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

[CitroJim]

Mind. Some of the (let's just call them 'special') drivers encountered sometimes
on some of the roads in Wales may not be your normal Muppets found on your
crowded/congested central England roads...

I've already encountered them Andrew They're not as bad as the tourists who wobble about at 20mph looking at the scenery and then suddenly decide to stop for a better look...

The average life expectancy of a retired civil servant was even less - 6 months It was thought the underlying reason was that their jobs and commuting consumed everything and as soon as they retired they were lost and didn't know what to do with themselves. They literally died of boredom.

No such risk here and generally those from my cadre tend to live long and happy lives after retirement - because generally engineers are active hobbyists too and can't wait to retire...

Moving to Wales sounds like a great idea Jim! Getting out of this congestion and over crowded areas will do anyone the power of good.

It looks a better idea every day Chris

[CitroJim]

The XM now has a nice new cat Well, when I say cat I really mean a kitten as it's a tiny little thing but it fits a treat, there's at least an inch of clearance between it and the subframe and I'm now 100% rattle free for the run to Aberystwyth tomorrow

I was intrigued by a notice on the cat to say it's non-type approved and illegal to fit to cars made after March 2001. What's the significance of that?

I fitted it just about all on my own but had the problem of pulling the rest of the system up to the cat tail to attach the clamp. As luck would have it a friend popped round for a quick visit just at the right time to apply a bit of traction to the back box

Excellent. Interestingly, I note the oxygen sensor on the new cat is placed very near the cat itself and it goes in from the top. I checked it was all happy on the ELIT and it all looks good.

What a difference it makes not having a rattling exhaust. It was driving me bonkers.

Only problem is, I can barely walk now

[andmcit]

That sounds better Jim but the not walking well bit doesn't!
The Xm cats usually do have the lambda coming into the main body from above - v6's definitely.
What did you have to do to the old Activa cat in the end - is it still Xantia compatible if you do want
to pass it on...

[CitroJim]

is it still Xantia compatible if you do want
to pass it on...

Yes, all it needs to have done is to have the tail trimmed and re-welded. An absolute doddle for anyone who can wield a MIG with a tad of competency...

And I know it's good because it's just allowed the XM to pass the MOT with hardly a whiff of any emissions at all.

Yours if you want it FOC + carriage

[CitroJim]

Yours if you want it FOC + carriage

Or meet me in Aberystwyth tomorrow if you don't want to pay carriage....

[CitroJim]

Yep, definitely overdone it today

Still, it was worth it....

Just had another present for the XM delivered Two cans of Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 and two cans of Dynax UC ready to get some corrosion proofing into her before the winter really bites hard...

[Citroenmad]

Good news on the cat Jim Hopefully a nice relaxed drive over to Wales in the XM tomorrow will have you back to normal again

That Bilt Hamber stuff arrived quickly! I'll go on and order mine tonight, then with any luck I can treat both Xantias next week.

[CitroJim]

Yep, I reckon the trip tomorrow is going to be very restorative... It'll be like lounging in a favourite old armchair...

That Bilt Hamber stuff arrived quickly! I'll go on and order mine tonight, then with any luck I can treat both Xantias next week.

It was good service Chris, ordered on Monday evening... I know your Xantias will appreciate it greatly. Remember the UC is the clear stuff and UB is brown...

Good service too from OnLineAutomotive on the cat. They even rang me to advise when I could expect delivery... Top outfit and highly recommended...

[Citroenmad]

Im sure the Xants will appreciate it, there has been salt on the roads around here for the past few weeks Today was dry, sunny and no grit that I could see, so I indulged myself with a drive in the Activa

I was wondering if Bilt Hamber would have an appearance at the classic car show, but after checking, they are not going. Possibly next year they say. So Ill order mine online now

[CitroJim]

Absolutely fantastic trip to Aberystwyth and back today. Car went lovely. It's so comfy and easy on a trip like that. 420 miles for the day and not an ache or anything and still feeling fresh The comfort of that car is legendary...

Not a beat missed. Filled up with LPG in Aberystwyth at the local bottled gas depot in the depths of the industrial estate. Cheapest I've ever seen at 70p per litre. The M6 Norton Canes services was over 80p

Here's the car, Robyn and Greg on the windswept and wet Aberystwyth promenade just after we returned from a brisk stroll along the beach Fantastic. It was so good to get a good dose of bracing sea air - the best medicine there is.



Car is absolutely filthy now and needs a really good wash

We'll be doing the same journey again on Sunday...

My goodness, that XM is a seriously good cruiser for a long trip and it loves Welsh roads

[Citroenmad]

Just brilliant Jim It is a superb cruiser

Will the XM be accompanying you on Sunday?

[CitroJim]

Will the XM be accompanying you on Sunday?

Do ducks go quack?

[Citroenmad]

Will the XM be accompanying you on Sunday?

Do ducks go quack?

That'll be a yes then

[andmcit]

I have a dog that doesn't bark...

Late reply about the Activa cat Jim, that'd be totally brilliant - thank you THANK YOU!

I'm cool organising a courier to collect it - these days they're not too fussy
about these kinds of things being wrapped up so much as having an address
label firmly attached!!

[bxzx16v]

It's good to see the Xm getting the use it deserves Jim , I can remember when I first cast eyes on it at Wetherby earlier in the year when Chris had brought it and thought that it had great potential , you have both lavished some care and attention to it and I'm sure it will be on the road for many more years to come . I do like that pic Jim on the seafront , cold was it

Mark