Citroen Saxo VTR review, Is it still the dream boy racer?

Рет қаралды 2,333

8 ай бұрын

The Saxo was a small B segment hatchback built by Citroen on the late 1990's to replace the AX but why where the VT cars so popular with young drivers, and why were Citroen not able to repeat the success with its replacement the C2 in the early 2000's.
For any one of my age the Saxo will bring back so many memories from hitting the local McDonalds with friends to music on Mini Disk to the rapidly growing internet and something called the millennium bug which got a few people a little worried about the survival of modern civilisation.
Though these cars were once everywhere I had not had the opportunity to drive one, until now that is....
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Hope to catch you on the next one.

Пікірлер: 37

@OwainF 7 ай бұрын

Just had this pop up in my recommended, you've gained a new subscriber :) I'm currently working on getting a p reg vtr back on the road as a winter project. Being 26, as a kid I always used to see saxos flying around, usually with questionable mods galore! Wanted one as my first car, but dad wasn't a fan of the safety features, or lack of them haha

@markonmotoring 7 ай бұрын

Yes they will have been popular with modifiers. In fact there is a blue one I occasionally see with modified bodywork. Even in period they did fall behind the class leaders in terms of safety but made up for in character. You may wish to take a look at the Citroen Car Club. Though many of the cars are older than the Saxo they are still a friendly bunch and may be good for getting parts and advice as well as being able to participate in events with the club once the car is in the road

@douwekapteijn139 5 ай бұрын

I had a 1.0 liter facelift for a while, it was extremely slow, but still fun to rag around

@markonmotoring 5 ай бұрын

Yes I imagine it will have been. My first car was a MK2 Renault 5 with an 1108cc engine and I think it was a mere 47hp but it was still a fun little car. Though modern cars are more powerful I think.the spirit has been lost.

@Georgehawkins19 4 ай бұрын

Top notch video for someone looking to buy one of these. Much love ❤

@markonmotoring 4 ай бұрын

Thank you George, pleased to hear you enjoyed this one. There is an ever growing range of car reviews videos like this one as well as many car event videos. I actually filmed a video earlier this year with Ben who owns the Saxo when we took his 2CV on the Raid Tan Hill event.

@GentilsGarage 7 ай бұрын

Nice one Mark. This era produced some crashing cars. Although I never drive a Saxo with 120hp (known as Saxo Cup in Portugal) I had drove a few 106GTi which was technically very similar.

@markonmotoring 7 ай бұрын

Yes the 106 GTI would have been the biggest threat to the Saxo VTS but I don't think they had a direct rival to the VTR. The 106 quicksilver would have been more akin to the Saxo Furio. Perhaps this is why the VTR were so incredibly popular here in the UK.

@banksroadmodernimage7358 3 ай бұрын

Fun little cars to drive saxo,ive had two from new both mk2 saxo vts”s stil have them now in 2024 👍👌

@markonmotoring 3 ай бұрын

Great that you've hung into them and still getting enjoyment. I doubt we will ever see anything that feels the same again as safety legislation has mode modern cars so much heavier. The Saxo may not have been the most powerful hatch of its day but whichever version you had they were always great fun.

@banksroadmodernimage7358 3 ай бұрын

Yes i started out with metro GTi in 90s and have also kept it along with most of favorite hatches from my early driving days,vts though stil shows modern cars up and stil pulls crowd when attending shows @@markonmotoring

@banksroadmodernimage7358 3 ай бұрын

Ive subbed great channel👌👌@@markonmotoring

@markonmotoring 3 ай бұрын

The Rover Metro really was everything the earlier cars should have been..advanced engine designs and finally a five speed gearbox.Sadly some of the limitations of its aging structure were more difficult to address. Like the Saxo it was still heavily based on a 1980's design but still a very interesting and somewhat nostalgic car. The 90's really was a high point I think.as cars were becoming more advanced and more reliable but without too much of the sophisticated tech that hinders most of today's cars. I'm happiest when out driving my 1997 MK1, phase 1 Mégane coupe.

@markonmotoring 3 ай бұрын

Thank you. There is a an ever expanding back catalogue of videos including car reviews (mostly 90's and early 2000's) and car shows (which often include interviews with owners). The odd car DIY video occasionally pops up too but I don't often film those type of video. I've been out at the NEC today for the Practical Classic Restoration show so that will be the next video to come.

