Citroenmads Citroen blog.

bxzx16v · Unread post by **bxzx16v** » 13 Feb 2014, 19:49

Hope things go well on the C4 front Chris, I've been considering getting a berlingo van with the 1.6hdi but I don't think it's one of the psa groups best, (well not compared to the 2.0 hdi). I've also considered a dispatch with the 2.0 16v hdi (120bhp) but I'm not sure if they have dpfs fitted?

Mark

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Jun 2014, 21:31

So this is just slightly out of date then

I didn't keep the C4 long at all, about 5 weeks actually, in which time I covered about 2,000 miles with it. It drove well and returned great economy but I was getting extremely paranoid about the aging 1.6HDi engine and I wanted something larger with better build quality.

I hadn't sold the family heirloom Polo TDi which I've been in custody of for almost a year now, so I went back to using that as my daily commuter and the Xantia HDi Exclusive for long trips. All the while thinking what I would like to buy next, a large diesel car which I had some degree of interest in. I set my budget of about £10,000 and spent a good while looking for something. Sure I could have had a C5III which I did consider and other rivals of it too. However, this left me at the age where cars were either just out of warranty or had a year left and I didn't like the thought of having a 10k car and no warranty to support my ownership. So then I got looking at Kias and Hyundais and it was getting to the point where I was going to buy a car for the sake of it.

To cut a very long story short, the next car I bought is my current daily driver. Its a Volkswagen Passat of 2003 vintage with low mileage and has been well looked after, significantly cheaper than my budget but I've always liked Passats, to me they are a classy looking car with good build quality and I like the drive of the higher powered and trusty 1.9TDi units. Specifically it is a black 1.9TDI 130 6speed saloon in Sport specification. This affords many of the goodies I like, cruise control, climate control, auto wipers, cd changer, leather interior bits, sports seats and has lowered and stiffer suspension than normal. However, this just stops it from being the usual boat that a Passat can be and gives it good body control with a very decent ride and great refinement. It irons out all of my dislikes from the Rover 75 CDTi which I had last year. The Passat has bags of rear legroom, a great driving position which suits me perfectly and a refined manor. So that is my daily now, which it is ideal for my motorway miles and abandoning in a public car park during the day, I don't have to care too much about it getting dinked. I'll resist my usual picture urge and not overload the page with pictures of my Passat

So just the one:

It is providing all I look for in a car for the time being, until something newer strikes my interest.

The ZX has recently been rehomed as we have decided not to swap the engine on our 6 wheel C15, mainly to keep it original and partly because it does so few miles to warrant it. The ZX won't be seeing the road again as its being stripped for parts by a Peugeot specialist who plans to use the 1.9TD engine in his 440,000 mile Berlingo.

Of course I still have the two Xantias, the Activa is going very well indeed and once again has working air conditioning. The HDi is still my long distance companion and it has returned me 220 miles today to go to the family caravan and back, which nearly ended badly when a woman towing a trailer pulled out to overtake the vehicle in front, right as I was overtaking her on a single carriageway.

In other news, my extended period of education is now complete and I have my second degree with results which I am very pleased with. Being able to finish my degree and start a full time job the following week was an ideal situation and is giving me good experience until I manage to get something more in the line of work I'd like.

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 29 Jun 2014, 21:59

That Passat looks to be in lovely condition, Chris!

David.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 30 Jun 2014, 04:31

I'm so pleased to see the Passat hasn't dislodged any Xantias Chris

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Jul 2014, 09:43

DHallworth wrote:That Passat looks to be in lovely condition, Chris!

David.

Thanks David, I'm very pleased with it and it does everything I want for the time being. Not sure how long I'll keep it but I'd like to think for a year ...

CitroJim wrote:I'm so pleased to see the Passat hasn't dislodged any Xantias Chris

Nope, the Xantias are firmly my hobby cars and the Passat my daily driver. I have now sold my trusty Polo which will be going to its new home within the next week or two. Its going to Rob (Ragger on here), so I know its found a good home.

I'll be making the trip down to the CCC National for next weekend in the Xantia HDi Exclusive, see you there?

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 13 Jul 2014, 10:40

Citroenmad wrote: I'll be making the trip down to the CCC National for next weekend in the Xantia HDi Exclusive, see you there?

I'm afraid not

That's my on call weekend unfortunately.

Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!

David.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Jul 2014, 10:44

DHallworth wrote:
Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!

David.

I'll be there, with or without an XM

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Jul 2014, 18:03

DHallworth wrote: Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!

Chris, I can help you fulfil David’s order and command above. The new strut tops have been fitted to mine today and she's now available

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Jul 2014, 21:22

CitroJim wrote:
DHallworth wrote: Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!
Chris, I can help you fulfil David’s order and command above. The new strut tops have been fitted to mine today and she's now available

Hugely tempting, Jim! I know its a good one and I've driven it already. I'm trying my best to resist

Unread post by **Hell Razor5543** » 13 Jul 2014, 21:27

Citroenmad wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
DHallworth wrote: Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!
Chris, I can help you fulfil David’s order and command above. The new strut tops have been fitted to mine today and she's now available
Hugely tempting, Jim! I know its a good one and I've driven it already. I'm trying my best to resist

What would a FCF Borg say? "Resistance is futile. You will be XMimilated.".

Unread post by **Northern_Mike** » 13 Jul 2014, 21:39

Citroenmad wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
DHallworth wrote: Get yourself an XM and head to the event in Stoke in September to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary!
Chris, I can help you fulfil David’s order and command above. The new strut tops have been fitted to mine today and she's now available
Hugely tempting, Jim! I know its a good one and I've driven it already. I'm trying my best to resist

I am also, and I have been told I can, but I should do more travelling, I really enjoyed my trip to Colombia!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 17 Aug 2014, 21:45

Well my Passat hasn't worked out, its needing too much doing to allow me to keep it in daily service and so it's going in favour of something newer which actually works reliably and as it should. I'm going down the route I probably should have done a while ago, with something with a warranty and hopefully hassle free motoring. Leaving me to tinker with my Xantias as I want and use them for the long journeys, which is what I've been doing for the last two years I've had the HDi Xantia.

Our eldest C5 is now looking for a new home as its replacement is on the way, I've posted a for sale ad on here. Its been a great car for the 5 and a half years we've had it but its time for a change.

I've recently been for a few weeks holiday in France, another great trip away and topped off by stopping in at EuroCitro on the return journey. A great event and having a drive around the Le Mans circuit helped make my holiday, as did the Mehari we rented for a day to tour around the coast.

bxzx16v · Unread post by **bxzx16v** » 18 Aug 2014, 08:03

Sorry to hear of the passat woes Chris, someone at work has one and it's been a nightmare with water getting in (literally buckets full), temperamental central locking issues etc. What are you replacing it with? Something french maybe?

Mark

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 18 Aug 2014, 08:08

Thanks Mark, I really like driving the Passat but what with this and other issues I've got to sort, it's not worth me doing so it's being traded in.

My next car is French and is a Citroen. I'll be getting it on the 1st of September, a 64 reg. I can't wait, my first new car!

bxzx16v · Unread post by **bxzx16v** » 18 Aug 2014, 08:09

Great stuff, I look forward to another update on arrival.

Mark

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