Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[deuchebleu]

You need to change your signature Tim. The 'other' car is a bit out of date.

[Citroenmad]

I don't know what I'm doing yet - might take the 'other' car and meet up there (you can order your food before the hoards arrive that way!)

Why not bring the 2cv?

However, I imagine doing that run without the convoy in 'the other' car will be almost as fun! You need to update your sig

[chopper602]

I don't know what I'm doing yet - might take the 'other' car and meet up there (you can order your food before the hoards arrive that way!)

Why not bring the 2cv?

Depends if there is likely to be much rock salt on the roads . . .

[citronut]

It's nice to have though, you can't really hear the 'ticker' anyway !!

spoz you could alway fit a bluetooth mic against the flasher can and wear a bluetooth head set/hearing aid

[Citroenmad]

I don't know what I'm doing yet - might take the 'other' car and meet up there (you can order your food before the hoards arrive that way!)

Why not bring the 2cv?

Depends if there is likely to be much rock salt on the roads . . .

It looks like its going to be a reasonable weekend weatherwise, hopefully there wont be much salt on the roads. I just need to give the 2cv a cleaning and it'll be ready.

[Citroenmad]

I've not a huge amount to report on the cars, I've mainly been sat infront of a computer doing uni assignments or sat infront of a computer at work.

I've serviced my C5 as it was due, though I still have the fuel filter to change. It went off to the garage who did its clutch to have a new lower ball joint which had a damaged rubber cover from when the clutch job was done. But otherwise it remains a jump in and go type of car.

It's MOT was due before the 9th of Jan, its never a good time to have an MOT due, right over the Christmas/New Year period. I forgot about it slightly until Monday when I had to ring around to find a garage open and book it in for Yesterday, the only day I had free. My usual places were closed up for new year so I thought I would try a dealer and see if my faith in them could be restored a little. I didn't even consider the two most local Citroen dealers, they are Evans Halshaw and I'm not fully impressed with their normal service so don't wish to sample what their service department is like.

I booked its MOT in for yesterday with Town Centre Citroen in Sunderland, I've been impressed with their parts place and its now the only dealer I use for parts. Their MOT was a very competative £40 and as they obviously know Citroens, I find its always handy to take a hydraulic Citroen to somewhere who knows a little about them. On the way up to Sunderland I gave it a good thrashing to give it a clearout, not that it usually goes slowly .... but it has had a good bit of town use recently. It seems to have enjoyed that as its very lively now . Their viewing area overlooks the MOT bay, as soon as they had my key they pulled it in and underway, within 15 minutes they were adjusting the headlights. After I had a bit of a look at the new Citroens it was all done. They had even given it a very good wash and dressed the tyres too! Expecting at this point a long list of repair jobs and things it failed on (my faith in dealers is not strong) it passed with only one comment, its rear NSR tyre is getting down on tread. Result!

I'm not sure what I would do if I had to buy a brand new Citroen now, I like the DS3 but the rest are a little dull really. The DS5 is very disappointing, its smaller than I thought it would be, the interior is not that spacious, its far too expensive and its on stiff coil springs. I think I'd be off to another dealer ....

The Xantia HDi has been great, I've done about 2,000 miles in it so far and I'm really enjoying it. I've yet to do another good long run in it, apart from bringing it back from getting it off Richard. So I'll have to use it for my next trip somewhere.

My uni semester starts next week, unfortunately their planning has resulted in me being there four days a week. One of which I'm there for one hour, 9-10, which is very thoughtful, as it takes me up to an hour and a half to get into Newcastle City Centre for 9.00am and all just for an hour. Not to mention its a 70 mile round trip. So my mileage will be stepping up again, what with four trips there and then to work a week. Bring it on!

[CitroJim]

Excellent news on the MOT Chris

Sounds like your cars are going to be working hard this semester... Good job you have an HDi for the job

[Citroenmad]

They are going to be busy Jim and your right, the HDi is the perfect car for it

The Raid Tan Hill event yesterday was excellent, there was around 80+ A-Series Citroens in attendance! As always, the run up there is stunning, superb roads which wind around many scenic views and take into account some of my favourite roads - the Buttertubs pass being one of them. The weather was reasonable, mostly dry with very little salt needed on the roads. It was very foggy when leaving the Inn, good job I had put a new switch on thet rear fog! A particularily fun part was the climb of a very steep hill containing two hairpin bends. We all stop at the bottom and let each car go up one at a time, in case the one in front stops. Its a first gear job and really good fun! I'm not sure who was screaming the most, the car at the number of revs going up this hill or my dad for me to change gear The 2cv just revels in it.

The 2cv was faultless, despite having three people in it pulled up the hills really well and seemed to be among the most lively there ...






An excellent and thoroughly enjoyable day out

[CitroJim]

Gosh, looks like you've just washed the 2CV Chris. It looks positively angelic

That Tan Hill Place looks very interesting. Highest Inn in England I believe... No wonder it's a bit foggy up there at times...

