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

[KP]

Recovery is always worth the money when you drive better cars like we all do Jim!

To be honest I'm half tempted on Saturday if the issue can't be resolved easily to just call the AA and enjoy a jaunt home without having to spend a penny on fuel... It's already saved me a small fortune in the initial pickup of the xm

[CitroJim]

I warn you, this post contains disturbing news so those of a sensitive disposition may wish to sit down first...

Regular readers will know my V6 Xantia disgraced itself on Tuesday and rode home on the back of a flatbed. My Activa is as reliable and trustworthy as a British summer and the XM, well oddly, it's been more or less, by XM standards, faultless but that cannot last. It's an XM after all. It must be about to have a massive toy throwing session.

So upshot is, with the XM awaiting refurbished strut tops, I currently have no 100% serviceable car. The Activa is Ok for short runs but no more. So until I fix my V6 I'm reliant on borrowing Robyn's 207...

Both Xantias have now comprehensively destroyed any trust I once had in them and the XM I never really trusted 100% anyway... I'm the sort that once I loose trust in something or someone, that's it, game over. It takes me for ever to regain any former trust, if ever.

With all that's going on in my life that's not an acceptable situation. I need a rock-reliable car that doesn't need spannering every few days (as all have needed recently) to keep them good. I love spannering but electively, not out of absolute necessity.

So, against that background and an even busier time in prospect for the foreseeable due to what’s going on in my private and social life, I have negotiated the purchase of another car.

I've bought a 14 plate (also brand - new) Citroen C1. I'm thinking that'll do the job for the daily grind and meet the requirement of hardly ever needing spanners and being very reliable whilst at the same time being dirt-cheap to run.

The Xantias, despite both being well and truly in the doghouse, are staying for now and going into retirement and to be enjoyed on special days only. Their daily driver status is now at an end. I cannot home four cars however I try so one has to be culled. It's the XM.

So, the XM is open to offers as soon as it has its new strut tops fitted. It has a few problems which I'll advise any interested parties. I don't want a massive price for it but must cover the cost of the new strut tops and other recent work on it..

PM me if interested...

[KP]

What do you think of the c1 Jim? Is it nice to know it's your first(in a very long time!) normally sprung car that's essentially good enough for toyota to stick their name on as well?

It's a 1.0l 3cylinder jobby as well isn't it? Nice thrumb when driving and likes to have some revs to whizz along

[KP]

Oh, did you get your 10% off the final price?

[CitroJim]

Oh, did you get your 10% off the final price?

A lot more than that Will

[KP]

I think once you have agreed a price you can get your ccc member card out and get more off

[Xaccers]

I've bought a 14 plate (also brand - new) Citroen C1. I'm thinking that'll do the job for the daily grind and meet the requirement of hardly ever needing spanners and being very reliable whilst at the same time being dirt-cheap to run.

Who are you and what have you done with the real CitroJim?

[daviemck2006]

That is a car that I found fun to drive, 100% reliable seriously cheap to run and the easiest to service that I ever had. That ticked all the boxes I needed ticked at the time when I was doing 100 miles a day. However after a c5 2.2hdi it was uncomfortable and slow. I shudder to think how slow it will feel after a v6! The c1oc used to be a good source of information, but now seems to be full of youngsters with big wheels claiming their car does 150 mph and 0 - 60 in 3.5 seconds yet still returns 85 mpg:O:-)

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[citronut]

What do you think of the c1

i think there orible ,

aparently C1's up to 09 have the clutch fail around the 30K,
also there water pumps fall apart ( literally ) around the 30K mark, easy enough to replace though,
and i spos in its favor it doesnt have a cam belt

[Mandrake]

I see a lot of C1's about up this way, and all of them seem to be red...

I've sometimes wondered what would be a good little daily driver to get to work, do milk runs etc, and be cheap to run and insure and reliable, so that a bigger, older (less reliable!) car like the Xantia could become a weekend / long trip cruiser instead of being run into the ground as a daily driver...

Something that might also be good for my girlfriend to learn to drive in, if I can talk her into trying again...

[bxzx16v]

Sorry to hear of your car problems Jim, the C1 is a cracking little motor. It's good to hear your retiring the Xantia's.

Mark

[daviemck2006]

Yep the earliest ones had a 180 mm clutch which did not tolerate abuse or even normal use but since early 09 which my 107 was had an uprated 190 mm clutch which solved this. Mine was well over 65k when sold and was fine. Water pumps also weak on earlier cars, again mine was fine. Mine was also on original brakes when sold and hardly looked worn at all. The only other things were some leak through the back window (bootlid) and can leak through the aerial on the roof. Again mine meter suffered any of this. If it's the semi - auto they can suffer the electrics for it going prematurely, and costs to fix aka my c2 sensodrive costing £980. Apart from that a superb wee car as long as you don't expect too much. Just small, not the comfiest ride and not fast, but nippier than you might imagine, but needs revs and gearchanges to achieve it, but will keep up with general traffic flow.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Northern_Mike]

I must say, with the latest deals on C1s from Evans Halshaw, even I'm tempted to get one for Mrs Northern_Mike. Simple, reliable transport that doesn't need spanners all the time would be a blessed relief. The Berlingo still mostly works, but it needs a couple of expensive jobs doing on it.

[addo]

Isn't the C1 that thing you are at risk of inhaling if you hiccup nearby?

[citronut]

Isn't the C1 that thing you are at risk of inhaling if you hiccup nearby?

now you C1 now you dont