I want a DS5!

[Jabo]

I do wonder if French car manufacturers are using sub standard quality steel in their springs, loads of tales of PSA and Renault springs snapping but I can't say I've ever heard of one breaking on a BMW and I have vast experience of those being driven under the harshest of conditions.

My friend has recently sold his BMW 330Ci, 'X' reg as it was rife with suspension issues that he was unwilling to spend money fixing.
Only 6 months ago did he crack a spring after going through a reasonably sized pothole.

[DickieG]

I doubt your going to convince us that our beloved Citroëns are anything less than we know they are

I don't doubt that for one moment but I do believe it helps to look further than the end of your nose if you are going to be objective and honest

[myglaren]

Among many other instances, one of our directors was driving off in his then two year old Vectra and BOTH front springs collapsed leaving the car undriveable.
One of the wife's friends has a two year old Ka that has had six front springs to date.

[Lighty]

My work colleague has had two broken rear springs on his BMW in he last 3 months, I think all cars break them in my experience. I believe I is the cheapness in manufacture that causes this, in the older cars the spring was neatly chamfered off on the last coil where it sat on the upper and lower platform. These dys this is not the case, so there is a single point of stress and contact, that I believe causes the stress.
Now I don't stick up for Citroen regardless of the truth, as i have noticed lots of enthusiasts do, and a lot of there products are down right dire , but their Hydraulic suspension is STILL in my opinion far superior to anything else I have tried.

[Peter.N.]

I think the last proper Citroen was the CX, the XM is a bit Citroen but not proper.

Peter

[Citroening]

What gets me is that why didn't they think of a way to manually raise the cars? When a hydro' Citroen bursts a pipe, looses its fluid and it's stuck on the floor they're a huge pain to move. Unless you've got a low tilt'n'slide recovery truck with minimal angle then they're a nightmare to get on a truck. Most single car transporters are the beaver tail variety and although dead BXs, CXs etc can be got on them by using planks of wood to raise the car, it's a huge pain.

Also if one has been sitting for many years and won't start then you can't get them up. You'd think that they would have designed such a mechanism/operation to manually raise the car. I have heard people using a high speed drill to spin the pump but haven't tried it myself... Not too much use if a pipe has gone though...

At least if a coil spring has gone it doesn't immediately hit the deck and cannot be driven...

When a Hydropneumatic Citroen is riding well it's great, and will take a lot of beating for comfort. When it's bad though...

[Citroenmad]

It seems the phase of hydraulic suspension is about over for Citroen now and those who have the older cars should know how to maintain them for good ride quality.

I do like a good ride quality but as long.as its not annoyingly bumpy then I don't mind coil sprung cars too much, so long as the poorer ride translates into decent handling. Hydraulic citroens certainly have their advantages though.

For me, hydractive citroens have a good match of ride quality and handling for real roads and normal driving.

[robert_e_smart]

Luke brought over a 1998 Safrane to pitch against a XM a few months ago. I can almost guarantee the Safrane never had any suspension work done to it. The XM in question had re-gassed spheres and Hydractive crappy suspension that took ages to get working correctly as well!

The Safrane rode wonderfully, this particular Xm was better.

A couple of years ago, someone brought a 1998 XM that had never had any suspension work done to it! It was dreadful, the front height corrector wasn't working properly either. There is something to be said for sprung cars. I admit that I am blinkered, and will put up with a certain amount of crap from hydraulic Citroens to have that magic carpet ride for 95% of the time.

[Peter.N.]

I think Rolls Royce still use it

Peter

[Citroenmad]

I think Rolls Royce still use it

Peter

I had a feeling they were on air now?

[Peter.N.]

Could be - I'm not very good at keeping up to date.

Peter

[DickieG]

I think Rolls Royce still use it

I had a feeling they were on air now?

I believe that's the case, having driven all of the current range I can testify the ride is silky smooth on all of them.

[Citroenmad]

There is a guy around here who has had a new shape Phantom converted into a hearse body, for private use ... not to be used as a hearse. That could prove a very good estate car

[addo]

Body by Hisson coachbuilders?

[Citroenmad]

Body by Hisson coachbuilders?

Im not sure, it was at a place in teesside getting the interior retrimmed when I heard about it.