c16rkc's mad house

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

On the level

This weekend I decided to see if I could sort the suspension out using the Dog box software. I don't have the special measuring equipment, or a 4 post lift, so I had to do it by eye.

This is what I started with.

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When I opened up dog box, it took me a while to figure out how you modify the settings. But with some experimentation it seemed if you entered 160 for the front, and 105 for the rear, the software did not modify the position. So then by entering figures below these two you can raise the car, and by entering figures above you can lower the car.

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After 30 mins of tweaking, I settled on this for my Citroen's stance.

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I cycled it from min to max 4 or 5 times, and it settled a little higher than that. But it still looks pretty spot on.

So with that done, I decided to continue the interior clean. I thoroughly cleaned the front passenger side, after finishing the front drivers side.

This layer of muck was all over the steering wheel rim (and felt very sticky), on both stalks and in some other places one would touch. I can only assume the last owner used to drive with very grubby hands!

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But is cleaned of relatively easily.

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Bit of cleaning on the passenger side.

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Well until I saw all this between the backrest and cushion...

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So I cleaned all this up, and the front is looking pretty good now.

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So then I spent a little time on the back, before it started spitting with rain...

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So what did I do?

Clean the wheels of course :lol:

I don't mind a little rain...

But then it stopped and the sun came back out. So I decided to give the whole car a wash.

Being able to lower the car so I can get to the roof is handy! :-D

Had the car looking much better after a quick bath! A few pictures in low rider mode.

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Then had to take some more at the proper height.

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Rp0thejester
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Rp0thejester »

Sorry for not reading how you cleaned the car, but guess what.... you sorting the ride is way more important!!!! Can't polish a turd!! It's great to see someone who doesn't give up at the first hurdle, you may be a Citroen lover in the future but I still think your sceptical about Citroens...
Ryan

'99 Xsara 1.6 X (Red) with Sunkissed bonnet. T59 SBX
'54 Astra Estate 1.7DTI (Artic White)
'06 C8 2.2Hdi Exclusive (Aster Grey)

Champion of Where's CitroJim :-({|=
Yes I ask the stupid questions, because normally it is that simple.
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Don't get me wrong I'm not a Citroen lover, while I quite like some of the older models, I'm not really keen on the SUV style stuff they make now.

I selected this car as I quite liked the two Audi A6 estates I had previously, and wanted something similar.

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The things I didn't like about the Audi were the harsh ride, and the poverty specification. So I didn't want another.

Lindsey my wife used to tell me the harsh ride in the last Audi made her feel sick on occasions.

I considered:

- Mercedes E class... poverty specification again.

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- BMW 5 series... the one in my price range is hideous!

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- Vauxhall Insignia... too girly.

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- Ford Mondeo... I just don't like it.

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- Toyota Avensis... too basic.

- Honda Accord... drink too much fuel.

- Mazda 6... too basic in my price range.

- Renault Laguna... hideously ugly.

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- Peugeot 407... I considered one of these.

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I think the Citroen C5 has a similar muscular look to the Audi A6, and in Exclusive trim it has a good spec, so long as it has the full leather seats option. Then there's that Hydro-Air thingy suspension. That really appealed to me. Ride quality is everything to me, and I don't give a rats behind about cornering and handling; I used to drive like a moron 10 ears ago, but that's long behind me now.

So the Citroen C5 in "Tourer" form seemed a good bet.

I was not paying the £6,000 to £8,000 some dealers charge for a perfect low mileage one. But I love a project, so I decided to source a cheap one I could fix up... and here we are.

But funny enough its no turd to me, I love the shape, and I think the interior is really stylish. Plus I like a clean car in good shape to drive around in.

So I'm not a Citroen nut like a lot of the members on here, but I am enjoying this C5, loving bringing it back to its former glory, and the banter on this forum is great too.
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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

An interesting list of cars you considered there Chris, not unlike the ones I looked at to replace my beloved C5 Exclusive when my daughter insisted I must get rid of my diesel! However I had got used to the on board nav and wanted that in my replacement and at the time my budget was limited in the 3-4k range.
I am not a fan of any of the German makes as I find the ride too hard across the board so I concentrated my search on other European and Japanese alternatives. Ideally I wanted a petrol C5 having had one in the past but they are in the hen's teeth group.
I was also quite pushed to make the change with Covid upon us and my need to use the car for essential travel. I was lucky to find the car which I see is not in your list, my Subaru Legacy 2.5 AWD SEN with every feature I wanted and a reasonable ride.
Once aquired I replaced the 17" wheels and 45 tyres with 16" and 55 tyres giving a much better, and therefore acceptable, ride while maintaining very close to accurate speedo reading.
That was in March 2020 and I have now completed 35000 miles of very happy motoring. The 165bhp is fine for my use and I average 39mpg with figures in the mid 40s on longer trips like our recent August Adventure. I have managed to top the 50mpg on two occasions so for an almost 20 year old 2.5 litre engine I am very pleased with that. It is also ULEZ compliant which is good for me living close to London.
So next time you need to change have a look at the Subaru range among your others!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
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Rp0thejester
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Rp0thejester »

