Citroën shenanigans - ZX FTP...

[M'coli]

This morning was an up-early affair, as I was off to Harrogate to get the 106 MOT'd. The boot needed emptying of all the rammel I keep in there and the detritus of its 2200mile-a-month use - I also needed to get some stuff from a factor's too, and get a bike ride in so the road bike was slung in the back.

 

I made it to the test station 10 minutes early after a surprisingly good run, reassembled the bike and spoke to the guys behind the desk (it's the Halfords Autocentre in Bower road that I've been using since 2005 and they were Nationwide), there's quite a few new faces - which isn't so good, as I couldn't see the one guy there who was particularly good at tickling the little Pug through the emissions test. Time will tell!

 

Off up to Andrew Page's for some fuel filters - it's right at the top of Harrogate of of Otley Road, and some low gears were used on the bike. For those of you who give a toss, here's the Strava link.

https://www.strava.com/activities/514644784

I forgot to un-pause Strava coming down the hill, which is a bastard as I don't know what speed I reached. Anyway, at the sales counter, filters were bought and packed away.

Back to Halfords via the library, and the car was still up on the ramps so I toddled off to Greggs for some breakfast. Upon returning to the test centre, the car was on the emissions machine and refusing to co-operate.

 

2 hours after arriving at the test centre, I was handed this...

 

 

Turns out a very good thing that I bought the little Citroën, isn't it? Except that plans are afoot there too, and part two of this tale is already underway from that there London!

 

To be continued...

[For Fiats Sake]

This is what happens when DJ's are forced to get jobs in the normal world.

 

Just point at a tree and ask if its a Yew and see if he winces, a pass can be then guaranteed.

[trigger]

What do you expect going to Halfords Autocentre?!

[M'coli]

Fairness from this one - they've always been consistant.

Stage two is now complete - after picking up Lesapandre at York station, the little AX is now bound for London!

 

Stage three involves a road trip to the Dales, and I'll be off soon!

[M'coli]

Just back from Malhamdale in a rather nicely driving Citroën ZX estate - now having a bite to eat and then off to walk the dog. More later!

[KruJoe]

[Cavcraft]

/\

If that doesn't make the 2017 calendar I'll show my arse in Burton's window. 

[phil_lihp]

Do we get to pick which town the Burtons is in?

[Lacquer Peel]

What do you expect going to Halfords Autocentre?!

 

The Halfords Autocentre near me is fine for MOTs, they're fairer than some local independent MOT stations who baulk at the sight of an old car.

[hairnet]

in ur farmers stealin ur juices

[hairnet]

/\

If that doesn't make the 2017 calendar I'll show my arse in Burton's window. 

 

 

Do we get to pick which town the Burtons is in?

head office

[M'coli]

So, there's rather a lack of photos on my part, sorry about that.

Anyways, after selling the AX to another forum menber, the missus, the dog and I made our way across to Malham where the ex-Ruffgeezer, ex-Sporty-shite, Crail GLF'd, twice-raffled and charity auctioned Citroen ZX estate was waiting for me at the country estate of Krujoe.

 

We arrived after being held up by a dawdling JCB through Harrogate and some members of the International Council of Pussies.  The dog thought the wide open spaces were great, he soon ended up with an empty bladder  (apologies to Krujoe if it was more than an empty bladder...).

 

Money was exchanged, coffee drank, wife headed home and I went for a hoon in the little yellow Fiat Seciento.  Thank you, Joe, for letting me have a go in this fun machine - and it also proved I lucky in not being able to find one in the immediate aftermath of my custodianship of the Lancia Y10.

 

It's fun, it's small, it's light, it goes into corners fantastically, but there are buts!  It has suspension!!!  On those Dales roads, despite a power deficit of 1/3 over the Y10, it would be faster because it soaks up the bumps far far better, but it also has power steering: it provides the driver with such limited feedback at the rim that I'd prefer to drive the Y10 any day I didn't have to travel quickly on those roads over the Fiat.  It was great, though, especially when you happen upon bloated modern contraptions and just slide past.

Next up was a shot in the Pleasure Wagon - the first time I've driven an automatic on the road!  A most interesting experience, it's actually very competent on-road!

 

Finally I got to drive the ZX, in warming up the engine in preparation for some veg.  It doesn't drive like a car that's got 165000 miles on it, it's really tight and not soggy in the supension department - it must have had new shocks back and front.

Veg'd up, I headed for home.  It's not slow!  The extra 136cc on the engine over the XUD7T makes a great deal of difference to how it pulls low down, but there were a few times I hit the governor when overtaking.  It was given a bit of a hoon on the way back, but not because of the GLF trousers - the ones I'm wearing are just cotton workwear ones, rather than Regatta overtrousers!

 

A good day, indeed.  Thank you, Joe.

[KruJoe]

Good to see you again, and to meet Mrs_M'Coli and hound.

 

Interesting hearing your thoughts on the Y10 vs Sporting*'s suspension. To me the 600 is an all-too-rigid roller-skate, I much prefer the long-travel ride of the 106 for "making progress" on our kind of roads. I wonder if the Y10 is in dire need of new shocks or something.

 

As for the ZX, I'm glad you agree with my feelings that it rides and handles VERY well indeed, almost perfectly. It does hide its mileage well. However, our Will reckons it feels over-heavy at the front, and "divey" over the yumps, perhaps to be rectified by some new front dampers.

