Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[Dippy]

I found something very cute at Stratford this weekend, a brochure entitled 'William and the Citroën GS'. A young child walking around Rennes making silly faces and watching the production line, brilliant

Citroen must have replicated Her face , I think She was called Ami'........

[Citroenmad]

Well the Activas radiator has arrived along with new P bushes. So they will be fitted soon, I just need to get a new bottom hose first. The place I got the radiator from (Wida Components who deal in Citroen stock) said its a huge radiator, and it is. I hope its the right one, will check it tomorrow. Its a Valeo one so should be of good quality.

I went to a nearish Citroen dealer to order front and rear chrome bumper strips for the XM estate ... the rears are no longer available and only the solid front chrome is and not the cut up version for the VSX. So the full chrome strip is on order and ill have to trim it to suit the VSXs headlamp washers. As for the rear, a new one would have benn better but ill just have to clean its own one up. Its not going white like they often do its just done dull. So if you need chromes for your XM, act fast, hatchback rears may well still be available, im not sure.

I have been using the XM for my commute the last 3 days and will continue to for the rest of the week, its very nice to use daily, ive only ever got it out for the odd days here and there before now.

Its now running with hydraflush in it and has just seen its annual service too. The brakes work perfectly once again and its going very well.

My dad reports his C5 is going so much better after I cleared its fault codes with the Lexia. I took it out afterward and it really was flying, especially considering its probably got half a ton in it. It was warning of an EGR fault and it would hesitate sometimes when pulling away, but its not done it since.

Hopefully this weekend ill start with the Activas bushes and or radiator, possibly get the new chrome door trims on both the Xant and XM. Im trying to get things done before Istart back at Uni in a week or so. Which has been an interesting decision as Ive been offered a management place at work which will be a good payrise etc but I think uni is the best route still ...

[Citroenmad]

I spent most of yesterday fitting the new 'P' bushes to the Activa, im sure it probably shouldn't take most of a day but at least they are on. Once the first was done the other side was much easier As I was trying to wiggle the suspension arm out of the car I got stuck and did a quick google search. I came across a youtube vid which showed how its done - so much easier on a normal Xantia with a tiny ARB!

It does feel an awful lot better now, they certainly did need changing, the NS in particular.

I have still got the rad to fit though, it might live in the garage for a little while loner until I muster the urge to do it

Last night I took the Activa out for a good blasting, I was smiling all the way, its certainly a nice drivers car now. Its worth all the time, effort and money I have put into it, as every time I do something else with the car it feels so much better for it. Its about right now though, not much else to do other than the radiator, though its fine just a bit crusty looking.


I have been having another fiddle with the Lexia on my C5, I have figured out how to adjust the suspension height now. I dropped it by around half an inch to see what difference it made and the difference is more than I thought. It looks better, with the gap consistant around the tyre in the wheel arch rather than having a bigger gap at the top. However the ride is quite a bit firmer, it does roll less though! Ill be putting it back to normal height tomorrow as thats where its best.

I now have a full set of winter tyres which will be fitted to my bargain 16" C5 Exclusive SE wheels in a month or so. For now im using up the tyres which came with the wheels. My Michelin shod VTR wheels are sat all polished in a dark space in the garage ready for next spring.

I had a new pair of Michelin Energy's fitted to the front of the SX C5 on Friday. They are so much better than the Goodyear Excellence which were on before and had obviously distorted. The steering wheel had gone off centre by quite some way and when turning the wheel it did so with an uneven and lumpy feeling. I had this on my 04reg C5 VTR and new tyres cured that. The Michelins have restored the steering wheel to the centre and also the lumpy feeling has gone too.

Well its back to Uni for me tomorrow and my fairly lengthy commute starts again. I have just got my C5 checked over and hoovered ready for the weeks mileage. Ive got to say im not looking forward to commuting which includes a 40 minute crawl into the city centre at rush hour, but ive done it for two years and so this car will have to get used to it too. Nor am I looking forward to one day off a week until Christmas, as what with working and uni thats all im left with, lets hope my C5 and Activa behave until then

[Citroenmad]

Ive not had a very interesting week car wise, my usual commute has resumed and so me and my C5 are doing many more miles again now. Since Jan this year I have doubled my C5s mileage, its now done 24000 miles. However Uni is going well and I feel far better on this course than I did my last one, luckily this one is a follow on degree and so nothing was lost by doing my previous course.

I bought a CD changer, as can be seen in another thread, for it but its not as simple as I first thought on installation. Oddly Citroen put the CD changer holder and wire under the drivers seat during production, however they do not put a wire from there into the back of the radio So ill need to do that, or ill buy a Connects2 and have my Ipod in the car instead.

I went to get my winter tyres fitted to my spare C5 wheels which ill be running over winter. However one tyre was damaged and so they are going back to the supplier. Ill not be sticking with that brand (Fuldas) now, ill buy a new pair of Michelin Alpins I think, they will go up front and the Dunlop winters on the back.

