I’ve been looking for hints of Germanness about the C5 over the Bank Holiday weekend. Citroen wanted to show the car was based on such principles when it was launched eight years ago.

Unfortunately, time hasn’t been kind to this Mondeo-sized saloon. Unlike German manufactured machines, the C5 has stood still and is now urgently in need of a replacement.

The quality that sparkled at launch in 2008 has been overwhelmed by better specced, better driving rivals from manufacturers across Europe.

Slow, ponderous and lacking in charisma, I rather wonder how many Citroen actually sell here in the UK on an annual basis…