@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain 8 ай бұрын

A brilliant review Mark, another car I need to drive or own at some point. I used to sell insurance for these for a certain well known dealer chain with a yellow sticker, young drivers would get a vtr or vts for something silly like £295, come renewal time it was more like £2295 the following year! There's a couple of members in the Citroen Car Club that have modified Saxos which I have featured in my Max Power Reunion Show videos.

@markonmotoring 8 ай бұрын

Thanks Davy. I can only imagine the shock some when they came to renew the insurance. I had a similar deal in a Clio but I already had a few years NCD by that point. This car was owned by a club member and the car is due to be at the NEC in a few weeks time. I have a relative who owned a heavily modified VTR back in the day.

@weejameso1640 4 ай бұрын

do you know what insurance for a vtr would look like as a first car in 2024?

@markonmotoring 4 ай бұрын

No idea as hot hatches have always been in a higher group though at least these days statistically there won't be many 17 year olds crashing them. 😅 My son is 18 and he often gets quotes online through comparison sites to see how much the premiums are for various cars he is interested in. If you like the look of the VTR and VTS but find the premium too high you could always consider the 1.4 litre engined Furio which still has the VT body kit.

@Lot76CARS 8 ай бұрын

Great review Mark and well chronicled. I know the AX better but the Saxo is a belter too. Light, quick and with those fantastic insurance offers on the hot looking (but only warm) VTRs what's was not to like? Surprisingly to find ABS was only right at the top of the range, but then again it was a legal requirement until into the 2000s I think.

@markonmotoring 8 ай бұрын

Thanks Simon, Yes they were incredibly popular. Some equipment like ABS wasn't even available as a cost option on many models so you really did have to buy the model with everything if you wanted the extra equipment.

@DaveFuller 7 ай бұрын

Im with you on the AX comment and i think it was a better car . This is the first vid ive watched and i think Mark hase a great persona ..

@markonmotoring 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Dave. There will be more car reviews to come in the near future with more car shows throughout the summer show season.

@willhaer2894 3 ай бұрын

Amazing cars that are about to shoot up in value

@markonmotoring 3 ай бұрын

That's very possible. There is a lot of nostalgia for these cars and nostalgia can raise prices. Look at the 205 GTI for example.

@willhaer2894 3 ай бұрын

@@markonmotoring give it 5 years you wont get a saxo vtr or vts for less than 5 grand

@WestYorkshireGuy1 3 ай бұрын

Really miss and regret selling my VTR. Mine had the 100bhp rather than the 98bhp engine from factory. I added a full stainless exhaust. 4 branch manifold and sports cat. With a Pipercross induction kit. It could fly and could hit 90 in 3rd gear. It would happily cruise at 120mph and easily go above that.

@markonmotoring 3 ай бұрын

Could be the time to get back into one. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. There are so many cars I wish that I'd bought before they became unattainable.

@Alex_Fella 8 ай бұрын

I've got a 1.1 1993 Citroen AX and I convinced my mum to buy a 2003 Citroen Saxo VTR. They're amazing cars, so much more character and much more reliable and cheap to run that modern crap cars.

@markonmotoring 8 ай бұрын

I agree, I've got a 1997 Mégane Coupe and a 2018 Mégane and you can probably guess which is the most fun. 😅 I've not driven an AX but I've reviewed a 1.1 Peugeot 205 Mardi Gras which was such an enjoyable car to drive. I also had a Renault 5 back in the late 90's, there was definitely something special about small French cars from the 80's and 90's that's missing from modern cars.

@babovicj.1939 5 ай бұрын

Does this manifold have air intake temp sensor on throttle body or elsewhere?

@markonmotoring 5 ай бұрын

I'm not entirely sure, I will forward your question to the owner to see if he knows.

@youbencowell 5 ай бұрын

The MAP sensor does temperature as well as pressure, it's on the throttle body. I'm investigating recorded temperatures and pressures. This might be why the car isn't as responsive low down. I said to Mark he can red line it, but he's considerate of other people's cars!

@markonmotoring 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Ben.

@markonmotoring 8 ай бұрын

I seem to be getting notifications of comments that I can't read or respond to. Apologies if this is you.

@millll8322 5 ай бұрын

Word of advice, and I’m not being a dick. But if you review a car, don’t give us boring details on models etc, just give opinions on the car you’re driving. This was very long winded to watch

@markonmotoring 5 ай бұрын

Some people like opinions, some like the model info. I do try to aim somewhere in between otherwise the videos can easily go beyond half an hour.