Yet another love it/hate it poll

[andmcit]

In jest I suggested a sunroof versus aircon poll and Adam took me up on it
creating a sunroof yes or no one - not quite where my head was mind but
interesting all the same.

Which brings me to another question that could yield some passionate and
interesting debate but a bit of an amorphous blob to categorise in a black
or white, yes or no question for a poll:

Is the original, as intended from inception design of any particular model
better (quantifiably as well as subjectively) than the subsequent, done over,
(mid-life crisis?) make over one of the same inherent car?

A or B





OK, so both are flared arch cars so not a fair picture representation!












Epic examples of this include:
DS frog eye or Sharknose
Cx and GS chrome or plastic
Sierra > pre-tamed Probe
MGB chrome or plakky and crappy handling mk2
E-type
Mini
911
or how about X1/9 or Lancia Beta MonteCarlo

the list can go on and on any may produce a hung parliament fudge
but an interesting starting point premise for a petrolhead discussion.

There's no point setting any rules as a forum discussion will meander
round the houses no matter what!

I guess with the Citroen slant the discussion could be:

DS
Visa
GS > GSA
CX
Xantia
XM
C4
C5

where tellingly, there were largely very distinctive changes between the
mk1 and mk2 which can polarise opinion and feelings.

Maybe there's the chance of say a last of the line D being best and
the first GS or Xm blatantly being the answer staring back at me
before I even finish asking the question?

At this point I'll run and duck under the stairs and hide...

[Citroenmad]

Im struggling to answer, as it depends on the Citroen ...

GS or GSA - GSA
DS single headlight or double - Double
CX S1 or CX S2 - S2 every time
Visa - Pig nose, just because its different
XM S1 or S2 - Starting to like the S1 interior more and more, but for the exterior - S2
Xantia - Very difficult, if Activa or V6 then S1 without fail as they have the different front with more aggressive looking bumper, wider track and wings (I guess 2.1 also come sin here) whereas all S2s look the same, albeit with the wider track. Otherwise S2 for a HDI version, not for the engine but for looks
C4 - it was runied with the facelift in my opinion, original C4 is the best
C5I or C5II - II is a far nicer looking car and I actually love the sleek front end styling, the estate reminds me of a high speed train .... though I think the S1 has its merits too. (I really do Andrew)

So on average thats S2 for me, though I dont want to commit to that for the above reasons

[steelcityuk]

If it's an XM then for me a single spoke S1. Ideally with rotary heater controls.

As for the sunroof or AC debate, it depends. If the car is driven by more than one person then it maybe better to have both, not everyone likes AC.

Steve.

[CitroJim]

A no-brainer for me.... S1 always...

Any model from any age, the S1 comes out top every time... I cannot think of an exception..

[citroenxm]

DS - Has to be Shark nose S2 cars..

CX - S2 again, I love the swooping dash in the S2 aswell as the improoved lower maintenance plastic bumpers

XM - S1 in this for MANY reasons. Prefer Dash, S1.5 doesnt have suspension issues, better spoiler too

Xantia - Hard one this - Id say FIRST and LAST as the ones in the middle seem to be all specials with low specs.. IE: LX, Dimension, Temptation, and so on..

Paul

[addo]

What is it with people and third front Dees?

They're ugly and lack the original's simple flair.

[andmcit]

To be fair, I love all the cars from each s1 v's s2 extreme with all versions
in between and still own many from each extreme but I'm now decided in
my mind I'm a series1 is best Citroen addict! As a designer, who once
worked in car design/styling I've always been more than interested in car
design with Citroen first and foremost top of my favourites list.

But almost daily I'm falling into the s1 Xantia camp:

For a start, with the Xantia, whilst I own serval s2's of Exclusive spec the
recessed ignition key, stupid steering wheel horn and trafficmaster niggle
constantly in a death by a 1000 lashes irritation which isn't helped by the
melted droopy Xsaraesque front end. The original sinker without a single
winbdbag in sight just works for me so much better and is cleaner in line
and it's operation.

Same goes for the XM with it's truly awful blobby Ford Transit inspired dash
and ropey door window mechanisms and iffy rust protection. The big OTT
hatch spoiler whilst not usually anything I'm the biggest fan of just works
on a s1 Xm which is why the s2 looks unfinished and a bit naked with it's
why did they bother effort.

