Won't be driving the Citroén much anymore... :(

[Xantia2.0]

Well after a trip to the doctors early this morning he advised me not to drive a manual car... Well a few years ago I was involved in a cycling accident, and badly injured my left knee, ever since it has been very temperamental and sometimes I am in agony with it. And that was what the previous doctors appointment was about if anyone is bothered/wondering! So I barely got down there today as the Citroéns clutch is quite heavy and my leg was killing me. But I did and that's when he said I should stop/cut back driving manuals. So cut a long story short my friend breaks cars for parts, but he usually has a few whole cars for sale, so I went down to look at a few and ended up buying a White 1991 Porsche 928 5.0 V8 Automatic in mint condition. So I will be driving that as my main car as my left leg will be superfluous in driving it, exactly what the doctor ordered (Literally!). Oh well, maybe it is a good thing, I thought having to drive an automatic would be boring, but quite the opposite! Driving that big 5 Litre Porsche every day will be a pleasure , after all, I am a business man, and a 90's Porsche is the original business mans car!

I will keep the Xantia, but it will only be a weekend driver from now on I'm afraid

As for the Focus it will probably be the same.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Over and out.

[HDI Dave]

So sorry to see you go


ok bye

[Sl4yer]

...1991 Porsche 928 5.0 V8 Automatic...

Great choice! A 928 is my dream car. I'm guessing a 1991 model will be a S4, so great looking too!

Just keep an eye on the temperature gauge - a 928 really must run at the right temperature!

Hope the knee feels better soon.

James

[Peter.N.]

I have arthritis in my knees so appreciate your problem, the XM clutches being execptionally heavy, really needing both feet! I have had a stroke of luck with my last purchase as it has a featherlite clutch, I dont know why, it shouldn't, I suspect its been fitted with the wrong clutch but works perfectly, it was new just before I bought it but hasn't got any heavier in two years.

Peter

[Xantia2.0]

Yep it's the S4!

[Sl4yer]

Yep it's the S4!

Great! The back lights look so much neater than the earlier ones, and of course each one gets a little more power.

Beware the running costs though. A chap who used to work with me had one in the past. Before he bought it, a squeak in the gearbox (actually some sort of small band) cost about £2000! And his sun blind was missing - he was quoted about £800, but opted not to bother... But get a good one and they're supposedly not too bad.

Hope it runs well.

James

[CitroJim]

Cor Bit of a change from a Xantia

I too have an occasionally very dodgy left knee and love my automatic for the rest it give said knee

[Homer]

Well after a trip to the doctors early this morning he advised me not to drive a manual car... Well a few years ago I was involved in a cycling accident, and badly injured my left knee, ever since it has been very temperamental and sometimes I am in agony with it.

I hope you've had more than just your GP look at this.

I had problems with my knees for a few years and kept going to the GP with it, each time I saw a different GP and they'd tell me to "rest and exercise" and take ibuprofen until finally one referred me for physio. The physio found my flat feet and weak hips were putting too much pressure on my knees. Six months of targetted exercise later and I was virtually pain free. I still know I have a problem but I know what I need to do to keep things in check.

Slightly off topic for a car forum but I'd hate to see someone suffer needlessly like I did.

[Xantia2.0]

Well for 1 year after the accident I was attending hospital appointments every second week, and they basically said the same thing, rest and don't drive, but if you have to drive, drive an automatic!! At the time I had an automatic 1991 Ford Scorpio 2.0 so I was driving again in a matter of days, but it was at least 5 months before I could even attempt to drive a manual.

Although the Porsche is fun to drive, I'm already dying to drive a manual again! I just hate how an auto shifts for you, I want to rev the nuts of an engine THEN shift

Since I passed my test I've only owned 1 automatic, and that was at the same time as a 1994 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Manual, so I drove that most of the time. I've never really been dependant on an automatic...

[Citroenmad]

Well, a 928 is not your normal automatic runabout! Quite a change from a Xantia too.

You should get a tiptronic automatic, then you can still change gear yourself if you like - with the gearstick or paddles, but still only have two pedals and an auto mode it you want it. A good way around it.

I like driving autos from time to time, its nice to have a break and they are a doddle in traffic.

[ACTIVE8]

Yep it's the S4!

Nice car!

So this will be a distraction, and allow you more time to do the pads on the Xantia, you won't have to Porsche yourself to do the job too quickly, and take several breaks.

[Xantia2.0]

Yep it's the S4!

Nice car!

So this will be a distraction, and allow you more time to do the pads on the Xantia, you won't have to Porsche yourself to do the job too quickly, and take several breaks.

Haha nice play with words!

Citroenmad - I hate tiptronics even more than autos!! Their slow on reacting and feel numb! Plus, the whole point of a manual is to push the clutch, release the accelerator, yank the lever into position, let go of the clutch and rev the throttle again

[DHallworth]

If you hate auto's so much you really should try Volkswagens DSG gearbox.

It's a double clutch gearbox so it has the next gear ready before you request it.

Gearchanges are done within 1/10th of a second and they are seemlessly smooth.

The DSG has 4 driving modes, Normal Auto, Sport Auto which makes them hold the gears like there's no tomorrow - it's vicious but great fun, Tiptronic, or with the paddles on the steering wheel.

The DSG box is actually a manual box but the gearchange is controlled by computers. I had it on my R32 and it was phenomenal.

David.

[Citroenmad]

I know what you mean, but for me the semi-autos get rid of some of the things i dislike about automatic cars. Such as having to do a certain speed to get into the next gear etc. With a tip tronic you can select the gear you like, when you like. And actually if you ease off during changes they are quick enough and smooth.

The DSG is a great box and id have to think hard about buying a manual over a DSG gearbox, as they are very good boxes.

A manual car is usually about selecting which gear you want, a semi-auto allows you to do that, but without the need to press the clutch. I enjoy not having a clutch when stuck in crawling traffic.

There are draw backs to them both though, id take a manual car over an auto or semi-auto, but they are pretty good and its nice to drive an auto from time to time.

[Xantia2.0]

I actually like a clutch in traffic.