What car brand would you buy or not buy other than PSA

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 27 Dec 2009, 14:11

CitroJim wrote:Easy one for me..

In my dream garage, in addition to the Double Chevrons in there...

I'd have a Rover P6 3500 V8, an Alfa 166 V6 and an S14 Nissan 200SX.

That'll do me

Liking the Alfa choice Jim

and a 200SX? You got a bit of drift demon hiding within?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jaguars. I wouldn't mind a XJR or an XFR if it were something newer. The new XJ looks excellent. Tata has done JLR a world of good it seems.

deian · Post by **deian** » 27 Dec 2009, 19:22

Jaguar is indian now right? Maybe I am wrong but indian cars haven't got a much better reputation than the chinese or the russians.

I am surprised not many have mentioned the old schoo SAAB's. Jim, I do hope that 166 V6 you mention is the 3.0i one not the 2.5i one. They are very swish cars them.

I also highly regard Japanese cars, the Micra we has a year ago did well until it fell appart from rust.

But I do prefer the german cars, yes they appear to be over priced, over engineered, but when they do get it right they are good.

Citroen are 'cool' and unique cars, can't quite help but love them regardless of their faults, thats why I have one, and it hasn't got many faults.

Anyone here ever owned a Lada? ... yeah mate, the door is over there!

My wife's best mate in egypt was driving a lada, how surreal was that, when i first met my wife in cairo; there I was in a white Lada sat amongst three egyptian girls, one became my wife, how cool am i??

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 27 Dec 2009, 20:13

Featch wrote:I'd love an NSU RO80. Light years ahead of their time and Citroen were involved in the design, I believe.

Andy

Hi No not quite the design of the SHAPE of the car, the ONLY thing Citroen related was Citroen tried out a Bi Rotor Wankel Roatry engine, in the GS Bi Rotor... Thats about it..

But for me, well, classics becon DEFENATLY, and an Ro80 would be wonderfull.

My 5?

Mazda (626 1991 to 1997 shape) - they did a DERV to which was Supercharged instead of Turbo charged, which Suited the DERV engine amazingly, Low down tourque coupled with a LOW DOWN blower! Amazing!

BMW E28 Series

Mercedez W126 560 SEL series

Renault 25 or Laguna RXE

Peugeot (older models, 205 or 309 eira)

Not so...

Any VERY modern Car! Just the looks dont do it what so ever!

Ford (Except 1983 Escort Ghias, or Mk.1 Sierras - STILL Very low priority)

VW - Look closely, gearbox's on polos fail commonly, the VR6 engines also fail a lot (Have a look for Galaxys or Sharan V6's!! in the spares)

Vauxhall

Anything British (ARG, Austin etc etc!!)

A Mazda 626 has come soo close many times as a temperary replacement car, but the XM has won over every time

Paul

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:34

VWs are not as reliable as most poeple think, gearboxes along with pedal boxes are common failures. Our 2.5TDi Caravelle VW needs its auto gearbox repairing at 94K miles. Once its repaired its going the journey.

Nothing has ever been as reliable as Citroens are to us.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:46

It amazes me how people are sooo Badge Concious!

My Black Xantia TD, SX a 1994 L vintage came to our family at 180k, history unknown! Ive got her full time now for the last ten months, run to 219k, as far as the engine is concerned Rocker cover gasket, Cam seal, Cam belt and um, ONE heater plug behind the Injection Pump!! Oh, and the useual Oil changes!

A DAMMMM sight better then anyone would think! My 1993 Kreg V6 XM behaved in the same way, I got it on 103k and ran her to 140k.. no problems what so ever...

Paul

Post by **CitroJim** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:56

Fact is, if you maintain a Xantia or XM little and often and leap on problems as they occur, they are indeed totally reliable and dependable.

Fundamentally, they are well screwed together and built to last and quite capable of running up huge mileages.

Any Xantia with less than 100K on the clock is barely run in...

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:59

Any Xantia with less then 100k is RARE TOO!!!!

8)

Paul

vince · Post by **vince** » 27 Dec 2009, 23:25

CitroJim wrote:Oh, and a Jensen Interceptor

That is the master stroke Jim...the FF of course?

Ive still got a great article on a comparion test between the interceptor (non FF) and the Monteverdi 375L carried out in Switzerland.....

