Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[myglaren]

Come to the northern in it Chris, you can chase the Dalek around

Set off a week early though

[Citroenmad]

Come to the northern in it Chris, you can chase the Dalek around

Set off a week early though

Ok, I shall set off now It has lights!

I might well bring it down, in the back of the estate though

[red_dwarfers]

Now that I wasn't expecting! Me and a mate were so close to buying one a few years ago but reality took hold.
I'd love to have a drive at some point.

Carrying on from up there, C5, ZX now how about a GS X2 and GSA X3? Granted a bit of x rotating is needed but it's near enough for me.

Ah tractors! Mate of mine restored a Ford 7810 back along, lovely machine that was. I don't miss tinkering around with my old Roadless.

[Citroenmad]

Now that I wasn't expecting! Me and a mate were so close to buying one a few years ago but reality took hold.
I'd love to have a drive at some point.

This says a lot! It is a good bit of fun, glad I got it

Your very welcome to a drive of it, next time I see you ...

[CitroJim]

I want to see it chasing the Dalek..

Just don't let them get too close or we might have some very odd offspring to deal with

[vince]

Fantastic purchase Chris and looks great.

With the whole retro technology thing you have to look past its shortcomings against what the designer forsaw its potential to be and embrace the fact that it was invented in the first place...i think its cool

It falls into the catagory of a design icon for me irrespective of its capabilities....it was radical then and its radical now. I presume there are sinclair owners circles ? I have fond memories of sinclair computers....my dad is a techo kind of guy and bought the first zx81 then upgraded to the one with rubber keys and a small rainbow stripe on the corner

Ahhhh playing manic minor for hours....that really takes me back to being a kid......

Youve made my morning Chris with the memory trip.. Another good reason for owning the c5

[myglaren]

Manic Miner.

I remember it well

[vince]

Twas good......Jet set willy, starquake, cronos.....hours of childhood spent

Probably why im not so much into games now, played loads when i was a kid

[Trainman]

Just wondering out loud............ could you get a Lexia for the C5 to run on the Zx80

[CitroJim]

Oddly, I could never get into games and still can't...

While others were playing games I was busy teaching myself assembly language and other programming languages like C...

Never did me a bit of good so I'd might as well have enjoyed trying to play games after all... Or other more worthy pursuits.

In fact I think getting into IT professionally was by far and away the biggest career mistake I ever made and like a bad marriage I'm now trapped in it. It's a bloody horrible place

[Citroenmad]

Fantastic purchase Chris and looks great.

With the whole retro technology thing you have to look past its shortcomings against what the designer forsaw its potential to be and embrace the fact that it was invented in the first place...i think its cool

It falls into the catagory of a design icon for me irrespective of its capabilities....it was radical then and its radical now. I presume there are sinclair owners circles ? I have fond memories of sinclair computers....my dad is a techo kind of guy and bought the first zx81 then upgraded to the one with rubber keys and a small rainbow stripe on the corner

Ahhhh playing manic minor for hours....that really takes me back to being a kid......

Youve made my morning Chris with the memory trip.. Another good reason for owning the c5

I really think it people missed the concept way back in 1985. If they were sold today I imagine they would sell better, perhaps as a toy rather than a mode of transport. However, there are still people who use Sinclair C5s for commuting short distances to work and so on.

There is a bit of a following Vince, there is a good forum (C5Alive) which is a good source of knowledge and parts. They also arrange gatherings etc but I'm not sure I'll get into that. They do also commend good prices, watching ebay there are often a good few for sale and even the ones needing a lot of work go for a few hundred. A good working one will set you back something like £350-£450. There are a few new and boxed ones which go for anything from £1000-£1500

I keep tinkering on with it, its all fully functional now, just needs a good cleaning.

[CitroJim]

Oh I don't know Chris, I reckon a gathering of Sinclair C5 owners could be quite an event. I guess their gatherings are a bit like our rallies.

Wonder if they have an award for the furthest travelled to the gathering?

Seriously though, I reckon you’re right in that Sir Clive was just a bit ahead of his time when he released the C5. These days it would enjoy far greater acclaim and a lot less scoffing...

I thought of how a C5 might work the other day when I saw a prone cyclist. Bar for the fact that the cyclist was doing all the hard work rather than a battery there was little difference between that prone cycle (which looked a bit home-made) and a C5...

[Citroenmad]

In Xantia news, my Activa has had another accessory added. It came from Tim Leech, brand new and boxed, a Xantia tailblazer:


I wasn't sure I would like it, I've had it a few months and only just got round to trying it on. However I think it looks great, really 90s and suits the car so well. I like it a lot. However I understand they do fade but the car is usually covered and it will take years for that to happen.

The Activa also has headlight protectors fitted, but I have managed to break one. If anyone has a driver side potector for a series one, please let me know.

I took the Activa long to the Northern CCC Drive It Day last Sunday. It was a very enjoyable day, which took in some great roads on the Yorkshire Moors, a nice stop for lunch and tea and a bit of chattering too. The Activa went very well, almost 250 miles in total. I perhaps had too much fun on my journey to and from the event but thats what an Activa is for!



Last week I was in the Scottish Highlands on a Uni field visit for the week. It turned into a far more enjoyable week than I thought it might, though it was pretty draining. I went in the HDi Xantia, which did the drive there and back without any effort. Five hours each way and I still maintain, they are the best seats I have ever sat in for long periods. With the C5 I would get a numb bum, as the seat gave very poor support for someone with long legs. The Xantia Exclusive seats can be raised up at the front of the base, which is ideal. I didn't even consider stopping either way. I was set to travel back Saturday morning, however once things had finished Friday evening I decided to set off. I got home at about 2am Saturday, which was a good idea as the roads were nice and quiet. With the suspension Sports button pressed, the climate set to 20 degrees, my Ipod playing and the wipers set to Auto, there was little to do but sit back, enjoy the flowing roads, watch out for wildlife and count the number of flashes from the yellow money makers by the side of the roads.

The HDi has now covered over 2000 miles in the last month. I can see another car coming on to take the bulk of the miles again ...

[myglaren]

Is that the Hole of Horcombe from the 'wrong' side Chris?

[DHallworth]

That tailblazer sits well with the silver on your car Chris.

My silver S2 XM has one fitted to it as well. Not something I'd of fitted but I don't want to take it off the car as it was on it when I got it and I've gotten quite used to seeing it on it now and it's grown on me now.



Not the best picture of it though.

That drive it day looks as though it would of had some good roads in it!

David.