Today I have given my C5 a good wash, polish and hoover, its like a new pin again now. It was in need of it! I also removed the winter set of C5 Exclusive SE wheels today and put its VTR ones back on, far nicer.





We have been having thoughts of buying a 2cv recently, so im on the look out for a reasonable one and see how that goes.

The Xm has had quite a bit of use recently, its in need of a wash but its going very nicely.


I went to look at a 58plate C5III Tourer 2.0HDi 138 VTR+ yesterday, it was a very nice car and I did like it, but I still prefer the original C5s for many reasons. It might be what I change to in a few years, but im more than happy with this one.

[R9UKE]

The Monza wheels were my biggest problem with the C5 V6s. They do nothing for the looks, and I regularly got asked why my beautifully equipped C5 had wheel trims!

I love the colour of your C5!

[Citroenmad]

The Monza wheels were my biggest problem with the C5 V6s. They do nothing for the looks, and I regularly got asked why my beautifully equipped C5 had wheel trims!

I love the colour of your C5!

I do quite like the Monza wheels, though they are a bit drab compared to the 'Hungaro' wheels on our C5 estate and the 'Olympos' wheels on my C5. Im not sure what to do with the Monzas now, might well sell them and get some others for winter wheels, perhaps.

Thanks! I love the colour too, possibly what I would have chosen from new anyway. Its called Icelandic Grey, its a nice bright colour and its a nice change from my usual silver. I never usually buy cars on colour but often get drawn to the brighter rather than darker colours.

I do like my C5, alot more than the Xantia!

[Deanxm]

I do like my C5, alot more than the Xantia!

I was going to say you bloody should like it for what they cost but after looking at C5's today ive found you can get a rather new one for only the same cost as a tidy HDi Xantia:? not sure if it says more about the xants or C5?

D

[Citroenmad]

I do like my C5, alot more than the Xantia!

I was going to say you bloody should like it for what they cost but after looking at C5's today ive found you can get a rather new one for only the same cost as a tidy HDi Xantia:? not sure if it says more about the xants or C5?

D

I bought mine in Jan this year with 12K miles, one owner, full history etc for £5500, pretty cheap I thought and looking around at similar cars Im sure I would get somewhere near that even now with 24K miles. I dont plan on selling so im not really interested in its value, it was the car I wanted.

Higher mileage ones do drop quite a bit and there are bargains to be had in the right places. You do get very tatty ones, poorly looked after ones which I wouldnt buy but will be cheap.

Tidy HDi Xantia money will be anywhere from £1000-£2000, you can get a perfectly good C5 HDi for that, not a facelifted one unless its very high miles or needs tidying up. You could get anything from a 150K 2.0HDi SX to a 04 2.2HDi Exclusive with reasonable (around 80-100K) miles for that range.

I did look at Xantias before getting a C5 but finding a decent one was difficult. I viewed a few and was left un impressed. I almost bought a HDi Exclusive but it wasn't the best. Im glad I did go the C5 route as ive been very impressed with them and having the Xantia too does make me appreciate the C5 more actually. Obviously the drive of a HDi C5 and a Activa is rather different but the C5 is nearly always my weapon of choice.

My first C5, the 52 plate HDi SX, cost me little money really, it had 108K, one owner and immaculate. For the first few weeks all I was thinking was how many things there are to go wrong on the car (I was used to a VW group car - always backward in their going forward in terms of spec) and how much it might cost to put right. However my worrying soon stopped and now after 3 C5s and 2 family estate C5s im left impressed and nothing has gone wrong on them to speak of. I was offered £1200 for my 52 plate this year which I was very pleased with given it had done about 130K then and cost me virtually nothing to keep. Its too good a car to sell and will be here for a while yet.

I think a lot of people are put off the C5 for a few reasons, the main being the technology it has to potentiall go wrong. However in reality its not too complex and not unlike most other cars of a similar age. The engines are superb and very reliable. Electrical gremlins can appear but are not often life threatening or too costly to put right. A couple of people I have known with C5s and sold them was due to them finding the car too large after having a Xantia.

I love C5s, superb cars, very comfortable, hugely refined well equipped, spacious, safe, drive nicely, a good range of engines and trim levels, and yes, they are superv value for money if you get the right car. Oh, and I like the look of them too!

I always recommend C5s, however like every car there are good and bad examples.

[Citroenmad]

I went to a local 2cv gathering last week, I went along to see if anyone knew of any local 2cvs for sale. I got the chance to take one out for a drive, its a very nice 1985 2cv6 with galv chassis and a few other modernities which make it more rewarding to drive.

I had never driven a 2cv before, so it was not something I was going to turn down! By this time it was pitch black, so my first problem was getting used to the controls and where to find things while sat in a dark car. I eventually found everything and off I went. Its quite different from what I was expecting, I was thinking it would feel quite flimsy, however the new chassis add a lot of strength over the Citroen originals and seem to greatly improve rigidity. It was so much fun driving down twisty dark country lanes in a 2cv, the body roll was similar to the Renault 4 im used to, however it was a much more entertaining and fun drive. In a lot of ways the R4 and 2cv are similar but I do prefer the 2cv for quirkiness. Most impressive were the brakes, which on this car are discs, very strong and powerful. Performance was better than I thought too, though it had a few little tweeks I think but it went very well. I was told just to push on into corners which was very entertaining, the body roll is quite comical. Overall I loved it and dont ever remember having a bigger grin on my face while driving than at that moment.

