How mental am I?

[pandamonium]

Some wise words all, thanks.

 

Vulgalour, have you been speaking to my missus? Sounds like something she'd say!

 

The E30 BMW Touring I've been eyeing up is sounding like a better idea.

[Asimo]

A CX drives like nothing else. For the first 50 miles, a CX feels twitchy and ridiculous because the steering is so direct and the suspension so soft. 

 

 

Not if it was one of the early CX2000s, without powered steering. I bet there isn't one of those left in use anywhere!

[vulgalour]

Have you bought a dangerously low priced CX yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How about now?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now?

[dollywobbler]

Not if it was one of the early CX2000s, without powered steering. I bet there isn't one of those left in use anywhere!

 

There is at least one of those in the UK.

[forddeliveryboy]

I see the white one's sold, it was def worth a look - with straight panels such a car is easily worth a couple of grand when sorted.

 

Here's a £295 Safari for the brave... yet it might be reasonable rot-wise, just needing a load of niggling little problems rectifying like the window glass, dent and a few electrics. Or pull the body off and build a tubular space-frame bodied Special around the running gear. The single biggest problem could be finding a car trailer long enough for the long wheelbase version. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C592748

[RayMK]

Going from a Triumph to a cheap CX is probably unwise, unless you can afford the risk and usually high cost of upkeep.  A BMW E30 is a safer bet.  The only bit that caught us out in an otherwise immaculate looking 1.8 auto was corrosion on the front suspension turrets where they join the inner wing.  In all other respects, a nice car, though a straight 6 version is the ultimate for silky smoothness.

[forddeliveryboy]

..."usually high cost of upkeep"

 

You obviously had a particularly nasty one, or were sold a series of dogs RayMK. I was always amazed at their lack of appetite for anything other than fuel - which was usually because I made use of the engineering subtleties. Having said that, I once averaged 55mpg from a n/a diesel on a 60mph motorway trip through mist.

[dollywobbler]

They can be chronic money pits, especially if you have to rely on a specialist to sort it all out for you. The basic engineering is sound though - mine survived both being cooked in traffic (duff cooling fan sensor) and being frozen (minus 15 and apparently not enough anti-freeze). Flaky electrics are a pain though. Like an XM, I'd be happier with a lower spec one.

[RayMK]

..."usually high cost of upkeep"

You obviously had a particularly nasty one, or were sold a series of dogs RayMK. I was always amazed at their lack of appetite for anything other than fuel - which was usually because I made use of the engineering subtleties. Having said that, I once averaged 55mpg from a n/a diesel on a 60mph motorway trip through mist.

No, mine was fine.  The 25mpg fuel economy was caused by my right foot.  CXs cruise so fast and effortlessly and my Turbo 2 accelerated in a most impressive surge.  I sometimes achieved 32mpg when not showing off . The high cost of upkeep comment merely reflected comments picked up in classic car mags where a CX cheapy is coaxed back in to use, protesting at every stage.  I've also owned a 2cv6, Dyane and a GSA and my son had a BX, xantia, xantia activa, ZX and an Xsara.  The only unreliable one was the BX.

[forddeliveryboy]

Yep, buying a cheap car with multiple problems and making it reliable and roadworthy is usually more expensive than buying something which is right in the first place if you're paying someone to do it. I'm currently sorting out a friend's CX which he bought cheaply-ish, then sent (briefly) to a 'specialist' who obviously didn't really understand them or his eyesight was working at about 10% that day. My mate was charged plenty just to check out the suspension (all fine, tick), structure (solid, tick), cambelt (looks ok, tick) and timing (sorted, tick).

 

I received a sheepish call for help a few weeks later when the car sank and refused to get up again. I think we've just caught the longerons in time, the inner front arches are the usual, two new pipes from the brake accumulator and fresh fluid got the thing up and running. I've never seen a slacker cambelt still working and there were a couple of other obvious horrors which were ignored or went unnoticed. Most of the pipes are being replaced - they're more than 30 years old and haven't done badly for mild steel.

 

The car will be done right and should go for many years and another 100k with little more than routine maintenance, other than perhaps a clutch which is probably also the original. It's a three to five hour job if it eventually goes. At least the car is nicely original and hasn't been bodged.

 

There does seem to be a massive amount of bollocks talked about CXs, relating to massive complexities, endemic problems and so on. They're simplicity itself compared with a modern, large car. If one is that rusty or worn out, skip it and buy something better as you would with anything else. Yes, they're an interesting construction and the bigger engined ones usually need the engine and box out for a clutch, just like many a modern car. But mechanicaI bits make a modern Audi look as if they're made from chocolate, the ride has more in common with a £100k Benz with Magic Body Control than with a Xantia or XM and the fast ones feel like an executive jet. I reckon there's a bit of woo going on - 'oooh, it's a massive old Citroën not made of Peugeot, you'd have to be mental to work on one'.