Used Citroen C8 review and buying guide (2003 to 2010): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Citroen C8 should you buy?

The C8 worth having is one with a documented cambelt job, because the belt is where the diesels come unstuck. Water from the windscreen drains onto a cover that isn't sealed, soaks the belt and makes it fail early, and on the 2.2 HDi built between 2002 and 2007 a snapped belt lets the valves hit the pistons. That's usually the end of the engine, so history matters more than mileage or trim.

There's only one C8, sold from 2003 to 2010, so there's no older or newer version to pick between. The belt warning is dated up to 2007, and the particulate filter trouble is pinned on the older 2.2 diesel, but nothing on record says the 2008 to 2010 cars are cured. Treat a later car with the same care and ask for the same receipts.

The record says almost nothing about petrol C8s, which isn't the same as saying they're trouble free. Every warning here is about the HDi diesels, the electric sliding doors, the steering and the front suspension, so if you're looking at a petrol, judge it on what you find and on its service history rather than assuming it's the easy option.

Which C8 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

Every engine warning on record is about the HDi diesels, so only buy one whose belt, pulley and water pump were done together. On the HDi the belt pulley has a rubber cushion that can come apart if it's left when the belt's changed, and the water pump runs off the same belt and can give up early. Skip a diesel where only the belt was swapped.

The 2.2 HDi is the one to be most careful with. Besides the belt shredding from water getting under its cover, the older 2.2 diesels struggle with their particulate filters, above all once they've run out of filter additive. Its injectors can also seize into the cylinder head, and getting them out can cost enough to make the repair uneconomic.

There's not much on record about the gearboxes. One HDi automatic that worked as a taxi needed a replacement engine at 30,000 miles plus a new ECU, and it also had injector faults and lost its power steering fluid. That's a single car, so it doesn't rule the auto out, but it's a reason to drive any automatic properly before you buy it.

What should you check when viewing a used C8?

Paperwork comes first. Ask for invoices naming the timing belt, the pulley and the water pump, and ask whether the revised water guttering over the belt cover was fitted; one owner says Citroen supplied it with every replacement belt. Another owner's belt failed at 99,000 miles and Citroen paid the whole bill, but don't count on the same treatment. While you're in it, sit in the middle and back rows, because headroom there isn't generous.

Work both electric sliding doors several times each side. One owner had doors that wouldn't open or close properly, doors opening by themselves and a tailgate that wouldn't open, and there was a 2003 recall where outside electrical interference could release the sliding door safety locks, fixed with an upgraded door ECU. A second recall resealed the airbag ECU housing against water, so ask for proof both were done.

On the drive, feel for heavy or failing power steering, which two owners have had, and listen for knocks from the front suspension, where balljoints have failed and replacements have been hard to get. Check the rear tyres for uneven or fast wear; on cars with 15 inch wheels, switching to 16 inch wheels with lower profile tyres was the suggested cure. On a diesel, ask when the filter additive was last topped up.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Citroen C8 cost to run?

What do C8 owners like about them?

The cabin's the big draw. There's room for up to eight people, and the seats can be moved around to suit whoever or whatever you're carrying that day, so it's a genuine family bus rather than a big hatchback with a couple of extra chairs bolted in the back.

It doesn't drive like a van, either. The C8 is a pleasant thing to steer down a country road and it handles decently for something this big and boxy, which isn't what most people expect from a people carrier that's built to swallow a whole family and their luggage.

• The C8 offers a practical and versatile cabin layout, providing comfortable seating for as many as eight occupants.
• This Citroen C8 model offers a good array of features, enhancing both passenger safety and overall comfort.
• The C8 achieved a top five-star rating in the 2003 NCAP crash safety tests.
• The Citroen C8 provides a pleasant driving experience, offering decent handling characteristics for its size and class.
• The Citroen C8 is noted for being straightforward and simple to operate.