Compare Citroen Ds3 clutch and gearbox repair quotes from specialist garages

Over the years, Citroen has come up with more than a few quirky ideas. The second car it produced, the 1922 Type C 5HP, became known as the ‘petit citron' (little lemon) because of its small size and the yellow paint colour you could order it in. Since then, there has been the Citroen Picasso, taking inspiration from Pablo Picasso's use of shape. The Citroen DS 19 was the vehicle of choice for the French President Charles de Gaulle, who survived an assassination attempt in 1962 thanks to the car's superior suspension system, allowing his chauffeur to drive away after two of the tyres were shot.

The DS3, initially manufactured by Citroen before DS became a standalone brand in 2015, is a quirky luxury supermini capable of rivalling the MINI. With a plush interior, reasonably good performance and plenty of kit and personalisation options, it's a popular choice for drivers who want excellent value for money. In 2010, it was named 'Small Car of the Year' at the Fifth Gear Awards, and the following year, it won the Fleet World Design Award. Reliability isn't the DS3's strong point, reflected by the unusually high number of recalls it has experienced for issues including the ABS and faulty bonnet catches.

The clutch and gearbox work together in a manual transmission to facilitate gear changes, determining the amount of power available from the engine. Unfortunately, several things can go wrong within this system, requiring an urgent repair.

Most clutches last at least 60,000 miles, though several factors, including your driving style, can impact this distance. Gearboxes typically last between 100,000 and 150,000 miles - find out how much a repair is likely to cost here.

Common signs of clutch and gearbox failure include:

• A limp, hard-to-press or sticking clutch pedal
• Grinding or clunking noises when you change gears
• Difficulty moving the gear stick
• Clutch slipping (when your car struggles to stay in gear)

Since these symptoms will only worsen with time, booking a clutch and gearbox repair sooner rather than later is best.

Before you take your car to the garage, have a look at our ultimate guide to clutch repair so you know what to expect.