Marc's X7, C3 Aircross, Rants, Raves & Everything Else

[Michel]

which cars don't have that now? (Apart from Jim's Saxo maybe )

All my Saxo has is electric windows and central locking - by key!

Daffodil does not even have that... And nor does daughter Robyn's C1 - possibly the last ever truly basic and simple, straightforward car...

I often think there's a gap in the market for truly basic cars - they seem entirely extinct now.

I think you’re right Jim. All I really need is an electric passenger side mirror, one touch leccy windows in the front, decent radio/bluetooth unit (no need for CD) and preferably AC but that’s it - but in a family car sized package, not a supermini.

[mickthemaverick]

I think you’re right Jim. All I really need is an electric passenger side mirror, one touch leccy windows in the front, decent radio/bluetooth unit (no need for CD) and preferably AC but that’s it - but in a family car sized package, not a supermini.

Agree there Michel, that is all you need, could even live without the leccy window on drivers side, but the problem I have is that if something is fitted to a car I have to have it working. So it would be better if they didn't fit it in the first place. My MX3 is "sufficiently equipped" for me and it it were bigger it would be the perfect car.

[Paul-R]

Maybe the C1 does retain its sense of simplicity with number one of its highlighted features being a puncture repair kit

Regards Neil

My bike has one of those!!!

I wonder how often you have to check the car's tube of glue to see whether it's gone off?

[CitroJim]

I wonder how often you have to check the car's tube of glue to see whether it's gone off?

That's so yesterday Paul Modern kits have glueless patches and they work too No more mucking around with a tube of solution, just clean up the area around the puncture, peel off the backing and apply the patch... Job done!

[Hell Razor5543]

I wonder how often you have to check the car's tube of glue to see whether it's gone off?

That's so yesterday Paul Modern kits have glueless patches and they work too No more mucking around with a tube of solution, just clean up the area around the puncture, peel off the backing and apply the patch... Job done!

How big are the tyre levers!

[GiveMeABreak]

Well updates on the Aircross this week.

Windscreen / ADAS
After having the windscreen replaced (my official complaint was upheld by my insurance company) as I refused to drive a 150 mile round trip to their repairer with a large crack in the screen - just so they could calibrate the ADAS camera - they agreed to fit the glass at my home. As I originally suggested, the insurance company also agreed I could then take the vehicle to my local dealer to have it calibrated their and claim the cost back (£90 plus VAT). All sorted. Took less than 40 minutes (2 guys that normally do the commercial vehicles), perfect fast job.

Stop Start
Vehicle was taken into the dealer for the calibration and I also asked them to check out the Stop Start whilst it was there. Car was left overnight for battery test. We ended up with a new C3 hatch for a courtesy car, but I found it far too low to get into and sit comfortably after the Aircross, but it did have Citroen's LED Vision headlights that were a positive. The new C3 was also fitted with Michelin tyres (see 'Tyres' below).

So after picking the car up the following day, the battery test came back as 98% after a charge and settle period and now the Stop Start works perfectly. The fact that I had already charged the battery up for a day a few weeks back may have helped though, but not been enough. On top of that there is the 6 hours or so needed of vehicle rest after fully charging - without unlocking the car or operating any electrical systems in order for the internal systems to calibrate to allow the Stop Start to work. So at least I know what to do in future when it packs up again.

Tyres
Regarding the horrible Bridgestone Turanza T005 Tyres fitted - I've decided to replace these before next winter with All-Season tyres - which were what were supposed to be fitted by Citroen at their own recommendation on vehicles with Grip Control systems.

Here's an extract from Citroen's French website (https://www.citroen.fr/univers-citroen/ ... ntrol.html) - and interestingly, I cannot locate an English equivalent...

So whether part of the cost-cutting or penny pinching I don't know, but in my opinion, they should have fitted "M + S 4-season tires" to vehicles equipped with this option - otherwise what is the point? I was glad to see that the new C3 Courtesy car we had with less than a 1000 miles on had Michelin tyres fitted - so maybe they saw the light again? However, I suspect that in our case it may be that the C3 Aircross is made in Spain at the factory they use to make the Crossland which is her sister vehicle - so maybe Vauxhall fitted Bridgestone tyres to the Crossland and the Aircross inherited these awful things - I don't know, but at the end of the day they have as much grip as an eel in an oil bath.

So when these front tyres are a little more worn, the lot will be coming off and replaced. I will probably sell on the Bridgestone Turanza rears, as these are almost brand new tread wear wise and condition.

As you can't fit a mixed tyre on front and rear axles (Summer / All Season / Winter), we will have to change all four to the All-Season. You may think it OK to replace just the front driving wheels with All Season and leave the rears with summers on until they wear, but that's a no-no unless you want the rear tyres overtaking the front! Here's a good video aptly demonstrating this concept which is worth a watch for anyone else considering mixing their tyres:

[mickthemaverick]

Tyres
Regarding the horrible Bridgestone Turanza T005 Tyres fitted - I've decided to replace these before next winter with All-Season tyres -

Or as we used to call them "Tyres" !!

[myglaren]

Or as we used to call them "Tyres" !!

Drives me up the wall, mainly they don't seem to see the difference between 'tires' and wheels.

[GiveMeABreak]

For some of us it can be a nightmare finding a decent phone holder for our vehicles.

Now I don't need to actually use my phone in the car as I have Apple CarPlay - but until Wireless CarPlay is more widely fitted into vehicles, CarPlay still requires a wired connection to your car's USB port. That being the case, you still need somewhere to put your phone once it's connected up.

