Fail of the century #34: Citroen C6

The C6 wasn’t a fail. It was a magnificent, avante-garde, pillowy success. This was Citroen doing what it does best: cooking up oddball machines with all the comfort of a piping mug of Horlicks, and all the sporting intent of a piping mug of Horlicks.

Introduced in 2006, the C6 was pitched to be a soothing, pulse-lowering alternative to the sportlich German premium mainstream. It succeeded in spades, delivering dangerously indulgent levels of waft to the exec saloon sector.

So, no, the problem wasn’t the C6. The problem, without wishing to point fingers, was you. Specifically your utter failure to actually buy a Citroen C6.

Because, in its half dozen years on sale in the UK, the C6 shifted fewer than 900 units. In the same period, BMW sold 130,000 5 Series. Britain, take a long, hard look at yourself.

And sure, you can offer excuses. Excuses like, “but the 5 Series was more economical and tax-efficient”, and, “the reliability of the hydropneumatic suspension was always an area of concern”, or, “I wasn’t even old enough to drive in the late Noughties so why are you blaming me?"

Frankly that’s just passing the buck. We all played a part in the glorious C6’s dismal failure, and we must all own our mistakes.