Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[CitroJim]

Caveat Emptor very much applies to car dealings but when you go all to all the trouble to see a shed described as a mansion it's very annoying...

Thing is, I'm sure some sellers are absolutely blind to the faults present and truly believe their car to be a minter when in reality it's a munter*...

We all have our standards, it's just some people set theirs incredibly low and then comprehensively fail to achieve them...

4 days now Kev, looking forward it it

To what Chris? Something special I guess...

*See the definition in the Urban Dictonary...

[Citroenmad]

It is a risk the buyers takes, indeedy, it would be nice to gain a little more info from the buyer on the end of the phone before wasting a day to view a 'munter'

Though I suspect if the buyer says "there are metal patches welded in all over, just covering the rusty holes" "it passed its MOT but I have no idea how, the headlights dont work and there are no holders for the sideligt bulbs" etc, I doubt they would get much interest ... saying that the person is only going to turn away as soon as they discover these things. It wasn't the wosrt I have seen but for the money its not the best either. It pays to be honest in this life.

It could well be standards and mine are high but im not unrealistic in what I expect and know 2cvs are not the most hardy of things but there are decent solid cars about. It will just take time to find one. I think I might be onto a winner but will have to wait and see how things pan out, it will be a little bit of an interesting one mind.

In 4 days time ... a trip to the Peaks ...

[Citroenmad]

Well the past few weeks have been interesting and trying in terms of general life, less so in car terms.

I did get a big cut in the rear Michelin on my C5, which was showing the cords and went pop when I had a look at it. So its had to have a new pair of Michelins on the back. I got my winter tyres fitted to my winter wheels, the tyre fitter told me one of the wheels is not quite round! They do give a bit of a wheel wobble, so not sure what to do with those now. Perhaps ill get a replacement for the worst wheel or fit them to a set of steel wheels.

I did have a great weekend in the Peak District with Kev (Red_Dwarfers) this weekend just gone. Quite a bit of walking, sight seeing and such, it was very good. I took my C5 and Kev his Xantia, I almost took my Activa but it was a bit hemmed in at the time.

In other news, Ive not been enjoying my uni course all that much the past few weeks, this week especially has been hard. I started the week thinking id like a change of everything! My uni course was not really something I was interested in, I find it especially difficult doing my best in something when its not of much interest. Today I had a meeting to switch courses and so im now following a different and far more interesting career route, for me anyway. I did try to go on this course inititally but it was full, when I heard there were spaces I took the opportunity. So ill be at uni 4 days a week now, working 4 days a week and have one day off - there are lots of days in my week! Very handily work is the opposite direction from here to my uni, never mind!

I might get the Activa out tomorrow and use that for the trips ive got to do tomorrow. It does tend to make the most of every journey

[myglaren]

So ill be at uni 4 days a week now, working 4 days a week and have one day off - there are lots of days in my week!

9 day week must come in handy

[Citroenmad]

So ill be at uni 4 days a week now, working 4 days a week and have one day off - there are lots of days in my week!

9 day week must come in handy

It really would do

Sadly its work then uni the same day or the other way around, only 40 miles apart ... I feel like Im living in my car at the moment! Easily 100 miles on those days.

[myglaren]

Your annual mileage must be quite impressive!

[Citroenmad]

Your annual mileage must be quite impressive!

Ive driven at least 20,000 miles since the start of this year

Luckily my C5 will be sharing my commuting miles with our eldest C5 again soon. I tend to try and alternate between those two cars for my commute, my Activa also makes the odd uni trip too.

I usually have quite a high personal milage too, so that plus my commuting does really add up!

[Citroenmad]

It was quite a nice day yesterday so we got the forgotten about cars out and taken for a run. The Traction was given a good drive around and never faulters. It only made an appearance at one CCC event this year, we would have brought it to the National but the weather was dreadful so I took my Activa instead. We have been to a number of more local classic car shows in it and traction owner meets too. Hopefully next year it will be venturing further and seeing some larger shows. It will be at the ICCCR, along with the C15.

The C15 also benefitted from a good run out yesterday, got the battery charged up and things working. I would think it might be the last outing for both cars until better weather next year, but who knows.

I got my Activa out yesterday to go to work in, as usual with the Activa the drive is always so much longer, about 30 miles extra I found on the way home, quite interesting, the C5 never takes me that way! My Xant turned 120,000 miles yesterday, the highest mileage car ive bought! I got my first C5 with 108K, its now done 136K.

Im not looking forward to the road salt arriving as I wont be wanting to use the Activa when its around. I might well take it for a run down to Holmfirth early in December to the Northerm CCC technical session if the weather isn't too bad.

[Citroenmad]

Well, as of this morning our 2cv search is over

[CitroJim]

Well, as of this morning our 2cv search is over

Excellent news Chris We're all itching to know the details...

[robert_e_smart]

Well, as of this morning our 2cv search is over

That is one thing I am 100% sure I will never start a search for! Give me an Acitva anyday!

[Citroening]

Congrats on the purchase, although I'm with Robert on this one!

[Citroenmad]

They are certainly an aquired taste, however so much fun to drive and not at all to be taken seriously. Most of our cars are too serious!

I love the Activa but I only really start enjoying it when on winding roads at speed, serious speed. In a 2cv its fun always! Well, avoid the motorways then its fun

Well, as of this morning our 2cv search is over

Excellent news Chris We're all itching to know the details...

Well ok then ....

Its a 1983 A-reg 2cv special edition 'Beachcomber' - so obviously its white with blue strpied exterior, roof and seat fabrics. The Beachcomber is fairly rare to find now.

Its been owned by the same lady for over ten years, she had it restored by 2cv City and another well known but more local 2cv specialist nearer to her buying it. Its got the must have galvanised chassis too. The owner also has another 2cv at her house in Spain and has run them here for over 20 years, its a well looked after and well loved car.

It is in excellent condition, which makes a change from the horrible ones ive seen recently. It was obvious that for £2000, our original 2cv budget, only just passable ones are available. Some better than others I suspect but the few ive seen for that money were rough. So this one was a bit more than that, in fact I could have bought my Activa over ten times .... but good 2cvs are getting to be worth serious money now. We were originally thikning of getting one as a project to tidy up but the ones we looked at didn't appeal.

It has long tax and test, needs nothing doing and drives superbly. Im really looking forward to getting it and have already started buying things to slightly personalise it.

Im just about to go out and find a 2cv shaped hole in the garage for it to fit into. We should be collecting it towards the end of the week, so expect a few pictures at the weekend ... I have one somewhere which ill post up soon.

I know its not a popular French car on here, but its something we have been looking to get for ages now. Our plan is to keep it a couple of years, enjoy it, take it to some events, 2cv rallies etc and then probably move it on.

This isn't it, but its virtually identical

[DickieG]

Here's a link to a Beachcomber with loads of piccies.

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff Chris... I like the Beachcomber A great little car that just oozes a sense of fun...

Those seats are outrageously lovely...