You'll fall in love with Citroens sooner or later, get out now while you can!!!! It's like marriage, you ain't leaving......
Ryan

'99 Xsara 1.6 X (Red) with Sunkissed bonnet. T59 SBX
'54 Astra Estate 1.7DTI (Artic White)
'06 C8 2.2Hdi Exclusive (Aster Grey)

Champion of Where's CitroJim :-({|=
Yes I ask the stupid questions, because normally it is that simple.
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

mickthemaverick wrote: 17 Sep 2023, 21:41 An interesting list of cars you considered there Chris, not unlike the ones I looked at to replace my beloved C5 Exclusive when my daughter insisted I must get rid of my diesel! However I had got used to the on board nav and wanted that in my replacement and at the time my budget was limited in the 3-4k range.
I am not a fan of any of the German makes as I find the ride too hard across the board so I concentrated my search on other European and Japanese alternatives. Ideally I wanted a petrol C5 having had one in the past but they are in the hen's teeth group.
I was also quite pushed to make the change with Covid upon us and my need to use the car for essential travel. I was lucky to find the car which I see is not in your list, my Subaru Legacy 2.5 AWD SEN with every feature I wanted and a reasonable ride.
Once aquired I replaced the 17" wheels and 45 tyres with 16" and 55 tyres giving a much better, and therefore acceptable, ride while maintaining very close to accurate speedo reading.
That was in March 2020 and I have now completed 35000 miles of very happy motoring. The 165bhp is fine for my use and I average 39mpg with figures in the mid 40s on longer trips like our recent August Adventure. I have managed to top the 50mpg on two occasions so for an almost 20 year old 2.5 litre engine I am very pleased with that. It is also ULEZ compliant which is good for me living close to London.
So next time you need to change have a look at the Subaru range among your others!! :-D
I never thought of a Subaru, or a Mitsubishi, Hyundai, or Kia for that matter...

I think I made the right choice in the C5 though, as I'm not really scared of the occasional steering rack and suspension parts. So long as it doesn't brake down on me... :shock:
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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

You definitely made the right choice Chris, as would I have, had I not had an eco loony daughter!! Any chap with a daughter will confirm that life is so much simpler if you don't antagonise them!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

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Rp0thejester wrote: 17 Sep 2023, 21:42 You'll fall in love with Citroens sooner or later, get out now while you can!!!! It's like marriage, you ain't leaving......

Actually Ryan there is a rather nice new C5 just arrived...

But it will be out of my price range for 10 years sadly... :lol:
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Rp0thejester
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Rp0thejester »

Once your in, your in, Citroens have that effect on people
Ryan

'99 Xsara 1.6 X (Red) with Sunkissed bonnet. T59 SBX
'54 Astra Estate 1.7DTI (Artic White)
'06 C8 2.2Hdi Exclusive (Aster Grey)

Champion of Where's CitroJim :-({|=
Yes I ask the stupid questions, because normally it is that simple.
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CitroJim
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by CitroJim »

That's a superb job you've made of cleaning it Chris :D I can stand cars being a bit manky on the outside but inside, never...

And a cracking job on the height/ride :)

I can second Mick's choice of Subaru, having travelled several thousand miles in it as a passenger touring the UK... And for a big petrol it's remarkably frugal too...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

c16rkc wrote: 17 Sep 2023, 21:56
Rp0thejester wrote: 17 Sep 2023, 21:42 You'll fall in love with Citroens sooner or later, get out now while you can!!!! It's like marriage, you ain't leaving......

Actually Ryan there is a rather nice new C5 just arrived...

But it will be out of my price range for 10 years sadly... :lol:
Actually I was mistaken, its not a new C5, its the new DS9. Looks quite nice.



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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Yes I think the DS9 is a good looking car from the side mirrors backwards but the front end looks awful to me, the grill looking like an add on!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Yes it's not really stunning in the way old cars used to be is it... but that said if I had all that cash to be able to afford one I'd be more than happy. It's not as though all the other car manufacturers aren't doing the same thing with slightly pugly car designs...

Luckily I can't afford one anyway, I'm about £75,000 short of the £75,000 asking price :rofl2:

What an incredible used car deal these will make when they are 3 or 4 years old...

I like the modern interior. Just needs some old man walnut :mrgreen:

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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Certainly is a well thought out interior and I love the way they have integrated a decent infoscreen without it looking like an afterthought as it does on so many other makes at the moment. I do think that they should have gone with a front end more like the one on this concept version: :-D
BFTW
BFTW
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Now I agree completely! - That is so, so, so much better.

Why on earth did they not stick with that!

Weird how concept cars often look so much better than the cars released.