All in, it's a good one Cameron, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. For all its B-road prowess, it'll feel like a luxobarge down our country's great highways, in comparison to the 106 (bless its socks).

[KruJoe]

 PS, here's the fuel-stop shot:

 

[M'coli]

These are the few photos that I took while there:

 

Upon arrival

 

 

One to make my Polish colleague smile:-

 

Lastly, post-collection of the free Rover 25:-

[Richard]

 

Next up was a shot in the Pleasure Wagon - the first time I've driven an automatic on the road! 

 

No it isn't.

[M'coli]

Sorry, I'd forgotten about the Volvo! It's certainly the first 4wd automatic I've driven.

[lesapandre]

Thanks for the AX M'coli. From your place it was straight onto the A1 Great North Road going down south to Deptford. Not a route I'd used before - it was a fantastic drive along this historic way - I'd recommend it as a route to anyone - plenty to see and good places to stop for a proper cuppa. Here are some shots enroute - the faded roadside attractions where I pulled over to take a look. 195 miles of light traffic and mostly fast road.

 

Busy Bees cafe is a former eightenth century lodge to a country house outside Wakefield - it would have had a single storey with gate piers and gates. Now a cafe run by a very nice lady.

 

Searching in the glove box of the AX I see it was sold new in London - and was certainly here to 2010 going by the old tax discs - which probably explains the low miles it has.

All in all a great trip back to the smoke.

[lesapandre]

Incredibly... the AX has its service book with it - not for that fact but because it has not a single stamp in it! Never seen that before - nothing apart from the dealer pre-inspection - though there is a Citroën specialists card in the service wallet. I will give them a call...if they still exist. Could the car have never been serviced?

[KruJoe]

The caf in the first pic is brilliant! Must remember to look out for it and sample a BREAKFAST PIE.

[lesapandre]

Yes I saw fair mix of places on the A1 for stopping, from kiosks to real historic pubs. A few 'ma and pa' establishments still holding their heads up amongst the bland corporates.

[M'coli]

I'm glad you're pleased with it, Lesapandre - I think I will miss it, especially when I'm hunting for a parking space for the ZX!

 

As to the ZX itself, I'm pleased with it too - I love the take-away dashboard: you could fit 5 fish suppers and a couple of kebabs on there!

 

Cashback!!!  £3.74 in the ashtray!

 

Also a microswitch bought in May 2012, judging by the receipt(not pictured):

 

 

Finally, my usual detritus has been installed, and the glove box stone has moved from the 106 to the ZX.

[lesapandre]

Good luck with the ZX - my next 'tip for the top' the Citroën Xantia - these are beginning to look interesting - the last of the Oleomatics - one was blatting down the A1.

[KruJoe]

Cashback!!!  £3.74 in the ashtray!

 

Bloody hell, I missed a trick there!

All I won was 20p from near the handbrake, and the blue plastic penny whistle.

[JohnK]

I was just going to comment that I was really surprised Joe hadn't snaffled that cash!

[KruJoe]

None taken

[lesapandre]

More auto-archaeology on the AX - it was sold new by Citroen Hammersmith in 1996 to a local printing company and spent most of its life here

 

Incidentally nearby at 184 Shepherd’s Bush Road in Hammersmith there was Citroen's original headquarters - built next to the Great Western Railway in 1916 so cars coming into west London could be loaded directly into bays at the rear of the building. It was taken over by Citroen in 1926 and then requisitioned by the government in the Second World War as warehouse and maintenance depot for the RAF. Still in existance and Listed at Grade II - now used as storage.

 

Now working on the few immediate jobs it needs - the radiator cap was very old and weeping a bit of coolant so I have replaced it with a spare one. Will also give it oil change and sort out the ignition - the return spring on the ignition barrel is not working when the engine starts. Few other longer term jobs like a broken sun visor, bonnet stay clip and slightly misaligned door strikers etc. But a genuine and nice little car.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Good luck with the ZX - my next 'tip for the top' the Citroën Xantia - these are beginning to look interesting - the last of the Oleomatics - one was blatting down the A1.

As a non-Citroeniste, I hesitate to say anything because you people speak a different language( I don't mean French) and later cars probably piss a different colour fluid or something , but....

Surely the Mk1 C5, the C6 and the current C5 still use what you call Oleomatic suspension and we normal people refer to as hydraulic or hydrapneumatic or oleopneumatic or simply Funny Citroen Suspension.

 

I stole this off the Citroen website ;

Hydractive III+

Citroën C5 Saloon - Hydractive 3+ suspension

The Hydractive III+ suspension is designed with comfort as top priority and keeps the car at a constant height, regardless of load. Features include:

automatic adaptation to road conditions

two stiffness settings: soft and firm

sport mode for a more dynamic ride

Metal suspension

Citroën C5 Saloon - metal suspension

For those who prefer a sportier driving experience, the metal suspension option provides a stonger feeling of connection with the road.

[Rocket88]

Yes I saw fair mix of places on the A1 for stopping, from kiosks to real historic pubs. A few 'ma and pa' establishments still holding their heads up amongst the bland corporates.

 

That looks like a research centre for biological warfare.............

[lesapandre]

I'll check but I believe them the last...but hey buy one whilst stocks last - they look interesting. The one on the A1 joined the road at high speed and disappeared into the horizon at some rate.