Our older Berlingo, known as Enrico, hit 150,000 miles earleir in the week so it seemed appropriate to pen a proper report.

It’s a 1.9D first registered in March 2005 and owned by us since new. Bought to replace a 1991/H BX 1.9TGD estate that had failed its MoT. Initial intention was for it to be second car to my 2000/X Xantia and was bought on a 3yr/27k miles PCP with a review to replacing both in 2008.

Due to problems with the Xantia in July 2005 it got ‘bumped up’ the running order and was used for the family camping holiday in France. So successful was it that the Xantia never went abroad again and was demoted to station hack and bike carrier. As a result Berlingo went way over the mileage for the PCP and we bought it outright in 2008.

Overall picture is of a comfortable and reliable load lugger that has worn extremely well.

Performance – It’s a 1.9D with a power output of 61bhp so never going to set the world on fire. On the other hand lots of torque and a well matched gearbox mean it keeps up in traffic or on Alpine passes, even fully laden. It can though run out of puff on French m/way inclines (which are steeper than in UK) requiring resort to the ‘vehicules lent’ lane. On level it will happily cruise at 130kph if you leave your foot on the floor, accept the impact on fuel consumption and engine noise. On the other hand if kept just under 3k rpm, which corresponds to a tad under 70mph in top, it’s relaxed and comfortable. That’s fine for us, we won’t drive more than 600miles in a day anyway and a few extra mph on max speed doesn’t give a matching increase in progress.

Achieves best mileage around 45mpg on a good run, poorer numbers round town bring down the overall aerage. Not too bad for breeze block aerodynamics and engine that has to work hard. If we’d bought it for role it ended up in we might have gone for the 2.0Hdi 90 offered for an extra £1k which would have done 40 average.

Equipment and Comfort – It came in ‘Desire’ trim which gave a part glazed roof with two capacious overhead lockers each with a permanently live 12v connector. Very useful for keeping phones, i-pods, mini playstations etc fully charged, particularly when camping where we never had an electric connection. Desire also added tables on rear of front seats, fold down armrests at front, a CD player, integrated roof rails and front fogs.

The seats are trimmed in a blue cloth which, while prone to marking from water spills, has worn very well and cleans easily with proprietary shampoo. No sign of any fraying or sag to any of seats. Three hour sectors are fine comfort wise, though as kids have grown up they’ve found the rear seat padding a little unyielding – cured with a cushion.

The doors on the overhead lockers were a weak spot and would have been £100 each to replace. Just needed to be secured closed with Velcro. No other trim problems and was and remains free of rattles and squeaks.

Front seats adjust only fore/aft and for rake but combined with height adjust for steering wheel all four of us can drive it comfortably.

Air con was an extra we turned down on basis of original planned use. In fact it’s not been missed greatly due to combination of excellent ventilation and low solar gain from silver paint.

In Use – This is where it wins. It’s roamed as far north as the Butt of Lewis and south to the Costa Brava as well as Switzerland and Germany. Although a foot shorter than the Xantia it absorbed our large Khyam tent, two (and sometimes three) teenagers, camping kit and clothing for a three week holiday with ease and still had space for beer/wine inbound to UK. Dog guard (a pig to fit) was installed to ensure luggage stayed in boot under all conditions. Roof load limit is 100kg but in deference to its ‘high vehicle’ status the 400l roof box carried mostly light weight stuff; alloy folding chairs and stools, picnic table etc.

Servicing and Reliability – Service interval is 10k and has been strictly adhered to with some services early in anticipation of long trips. The recent 150k item was the seventeenth in service record. Initially done in Citroen dealer network then by local French Car indy but last was DIY. On it’s third set of brake discs, fifth pads and probably fourth exhaust – they tend to suffer metal fatigue at pipe/rear box join before the box/baffles give up. Tyres do about 30k with new ones going on rear. Local Formula One fast fit usually has good deal on either Michelin or BF Goodrich - £60/£70 fitted and balanced.

The first cambelt started to fray at around 60k due to a failed idler but to its credit belt stayed in place. The fraying made it noisy so quickly came to attention. It was in turn replaced at 140k.

By a country mile it’s the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. Notwithstanding slight issues in cold weather it’s never not started and failed to complete just two journeys. First when clutch failed at around 110k and about 6months later when corroded alternator terminal caused loss of all electrical power. Nobody but me to blame for clutch, I’d been warned at service it was on its last legs. Alternator is a design thing – low set at front of car. Indy though reckoned it should have been capable of at least a temporary repair at roadside.

It’s done last 10k miles in 9 months and we’re happily splitting long distance jobs between it and the newer car to keep latter’s mileage in bounds of warranty. Out to North Devon before Xmas, Plymouth just after and 2*returns to Liverpool for new Uni term. Was up Birmingham onn Thursday and Liverpool and back yesterday.

It will be run into the ground.