[ragger]

I would have loved to join you on the run up to Tan Hill this year but it coincided with the Boss's birthday and she has just had a knee replacement a week before Christmas, I simply didn't dare!

My 2CV has not had much use over the last couple of months for the usual reasons but also I am increasingly woried about the overheating headlight switch. It is on the list of jobs to do - after the XM gets a replacement wiper motor and attachments fitted tomorrow. Many thanks to Paul for that. I also have a replacement height selector mechanism (big thank you to Robert for that one!) to tackle and if that goes well that should just leave the glove box catch to sort out from the original list of jobs from when I got the car.

Rob

[Citroenmad]

Gosh, looks like you've just washed the 2CV Chris. It looks positively angelic

That Tan Hill Place looks very interesting. Highest Inn in England I believe... No wonder it's a bit foggy up there at times...

Thanks Jim, its not looking too bad at the moment

Yes, a really nice place, I wouldn't mind staying there one very winter night. Its a great atmosphere.

I would have loved to join you on the run up to Tan Hill this year but it coincided with the Boss's birthday and she has just had a knee replacement a week before Christmas, I simply didn't dare!

My 2CV has not had much use over the last couple of months for the usual reasons but also I am increasingly woried about the overheating headlight switch. It is on the list of jobs to do - after the XM gets a replacement wiper motor and attachments fitted tomorrow. Many thanks to Paul for that. I also have a replacement height selector mechanism (big thank you to Robert for that one!) to tackle and if that goes well that should just leave the glove box catch to sort out from the original list of jobs from when I got the car.

Rob

I was going to ask you if you were planning on going. I don't suspect that would have put you in the good books had you have gone I hope the Boss is recovering well. My Gran is going in for a knee replacement tomorrow, hopefully.

DO you think the heated headlight switch is a wiring fault or a fault of the stalk?

If you want any help with any of that, just let me know and I'll come across

[Citroenmad]

Well its been a pretty awful start to the new year, for various reasons with family members health, my dog being ill and so on. Yesterday I had to make the decision to get my 11 year old white Staffy put to sleep as she was starting to suffer from her condition. She had liver disease, which was diagnosed just before last Christmas but was mostly fine until just before this Christmas when it started having more of an effect on her. Throughout the year everything which was possible was tried and she still was very happy and healthy otherwise. However a few weeks ago she started to get fluid build up in her abdomen, her muscles dissapeared, her fat used up. I had been to the vets over 10 times since Christmas to get the fluid drained, more tablets etc but nothing was helping. Yesterday she was huge with fluid which had gone into her legs over night, she was very uncomfortable, breathing was difficult, she didnt have any stength to move around much and was just skin and bone. This was enough, she was starting to suffer. Despite her only going downhill over the last few weeks, noticeably over the last few days, it was not a huge shock but extremely upsetting indeed. We got her at 8 weeks old. She will be missed, she was a huge part of our family, I took her all over and have lots of happy memories with her. She was more than just a dog.

We still have two dogs, a 6 year old Staffy x Lab (maybe) who acts about 12, weighs about a ton and isn't the most bright of animals but he doesn't have a bad bone in him. And our 7 month old Jack Russel x Cocker Spaniel, who is full of energy, is very clever and great fun to take anywhere.

Here they are, mind, the little one has grown a little since


To cheer myself up yesterday and take my mind off things, the HDi Xantia got a good clean before I went out for a few pictures of it. Its been quite hard working this past week, having covered almost 600 miles since Monday. At an average of 53mpg. The Xantia estate has been invaluable these past few weeks, with having to take my dog to the vets. My C5s boot can take the dogs fine but its got a very high bumper and lip into the boot. Which does make getting them in, especially my poorly Staffy, difficult. The Xantia has a very low bumper and in low its easy to get the dogs in and out of the boot. As always, it remains well hoovered and nice smelling!

The weather was quite dull, so they are not brilliant.






Its now in resting in the garage out of the way of the salty roads and the snow (its snowing right now!) as the C5 is out for commuting duties.

[Northern_Mike]

Well its been a pretty awful start to the new year, for various reasons with family members health, my dog being ill and so on. Yesterday I had to make the decision to get my 11 year old white Staffy put to sleep as she was starting to suffer from her condition.

My mum had to do the same with her Staffy a couple of years ago, it's a brave and difficult decision to make, but the correct one, as I'm sure you know. I'm really sorry to hear you lost her, but being able to let her go like this is a sign of being a really good owner. Condolences Chris..

[bxzx16v]

Sorry to hear about your dog Chris , our border collie is 15 and going blind & deaf but still manages to put a smile on my face at times with some of the things she gets up to . I know people say time is a healer but at times you very much doubt it .

Mark

[DickieG]

Oh dear Chris not a good start to the year, having been there with my previous dog I know how difficult that decision is and how it leaves you feeling, unfortunately it's the price we have to pay for the enjoyment a dog gives you. Take comfort in having made a correct decision (and TBH the balls to make it) to avoid your dog suffering, well done