R9UKE's French Car Blog...

[CitroJim]

Citroen use a random number generator to determine prices

[Citroenmad]

I am sure the faults allegedly cursing the Phæton, are no worse than typical Citroën maladies. A bit of Malc's favourite, and some of Jim's favourite, should see them sorted.

There is no getting away from the prices of their parts though, and all for a VW badge?

You have seen dealer prices for some Citroen parts I take it?... and they don't even come with a VW badge.

Of course, however Citroen never have anything I want, so they could well cost £2000, it would make no difference at all!

[R9UKE]

Time for an update!

The S80 turned out to be a bit of a dog, but I took it home anyway. It's confirmed to me that I want one, just not this one. They are such lovely cars to sit in, truly of the most pleasant dashboards I've sat in front of - logical, clean and very Swedish. An annoying seatbelt binger and messages about individual services for separate systems being due are the only downsides. The gearbox issue could just be a fluid change or software upgrade, but with those vile wheels and that mileage it just isn't worth my attention I'm afraid. I'll always be on the lookout for a nice 2.9 as a permanent member though.

Another Vel Satis has joined the gang. This time a 3.5 V6 Petrol with issues. It belongs to a friend of mine who was getting fed up of the electrical issues but at the same time couldn't bear to part with it. He has no space to keep cars and that's where I jumped in. Plenty of faults - the fuel pump fails to cut in on time, and it takes a good 6-8 seconds of cranking to start. When it does it drives fine but the lovely woman says "Fuel injection system faulty, anti-pollution faulty". Black leather, the very rare sunroof and all the usual Initiale refinements. Pictures to follow, my 3.0 dV6 is a mucky disgrace at the minute so I'll have some Vel Satis duo pictures once they're both clean.

I also took the plunge and bought my first car off Motorhog this weekend. Completely unseen and I'm having it transported home so we'll see what awaits!! It's a 53 plate Renault Mégane Cabriolet. Very, very last of the first shape rag top in range-topping "Privilège+" form with my favourite 1.6 Auto petrol setup - a very rare combo indeed. Black with black leather and 70k miles. It looks slightly tatty around the front bumper and I can see in the pictures that the airbag light is on. Not too bad, there will more than likely be other issues though! It should be home by the end of this week, then I'll go out for some chilly open top fun!

Oh I might as well mention my Rover 75 V6. Another car that was on my wanted list. Very, very impressed by the interior and how it drives. They'll never be a favourite of mine though.

[Citroenmad]

Shame the S80 is not a good one, though its a 2.9! Definitely nice cars and I plan on owning one at some point.

A Vel Satis 3.5 V6, very nice indeed! Well, I suppose it would be if it worked, good luck with that

Ive never been a fan of the looks of the previous Megane, but thats quite nice with the black with black leather and an auto too.

Now, the Rover 75, that IS nice! Im sure I have mentioned these and you didn't like? I really like them and hope to have one at some point. Maybe even as a winter hack over this coming winter, its got to be done at some point. Maybe followed by a MG ZT/ZT-T

[R9UKE]

Yep, you're right, I've never ever liked them. Dismissed them completely on their image! I shouldn't have though, it just so happened that this one came along in exactly the spec I would have had one. The 2.5 is effortless and growls nicely, the blue leather is very unusual and the ride is one of the best I've experienced. You'd like it Chris, though a manual would be your preference I'm sure! The electric rear sun blind is the kind of touch I really appreciate. A leaky sunroof isn't - but the Renaults have me well used to that!

[Citroenmad]

I could happily live with a 2.5 auto Luke, the only stipulation I have with a Rover 75 is that its not the facelifted version. An electric rear blind, I didn't expect that!

[R9UKE]

This one will please you Citroen lovers.

I got a call today from a guy who had seen my wanted ad for a Citroen V6 on Gumtree (they always produce a good result). He went on to say how there's been a 2002 C5 V6 Exclusive SE sat in his barn "for a number of years". Well didn't I almost explode with excitement. It was purchased by him brand new and he apparently lost his license in 2005. It was then that the car was parked up and forgotten about. I went over this afternoon to see it and he had moved it into the courtyard for me.












Suspension sat way down, battery COMPLETELY knackered, a thin covering of cobwebs and moss. This is seriously the kind of stuff I dream about. I stuck on my battery booster pack, turned the ignition on - 60,000 miles, traffic master shouted shouting at me and for some reason the trip computer system has turned German? Not enough power for it to even try to start. We got chatting and long story short, it'll be sitting in the fleet early next week!

Any tips or precautions for waking a Hydractive animal after 7 years?

[myglaren]

Any tips or precautions for waking a Hydractive animal after 7 years?

At the very least, a fully charged known good battery, ideally with more grunt that is actually specified, then follow this procedure.

How can anyone 'forget' a C5 V6 for seven years

Excellent find Luke, hope it is all OK.

