Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: C5Man on 25 October 2015, 20:17:08
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Hi, I currently have a C5 with Hydromantic suspension, I was just wondering how comfy an Omega would feel compared to a C5?
My C5 has developed a lot of problems and I'm not sure if it would be economically viable to keep. I've always fancied an Omega but there are non local to me for a test drive.
I was just wondering if anyone here has driven both cars and can compare the two?
Thanks!
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One is a European luxo-barge, the other is French. The defence rests me lud. :D
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One is a European luxo-barge, the other is French. The defence rests me lud. :D
;D ;D ;D
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One is a European luxo-barge, the other is French. The defence rests me lud. :D
Correct! Stick with the C5.
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One is a European luxo-barge, the other is French. The defence rests me lud. :D
Correct! Stick with the C5.
Do you mean a Sinclair c5, they were crap aswell.
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One is a European luxo-barge, the other is French. The defence rests me lud. :D
Correct! Stick with the C5.
Do you mean a Sinclair c5, they were crap aswell.
Shitroen C5 was/is a nice car. Certainly looks better than the aged omega.
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Wow lots of hate for Citroen, which is understandable mind you :D
Seriously however, my C5 FLOATS over speed humps and pot holes, I have a bad back so that is the reason I stuck with it, but its started to show its age and would quite like an Omega (no idea why really) I think they where equivalent to the E39 BMW when introduced?
Its just the current repairs needed looks like a good 500 quid so I was thinking of stripping a few bits and bobs off it (it has sort after goodies) and weigh the rest in and buy a good example Omega elite.
So has anyone here had experience with both cars? (some C5's had normal suspension, so please don't confuse the two.)
Thanks!
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A good C5 is going to be more comfortable than even an Omega Elite. And an Omega will easily swallow £500 in repairs unless you buy one that's already had the front suspension rebuilt.
Personally, I'd keep the Citroen if I already owned it.
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Wow lots of hate for Citroen, which is understandable mind you :D ...
I wouldn't say hate ....... just that Citroen's (& Peugeot's) reputation precedes it. ;) ;)
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Not sure on C5, but I had a C6 with Hydro pack pick me up for a run to Central London for work. As a passenger it was silky smooth. Better than the Omega for straight line, but in the corners it was very boat like.
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A good C5 is going to be more comfortable than even an Omega Elite. And an Omega will easily swallow £500 in repairs unless you buy one that's already had the front suspension rebuilt.
Personally, I'd keep the Citroen if I already owned it.
So you've driven both for a fair bit? What about interior size etc? Sadly the nearest dealer that sells an Elite is 92 miles away.
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Not sure on C5, but I had a C6 with Hydro pack pick me up for a run to Central London for work. As a passenger it was silky smooth. Better than the Omega for straight line, but in the corners it was very boat like.
Aw, the C6... No comparison, That thing is a limo. I think its a direct competitor to the S-Class. Sadly however way out of my budget otherwise I'd have snatched one up in a heart beat.
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Wow lots of hate for Citroen, which is understandable mind you :D
You won't find many francophones on here. ;D
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Where are you? A local member might be willing to take you for a spin ;)
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A good C5 is going to be more comfortable than even an Omega Elite. And an Omega will easily swallow £500 in repairs unless you buy one that's already had the front suspension rebuilt.
Personally, I'd keep the Citroen if I already owned it.
Agree with Nick on this :)
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Oh dear, more in favour of the Frenchie. :)
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Stick with what you know. There'll be nothing smoother than the C5 or a C6. However, the next best thing is an Omega (Elite). Everything else, every car from the early 00s onwards has become more and more focussed on 'sporty' handling, to impress the Clarksons of the motoring press. Bugger how it handles on the real roads, but so long as it can be seen to powerslide round a test track, that's 10/10 to Autocar/express/TopGear magazine.
If you actually fancy a change, however, then a very very fine Omega can be had for less than a grand. There's even one for sale at the mo on here, a 3.2 V6, looks very well looked after (no, I have no connection with the seller, but if he wants to give me 10% then I won't argue :D) at a mere £750.
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The newer shape C5 looks nice, the styling isn't as eccentric as Citroens have been and good value compared to the equivalent Mondeo/Insignia. :y
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Oh, sorry, I must of forgot to mention my car is the first generation 2001-2008 model. Not the newer shape. I would have jumped right on the back of a newer one but sadly Citroen decided to take the C5 from its hatchback status to a saloon car, which was a major let down. Thats why I thought I might as well look for a saloon car thats just as comfy.
