Citrojim's AX, Pixo, C3, Running and Cycling Tales

[CitroJim]

Horrific little cars. The guy I helped out after school in his garage when I was a kid was a Mini specialist. Put me off the bloody things for life. Hilarious to be a passenger in when they were being driven fast though.

I still carry a torch for the original Mini. It was my first car. An 850 Deluxe in Old English White, EPL 605B was its plate. Long gone now I guess as in my ownership it was made mostly of Plastic Padding and David’s Isopon. It may have been Delux but it makes the C1 look positively luxurious and opulent.

The old A series'd Minis were never wonderfully economical. 40 mpg was very good. Good engine it its day but that was 60 years ago now.

I loved that car and foolishly swapped it for an Austin 1300. Now that was a truly horrific car!

I then had five Metros, two MGs, a Turbo, a VDP and a late K series model. The Turbo was fun... The K was a lovely engine and the car itself was actually excellent but let down by atrocious build quality. Such a shame.

I could almost have an old Mini as a project now but for the cost of one you could get a top-spec. C1 or two...

[CitroJim]

still think the French should do what they do best and stick a nice tiny turbo diesel in there...

You're nearly right Will, what it really wants is a little turbo petrol in there. The result would be hilarious...

[daviemck2006]

The best I got for one tank of really trying in my 107 was 74mpg. That was an experimental tank. I had the tyres pumped up to 45 psi, the unnecessary bits of the grill taped over and the bonnet shuts taped over. My normal was about 62mpg give or take. There's a really simple way to work it out. Fill it to the neck and when the first bar on the fuel gauge goes out it will have used near enough exactly 2 gallons. Try it and see. Has to be totally necked though. I have also put in 37.4 litres in and the handbook says 35 litres. We ur low on fuel, the last bar will start flashing, then about 15 miles later start flashing much quicker. This does mean put petrol in now. I got another 11.5 miles before I ran out. This was tried with a gallon in the boot because I was trying to get 5 days of my then commute out of our tank. It failed by 12 miles. So you aim for 130 miles off the top bar then the bars are not linear I can't remember but think the second did another 80. It will take about 4to5 thousand miles to loosen up properly. Easiest car to service you will ever have.

[CitroJim]

Davie, excellent Most interesting reading... Thanks. When the thing is a bit looser I must have a go at all-out economy..

I'm not brave enough to go anywhere near flashing fuel gauge bars!!!

Servicing does look easy. There's not a lot to do is there

[RichardW]

Servicing does look easy. There's not a lot to do is there

Not for 3 years anway, just take it to the garage, drink their 'coffee' and grimace when they present the bill

Struggling to imagine you in a new motor Jim.....

[lexi]

I have only jumped in the C1 for a moment. I would need to take the back seats out for gear.
Mind you I have done that with Vel. Cars make great load luggers without back seats........simple.

[CitroJim]

Struggling to imagine you in a new motor Jim.....

You and many others Richard, it's caused quite a sensation at work

Can't think why...

I would need to take the back seats out for gear.

Yes, that's a downside. With the back seats in position there's just enough space for the weekly shop; two bags. It has a parcel ledge rather than a shelf

[lexi]

I can see a C1 bubble car meet coming up.
A black and white video and suitable Boards of Canada music will be available for FCF members.

[CitroJim]

I can see a C1 bubble car meet coming up.

No, don't think so. We'd have nothing to talk about

Got my new hose for the V6 today A week and a half before it was due

A very busy non-car weekend in prospect. Mainly karate. Grading is in a couple if weeks and tomorrow we have an afternoon of intensive training..

I'm really hoping to find time to sort the Activa wheel bearing soon. At this rate it'll be winter again and she'll be laid up having spent another summer largely unused!

Such is my life these days

[DickieG]

Good lord Jim in a C1, can't quite get my head around the thought

[Northern_Mike]

Good lord Jim in a C1, can't quite get my head around the thought

I am going to have a trip to NP one of these days to confirm this bizarre tale. I shall take pictures as proof.

Test drove one myself last week. Great little car..

[citronut]

Good lord Jim in a C1, can't quite get my head around the thought

as i said in you blog Richard

i see Sir Jim is going smaller more frugal and your going bigger more lavished/thirsty

[CitroJim]

Good lord Jim in a C1, can't quite get my head around the thought

I am going to have a trip to NP one of these days to confirm this bizarre tale. I shall take pictures as proof.

Test drove one myself last week. Great little car..

It is true. I really, really do have a C1. Chris570 can vouch for that. He has ridden in it..

I still have my two Xantias Richard. They're not going anywhere. Literally at the moment

And as you say Mike, they are great little cars.

[CitroJim]

I've had the C1 getting on a fortnight now and still very delighted with it. It is a town and commuter car par excellence and does the job it was purchased for absolutely perfectly.

Today though I drove both my Activa and V6 Xantia for the first time since I've had the C1.

Gosh I'm in the habit of getting very used to cars and I don't properly appreciate them until I've had a spell away. That is very much the case with the Xantias. The Activa is grin-inducing fun, despite a whiny wheel bearing, and the V6 is just sublime

Big problem on the V6. No Aux in socket on the wireless The other two have one...

Both are down with me for serious spannering this weekend That's something else I've not done for far too long as well due to all else happening around me lately although I'm pleased to say one of those things is more or less now resolved

Been busy in the kitchen today. One loaf baked, one very hot chilli con carne cooked, one fruit cake baked and a batch of chocolate brownies made...

Now I'm off to check over all of my cars. Despite the C1 being so new and fresh it's going to be subject to the same regime as the others on a weekly basis. Only problem is I've not yet worked out how to do Citarobics on it...

[DHallworth]

Jim,

This worked perfectly on my Range Rover for over a year before it caught fire...

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=44092" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would sort out your problem of no Aux In on the Series 2 Xantia.

David.