R9UKE's French Car Blog...

[Xantianut]

Ay up!

I've always liked Citroens but I have found, since I developed athritis in my back, that Citroens are the only car I'm actually comfy in. I've tried all sorts of other stuff from a Mini to a Lincoln Town Car but have found them either impossibly gormless and wallowy (Lincoln, Jag Mk X - a major disappointment!) or rock hard and jiggly (Mini, Metro, Audi, VW PROPER Beetle, Citroen AX). Although I did find a Volvo 360 a bit gormless, it did at least have a decent 2.0 engine and was very tail happy in the wet indeed.

It was in the Volvo 360 that my mother christened the Oh, My God! handle on the dash. The tail broke away in glorious, grin inducing oversteer at 30MPH whith a stream of traffic coming the other way. I learned fast about throttle steering that day! I also found the Austin Maestro / Montego pretty good, if a little harsh.

In fact, the only time a hydraulic Citroen has been less than comfy for me was when my Fifi was stuck on full high at the back. Now sorted and spines returning to normal!

[CitroJim]

I know what you mean XN. Trying to find a good ride these days is not easy. I've yet to better an XM.

Today i was rather surprised and impressed. I've just been for quite a long jaunt as a passenger in a fairly new Fraud Mundaneo. It was a lot better than I would have expected and although nowhere in the XM league, quite acceptable really, Seats were good too,...

[R9UKE]

The Mondeo was once my favourite car of all time. The Mark 1. Still dream of owning the 2.5 V6 Ghia X I spent many a childhood hour perusing over the brochure of.....

I'm hoping to drop by Stockport over the weekend to view this beauty. Yes, it's a Vauxhall, but it's an oddball that's highly underrated and has a monster lurking under the bonnet. Has anyone any experience with the Signum?



XantiaNut - are you on the autoshite forum by any chance? With that history of cars you need to be.

[Citroenmad]

The Mondeo was once my favourite car of all time. The Mark 1. Still dream of owning the 2.5 V6 Ghia X I spent many a childhood hour perusing over the brochure of.....

Im sure we have had this conversation before, but me too! Glad I grew out of that I have been to buy a Mondeo on more than one occassion but have always been dissapointed about the state I found them in. The new mondeo is by far the worst looking Mondeo yet, but they get decent reviews and use the same engines as C5IIs & C5IIIs, so at least they have something going for them!

Good luck with the Signum, I hope it proves to be a good car and you buy it. Thought that is too normal to be a keeper?

I hope the Signum rides better than a similar aged Vectra, I swear they have worse than no suspenion on the rear. They seem very stiff but at the same time under damped. I followed one down a road the other day, a very undulating road with rise after fall. He was hoofing it down the road and I thought the back end was going to get airborne, my C5 was very flat, just riding the road like a wave!

[R9UKE]

Yeh we have Chris! All downhill since the mark 1 Very, very hard to find a decent one, especially without those bumpers that crack if they're looked at! The mark 1 for me was just such a milestone car. A new generation for Ford, billions invested, and they were absolutely everywhere!! Then there was the interesting ones, the Si 4x4, the Ultima special edition. Used to love Mondeo spotting. Shame to see what they've come to.

That's what I fear, that the Signum will feel exactly like a Vectra from the driving seat. I've not driven one on proper roads, but I ain't a big fan of the Vectra, so hopefully that 3.2 will provide enough distraction if it is. Over the last few weeks with a C5, I've really come to appreciate their ride and comfort. The "floating" sensation takes a bit of getting used to but I love it. The best thing is the way the car adjusts when you jump in or park up. Love it!

[CitroJim]

I've really come to appreciate their ride and comfort. The "floating" sensation takes a bit of getting used to but I love it. The best thing is the way the car adjusts when you jump in or park up. Love it!

Time for an XM Luke

[Citroenmad]

I rarely see a Mondeo mk1 now and the mk2s I see are very tired and beaten up. They also have bumpers which age about as well as the mk1, always held together with ducktape!

Over the last few weeks with a C5, I've really come to appreciate their ride and comfort. The "floating" sensation takes a bit of getting used to but I love it. The best thing is the way the car adjusts when you jump in or park up. Love it!

Im very happy to hear that Luke, the C5s are pretty impressive cars for a more modern and they really impress me with their refinement and waftability. I like it when the car has been parked over night or maybe a few days and as soon as you press unlock on the plip the suspension rises, brilliant feature!

As Jim hints, an XM does ride far better, as does a Xantia, but the C5 aint bad at all. Shame yours is not another V6 though, hey!

[lexi]

You will love this. Knocking an old garage down 3months ago and there was a car in it. Mk 1 Mondeo with 56k and very clean. 1 owner who had passed away

Woman asked what to do with it...........I phoned the scrappy and got it took away........was in the road for new garage

[R9UKE]

Too right Jim. Waiting patiently for a V6 to turn up here - it's about the only XM Robert wouldn't pounce on before me!

Agh Lexi, just when we were becoming friends! It wasn't a Ghia...? In fact don't tell me, too painful to hear.

Chris that's my favourite feature too!! Absolutely excellent. They wouldn't be a car to handle a weak battery very well!!

[KP]

You were ruddy Jammy with that Mazda Luke!!

[KP]

You should have sent me a message luke!

Me and Vince are just round the corner from stockport so could have had a get together

[R9UKE]

I didn't know you were an Autoshite lurker KP! I know haha, I could smell the desperation and thought I'd give it a go. Paid off! Interesting car, the 2.0 V6 was a rather pleasant surprise.

Well I don't bother with Stockport in the end. I was going past on a Sunday and surprise surprise no viewings on a Sunday. I'll bear it in mind for next time though, a meet up would be great.

[KP]

Thats cool

Im in the market for something super cheap with T&T to get me by for a month or two but must use the dark fuel im afraid.

I've found a few with some silly high miles on, even an ex cab and thought hmm, for £300 each i could bash crud out of them and bin them off after stripping parts off and still come out near equal! Cheaper than car rental BUT and its a big BUT(not mine BTW!) temp insurance! how the hell do you do it as it ranges from £28 a day to £300 for a month!! thats more than most of the cars ive looked at!

Does anyone do it sensibly other than learner insurance places??

[KP]

PS i just pop by and lurk i never really post but there is some good stuff on there but so so many petrol ones, diesels are keeping the prices up i reckon!

[KP]

Luke I think your wheeler dealing is catching on....