Issues with the C3 Aircross I have found:

Dash Cubby Hole

The cubby hole is totally useless for anything other than holding a credit-card sized wallet - I mean it's not even square or rectangular

Next, I tried to use those magnetic phone holders that go in the vents - but modified to just use the magnet and the metal plate stuck to the phone case, with some velcro on the interior trim:

Here the velcro just will not stay attached to the car Trim, despite using alcohol to clean it. It's all curved Plastics.	Every other surface in the Aircross is curved! So nothing can be attached anywhere.

Now on my Aircross, we have the Techno Pack option, so that includes amongst other things the Wireless Charging system. So we lose the front cup holders and get a wireless charging pad instead. Not much good to me as my iPhone 6 Plus doesn't use wireless charging - but even if it did, I still have to physically connect my phone via USB to be able to use CarPlay.

With no need for Wireless Charging, this becomes an expensive non-slip mat!	Even so, the area is too short for an iPhone 6 Plus once plugged in with a USB cable. So it falls off and slips over the edges!

So refusing to be defeated I spent a whole night looking through various phone holder solutions and came up with the 'Vansky' car cup holder. Although I don't have any front cup holders with the wireless charging as explained, I do have one at the back of the handbrake / gearbox console. But just to be non-standard and awkward, some nonce of a designer decided to not make it round like a normal cupholder - no that would be too simple:

So we get this non-square, non-round hybrid thing.

So the great thing with a lot of these phone holders designed for cup holders is that they have bolsters than can be expanded or retracted to secure them in place:

This is the part that holds your Phone (bottom support Claw not unfolded yet). Adjustable 360°.	This is the base that goes into the cup holder with bolsters nearly retracted.	Here the Bolsters are partly extended. You turn the collar to extend or retract them.

Viewed Top Down	You can see that even with the non-circular cup holder. The fit is nice and secure, with no movement.

The sides are cushioned with silicone.	Here with the phone inserted and hooked up. An extra point to anyone who noticed the FCF shortcut icon on my iPhone

The phone holder itself has a button you press and the 'jaws' slowly open. Open up the phone bottom support, insert the phone and clamp up the jaws - job done.

The actual stalk is a gooseneck design, so is flexible enough to angle how you want it. In my case - I have no need to use the phone once CarPlay is active, so I just need it supported securely out of the way - hence ideally in the rear cup holder and facing away from the front. It also means the 1 Metre USB cable is now tucked along the gearbox binnacle out of sight and is just the right length to reach the phone. So a bonus is that I no longer have all the unsightly USB wiring coiled up - which also benefits my OCD

The best thing this was only £8.99 from Amazon. Some of these you can pay over £30 for - so at this price I don't mind if it lasts a few years and needs replacing - but hopefully I don't intend to keep bending it or removing it - it is now where I need it, out the way and should last some time hopefully.

So this may help anyone who is in a similar situation with a lack of space / suitable surfaces!

Details:

The Jaws can support phones from 2.75" to 4"
The base Diameter supports cup holders from 2.3" to 3.5"
The goose neck is 5.3" high from the flexible part. or 11.2" from the base to the phone plate.

Link here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08 ... UTF8&psc=1

[CitroJim]

I'm loving reading this Marc It's like a different world entirely compared to my cars! I'm learning lots...

A world I never knew existed How cars have changed since my Sally rolled off the production line...

[mickthemaverick]

You have obviously spent a lot of time and effort sorting your phone holder Marc, personally I was luckier and found one of these without looking too hard, apart from holding the phone it also offers auto dialling, voice control, answer phone and battery charging although it can be a bit of a moneypit!!

Spoiler: show

BFTW getty images

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes don’t need any of that Mick as the car has it already built in. I just needed a glorified holder for the phone when using CarPlay. But is working great after a trip out to the human cattle market (town) today. It's just what I wanted - out of sight and out of mind

[GiveMeABreak]

Well most of you have heard of Stop & Start systems, but here's a new take...

There is a new accessory offered for my Aircross (and possibly other vehicles) called 'Stop & Go' and it's actually an Anti-rodent Device!

I think is was John who had issues with Mice in his fusebox - well maybe this is to counter the problems....?

The rough translation:

Extremely effective battery-powered ultrasonic device. Frequency modulation ultrasound that alerts martens to "maximum danger" using animal sounds of fear and alarm. No inurement effects.
Independent of the on-board circuit thanks to two standard 3-volt button batteries (CR2477), which have a particularly long life of approximately 24 months per set of batteries. Ideal for long-term parking situations, such as old vehicles, camper vans or display vehicles and vehicle shelters.

DESCRIPTION
High frequency modulation ultrasound (coverage 360° and acoustic pressure: 110 dB) - Not connected to the on-board circuit - Slimline ultra-flat construction.
Effective, reliable protection against rodents for two years thanks to two button batteries.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Stand-alone unit with two piezo-electric speakers. Scattering angle of over 170°. Protected against water splashes in accordance with IP65.
1 type 4B battery-powered (CR2477) unit with 4 straps and 1 sticker.

[Michel]

My mum’s just bought a C3 Aircross and loves it! I’ve not had the pleasure of it yet because of covid etc.

[GiveMeABreak]

All I can tell you is the ride is a far cry from hydraulic suspension - the thing I miss the most! Round here on the country roads and pot holes galore the car is quite 'bumpy', but on a standard road, it drives really well.

I think it's the age-old issue with having to configure conventional springing and damping based on the maximum load of the vehicle with all passengers - so with one or 2 people and nothing in the boot - it going to feel like something from the dark ages with wooden wheels!

I hope your Mum enjoys it, I am finding it quite a novelty and do like the high driving position and really supportive armchair seats. The steering is really light and the driving position is much better than my C5!