So the search continues .... Yesterday I drove down to Chester to see a 'rust free' 2cv. Described as a good and solid car with a full MOT it sounded promising. Though as all too often happens with these car viewing day trips it was not a good car. It looked good at a distance but the car had been badly sprused up. Bodge everywhere, the common problem under the windscreen had been filled in badly, as had repairs to rust on the rear wings, front wings etc. Inside the boot it has been welded, but just patches stuck on over rust or even holes. Inside the back doors to the lower of the rear seat was very badly repaired, again patches welded over rust and holes. The paint on the car seemed quite fresh and shiney but it was not a good body. The engine oil was black and on minimum while the engine was loud (I know its a 2cv ...) and knocking. The sidelights didnt work at the front (quite hard without a bulb holder) and the headlights only worked on main beam. Hard to believe it just went through an MOT. So a very wasted day, 360 miles for nothing and all in pretty poor weather conditions just to meet another person holding back with the truth but wanting to earn a small fortune.

There are so many mint examples for £5-6K, but a nice little project would be my ideal. So its just finding one worth bothering with now. If something doesn't come up ill wait till after winter and start searching again then.

I think ill put the Activa to use for my 70 mile daily commute this week, its not been used in a good few weeks now. I often think why have I got it when I dont use it for daily duties, only nice days when I fancy a drive on some good roads. I don't have time for it now im back at uni, I do wish it could turn into a more fuel effiecient and automatic car when in uni term time ... that would be so much more use!

[CitroJim]

Funny how peoples definition of 'rust free' varies Chris Sounds like that 2CV was fully rust-free in all the places that filler had replaced metal!!!

Good luck in your search but to be honest, the one trip I've had in a 2CV was enough to convince me wholeheartedly that the R4 is a far superior car in every possible way... I know as I've had two of them and loved them dearly

I'm planning on using my Activa for work next week too. It's been a bit under-used just recently too...

Also, it has a full tank of oats, sorry - petrol, whereas the V6 is a little on the low side at the moment...

That'll make going to work very enjoyable

[Citroenmad]

Yes indeed, some people have been very honest and have sent excellent pictures of all the nasty rusty bits. There are still honest people around

Possibly, the R4 is faster (hard to believe!) but compared to the 2cv a little more conventional. We have done the R4 thing but we quite fancy a 2cv now. My parents used to run them way before I was invented, so me, my sis and my dad fancy getting one as a project.

I did see a very tidy Renault 4 the other day, a GTL on a A registration in bright yellow. Oddly ehough it was in the same car park where I saw the last R4 I spotted in the UK, a bright orange GTL on French plates and stickered up with rally like decals. I think someone is a fan!

Yes, my Activa is quite well fueled too, another reason to give it some use. Mind ill be lucky to get two days out of its half tank of fuel! Will see what its like in the 40 minute city crawl

[CitroJim]

I'd love a bright yellow R4 Chris

No, really. I'd love a bright yellow Xantia as well... Well, no, not exactly, a Xantia in that deep buttercup yellow the Saxo was once available in...

[red_dwarfers]

It does get me a little annoyed when I hear of stories like that. It really does nothing more than to annoy the buyer and give a bad name to the seller as the car is going to be checked over anyway 90% of the time

My parents used to run them way before I was invented

I'm sorry, this had me in stitches.

PS. 5 days to go

[Citroenmad]

I'd love a bright yellow R4 Chris

No, really. I'd love a bright yellow Xantia as well... Well, no, not exactly, a Xantia in that deep buttercup yellow the Saxo was once available in...

Im a fan of yellow cars too, but it has to be the right car and the right shade of yellow. This R4 does look very nice, if I see it again ill take a snap of it.

I have seen Xantias that colour, back when they were a more common sight there were a few around here as Taxis. Our Taxis are in a colour not too disimilar from the 'Mango' Saxos. I didn't like them, though its probably because every taxi here is that colour. Mercedes E class's look quite shocking in that colour, not at all classy!

[Citroenmad]

It does get me a little annoyed when I hear of stories like that. It really does nothing more than to annoy the buyer and give a bad name to the seller as the car is going to be checked over anyway 90% of the time

My parents used to run them way before I was invented

I'm sorry, this had me in stitches.

PS. 5 days to go

Ive lost count of the number of times I have travelled around the country in search of cars which were described as good ones. A 700 mile trip to Kent and back in a day to see a very poor XM estate springs to mind. As does a trip to Oldham to look at a C3 Exclusive which had obviously been crashed and badly repaired, the radiator was held on at the top only and by tie wraps, the airbag had been glued back into the steering wheel! Shame not everyone is as honest as we would like them to be.

Glad I could be of amusement

4 days now Kev, looking forward it it