I must have had the magazine for about 5 or 6 years now...i still love to read it

I took my wife to Dublin earlier this year for the weekend.....and one drove right past us....i exclaimed....."look a Jensen Interceptor" she looked at me with that blank look of someone who doesnt dream of sweeping alpine passes and a decanter of napoleon brandy in a swiss chalet somewhere with a bond girl

vince · Post by **vince** » 27 Dec 2009, 23:31

Citroenmad wrote:VWs are not as reliable as most poeple think, gearboxes along with pedal boxes are common failures. Our 2.5TDi Caravelle VW needs its auto gearbox repairing at 94K miles. Once its repaired its going the journey.

Nothing has ever been as reliable as Citroens are to us.

Did you know that VAG model cars from 97 onward were built with chinese parts....even dealer stock....hence the poorer reliability records they have. They have recently moved back to German quality standards.

My next door neighbour works for VW

vince · Post by **vince** » 27 Dec 2009, 23:33

Keeping it short.

Next "family car of choice" if the Xantia ever goes.....which im not planning on it doing yet

BMW E36 saloon (i hate the design but they go through very few parts)
Toyota RAV 4 4 door

"Id like one of those list" would take too long.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 27 Dec 2009, 23:43

Talking of interceptors, I'd quite like to have Mad Max's

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 27 Dec 2009, 23:50

Id personally love to own a prelude again, I've owned two in the past a mk2, and a mk3 and loved both of them, I'll agree a lot of the jap cars we have over here do have rather bad interiors, you really have to get a top end one for it to look nice inside. After a recent fun episode with a friends BMW I'm rather taken, think for my next car I fancy a 3 series BMW e36 coupe, gotta be a 325 or a 328, cant afford an M3 sadly, would consider a compact (ti).
I like cars with the 'thrill' factor, hence my love for Jap cars lot of bang-for-buck, close ratio boxes, 0-60 times put Euro cars to shame. However nothing comes close to the Citroen ride quality, and I always go back eventually

.

Brand wise I think the only brand I would defiantly not purchase would be a Daewoo, or some of the small Chevrolets. Other than that I'm pretty open, having owned only 14 cars (5 of which are Xantias) its hard to make an absolute judgment.

I'll always have at least one Citroen though, gotta have at least one reliable comfy car in the family.

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 30 Dec 2009, 11:00

Apart from Citroen it`s Honda or Landrover. Those last two are miles apart from each other in build and reliability. We`ve had four Honda coupes and they are some of the bests lower to medium priced cars I ever had.
All automatics with no box issues.
The secret? They aint built in UK. In fact all were built in Hondas state of the art (at conception) factory in Ohio. This was a model for many other factories. ALL Jap parts fitted. None of this changing spec of components for a cheaper local supplier like they do with British built Hondas. Even the Jap rubber hoses are superior in quality

I do agree with some comments about certain Jap cars being souless BUT my wife works crazy hours and needs a totally reliable car. Two years with Prelude out and about every day ...........Nothing done and it`s 9 years old with no rust either.

Now all that being said I have another vehicle that has been almost as reliable as my Hondas.........my 96 Renault Trafic diesel. It has been slogged for 7 yrs with only a new rad one wheel bearing and good servicing. It already had 90k when I got it. It has a Lucas pump and last Mot the guy said emissions were like a new vehicle. Alas the body is going and will be scrapped this year it seems. Why was it good? Old school engine and no electronics. Renault just can`t build complicated cars properly

Ah Jim....the P6 3500 S very nice and very nice ride ..like a Citroen almost. Had that one ......a police spec model and a 2000 sc model.

What would I like now? To get my 61 Landrover ser11 refurbed and running.

Get my V6 xantia right up to scratch. Both will happen this year and that will do me......for the moment

Post by **myglaren** » 30 Dec 2009, 14:01

Probably the most reliable non-Citroen car I had was a Honda Accord 2.0i LS

Identical to that.

Was like new when I bought it with only 53,000 miles on it.
I fairly quickly put another 130,000 on it.

Sadly rear-ended and written off while stationary in a snowstorm.

I hated it when I first had it but learned to like it, was sad to see it go and wouldn't mind another.

scenicspares · Post by **scenicspares** » 30 Dec 2009, 14:28

I'd def buy a VW.

The new golfs are superb. Did have a MK4 golf diesel which went on forever had over 150K and never had to touch it in 18 months.

The Mrs did have a MK3 Polo with over 100K on it and it just went on and on.