

The Citroën C3 1.2 82bhp I had for a courtesy car had a built in dashcam & reversing camera.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the C3s of the time did often come with that built in dash camera, as you say!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Oh mercy! My old insurance company boss's car! Thanks for this video lol! What was with the weird panel patterns?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Who knows, sir? They are for the Air bumps, which should be useful, but so far no one else has featured these on their cars.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting It's only the sort of thing a clever French car from years ago could have, given that it seems to be a carpark scratch and door ding deterrent! On reflection, I like the idea!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , yes, Mr Watters certainly likes it, otherwise he would not have bought the car.

[@richardhowlett9424]

Hats off to Citroen for doing something different, pity they had to dilute the formula for the facelifted car

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the normal C4 was quite a slow seller, hence why they decided to discontinue it and keep the Cactus on sale.

[@trabali5168]

That must be the biggest rear pop out window in the history of carkind!!..................right?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Quite possibly, sir! Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@alaricbragg7843]

Did I say an insurance company owner drives one in New Zealand??? Like I said, European cars are very much status symbols here!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They aren't really status symbols over here, sir, hence their appearance on Sensible Secondhand Reviews.

[@kuto608]

Very odd spec, cruise control yet no air con or Bluetooth? I certainly would pay more for a higher trim level, I do like plenty of equipment on my car but I can understand why people would want just a car. Speaking of cars, I do like this car and I think it looks quirky, has some cool traits as well such as the dashboard mounted glovebox but it won't be to everyone's taste, thank you for the video Mr Lloyd!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

No problem at all, sir! Mr Watters from Scottish Car Enthusiasts and Trains TV seems to have enjoyed it very much. I don't know why the specification is a bit weird, but it sort of adds to the character of the car somehow.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

At the time of purchase I never realised it had no air con or Bluetooth, it has the buttons on the steering wheel for phone, but it does not have Bluetooth, however it does have a calculator!! This is in one of the menus in the infotainment system, having had no Aircon for the last 4 years in our main family car (2018 Skoda Fabia) it's something I have learned to live, Bluetooth I do miss it, but it does have USB and a Jack point to play music through.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain , thank you once again, sir!

[@alaricbragg7843]

That's personal and health insurance...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I see, sir!

[@ST-ur7oh]

Maybe a car for Prince Andrew #touch

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very good, sir!

[@nickyboy.]

11th

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Next chance at 5pm tomorrow, sir!