Citroen DS3 DSport
Latest addition to our fleet scores on specs appeal – as we have spent ages personalising it...
It’s always exciting to choose a new car. Deciding on the exact colour, trim and specification is all part of the fun. But Citroen has taken this to a whole new level with its stylish DS3. The supermini offers buyers seemingly endless scope for personalisation – and we got a taste of just what it’s like to pick and choose when we placed the order for our new long-term model.
The task was handed to me – probably because everyone in the office knows how much I love shopping! I surrounded myself with brochures, logged on to Citroen’s excellent online car configurator and started the search for my perfect car.
The first decision was easy – I simply had to go for the top-spec DSport with the 1.6 THP engine. I’d driven this model in Scotland when it beat the Alfa Romeo MiTo Cloverleaf and MINI Cooper S in our Issue 1,107 group test, and fallen in love!
Since then, I’d been running a brilliant but sensible Skoda Octavia estate, so the DSport would fulfil my desire for a car with a little more panache.
I was completely stumped on which colour to go for, though. Citroen offers 11 paint finishes for the bodywork, ranging from in-your-face Sport Yellow to the slightly more sedate Botticelli Blue. So I had to work out exactly what I wanted from the car. Was I looking for something a bit racy, to stand out from the crowd? Or would I be better off sticking with a more understated shade?
In the end, I decided that discretion is the better part of valour, and went for the cool but reserved Thorium Grey finish – a £410 option. That way, I thought, the DS3’s cheeky styling could do all the talking.
The agonising didn’t end there, though – once you’ve chosen the body colour, there’s a selection of roof finishes to pick from. This is slightly easier, with up to four options, depending on what you have selected for the bodywork. In all, there’s a baffling 38 potential combinations for the car! And that’s before you think about the finish on the door mirrors, dashboard and gearlever. Even the key is colour-coded – I found myself dropping off to sleep at night with colour charts swirling round in my head!
To make even more of a statement, buyers can specify funky graphics for the roof, complete with matching floor mats – although that was a step too far for me. Instead, I opted for a classic Carmen Red roof with Piano black dash facia (£100) and the red Amarante Claudia leather pack (£800).
The DS3 only arrived last week, and I’m delighted with all the choices I made. It looks and feels absolutely fantastic. Only trouble is, I haven’t had much chance to drive it. The three-door spent its first few days on our fleet in an airport car park – and when I gingerly handed over the keys, the attendant was left in no doubt that I expected him to take great care of it!
Happily, it didn’t come to any harm, and on my return, I took the scenic route home from the airport. The punchy 1.6-litre engine proved just as lively and responsive as I remembered. All those hours studying brochures and the website have paid off, because after only a week with the Citroen, I’m smitten...
Second opinion
“I only had a brief spin in the DS3, but it’s nippy and agile, and the interior feels solidly put together. Not sure about that red leather, though!”
Stuart Morton, Chief sub-editor
