Had a ride in a GSA Yesterday...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Apr 2011, 18:26

Shocking

Absolutely shocked to the core...

At just how bloody brilliant they are

They are amazing...

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Apr 2011, 18:40

I can heartily agree with that - they were a very well kept secret.
If only Brits weren't so scared of French engineering and design, so many missed out on an astounding car, light years ahead of the crap they were served imagining they were getting a good car

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 18 Apr 2011, 19:03

Ive also been in one, they are super!

My dad was in one yesterday, with just 30 something thousand miles on it too. Now in daily use doing 20K miles a year!

Its owner suggested there might only be 20 something left on the road? Must be more than that surely?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Apr 2011, 19:06

myglaren wrote: light years ahead of the crap they were served imagining they were getting a good car

Oh yes, compare with with it's contemporaries. the Marina, Allaggro and perhaps the Escort or Cortina not to mention the most hideous British car ever, the Vauxhall Viva..

Simply no comparison. I swear that if I were blindfolded and led to it and didn't know what it was I'd have got the idea it was a very recent car...

Except that I'm sure no recent cars ride quite like a GS. The advert showing it driving along a red carpet being rolled out in front of it now makes perfect sense - that was not poetic licence!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Apr 2011, 19:07

Citroenmad wrote: Its owner suggested there might only be 20 something left on the road? Must be more than that surely?

Ask Graham but the rate of attrition was frightful. they dissolved quicker than a snowflake in an oven...

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 18 Apr 2011, 19:09

They are great little cars - I nickname them the baby CX...

Dad's got a GSA X1 at the moment which is 1 owner and 23,000 miles, but a couple of years ago dad had a 10,000 miler that was in amazing condition.
Here's a picture of it at the National with the new owner - now at 12,000 miles.

Beautiful car.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 18 Apr 2011, 19:15

I remember seeing that GSA at the national, a very nice car, didn't realise it had such a low mileage.

My parents had one after the other of GS and GSAs, estates and saloons. All before my time unfortunately. They were quite new if not brand new then though, my parents rate then highly!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Apr 2011, 20:41

I think it was the brakes that scared most people - they actually worked, unlike most of the competition.
And the supposed 'complication' - codswallop!

You've done it now though Jim. Sooner or later and probably the former, you will have to add one to the fold.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 18 Apr 2011, 21:15

The G is without doubt 'the best' car I've ever owned/driven
- coincidentally, my first ever car (Citroen) purchased!

I've gone full circle through the Cx's, Xm's, Xantiae via 2CV and
GSA back to the view I need a G back on the road again
- otherwise why have loads of them stockpiled...

Truly astounding isn't an adequate enough superlative.
They're an addictive drive and seeded my Citroen addiction.

wainy · Unread post by **wainy** » 18 Apr 2011, 23:22

Well.... this is my subject..... GS's and GSA's!

I remember a conversation I had with a guy at work who was into cars about our favourite car of all time. His was the Ferrari GTO... how predictable, and unattainable of course (his name was not Jay Kay or Jay Leno!). He though it was hilarious that mine was the GS/A....

Has any car ever been so technically advanced in comparison to it's competitors? Like has been said before in this post, it was a DIRECT competitor for the Escort, Viva, Marina and later the Allegro!!!! Only the Alfasud could compare really (also a great car let down by tendency to dissolve).

How about this point..... It is the purest Citroen design of all in my view.... true to it's concept in a way that only the 2CV can compete with. DS and CX had the wrong engine after all.

I've owned 5 in all including a K reg 1015 which had the best ride of any car I've driven and the car I'm restoring now, a Black X1, which has the best handling of any car I've driven (Alfasud, BX GTi and Xantia Activa included). The early 1015 had an amazing engine that was virtually silent at tickover, then loud up to about 3000 rpm under load but miraculously went silent again above 4000. Could rev to 8000 apprarently although I never tested that theory!

NEED to get my X1 finished this year....... anyone know a good welder? My skills aren't good enough to do it justice!

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 18 Apr 2011, 23:40

How about this point..... It is the purest Citroën design of all in my view.... true to it's concept in a way that only the 2CV can compete with. DS and CX had the wrong engine after all.

Couldn't agree more! Literally from the ground up as even the tyres are
specific and it manages to do practically everything bar DIRAVI that the
Cx does in a much tighter piece of packaging and it's steering is superb
anyway.

I'm very fortunate to have purchased x2 large framed original pen and
ink technical illustrations of a GS cutaway and it's engine that were the
actual ones produced in 1971 for the launch Motor (actually may have been
Autocar?) magazine report and I marvel at the visual complexity yet the
elegance and simplicity of it.

God, what a wonderful car!

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 19 Apr 2011, 00:23

There's no rest for you now Jim; it'll niggle away at the back of your mind
now like an itch you can't reach...

The best way to sate this urge?

http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/193668149.htm?ca=7_s
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/138035962.htm?ca=7_s
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/188890013.htm?ca=7_s

I'd be there like a shot tomorrow had I the space and the extra disposable...

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 19 Apr 2011, 00:49

Cheaper if you fancy some honest spannering:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/192384197.htm?ca=7_s

Refitting the inlet manifold is easy - need it removed to get the starter off!

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 19 Apr 2011, 00:53

This one still recently earning it's keep in it's business?

http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/190697882.htm?ca=7_s

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 19 Apr 2011, 01:07

Or how about a Birotor?

http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/184529311.htm?ca=7_s