[R9UKE]

I know, it's hard to believe. Especially given the money he's lost! Thank you very much for that, I'll be sure to follow it. Is it OK to pull up onto a flat bed with the suspension the way it sits?

[myglaren]

I wouldn't like to do it - you will have to take it very slow and careful and watch out for any chance of it grounding. Better to get it running and raise the suspension to normal or even intermediate if it is at all possible.

[KP]

If the flatbed has enough Clearance it should be ok but I'd try and get a new battery on it and raise it first. I think you need to send it to Vince to be honest and let it have a right going over

[Citroenmad]

Wow, that is a very lucky find Luke! Cant say im not a little envious

Looking forward to seeing you getting this going, It'll be a perfect daily driver for you!

[ashy90]

Yep, you're right, I've never ever liked them. Dismissed them completely on their image! I shouldn't have though, it just so happened that this one came along in exactly the spec I would have had one. The 2.5 is effortless and growls nicely, the blue leather is very unusual and the ride is one of the best I've experienced. You'd like it Chris, though a manual would be your preference I'm sure! The electric rear sun blind is the kind of touch I really appreciate. A leaky sunroof isn't - but the Renaults have me well used to that!

Glad you have given a 75 a go. I have heard of many people and even known of people personally that would never go out and buy or even try a Rover such as the 75, for numerous reasons that they have drilled in to their head - image, or they are under the assumption that they are poor quality and ALL blow head gaskets etc. or because they think you cannot get the parts etc etc. Yet as you have/will find out, that is simply not the case. There is no denying the Rover 75 is a very fine car indeed.
I agree with you on the ride. For a conventionally suspended/sprung car, they are superbly comfortable. They are also a very nice place to be indeed.

[ashy90]

This one will please you Citroen lovers.

I got a call today from a guy who had seen my wanted ad for a Citroen V6 on Gumtree (they always produce a good result). He went on to say how there's been a 2002 C5 V6 Exclusive SE sat in his barn "for a number of years". Well didn't I almost explode with excitement. It was purchased by him brand new and he apparently lost his license in 2005. It was then that the car was parked up and forgotten about. I went over this afternoon to see it and he had moved it into the courtyard for me.












Suspension sat way down, battery COMPLETELY knackered, a thin covering of cobwebs and moss. This is seriously the kind of stuff I dream about. I stuck on my battery booster pack, turned the ignition on - 60,000 miles, traffic master shouted shouting at me and for some reason the trip computer system has turned German? Not enough power for it to even try to start. We got chatting and long story short, it'll be sitting in the fleet early next week!

Any tips or precautions for waking a Hydractive animal after 7 years?

That C5 is a superb find. The best spec and engine New belts, spheres, fluids and tyres and she'll be a good'un I am sure.

[R9UKE]

We went over for the C5 this morning and I'm pleased to say that despite two seized wheels, the suspension stuck in low and not even a click from the starter motor - she's home safe and sound with little more than a few broken front bumper clips

Citroen7 and his Range Rover 2.5 dT was called into action and performed effortlessly.



First issue were the front wheels. Turned the ignition on to get the thing out of Park and started to winch it up, but we didn't realise just how badly seized they were. There was no other way around it than to remove the two front wheels and beat the living sh*t out of the calipers to get them off!





It was winched up with not a hair between the bottom of the front bumper and the trailer, tied up and we set off back home.







Arrived back and it was time to get the bloody thing off with NO brakes whatsoever. I kinda knew what was doing to happen but there was no way around it.... front bumper caught on the way down and pulled it loose on the drivers side, sending the headlight washer off like a bullet as well. It also continued to roll slightly further than predicted and hit the auto box-stricken Clio. No damage there though thankfully!





It's FREEZING here today so not much else has been done, it's just nice to know it's home. The car's computer has reverted to German and displays this message when the ignition is turned on, while not even attempting to start. A message to a German speaking friend later and apparently the car is Power saving mode, hence the lack of any gadgets besides the electric seats working.



I'm guessing the battery that I stuck in just isn't up to power more gadgets than Currys - I'll stick in the one from the Avantime or Vel Satis and who knows, maybe she'll fire up! I have a feeling that's wishful thinking though. There's a 40AMP fuse sitting in the centre console which I feel may be part of it? Can anyone see anything missing here?



She's well at home sitting with another 3.0 V6 on either side though, maybe the sound of them running will tempt it back into life!





The oil looks OK-ish. I'm going to remove each of the spark plugs (rear bank will be a barrel of laughs) and drop some oil down before even trying to turn it over. There's a quarter of a tank of 7year old fuel in there, that could probably do with some fresh stuff. The leather in the car is like new, it even smells relatively factory fresh (with a hint of must). There's even the plastic covering over the carpet on the passenger side!

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm off to the auction as there's a Mégane there I fancy!