Confessions of a Citroholic

[CitroJim]

That's bloody frustrating Richard

[RichardW]

That's about what I said too

[Mandrake]

What possess people to do something as stupid as rivet an otherwise repairable wiper motor to the door ?

[RichardW]

I went to look at a C-Crosser this afternoon - just appeared on Autotrader only a few miles up the road. 2008, 50k, looks smart enough, MOT history not bad. When I get there guy says it's in the valeting bay, and I am the 4th person to ask about it - 2 are coming back tomorrow when it's been valeted. Nevertheless I had a good nosey around it in the valeting bay, looks straight and in OK condition for its age. Looks like it's had rear discs; fronts could well be original. 3 tyres with decent tread, NSR was a tired looking Michelin; quite possibly the original - I didn't check the date code. Plenty of room in it - I can easily sit in the back with the front seat back, so that is good! It was idling in the bay - the seats having been washed so I couldn't sit in it for long, so I popped the bonnet to have a look. Plenty of room under there! Then I noticed a disconnected hose above the radiator, thought it was an air hose at first, but then realised it was in fact the top hose and it appeared to be running without water! A further look showed that the expansion tank had 4007 2.2 written on it in Tippex pen so it's obviously been replaced.... I shut it off, informed the guy polishing it, and left quickly!! Don't need to buy one with head gasket trouble

[Mandrake]

[bobins]

Didn't know Citroen did an air cooled C-Crosser

[RichardW]

Er, I seem to have bought another car....!

Idly browsing Autotrader and saw a 2013 Pug 3008 1.6 HDi with Grip Control which looked worthwhile - and just happened to be at the dealer's in Kendal - where my Parents live. Managed to get them to run up and have a look; it is a 50k, 1 owner car supplied and maintained by the dealer, and traded in against a new Pug, in v nice condition(*). He had other people on a waiting list, and had someone coming in today to look at, so bit the bullet and got my Dad to pay the deposit there and then. It's more than I was thinking about paying, but there aren't that many around, and certainly not with that sort of history. Just got to sort out going to get it now.....

* give it a couple of weeks, and a few tip runs with builder's rubbish, and we'll sort that out!!

[RichardW]

I may have to change the title of the blog, given my recent propensity for buying Pugs... although PSA-a-holic doesn't have quite the same ring to it!

[Stickyfinger]

Pug-ish-tendency ?

[Mandrake]

So you're getting rid of your second old car then Richard ? Whatever will you do with your spare time now ?

[RichardW]

At the moment I'm thankful that neither car is demanding any attention, as I've got more than enough house work to keep me busy for the next 6 months of weekends! And there's always the pile of rust in the garage that used to be a Visa....

[RichardW]

My new stead has arrived

Went down on Saturday and picked it up from Kendal - took only a few minutes as I was there early, and he was ready to go. It's a very clean and tidy car (that'll soon change) and toys a plenty (although no sat nav being a pre-face lift car). I'm quite taken with heads up display on the dash, even if the distance alert to the next car looks like something right out of an 80's arcade game Discovered when I got home that it has the swivelling HID head lamps - so should be able to see where I am going in the winter!

A quick trip round to my parents for a cup of tea, and then head off to the hills - or not, as I couldn't start it After a few phone calls to the garage they said they would send the tech down; then we had thought about the keys - as they had provided a new key. Tried the non-remote and it burst into life immediately. So, back to garage and he re-coded the keys and we were away.

Headed up into the lakes, and up through Dunmail Raise to take a walk up Helvellyn. Those of you in touch with the AA boxes thread, will remember there was an unclaimed box there:

It's in very well kept condition

AA Box, 'new' 3008 - and a bonus Ioniq (albeit a Hybrid!)

Hopefully a good few miles without too much car work required now; although need a tow bar on the Picasso, and I'm pretty sure the 3008 has never had a fuel filter (although previous keeper was rushed for pads and discs on the front at 36k - main dealers, got to love them!).

[bxzx16v]

Good luck with the new car Richard , I'll be in that part of the country on holiday in a few weeks . Will be taking the Freelander over Hardknotts pass to Whitehaven while we are their .

Mark

[RichardW]

Today I have mostly been...... taking our nearly new car apart!

Fitting a tow bar. Bar is on, and bumper refitted - although it needs to come off again as it's not right somewhere, and I can't shut the boot at the moment Fitting proper integrated electrics, the connectors are by the BSI, and I couldn't see one of them so the glovebox had to come out. Fortunately I have managed to feed the harness under the edge of the B pillar trim, as taking that off was looking like a whole 'nother heap of trouble! Hopefully I can remember where all the bits go!!

[Mandrake]

It looks like you left it parked in a bad neighbourhood for a few days!

Hope you got it back together or at least rain proof before the rains descended tonight..