Well, seen as you've guys have said the C5 should be a keeper, then keep I shall. I've grown a custom for the windows rolling down when I turn on the window wipers anyway lol. :D
Regards to the 3.2 Elite above, someone mentioned that the front suspension on the Omega needs doing at some point, if all of those problems have been addressed I may be interested actually :)
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The one thing that a rear wheel drive barge like the Omega will do, is offer a better balance between ride comfort and handling than any of the front wheel drive stuff that is now the majority. Build a FWD car to be comfortable and handling goes out of the window (witness the C5 - sorry!). This is why most FWD stuff is rock hard. The lighter and "greener" they make them, the worse the ride gets, too.
An Elite will probably be the closest to the ride of a C5, as said, and it'll probably handle a lot better, but moving on a car you already like for the sake of a £500 bill is probably not great economics. Any 2nd hand car is going to swallow that up doing the things the previous owner didn't bother with while he was thinking of selling it.
You might just fancy a change, of course..
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Yes, the omega handles really well. It comes into it's own on roundabouts when the road is damp. ;D
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Yes, the omega handles really well. It comes into it's own on roundabouts when the road is damp. ;D
:D :D
Well that brings up the argument that's been raging since the Traction Avant (another Citroen, of course!) 'which is better, front or rear wheel drive?'
We might as well decide 'Which is the better religion', while we're at it, hehe. :)
If you want safe, reliable handling, then choose front wheel drive... on the other hand, if you want safe, reliable handling, you probably drive safe and reliably. Which means front or rear wheel drive, or even if you're driving a Reliant Robin with a bag of cement strapped on one front corner, you'll probably never realise how 'off' the handling is. If you don't phallus about on the roads, so it will make no odds to you.
I've had the tail kick out on both Omegas I've owned, (in the wet/icy) and both when I wanted them to, really, I was not behaving as one would on one's driving test :) That was my fault, and the car rightly told me off. With proper tyres, not bald ditchfinders, and a correctly set up geometry, that will essentially never happen. And in any case a fractional pull back on the throttle (unless the TC has already done that for you) will bring the very well designed chassis dynamics back into line. Omegas aren't a 'widowmaker' like a AC Cobra/Dodge Viper is. Conversely, I've had reason to swerve, brake sharply mid-corner, in poor conditions, and only after stopping thought 'hang on... how did we not just spin then?' So personally I'd never argue the Omegas handling at anything less than excellent. Excellent for a 25 year old chassis, of course, but it would be unfair to compare it with a brand new A6 Quattro or something, in any case. :)
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The fact is, the Omega displays far less tendency to kick its' rear out than most shitboxes do to understeer on forwards into the kerb. ;D
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Well... As you asked ::)
To answer your first two questions, and to answer a few other "Which is best?" questions... :D
Rear wheel drive.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeist_(film_series)
Petrol
Maggie Thatcher
October gales
Lazy summer afternoons
Falling asleep (and waking up) next to someone you love
The smell of summer rain
Cinnamon
Maple syrup
Dawn in the mountains
Sunset over water
Ok I digressed slightly, stick with the Citroën unless you fancy a change... In which case an Omega Elite is worth a looksee :y
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First time I've ever seen 'Maggie Thatcher' and 'Maple Syrup' in the same sentence. You are to be congratulated ;)
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But never in the same room... :D
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The fact is, the Omega displays far less tendency to kick its' rear out than most shitboxes do to understeer on forwards into the kerb. ;D
Understeering into the kerb, whilst unpleasant, does not induce the warm feeling you get around the area of your arsehole that losing the back end does. ;D
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Oh....and it doesn't smell as bad either. ;D
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Daughter in law has a 2001 C5, considering the lack of TLC it gets it flies through MOTs. Does suffer DPF issues from time to time though, short journeys i suppose. BUT, the Mig is bigger and better. :y
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Daughter in law has a 2001 C5, considering the lack of TLC it gets it flies through MOTs. Does suffer DPF issues from time to time though, short journeys i suppose. BUT, the Mig is bigger and better. :y
Don,t know what happened there. :-\ :-\ ::) ::) :-[ :-[
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A good C5 is going to be more comfortable than even an Omega Elite. And an Omega will easily swallow £500 in repairs unless you buy one that's already had the front suspension rebuilt.
