Well, I thought I would give this a bit of an update now as I've been working flat out and not had much time.
Not a lot has changed with our cars, the biggest change being that we have sold our 2cv Beachcomber. It went today to a lady who really wanted a Beachomber, which is going to replace her current 2cv. I'll miss the 2cv as they are brilliant fun to drive and always get me smiling. It was never intended to be a long term keeper and it was time to move it on before the winter comes around. Being a colour combination which stood out it does get a lot of looks, smiles, laughs and comments. I went through a drive-through with it recently and got the comment "you're car is awesome!"
Two pictures as it was when we sold it:
I went to collect my dads C5 from having its DMF and clutch replaced and then proceeded to drive to work. However on the way the gear selector popped off leaving me without 2nd or 4th. So I took it straight back. Since then it has been fine and it no longer sounds as though the clutch is going to burst through the bonnet. I have no sympathy for the use of DMFs, I dont understand why they are used and I do know why they are used. In my opinion they are designed to fail and the very slight improvements they do give in refinement disappears when you have to pay £600 for the cheapest job and shopping around for quality parts at the lowest prices. If this was our eldest C5 (which has had a solid flywheel fitted, so no chance of that again) then the car would be scrap, as its hardly worth that.
Talking of our eldest C5 2.0HDi 110 SX, it sailed through its MOT last week without one advisory. I maintain that it is the best car I have ever bought. Its on 154,000 miles now and still drives very nicely, it just goes and goes with only routine services needed. It does get the best of quality parts, always Total oil and genuine filters, premium branded tyres and so on. But it is a general hack, it has not been washed for 18 months and I only hoover it when I can not bare to drive it any more - totally at odds with me as I clean my cars every week. It is used for carting our mountain bikes about, towing a horsebox which is on its limit of recommended capabilities, commuting and hacking up and down farm tracks every day. It does it all superbly. It's a car which will never be sold, it'll no doubt leave in a box ...
I took my Xantia Exclusive to the National rally, which was a brilliant event. I also really enjoyed my trip to the national and back in the HDi, even with my brisk pace it still averaged 54mpg over the tank. My dad in the C15 6 wheeler only managed 40mpg on the same trip, so it does weigh as much as an ordinary C15 - fully laiden - but still, no doube some of of that difference has to do with the efficiencies of a HDi too. Other than that, the HDi has been having a well deserved rest, I've had it out today for pottering about town though. The Activa has been having a garaged break as we had too many cars here so it was easier to move one out. I'll be getting it out of the garage I've stored it in and back home this week. It's MOT isn't far away so I'll put it in for that and cross my fingers.
Now for the none Citroen bit! My 75
I'm very happy with my decision with this car, its a brilliant thing for my commuting and I really like the feel of it. Stepping inside to the very convincing wood effect dash and wheel, the combination of colours and the piped leather seats - its a nice change from most cars which are a sea of grey and black plastics. Whats more, it feels pretty decent quality and upmarket compared to what I'm used to. I did at one point think the 75 diesel was trouble but really they are good engines if a little care is taken to look after them. I have done some preventative maintenance and its going like a dream. I'm not sure I would say its a better car than a C5, they are very different cars its hard to compare them. However I don't think I would have another C5 as I've had the one I wanted, my last 56plate 2.0HDi 138 VTR, and I still frequently drive our family C5s. I have added some new wheels to my 75, among some other small things which I am enjoying tinckering with. It looks, rides and drives so much better with these larger wheels:
I've not really said much about our C3 Picasso in here. It has settled in very nicely and it does get a lot more use than our C1 did. It is averaging about 56mpg with mixed driving but a motorway run has it way over 60 without trying. It is a refined and cabable car on the motorway, acting like a much bigger car. Its space has impressed the most as it offers a very flexible interior with the ability to fold the seats totally flat with the flip of one catch. It rides well too and when I had the need to dash off up to the yorkshire moors one evening recently to take my sister her car keys, the handling was surprising for a tall thing. It grips very well and is composed too, I went up Sutton Bank twice (slightly lost!) at a good pace, the 1.6HDi is certainly a gusty one. Its been trouble free so far too, it has had to have a repair after a wall decided it would pick a fight, the wall won!
Thursday of last week I added another level to my driving experiences, another off-roading day with LandRover to gain my level 2 certificate, after I did my level 1 last year. This was in a 62 plate Land Rover Defender 110 equipped with winch etc. This course was about building driving knowledge of off roading, using the low and high range box, the diff locks and the general abilities of the car. Knowing which gears to be best in while doing acents and decents, how to change both up and down gear on extreme slopes while maintaining control on very slippery ground, assessing the best ways through, etc. A good few times we had ground clearance issues, it was really tough going in places but brilliant fun! There was probably more grass and mud on the underside of the Defender than there is in my garden! We also went through how to get out of deep ruts by using a straps on a tree to the side of the vehicle, the best way to pass through deep water, how to do a failed hill climb etc. My highlight was when I was supposed to get stuck so we could practice being towed, however it just wouldn't get stuck! Eventually I did, by accidentially sitting the car on its sills and front bumper after driving into a very deep ditch, got the job done!
The seemingly most impossible part was driving up a slope of boulders which were sharp and all at diff height, extremely tricky. An excellent day out and what a vehicle the Defenders are, I used a Discovery 4 last time which did everything for me, this was much more hands on. I'd do it again tomorrow. No pictures as they don't want people sharing them over the interweb
I am liking the idea of a small car addition at the moment, something tiny and cheap to dart about town in. Partially because I miss the C1 for that use and my cars are all of a decent size, it seems overkill to haul them about town. I'm not quite sure what yet but I have a few ideas, mostly French! One thing is for sure that it would be small engined, sub £1k and hopefully some fun to drive, as I do like small cars for that reason.
