Citrojim's Activa, 207 and Bike Tales

[Zelandeth]

I've been impressed by my little 107, which I've had since new and is now on somewhere around 55K miles (most of that in the last two years on a Milton Keynes - Oxford commute).

Aside from normal service items only things it's needed have been a clutch (probably not helped by it having been misadjusted from new and subject to a commute through Oxford traffic every day), and a radiator which is more hassle to replace than it really should be but still isn't really hard. Exhaust is probably next given that it really is looking like something retrieved from the Titanic by now. Given how simple a system it is I'm not expecting mega money for that.

Economy has always hovered in the high 40s to low 50s mpg and performance is impressive for such a small power unit, though it doesn't really come alive until 3000rpm.

Probably the biggest complaint to be honest is that the headlight bulbs are an absolute pig to change if you don't have two dimensional hands with six inch long triple jointed fingers!

[Xantianut]

Sounds like the same guy designed the 107's and Xantia's headlights. The battery side wasn't too bad provided you remove the battery. As for the side with the ECU.........

[Zelandeth]

Problem with the ones in the 107 is that like on many small cars these days, the headlights are pushed so far back that there's all of about an inch of clearance between the back of the headlight and the suspension turret.

Actually getting the bulb in, that's not too bad. However getting the clip back on without it shifting is a royal pain, and then getting the rubber boot back on is a task which really is on the list of "menial tasks where you learn new and exciting swear words" - it's wider than the gap. Then you just need to get the wiring connector back on and test. ...at which point you discover that while wrestling the waterproofing boot back on that you've managed to dislocate the lamp and need to start over!

...mine may now have had the fixing points behind the bumper "strategically removed" so that a handful of bolts and screws remove the headlights in about a minute. Otherwise there's a bracket behind the bumper which means that has to come off to get the light assembly out...even with that removed the lights seem perfectly secure (the Morette upgraded lights don't use this post either), and it now means that changing a bulb takes me ten minutes and no injuries rather than about three quarters of an hour and many scraped knuckles.

Not found my Xantia's headlights bad to get at to be honest. ECU cover comes off which helps, only thing I had any choice words to say about really was the A/C reciever which gets in the way a bit.

[myglaren]

I have found the same problem with my daughter's C3.

[daviemck2006]

I better just say that I have heard that sir Jim is deserting the french car scene, as he already owns a little Japanese car he has decided to try the Germans. I can only sat TRAITOR! Imagine buying a BMW 320! I struggled to take it in when I saw it on Facebook! However everything on Facebook is absolutely true!

[CitroJim]

I struggled to take it in when I saw it on Facebook! However everything on Facebook is absolutely true!

Indeed it is, that post was definitely made on Facebook...

And from my own account...

So, on that basis it is absolutely 100% true...

But...

I made the mistake of leaving myself logged in when I was busy doing something else and someone took full advantage

The resulting Facebook conversation is absolutely hilarious... It made me

[daviemck2006]

Probably a daughter needing a severe talking to I think. At least she could have chosen a 5 series diesel. The only bmw I would consider, and it would have to be 20 years old at least

[Zelandeth]

Hmm..dunno...I've always fancied a 635CSi.

...Having borrowed a mate's 635CSi Alpina a few years back may have had something to do with that. Wouldn't say no to a Z3 either...those are the only ones I'd really entertain buying myself though...

[daviemck2006]

I do actually have a hankering since I got the 107 for the work hack, which it is very good at, to sell the 205 and get a 530 diesel touring for the Sunday best. It would have to be old though, 15 to 20 at least. The 6 series from the same vintage or older is nice too. The wheeler dealers one, red 635csi with leather would do fine.

[Stickyfinger]

It is not the cars, it is who drives them ....both old and new BMW/AUDI etal fall into "certain demographic groups" which you end up being linked with thus getting yourself either hassled from behind, ignored at junctions or raced by "slammed" 306's.

I will stick with "old man's cars" for those reasons alone thanks. (little do they know)

[daviemck2006]

It is not the cars, it is who drives them ....both old and new BMW/AUDI etal fall into "certain demographic groups" which you end up being linked with thus getting yourself either hassled from behind, ignored at junctions or raced by "slammed" 306's.

I will stick with "old man's cars" for those reasons alone thanks. (little do they know)

Yep, an old left hooker citroen showing them up. I like that too!
With bmw it's more the 3 series that has the reputation. A 5 tourer wouldn't be so bad a reputation. And a tweak here and there and a proper remap, not a cheapo ebay box of s**t, and it would surprise a few things. Leave it bog standard outside. I don't suppose that itch will get scratched rough.

[CitroJim]

And I will be firmly sticking with what I have

Davie, no, it wasn’t one of my daughters.... I shouldn't admit this but I was at work at the time... I was working, a colleague was working doing something else....

[CitroJim]

Fantastic run down to Somerset and back yesterday with my girls to see Dad... The Activa was just about brilliant and so good to have a nice, reliable blower now. With yesterday's rainy weather it was absolutely essential...

Every time I drive my Activa now I love it even more and it beats any BMW any day No way would I ever swap it for anything, especially a BMW!

[myglaren]

Do the girls like the Activa Jim?

[CitroJim]

Do the girls like the Activa Jim?

They love it, commented on how comfy it was