I can move onto my x2 favourite Citroens and feel the same:

The Cx has a far sharper stance with the visually lighter rear end with that
fantastic cut upwards through the spat to the almost minimalist rear bumper
and the sharper front bumpers tucked neatling into the lines of thent wings.
Yes, the Cx s2 dash is dramatic but flimsy and prone to looking a bit pants
with the duff LCD gauges and cubby bins. Nothing like the simple elegant
sweep of the original's dash and the more pronounced lunule instrument
binacle.

The GS is an awesome design in it's execution and a lot was lost in the
translation into the GSA with the tailgate; bigger opening maybe, a higher
loading lip for a start and a ruined arc of the roofline. The dash of the earlier
car is a delight and honest in it's intentions compared with the frankly
ridiculous schamatic map and all eggs in one basket egonomic pod that
leaves your right hand redundant. The 1300 wasn't that big a deal over
the 1222 in performance or economy when all said and done either.

The only time I feel like I'm going against my own mindset on this A or B
idea is with the design of the DS. I love them all but am drawn more to
the last sharknose wings yet look at the simply gorgeous sculpural first
car's dash.

On balance the Citroen s1's ARE my preferred choice

[Homer]

Would have loved the Mk1 dash and steering wheel in a Mk2 BX.

[andmcit]

...and another thing!

I believe I'm suffering RSI from dipping my head to compensate for the
infernal dipping mirror every bleeding time I park my car - yes I'm not
the headfirst and hope for the best kind of parker and ALWAYS reverse
into spaces - why do I want to see the effing kerb when I'm unable to
see cars/walls/trees/animals/people beyond the back corner of the car?

[DHallworth]

I voted for the last option.

I've got several early 90's Series 1 24v XM's and I've got one of the last S2 24v XM's to roll off the production line.

They are totally different cars and both suited to totally different types of driving but I would be hard pushed if I could only keep one of them.

David.

[myglaren]

I definitely prefer the GS to the GSA, mainly for the SS bumpers and the dash.
Although a hatchback is my usual preference - after an estate - the cavernous boot of the GS was always OK for me.

Same with the CX, prefer the Chrome/SS bumpers and sills.

Most of the other subtle changes are lost on me I'm afraid. Not much of an eye for detail but I do like Xantia sinkers better than anti-sink - just seems more 'Citroenish' to me.

[andmcit]

I voted for the last option.

It wasn't particularly susprising to see more than half selecting this:
I'd have only had grief if I didn't offer a "get-out" here on this one!!

[andy5]

The BX, I think it has to be the later one, partly as I think the front looks better, the indicators and so on, but mainly because of the eventual introduction of the turbodiesel.

The previous dashboard, I could live with that fine, though if they'd managed to self-cancel the indicators on that rocker switch that would have been good, but you got used to it.

The drum speedo, the bulb failed on my first BX, and because the holder was also slightly melted I clumsily dropped the bulb inside. By the time I'd tried a magnet and then twisting about with a couple of wooden sticks to fish it out, I'd recalibrated the thing by about plus 12 mph. Which I had to keep reminding a friend on one trip while towing, as he was being unnecessarily cautious on the speed, doing about effectively about 48 instead of my 65.

Xantia, I didn't have an early one (second BX lasted until 2003), but again I think the extra engine choice is going to swing it to the later one, for the HDI.

I've sat on the fence with the last choice though.

[Homer]

...and another thing!

I believe I'm suffering RSI from dipping my head to compensate for the
infernal dipping mirror every bleeding time I park my car - yes I'm not
the headfirst and hope for the best kind of parker and ALWAYS reverse
into spaces - why do I want to see the effing kerb when I'm unable to
see cars/walls/trees/animals/people beyond the back corner of the car?

Can't you set it by adjusting it while in reverse gear?

That's how the only one I had (on the Xantia) worked.

[Citroenmad]

...and another thing!

I believe I'm suffering RSI from dipping my head to compensate for the
infernal dipping mirror every bleeding time I park my car - yes I'm not
the headfirst and hope for the best kind of parker and ALWAYS reverse
into spaces - why do I want to see the effing kerb when I'm unable to
see cars/walls/trees/animals/people beyond the back corner of the car?

Can't you set it by adjusting it while in reverse gear?

That's how the only one I had (on the Xantia) worked.

On the Xm too.