Hi all.

Neighbour turned up today with shiny, brand new Mazda 6. If you want just the tiniest prod as to why we persevere with our XMs, have a look at one of these. Inside --- trim quality from the Escort / Astra class. Not a single thing inside that you look at and think yes, I'd like it. Under the lid -- again, absolutely nothing to suggest either innovation or improvement. Twelve grand odd that's probably not worth nine now the number plates are screwed on. Oh -- and before someone says yes, but these Jap motors are so reliable etc. --- where are all the old ones ?? -- I don't see them proportionately in any greater quantity than older French, German or any other nationality vehicle. I seem to recall the Beetle was the car that didn't need a garage. That's right, it didn't, because it was going to rot away just as fast as the next model !
I suspect that if you blindfolded a motoring journalist and put him in a well specced XM and told him it was a new car, he'd be well impressed. Strikes me that in the race for techno wizardry in modern motors, the character and soul is completely disappearing.

Mike.

And you were looking for an argument against?

Hi Craig

Can't remember --- I'm still in a tedium induced coma after looking at the car !

Mike.

I'm going to look at a CX25 DTR Turbo 2 Safari, tommorrow. So there!

Peter.N.

With apologies if you are an experienced CX owner - do you need any buying tips?

Hi Techmanagain

I ran them for ten years, my last one for seven years and 150k+ and about ten head gaskets and three heads. I think I have had most things go wrong them that will....So why Im I thinking about getting another one?

Peter.N.

Hi Peter,

I know you love the space in the back of estate XMs and CXs. Have you seen a CX ambulance, a chap at the local Citroen club has built a replica from a scrap ambulance and a good CX and it is HUGE. You could hold a dinner dance in the back.

John

Hi John

I have never seen one in the flesh but quite a lot in French films. I was just looking at a photo of a Safari for sale on ebay, I didn't realise just how long they were, but with the Diravi steering and excellent rear visibility, they are easier to park than the XM.

Peter.N.

Hi Peter.

Have you bought it ?

Mike.

Totally agree Mike.

I've seen a neverending stream of yawntastic new cars recently. I really cant find something that inspires me anywhere near like the XM does.

I'm very impressed with my friend's Subaru Impreza WRX STI, in terms of sheer power and speed it's rather nice, and she loves it, but I don't think its a car I could ever own TBH.

I was in a C5 taxi the other day, and asked the driver what he thought. He said how nice it was, reliable, comfortable, etc. I didn't say, but I wasn't too impressed. Ok, it was quiet and fast, but the interior trim etc seemed harsh and plasticcy, and while modern, just wasn't a patch on the XM. I left it thinking 'this guy thinks this is comfortable, he obviously hasn't owned an XM, or even a Xantia perhaps'.
Don't get me wrong, it was a nice car, very capable, but I can't help but think 'why have a Citroen Mondeo when you can have a Ford'.

Real shortage of interesting cars these days. I feel lucky enough to have just caught the very tail end of interesting Citroens. At 24, I remember CXs and the like from when I was a kid, but I've never driven one, let alone owned one. I envy you lot who had all the interesting models during the glory days!

Hi Mike

No...well not yet, I am thinking about it. We have only just arrived home after a round trip of about 650 miles to see a car, am I mad?

It was very nice to drive one again, the performance is about on a par with the 2.1 td, from a 2.5 of course but it was the turbo 2 with the inter cooler, 120 bhp at I seem to remember 3800 rpm! It felt very much like the XM to drive, but all that space! The fit and finish is not up to the XM standard but the engine seems just as smooth.

The dreaded head gasket/pourous block syndrome seems to have passed this one by, it doesn't look as though the head has ever been off and there is no sign of leakage, in fact the whole of the mechanical set up is brilliant, the only dampener is the bodywork. Considering the age of the car its really pretty good but there are a few places where wireworm has got in, and I am really not sure if at my time of life I want to tackle it... but I'm still deliberating.

The chap who owned it, Malcom of Savoy garage in Burnley is very pleasant and a fellow Citroen enthusiast, he does XMs as well, he thought I was as mad as him to travel all that way, I said I just like nice cars, anyway, he gave me the keys and let me drive it, so that was worth the trip! He seems to be able to source all the spares so might be a useful chap to have in the club.

Peter.

Hi Peter.

You should have popped in for a cuppa --- you must have been nearly past our front door ! Before my Citroen days, I remember seeing a fair few CX estates go round the sales (they must have shifted a fair few, I reckon). I was always impressed by the load space, but as I recall, most of those I saw had corrosion issues around the rear door aperture somewhere and, most off putting, around the tailgate hinge area on top of the roof. It always struck me that if even the roof went rusty, what hope for the rest ! Mind, having said that, daughter had a very tidy 6 or 7 year old Pug 306 and the roof started off on that, as well.

Mike.

Hi Mike

Didn't know you lived 'up North'. The real coincidence about that trip was that I sold a chainsaw on ebay on Thursday evening and the chap that bought it lived at Sowerby Bridge, and we drove through there about the time he bought it! I now have to make it into a parcel and try to disguise it.

This CX didn't have any rust on the tailgate or the roof, but you could see through the n/s rear door shut/wing! It was MOT'd though. I think that the galvanizing must have an expiry date.

Peter.

Hi Peter.

Up North !!! Smack in the centre, more like. (Brum). Mind, I suppose for you guys, North is anywhere topside of the M4 !


Mike.

Not really, North to me is Caithness or Sutherland!

Peter.