Used Citroen Synergie review and buying guide (1995 to 2002): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Citroen Synergie should you buy?

Go for a 2.0 HDi diesel from autumn 1999 onwards, as long as the paperwork shows its crankshaft damper pulley was renewed when the timing belt was done. That pulley's rubber layer breaks up with age, and once the outer ring wobbles it can throw the auxiliary belt into the timing belt, which destroys the engine. That's the fault that decides whether a particular HDi is worth buying, so settle it before anything else.

Of the older diesels, the 1.9 turbodiesel from 1997 and 1998 is the one to be wary of, because a batch of those engines broke connecting rods. It isn't every car from those years, though, and the engine number tells you which side of the line a particular one sits on, so don't rule one out until you've read it (the engines section below explains what to look for).

There aren't many left, and a fair few of the survivors spent their working lives as hire cars or taxis, so how a car's been used counts for more than the year on the logbook. Bear in mind the middle seat in the back only has a lap belt, which matters if that's where a child would sit.

Which Synergie engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 HDi that arrived in autumn 1999 is the economical pick, but it's only as sound as its last timing belt change, because the crankshaft damper pulley has to be renewed every time rather than refitted. Ask for the invoice that names the pulley as well as the belt. If there isn't one, treat the pulley as unknown and plan on having both done straight after you buy.

The HDi's clutch has weak points of its own. Release bearings were giving up at around 30,000 miles, with the hydraulic actuator following at roughly 70,000, and when either fails it can wreck the clutch assembly around it even though the friction disc's barely worn. A car near either mileage with no clutch receipts has that job still to come.

On the 1.9 turbodiesel, the connecting rod failures hit 1997 and 1998 cars whose engines carry a DHY serial number and were made from April 1997 onwards, while DHX engines weren't caught up in it. There's no automatic, so every Synergie has a manual gearbox, and it doesn't cope with flood water: water getting inside can make it seize. Any sign the car's been through deep water is reason enough to leave it.

What should you check when viewing a used Synergie?

Work both sliding side doors open and shut several times; they should run smoothly without sticking or needing a shove. Then check the front tyres for uneven wear, and look at the suspension and body for signs it's been overloaded, since some will have been packed to the roof on cross-Channel booze runs. Damp carpets or a tidemark inside point to flood damage, which is bad news for the gearbox.

On an HDi, let the engine idle and listen at the pulley end for a hard rattle or knock. A battery charge light that stays on means the alternator's stopped being driven, and a squealing, frayed or misaligned auxiliary belt points the same way. Look around the injector pipe unions for diesel weeping too, as Citroen told its dealers to check those unions on HDis for leaks in late 2001.

Ask for receipts naming the timing belt, the crankshaft damper pulley and any clutch release bearing or actuator work. Then ask for proof of recall work: a 2002 recall on diesels dealt with water getting into the brake vacuum pump and weakening the brake assistance, and earlier recalls covered air in the brake fluid on some 1999 cars with ABS, a handbrake ratchet that could fail on some 1998 cars and an airbag trigger check on some 1995 cars.

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 do Synergie owners like about them?

The cabin's bright and properly thought out, and because the gear lever sits up on the dashboard you can walk between the front seats and through to the back without getting out. It's a light, pleasant place to spend a long run, and the colours inside are easy on the eye.

It's short for something that seats seven or eight, which makes parking it far less of a chore than you'd expect. The sliding side doors are the real win in a tight bay: nobody has to squeeze through a half-open door, and passengers can get in and out without worrying about the car alongside.

• The Synergie features a well-designed, bright walk-through interior with a convenient dash-mounted gearshift and pleasant trim colours.
• This 7 or 8 seater is compact at 14 feet 7 inches long by 6 feet wide, making it easy to park.
• Sliding doors provide easy access for passengers in and out of the vehicle, especially in tight parking spaces.
• The 110 bhp HDi diesel engine, available from autumn 1999, offers excellent economy and strong performance.