SecondHandSense: Citroen PlurielLife was a lot slower and less complicated in the days of the Citroën 2 CV, but that car made it a lot of fun. Apart from being chic, enjoyable to drive and cleverly engineered, it had the option of driving with the roof down. Well, after a fashion that is. With some 2 CVs you simply hopped out on a sunny day, rolled back about four square feet of canvas and off you went.
Today, things are more advanced. Take a look at a Peugeot 206 CC convertible and you will quickly see just how advanced. Citroën, however, has not lost its heritage and the place of the 2CV soft-top has been taken by the convertible version of the C3, the curiously named Pluriel. Equally curious is the fact that the Pluriel has made little impact on the imaginations of buyers.
It is probably because there is a greater choice than ever of small cars that are different, interesting and fun to drive - the new Mini being an excellent example. The Pluriel simply looks odd beside many of them. Neither is its profile helped by Citroën's decision a few years ago to heavily discount the price of its cars. Second-hand values dropped like a stone, and the company had the reputation for selling cars that were not just cheap, but also had incredible depreciation.
The Pluriel is interesting looking - rounded and slightly bulbous like the C3 hatchback, it has quite a presence about it, but it does not provoke any instant emotional response. With the roof down it looks smart and is perfect to drive about town. Earlier Pluriels had problems with roof leaks and the roof mechanism, so be warned.
It has a choice of 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines. The 1.4 is not the most lively, but is the obvious choice for a car of this size. Interior design is modern, but it's not roomy. Two adults and two children would fit comfortably but four adults would be a squeeze. The boot is good but, like all convertibles, its capacity is greatly diminished with the roof down.
The car drives best in the city and its limitations are reached on a long journey. It has light steering, reasonable handling and ride qualities but there is a feeling of lightness about it. The car was given a four out of a possible five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests after its launch in 2003.
The Pluriel has what is described as a "balanced performance" with only minor deformation of the safety cell for passengers. The Pluriel is among a number of Citroëns recalled for problems with accelerator pedals, braking efficiency and incorrect markings for the pressure on the spare wheel.
Due to its lack of popularity, the Pluriel is not plentiful on the second-hand market. A 2004 model with alloys, multiple air bags, metallic paint, electric windows and remote locking and with 10,000km on the clock is on offer for €14,750. A similar 2005 model with 26,000km up, is on offer for €16,000.
FOR: Chic and colourful AGAINST: Average driving qualities, roof leaks, questionable values