Personally, I'd keep the Citroen if I already owned it.
Agree with Nick on this :)
Yep me too,my dad has a C5 which I've covered many miles in and its a fine car if not the best looking,his is a 2.2 diesel auto and gets up the roadpretty well.and has been trouble free since new(11 years)
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A good C5 is going to be more comfortable than even an Omega Elite. And an Omega will easily swallow £500 in repairs unless you buy one that's already had the front suspension rebuilt.
Personally, I'd keep the Citroen if I already owned it.
Agree with Nick on this :)
Yep me too,my dad has a C5 which I've covered many miles in and its a fine car if not the best looking,his is a 2.2 diesel auto and gets up the roadpretty well.and has been trouble free since new(11 years)
So you can vouch that the C5 is defo a more comfy car to be in? What about noise levels etc? :)
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Omega seats are probably better, but importantly, as said previously, an unknown Omega can easily swallow £500 sorting tired front suspension... An accepted risk if you're used to Omegas, but very frustrating if you're not... If you're genuinely happy with the C5 then run with it :y
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I think, unless you find the C5 swallowing money, or requires a vast pot of cash for welding, etc... and at the same time a particularly well sorted Omega appears, you might be best with the C5. A bit of that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' logic.
That said, as I mentioned, that Elite 3.2 looks a fine beast and will probably be the best car you've ever owned. If you don't mind keeping an eye on a few things, and the occasional tinker.
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Having driven both, and been a passenger in both, the C5 definitely "floats" over bumps better. Most hydro suspensions Citroens always have and always will, with the possible downside that travel sickness for rear seat passengers is more common.
Is it more comfortable? Not for me. I have driven an Omega from deepest Northamptonshire to the South of France in one day, with no weariness at all (unlike the rest of the convoy who were getting ratty for the last few hundred miles ;D). I find here to Birmingham enough in an early C5. Certain even the Elite handles better IMHO.
However, I think you'll have to try one to see how you get on with one comfortwise, as it will be very different to the C5's straight line ride.
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Daughter in law has a 2001 C5, considering the lack of TLC it gets it flies through MOTs. Does suffer DPF issues from time to time though, short journeys i suppose. BUT, the Mig is bigger and better. :y
Don,t know what happened there. :-\ :-\ ::) ::) :-[ :-[
A long pause and sharp intake of breath before you mention the dreaded DPF issues ;D
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Daughter in law has a 2001 C5, considering the lack of TLC it gets it flies through MOTs. Does suffer DPF issues from time to time though, short journeys i suppose. BUT, the Mig is bigger and better. :y
Don,t know what happened there. :-\ :-\ ::) ::) :-[ :-[
A long pause and sharp intake of breath before you mention the dreaded DPF issues ;D
I'm surprised that a 2001 even has one
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Daughter in law has a 2001 C5, considering the lack of TLC it gets it flies through MOTs. Does suffer DPF issues from time to time though, short journeys i suppose. BUT, the Mig is bigger and better. :y
Don,t know what happened there. :-\ :-\ ::) ::) :-[ :-[
A long pause and sharp intake of breath before you mention the dreaded DPF issues ;D
I'm surprised that a 2001 even has one
Well, it is French isn,t it. :P
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TB and others have got it spot on. You really need to spend some time in an Omega before you will know. Things like comfort are VERY subjective, especially when you have a bad back.
Interestingly, WhatCar? 'Expert' Says; "Most C5s have conventional steel springs, but top-spec Exclusive cars get a hydropneumatic arrangement, as used on all big Citroens for over 50 years. Oddly, the steel springs offer a more pliant ride – the hydropneumatic suspension jitters over larger bumps and leans heavily through bends."
So, is the C5 jittery over bumps? As said, purely subjective.
The only thing I would add (sorry if it's been mentioned). Any Omega you buy will be an old girl. The suspension components would have most certainly been changed in the past, more than once, probably. What's been fitted, and will it match that of a 'new' Omega, or one fitted with genuine, or decent components?
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had my last 2.5 from showroom to death at 190K miles. never replaced any suspension component not even shocks. only one set of front disks too, near the end. it did die needing track rod ends though (and egr and heater valve and handbrake shoes and cam gaskets and air con gas and sun roof) . did have engine replaced at 60K, oops.
