Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Bad choice of car

I bought a 10 year old car (Citroen C3 ) about a month ago and am really regretting it. I didn't want to spend too much as I needed one in a bit of a hurry and so I picked this one as the mileage was low as was the price.

It's an automatic but it's not auto in the sense I've become used to. I can feel it change gear and it just doesn't drive smoothly at all. Is this common in smaller automatics? I never once was aware in my previous car of the change in gears but this one is dreadful. When I try to accelerate it sort of feels as though it's slowing down when the gear change happens, almost as though it's pulling me back and I get the feel of myself lunging forward in the drivers seat.
If anyone else drives an automatic (particularly a smallish car, mine's a 1.6 engine) please let me know if it's normal to be very aware of the gear change?

I hate the car but am stuck with it now for at least the next 6-12 months

The C3 is known for being a bit notchy, but does depend how you drive it, especially if you've been used to large engined cars in the past.

There is a software update for the automatic gearbox on these, might be worth checking if its been done.

If its not the software and its a lot worse than just a juddering change then you may well have a faulty or failing box. A fluid change might help, best place I've found for automatic problems is the Chester Automatic Transmission Centre: 01244537070

I had an automatic 1.6 Ford Mondeo and never felt a gear change at all, exactly the same as 2L ones that I hire on our trips to Cananda.It does sound that your Citroen needs looking at.May sound like a daft question with a 10 year old but did you get it from a dealer, if so there may be an active warranty.

Sorry to say it, but that was your first mistake, buying a French car, especially a 10 year old one.

Your second mistake was buying an automatic, they're not appropriate for British town driving.


It's not an automatic, it's a semi-automatic. It has a manual gearbox and gear changes are made by electronics activating solenoids to move the gear levers.

CLICKY for more info on semi automatic gearboxes

Quote from the above: "Despite superficial similarity to other automated transmissions, semi-automatic transmissions differ significantly in internal operation and driver's 'feel'"


It's normal for semi-automatics. There's nothing you can do about it, though as the Dr says, try changing your driving style to see if the computer controlling the gearbox adapts. Barring that, set the car on fire and get another one

Yes, Mike I'm realising now that it was a mistake I bought it from a dealer and did test drive it first too, but obviously didn't go far enough to feel how it drove.

I've begun taking it out of auto mode and changing the gears myself, but that in itself is very odd because in order to change gear it's a different configuration than a standard gear stick. I was coming up Holm Lane the other day and instead of going from 3rd to 4th gear, I ended up going from 3rd to 2nd which it didnt like and I'm sure passers by must have heard the engine scream.

I've not yet got to the point of wanting to set it on fire, but I've wanted to beat it with a stick like Basil Fawlty


PS the MPG is really shite too

Thanks The Dr, I'll give them a ring too and see what they think

nearly all smaoo (cheap) automatics i've been in, the gear change has been jumpy. which is precisely the reason i'll be getting a manual.

What a load of ignorant rubbish.

Whatever. Go ahead and buy one, you'll find out soon enough why it's a bad idea.

DSG FTW!!!

and what is that supposed to mean. We dont all understand your language.

Think the smart cars are similar (jerking on gearchange).

Get yourelf a Haynes manual, there great.

I had no idea what this meant either but Mr Google gave this answer, which still does not explain what ASE17 meant.

http://ferrisgti.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/golf-gti-dsg-ftw.html

Direct shift gearbox, German engineering, best as always.

for the win.

You're on the internet zipper, get with the times