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Citroënesque

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Posts posted by Citroënesque

  1. Hi all, check out www.facebook.com/CitroenClassic with details of what promises to be a chuffingly memorable event. :) We try to do a road trip every other year, and next time it'll be thrown open to any 'classic' (we use the term loosely as we include what might be termed 'future classics') French car. If you're in the area, why not join the event for a couple of days?
  2. Drive a Citroën? Like driving? Like breathtaking scenery? Don't mind a bit of a camaraderie amongst Francophile car nuts?

    It's only three months away, but well worth considering. It promises to be fun, with all sorts taking part including DS, BX, GSs...

    http://web.me.com/macksy/ccc2012/Welcome.html

    e-mail me for more info (see contact page on website).

  3. I've found that adding Millers EcoMax or similar helps (not only in winter but all year round). As far as I understand, in winter the additives which alter the viscosity are, as noted, going to have an effect on the combustion and therefore economy but the Millers also boosts the cetane (diesel equivalent of octane) rating by a few points (depending on the concentration you use) offsetting the effect.

    If you get what I mean :)
  4. I agree, there's no reason to change the old Picasso as I understand it. Do the environmentally good (and economically sensible) thing and keep it going. Depreciation on a new purchase will be a lot more than the cost of keeping your Picasso going for the next three years or so. I suggest shelving the plans to replace the Picasso, but spend a bit of money on some servicing and preventative maintenance. Get the car valeted and any dings or scratches dealt with by a specialist, and get it machine polished with a good layer of wax: it'll come out like new. :)
  5. ...."The bloke should be used as advertising material for Citroën. A car was not a car if it was not a Citroën !.......

    As a long-term Citroën fan - I can completely empathise. I've had GS's, BX's (fourteen in all - still have one in the fleet), ZX's, Synergie, XM's and a Xantia... and if you want economical, comfortable reliable driving in France, in a car that costs peanuts, get a cared-for BX... they are remarkable cars but now, as the youngest will be 17 years old, they are gradually getting thin on the ground. (OK I'm slightly biased). :)

  6. [quote user="Cendrillon"][quote user="Citroënesque"]Out of my last four holidays (two a year) in France (and staying, it has to be said in 'pricey' English/expat owned gîtes) with only one exception, the mattresses/beds have been of poor quality (resulting in back ache, poor sleep, not to mention creaks and groans from the actual apparatus!), while almost everything else has been exemplary... Surely it is not beyond the wit of gîte owners to understand that one of the main causes (confirmed by conversations with fellow 'gîters') for not re-booking is the standard of night's sleep? I am not too fussy, and I am not too large a frame (wife would argue otherwise), but a Kingsize is minimum now. Failing that, twins that can be zipped together...

    A good mattress, -  a happy compromise between soft and hard (like a plank of wood!) - a minimum if 5' width and a non-creaking frame... is it really too much to ask? Times is hard, I know, but I am not alone in reluctantly choosing to not re-book this year ONLY because the beds are rubbish...

    [/quote]

    I do hope that everyone who has had bad experiences re. the beds (and other problems) has passed on their comments to the owners concerned. It's all very well to grumble on here but that won't get rid of the problems that have been experienced.

    [/quote]

    We did, on every occasion. But in a diplomatic, well-intentioned way. It's always difficult, but unless the owner knows how can it improve?

    Fleas in the bed, on the otherhand... [:(]

  7. Out of my last four holidays (two a year) in France (and staying, it has to be said in 'pricey' English/expat owned gîtes) with only one exception, the mattresses/beds have been of poor quality (resulting in back ache, poor sleep, not to mention creaks and groans from the actual apparatus!), while almost everything else has been exemplary... Surely it is not beyond the wit of gîte owners to understand that one of the main causes (confirmed by conversations with fellow 'gîters') for not re-booking is the standard of night's sleep? I am not too fussy, and I am not too large a frame (wife would argue otherwise), but a Kingsize is minimum now. Failing that, twins that can be zipped together...

    A good mattress, -  a happy compromise between soft and hard (like a plank of wood!) - a minimum if 5' width and a non-creaking frame... is it really too much to ask? Times is hard, I know, but I am not alone in reluctantly choosing to not re-book this year ONLY because the beds are rubbish...

  8. Hi I'm in the process of planning the (May) 2012 Citroën Classic Challenge tour and have a question. Someone here might be able to give me an update.

    Apparently the well-regarded route D518 St. Marcellin to Die (Les Grands Goulets / Parc du Vercors) is closed since heavy landslides/rockfalls a few years back pending repairs. Has it reopened yet (or is it imminent)? Is there a recommended detour (and what is it?). Any advice/news welcome.