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comparing a crappy old french barge to an omega? I mean really??=
::)
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Has anyone got an Omega local to the OP to let him have a ride, then?
I'm nowhere near, and have MV6 springs and B4s, so not giving him the best example of Omega ride comfort (though still pretty damn smooth compared with most cars)
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Why not go for a 4wd,like the frontera,just as comfy as an omega,and also has a v6 3.2 engine.
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Has anyone got an Omega local to the OP to let him have a ride, then?
I'm nowhere near, and have MV6 springs and B4s, so not giving him the best example of Omega ride comfort (though still pretty damn smooth compared with most cars)
Don't know... Has the OP confirmed his location?
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Ah, true. Sorry I was thinking he'd mentioned already. He won't be anywhere near me, anyway, Lincolnshire is the second biggest county in Britain but only has 87 people in it; all regularly exchanging clothes, and false moustaches to give me impression there are more, for fear of invasion.. :y
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Ah, true. Sorry I was thinking he'd mentioned already. He won't be anywhere near me, anyway, Lincolnshire is the second biggest county in Britain but only has 87 people in it; all regularly exchanging bodily fluids to give the county plenty of cuzzies. :y
Fixed! ;)
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PMSL ;D ;D ;D
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had my last 2.5 from showroom to death at 190K miles. never replaced any suspension component not even shocks. only one set of front disks too, near the end. it did die needing track rod ends though (and egr and heater valve and handbrake shoes and cam gaskets and air con gas and sun roof) . did have engine replaced at 60K, oops.
If that is even close to to truth, you are still talking 'dangle berries'.
190,000 miles and not a Steering Idler, Wishbone or..... Just remind me NEVER to buy a car from you!
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I'll have you know our pigs are the most beautiful in the Land! They're even prettier than our women....
oh, hang on... ;)
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had my last 2.5 from showroom to death at 190K miles. never replaced any suspension component not even shocks. only one set of front disks too, near the end. it did die needing track rod ends though (and egr and heater valve and handbrake shoes and cam gaskets and air con gas and sun roof) . did have engine replaced at 60K, oops.
If that is even close to to truth, you are still talking 'dangle berries'.
190,000 miles and not a Steering Idler, Wishbone or..... Just remind me NEVER to buy a car from you!
so i'm a liar am i? you're an offensive idiot, why don't you try listening to peoples real experience instead of just spouting abuse at them. :-*
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I also find it difficult to believe you can do 190K on original suspension, shocks and one set of brake discs. I'm quite light on car use, I don't drive that aggressively. But my year 2000 2.2, is on its:
3rd set of rear shocks (GM Original replaced at 135k, GM's fitted, replaced at 183k, now on pattern)
2nd set of front shocks.
3rd set of front discs - Not sure if replaced before my ownership, but I'm getting around 50k out of them.
Wishbones replaced at 155k, they were very, very shot!
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That said, even though the wishbones were fubared, they still passed MOT's ;D
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If you toddle round sedately and are particularly unfussy on handling, its possible you were unaware of it being knackered.
It became a joke of here for ages that tunnie wouldn't except his 2.2 had shot suspension... ...it was a car I used to drive a bit when he lived around the corner, I assure you it was absolutely mullered. Tunnies requirements and expectations were lower than mine, possibly because he drove this (sedately) for a number of years, not noticing it had deteriorated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog
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had my last 2.5 from showroom to death at 190K miles. never replaced any suspension component not even shocks. only one set of front disks too, near the end. it did die needing track rod ends though (and egr and heater valve and handbrake shoes and cam gaskets and air con gas and sun roof) . did have engine replaced at 60K, oops.
If that is even close to to truth, you are still talking 'dangle berries'.
190,000 miles and not a Steering Idler, Wishbone or..... Just remind me NEVER to buy a car from you!
so i'm a liar am i? you're an offensive idiot, why don't you try listening to peoples real experience instead of just spouting abuse at them. :-*
I do listen, and have done for many hundreds of Omega Owners on here and other Vx sites, this is how I know your car won't have original suspension components, or if it has, they will be completely shot, ergo, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the (more than likely) dangerous pile.
Offensive idiot? Probably. At least my car is safe. ;)