Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

[CitroJim]

That's a late one

[white exec]

Grab the suspension regulators!

[CitroJim]

Grab the suspension regulators!

Only if it's a Hydractive one Chris It will need to be an Exclusive to yield those!

[Mandrake]

Spotted this lovely little Red 2CV driving from Coatbridge onto the M8 westbound yesterday morning. It makes the Ion look positively wide and roomy.

No idea what model or year it might be - I know very little about 2CV's, except that I suspect it was going flat out when it was doing 60mph on the motorway as I passed it.

Wish I could remember that website RichardW found that looked up number plates to find out how many miles they've done.

[RichardW]

It's a 1989 Special. The Special bit means it was REALLY poverty spec!! It needed a fair amount of work for its last MOT:


Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside front parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Nearside Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front position lamp not working side (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front position lamp not working side (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded floor (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded door step (5.2.6)

[Mandrake]

It's a 1989 Special. The Special bit means it was REALLY poverty spec!! It needed a fair amount of work for its last MOT:

Thanks. My GS was a "G Special" 1129cc. I guess that means it was poverty spec too!! (I think you're right, it didn't even have a rev counter!)

[Hell Razor5543]

It's a 1989 Special. The Special bit means it was REALLY poverty spec!! It needed a fair amount of work for its last MOT:

Thanks. My GS was a "G Special" 1129cc. I guess that means it was poverty spec too!! (I think you're right, it didn't even have a rev counter!)

But why would you want to count vicars and other men of religious beliefs?

[Stickyfinger]

Really nice 2CV (grey one) has joined me in our village. It is a full rebuild with galvanised chassis, new paint, new interior etc.....very clean ....

Shame, "I was the only Citroen in the Village"....not now

[Mandrake]

I would love to try driving a 2CV once (never even been in one) but I shudder at the thought of driving a tin can that must surely have an NCAP rating of about 0.5/5 (!) on a daily basis in a world dominated by big heavy SUV's! I know who would come out worse in that confrontation.

[CitroJim]

Simon, the 2CV is a classic case of 'never drive your heroes'

The whole experience - for me at least - can be summed up in one word. Hideous.

You may love it. I didn't... Just as I found riding a big Harley Davidson utterly revolting...

I apologise to the hoards of 2CV lovers out there but I speak as I found. No love for the thing at all. Sorry.

Give me a GS any day... Now that is one car that left a very good and solid lasting impression on me. That and the DS are perhaps the loveliest Citroens I've ever driven. Can't comment on a CX as I've never driven one... The Xantia Activa comes a very close second to those two.

[Mandrake]

Don't worry Jim, I have no illusions about the 2CV - apart from a soft marsh-mellow ride you couldn't get any more basic and unrefined I'm sure. I would drive it purely to experience the quirkiness of it and put a check in my bucket list, not because I think it might be an enjoyable drive as an actual car let alone a daily driver.

You are right about the GS - fabulous car, but I'm biased because it was my first car and Dad had one for over 20 years as well. Definitely a case of simple but refined and incredibly well designed. It's hard to beat the suspension design of the GS - although its not the best riding or handling Citroen, the front suspension geometry is just..... perfect.... and a textbook example of how to get suspension design correct, including inboard brakes, centre point steering geometry and zero lateral offset between upper and lower pivot points. (Very few cars do that in this age of McPherson struts, most don't even try.. )

You should try to drive a CX if you can Jim. Although the suspension geometry is slightly compromised compared to a GS due to the intrusion of brakes in the wheel, it still has double wishbones at the front (the last Citroen to do so for many years) and overall the CX rides MUCH better than a GS and handles a lot better too - it rolls just as much as a GS but is far more grippy, and significantly wider at the front track than the rear - just like an SM.

And if you drive it in a 2.4 litre or greater version it is much more powerful too, especially the 2.5 litre Turbo version that will out accelerate a Xantia V6. And of course it has the Diravi steering of the SM - which I rather like although it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's not quite as direct as the SM though - they increased the turns per lock, but only a little.

The CX is probably my second favourite of the Citroen's I've owned or driven, my favourite being the Xantia. The CX has a better ride, more flair and charm, and is very unique, but the Xantia has its charms too and is much better as a daily driver, and more reliable and rust resistant!

You should try to talk David into bringing his CX Turbo down to the next meet! Speaking of David, where is he hiding.... ?

[CitroJim]

I've driven a V6 XM with Diravi Simon... Now that was magical... Diravi is very special...

I'd love a drive of a CX and on your recommendation I will now try to put that tick in the box

[Xantianut]

Ay up!

I road tested a 2CV after servicing it once. The thought of probably having more front end crash protection on a motorbike weighed heavily on my mind, although I got used to the gear shift and the copious body roll quickly.

Now, driving a DS (can't remember the engine size) was an experience to remember for all the right reasons. After all the swearing and skinned knuckles and expressing myself of the opinion that the car's designer was of dubious parentage, the road manner and comfort were such that I fell in love. Never owned one but I would love one!

[bobins]

This lovely Belgian DS (or is it an ID?) was spotted in Midhurst old town this morning. Probably in the area for the the forthcoming Goodwood Revival. Most other days of the week there would have been an even better shot - a C6 normally parks there as well

DS1 - own work

DS2 - own work

[van ordinaire]

I really miss my 2CV & the opportunities it provided to attend amazing events in distant places. The C15 is a worthy successor, almost as much fun, & has a soupcon of Gallic charm, but not the wonderful simplicity - or camaraderie!