    Many thanks,

    Phil

  9. Depends what car you drive, but with consumption that low, I imagine it's a new-ish model with a 'modern' petrol. I drive old Citroens - including a petrol turbo XM (1995) which although E10 can be used, it hates compared with 95 (or 97 -99 which I use if I can). I think the consumption remains the same (but compared to your observations, our 33-35 mpg on a trip isn't anything to boast about !) but the power drop off is noticeable. I carry a bottle of Miller's Octane booster with me for those times I am forced to use E10, and that 'shot' helps restore the power a bit (it's also good for the engine and fuel system).

  10. Ouch. That's why breakers yard are a good place. Depends if you're up to swapping over the units yourself... (or know a friendly local who can for Pastis money :)

    I got a pair of LHD lights (to swap over for the times I travel to France) for my late model Citroën XM for €25 each.

    Good tip about the insurance though... but does it not equate to making a claim with the subsequent review of premium?

  11. How odd. Not my business I guess, but to ask for help on this forum, be offered what on the face of it seems an excellent suggestion, to then pass over what might've been a valuable contact - (and knowing them already?!), does beg the question are you asking for more than a bit of translation?

    I can only assume you have approached them for help and been turned down. [8-)] Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick though... who knows.

    If your requirements are so specific as to exclude local help, a bit more information might be useful [;-)]

  12. Hi, as described in the thread: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/2283505/ShowPost.aspx our classic car club is planning an adventure in France in May 2012. I would really like to find a suitable venue where we can have an end-of-event dinner, with access to local camping and/or a reasonably priced hotel or two.

    Ideally near Calais but it is possible we could hold the dinner the night before near Nancy.

    Can anyone help with a suggestion (or offer!)?

    You can always e-mail me on citroenclassic(at)btopenworld.com,

    Phil

  13. It's funny the number of people who say they had a BX.. I didn't notice/ remember them new! A major leak such as you describe is unusual with a BX when it's travelling along... it is/was far more usual to come out to the car of a morning, say, and find it squatting in a pool of it's own green blood.[:D]

    Out of 10 BXs that finally did all or portions of the course in 2009 (total combined mileage covered 22,355 miles. Average age of cars was 19 years. All their mileages added up? Over 1.4 million), there was one unscheduled stoppage due to failure - a burst coolant hose. And that was it. Not unimpressive given the rigours of the course.

    It's reckoned there are only about 1,000 on the road in the UK now... but those that are left are often in the hands of enthusiasts who keep them going... but even so... that's not many...

    Anyway, I didn't want to make this thread about my hobby, so back O/T, I would really like to know of anyone living in the Gap or Calais areas who might be able to help. (I figure I should post this request elsewhere on this forum, but which section do you - collectively - suggest?)

  14. That's quite an obsession too. I feel I have to own up to having owned 13 x BX's (mostly 8v and 16v GTi), 2 x ZX's (TDs), 1 x Visa GTi, I x GSX and 2 x XM's. And I'm after a LHD TZD Turbo hatch (in white if poss!)...

    sorry the drugs don't work (tried Toyota, BMW and Mercedes)...

  15. Hi there,

    I'd like to introduce myself: I used to live in France, near Agen, but had to move back to the UK in 2003. Since then I try to spend as much time as I can in France, as I miss it. When I was in France I caught a disease: Citroënitis and since then have had no choice but to drive and enthuse about Citroëns. But, to most of you, I'm sure it wouldn't be very interesting if I just rambled on about this, but I have some specific requests that someone may be able to help with.

    In 2009 me and a small bunch of fellow enthusiasts drove the perimeter of France; L'Hexagon, in an array of old Citroën BX's. Hence it became known as the BXagon Challenge. We did an average of 4.500 kms over the eleven days of driving, stopping off midway for a day at a charming village Alaigne near Limoux. In the end, we raised over £6,250 for Cancer Research UK and everyone had a great time too.

    In May 2012 a similar event is taking place; this time over a shorter distance - but before anyone asks - this is not a plea for sponsorship. The charity aspect is not applying to this as really, it's just a jolly. No, instead we have opened the event to any Citroën and there will be a smattering of cars; BX, CX, XM - even an SM it is hoped, amongst others...

    But in organising this I need some local intelligence, so to speak. The route is posted below, and if there's anyone at the key points along that route who'd like to join in or can offer help regarding camp sites etc. I would be hugely grateful.

    In particular I am after a suitable venue for a classic car rally in or near Gap, and a place we can hold the end-of-event bash in Calais. Please feel free to contact me, Philip Chidlow via this thread, the Citroën Classic Challenge [url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Challenge-2012/163448066999966]Facebook[/url] page, which should become the main point of reference for interested parties, or via PM.

    TTFN!

    [IMG]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/Citroenesque/Map20.jpg[/IMG]

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