The Citroen C2 hasnt done too great in China, but it hasnt done badly either. To further sales, Citroen and Dongfeng have pushed out the Citroen C2 VTS model.
Euro readers may recognise the Citroen C2 as being a Peugeot 206 but with slightly different styling, it seems PSA is quite content running the two models side by side in China.
The VTS comes with a sporty interior/exterior and a choice of 1.4 or a 1.6 engine, then you can choose either auto or manual on each one. The 1.4 pushes out 76bhp and the 1.6 a respectable 106bhp.
China Car Times cant help but think the Citroen C2 looks a lot better than the bland looking 206.
That is true, the 206 its a beautiful car as almost everything that comes from pininfarina, but the C2 is more sporty, more agresive, looks like an improvement of something already very good.
I think I might be a bit bland… I like the 206 Styling better
. I have seen a few with aftermarket kits on that look pretty good.
But straight off the lot, they are pretty bland.
They were cool in 2000 when they were launched in Europe, but they are getting a bit old in China
Bit old?!?!?! Don’t tell that to the people that just bought a VW Santana!;)
LOL, if not for the Chinese the Santana would have known as a piece of s&^% and lost in motoring history…. but kudos to them, they have made it immortal
Not really a total piece of shit, its a well designed motor, for its use I reckon VW hit perfection the first time round and thus it has sold so well in China.
Its strong, crash one into a wall, and your Santana will look ok, maybe some dents you can knock out with a hammer, but the wall will be GAME OVER. You could say its overbuilt, like most 80’s 70’s German cars were.
Its reliable
Its economical
Its no frills
Its cheap, and cheap for parts due to market saturation
It gets you from a to b
Its spacious
It has a nice loud horn, great for taxi drivers.
On the downside, if you ever get into a serious crash you are probably screwed as it has zero airbags.
Ashley, you are right- just look at the Santana taxis in your neck of the woods- many over 1.5 Million K’s of unloved, unserviced, ill-treated, bashed, dented, tied together, half arsed treatment and still going strong (strong may be a bit strong). Im 100% sure none of the Chinese designed and built crap could achive anything like these old tarts have. Sure the Santana was a dud in other markets but they have served China well, and being Vee Dubs they are well built and an overkill to start with.
The only service they need is to have the horn and ashtray working (the more carring driver may require the cigarete lighter to work as well), and of course the drivers window functioning so that he can lob another oyster from his mouth onto the unsuspecting cyclists and pedestrians, nothing else matters!
Ive been relegated to peasant pedestrian status from Mon to Fri this week - next time I take a cab, im going to check out his odometer.
So to speak.
Sorry guys, I should retract my last statement… guess I have seen too many bashed up Jetta taxis in Guangdong to see the true value of the mighty Santana.