CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[myglaren]

Clag a bit of faux-leather vinyl over it.

[CitroJim]

Get that lacquer seen to soon Jim. And you will hopefully get away with only having to re-lacquer and not re-painting.

Thanks Robert, excellent! I was worried at first you were going to to advise me to weigh her in...

[CitroJim]

Clag a bit of faux-leather vinyl over it.

Good thinking Steve... Make it a bit retro-70s...

[robert_e_smart]

Thanks Robert, excellent! I was worried at first you were going to to advise me to weigh her in...

The roof lacquer peel won't affect your weighbridge price though!

[CitroJim]

That's exactly how mine started Jim ..... should see the state she's in now, and only a matter of months later

I foresee a roof respray very soon Mike

I saw Barry's (of BL Autos) Dante Red V6 Activa today at the X Rally. Last year it was very scabby indeed. Over winter Barry has had it fully resprayed. It looks absolutely gorgeous now

[Citroenmad]

Your New V6 was looking very nice indeed today Jim, id not worry about its slight imperfections, I wouldn't have noticed them if you didn't point them out

That V6 Activa did look very fresh, only recognisable by its bumber plate. It does seem a bit of a favourite with Dantes red to lacquer peal, I dont suppose there is a way to prevent it.

Good luck with the MOT, im sure it will sail through

[CitroJim]

Those little imperfections don't bother me at all Chris... I'm much more bothered by mechanical than cosmetic ones...

I'll have to sort the Activa though as it lives outside and can only get worse

Good luck with the MOT, im sure it will sail through

I shall report back on Friday. I reckon I give cars a stiffer MOT than the MOT itself does. I'd give it three advisories. I'll see if I'm right!!!

[CitroJim]

She passed her MOT a treat, just an a advisory as expected on the front tyres. So it's bye bye Fate very shortly...

I'm right, I do give cars a stiffer MOT than the MOT does The other two items I would have given an advisory on passed without comment. That was one very slightly perished flexi hose and the front discs. Both will be replaced in the no too distant.

The MOT tester complemented on what lovely condition the V6 is in

Having a bit of lunch and then to work for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Working all day tomorrow and then on Sunday it's off to Aberystwyth... Busy times. We are moving office..

All three cars are currently brimmed with fuel... Firstly for the Aber trip and in case I have to make an emergency run to Somerset in the not too distant...

[CitroJim]

In other news, Robyn and I had a great adventure going to Somerset and collecting dad's Nissan Pixo for Sian. He's now given up driving and has given the Pixo (just under three years old and 1300 miles on the clock) to Siany for her 17th birthday - lucky girl

Robyn and I scored a cheap set of train tickets to take us from Bedford to Taunton via St. Pancras and Paddington. The first leg was on an East Midlands 'Meridian' train, which is basically a Virgin Super Voyager. Bloody excellent trains Fast, comfy and quiet with just a pleasant hint of diesel throb

The Paddington to Taunton leg was on a First Great Western (aka Worst Late Western) HST and haven't they stood the test of time well? Still superb trains despite being 30 years old now. Sadly they've all been re-engined and have now lost the characteristic turbo howl of the old Paxman Valentas I could listen to a Paxman-engined HST taking off from a station all day - pure music

HSTs are real survivors and are going to be in main-line service for a good few years yet. No replacements for them are planned until 2016 at the earliest.

Both St. Pancras and Paddington are impressive stations now they've been restored a bit and given they are the two most often first seen by visitors to the UK they do the job a treat. Johnny Foreigner can't help but be awestruck.

The drive back in the Pixo was purgatory Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic little city runabout but for a journey it just can't cut the mustard at all. You feel every stone in the road. It didn't help the tyres only had about 20psi in them. Pumping them up (at the cost of 20p) made the car feel marginally better but I'll never be chopping any of the Xantias in for one, that's for sure...

Still, Siany's delighted with it and has already started driving lessons

I've now got to get the Pixo MOT'd and serviced. It's not been touched in three years and 1300 miles, not even an oil change

And then I've got to find Siany some insurance cover on it

[Citroenmad]

Excellent news on the MOT Jim, it was as to be expected and we would all be very dissapointed if one of your cars failed

That is an excellent first car for your daughter, minimal running costs, few things should go wrong and its new and safe. I had a look around a Pixo yesterday, its ok for a small car and not too cramped really. Its not the usual thing I would have a mooch about, however I was stuck in a Nissan dealer for an hour waiting for a Micra to go through its MOT and so had to pass the time somehow I can say that Nissan do not offer any remotely interesting cars, they appear more dull than they ever have been! Hopefully they would prove reliable, as this Micra has, but their mixed venture with Renault has not helped that. No fear with the Pixo though, as I understand it its really a Suzuki and im sure it has the same Toyota engine as found in the Aygo, C1 and 107.

Glad to hear your getting rid of those ditch finders Jim, you will be out-dragging TDs in no time!

Talking of brimming the cars, I notice that petrol is only 4p cheaper than diesel at the moment, my Activas not getting any cheaper to run

[robert_e_smart]

I was in my local Citroen Dealer yesterday to get a pressure regulator big O ring, and checked out the new DS range before leaving.

I wasn't impressed by the DS4, but did like the DS5. Not so much the exterior proportions, but the cabin. I liked the seats, very reminiscent of CX Prestige seats with the big square blocks. I'll see what knocking about in a DS5 is really like in 10 years time or so when they are nice and cheap!

[Citroenmad]

I was at the Citroen dealer yesterday too (ordering a rivet and spring kit for the Xantias key, £3) and so was having another look around the DS range. I too like the DS5, I like the looks and I really like the interior, the driving position reminds me of a Peugeot 3008, if a little lower. Though the reviews are giving reports of a hard ride and that will not interest me! The DS4 is ok, im nout quite sure why I would pick it over a normal C4 though and I hate the design of the rear doors which gives them a corner to catch when getting in and out. I like the DS3, in fact I was more than tempted by them yesterday. Id love a bright yellow one with yellow and black seats and a yellow dash, excellent!

[robert_e_smart]

I haven't read any reviews yet. But I am looking forward to a C6 when the time comes, or may even lower my self to drive a more common C5 3.0 HDi V6 when they are cheap!

I was chatting to the sales man about older Citroens in general and the first generation C5 came up. You are going to love this Luke. Chris, close your ears! The only first generation C5 for him would be a V6 auto Exclusive SE!! He was however keen to get a good CX or a good XM. Pity he wanted a CX more than the XM!

[Citroenmad]

I doubt that the sales executives at my local Citroen outlet even knows what a Xantia is, let alone an XM or CX, they appear to have no interest in Citroens. Quite interesting going in the Traction, few recognised it as a Citroen despite its front being dominated by two huge chevrons They only seem interested in the new stuff at the local garages around here, shame, gone are the days of privately run dealers. Here at least.

There used to be a private Citroen dealer here, it closed about 8 years back. The owners were heavily into Citroens and often would get unusual ones to park in the showroom. A Traction, CX etc. Many years ago they even had a 1920s boattail in at one point, which I did get a ride in There was enthusiasm for the cars and the parts department was excellent. Shame its all Evens Halshaw around here now

[CitroJim]

Sadly Chris, it's my experience that enthusiasm in many areas is seriously lacking these days. It seems to be a bit of a dirty word in some quarters