Collecting a Citroen CX for a friend - Astonishing!

 

I try to give an overview of both the design features and experience of driving, however I reckon a full review may be in order.


https://fuguttycars.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/sensible-winter-motoring-brum-style/

I used to have the smaller version.....The Citroen GS

Incredibly smooth drive and super innovative at the time, but really expensive to run and poorly made, just like BL at the time...so very few remain

I used to have the smaller version.....The Citroen GS

Incredibly smooth drive and super innovative at the time, but really expensive to run and poorly made, just like BL at the time...so very few remain

the concept is superb.. the execution could be somewhat better. still bloody lovely to drive:)

I have the radiator out of one in my kit car.

 

Which has nothing to do with anything, but someone else started with the random connections

I have the radiator out of one in my kit car.

Which has nothing to do with anything, but someone else started with the random connections

Nice one- what kitcar?

I had 3 GS Pallas's and then had 2 CX's again Pallas trim. Fantastic cars and very underrated. The main problem was corrosion, did not find them expensive to maintain. The last model of CX was rust proofed but the damage to their reputation killed them off. The next cars I had were Xantia's. The least said about them the better. All the cars were bought new and the last CX I had was a series 2, I wish I still had that car now, it was fantastic. Robert

Lovely write up.

I've had/had access to <counts on fingers> 5 green blooded Citroens.

GSA, BX 19GTi and 3 CX.

One gold CX Pallas like the one you collected and a pair of CX 2400s; one 5-speed and one C-Matic... both at the same time.

If you've never tried a C-Matic they are brilliant. 3-speed manual shift auto. There's a normal gear lever where you'd expect it to be, and to select gear you just move the gear lever just like a manual. The torque converter means that you can stop or go as slow as you like in any gear and then just push the accelerator to head off again.

Of course, having 2 cars, identical in every way except than one has a clutch pedal and the other doesn't led to some very crunchy changes and stalls in the manual.

I love mental Citroens and the pics of the dash brings back memories. The most mental feature was on the GSA though. Because the front disks were inboard, the handbrake was slap bang in the middle of the dash where the radio should be, so the radio cassette was sideways between the front seats (where normal people would put the handbrake).

Consequently, changing radio station required looking down at the space between the seats and twiddling the knob to tube up and down the dial until you'd got the channel you want or park up a tree, whatever came first. Utterly brilliant and totally stupid at the same time

The CX has the heating controls by the handbrake- I'm hoping to get a shot of the Auto version soon, and may seek out the semi auto too, based on your description!

The CX has the heating controls by the handbrake- I'm hoping to get a shot of the Auto version soon, and may seek out the semi auto too, based on your description!

The gearbox just added to the charming weirdness of the car as it was such a relaxed way of changing gear. Or not bothering to change gear if you didn't want to. Want to stay in 3rd all day? No problem, we'll just set off and accelerate in a more leisurely manner

All coupled with the world's smoothest suspension.

...but with noisy powered self-centering steering that immediately points straight ahead and directs you into a ditch or into the path of oncoming traffic if you relax your grip on the wheel

...and brakes so powerful that your face gets mashed into the windscreen at the slightest hint you might want to touch it never mind push it.

Driving a CX was sublime, luxurious, pampered relaxation with occasional bouts of screaming panic.

And puddles. Don't forget the puddles.

Nice one- what kitcar?

Rickman space ranger.

That's generally a conversation killer when talking kit cars

Rickman space ranger.

That's generally a conversation killer when talking kit cars

thats the jeep like one?looks like a suzuki sj?

Yeah, looks like an SJ on the ****.

And puddles. Don't forget the puddles.

 

And puddles. Don't forget the puddles.

Of hydraulic fluid . . . . .

 

Fond memories indeed. My Dad was a Citroenist. We had a DS23 Familiale Estate and a Dyane in 1974, followed by a CX2400 estate, a Visa, (which I learned to drive in, along with an MG Maestro but that's another thread) and  BX 19TRS estate which I continued to hone my "ahem" techinique in post test. It was quite quick.

 

There were a few examples at the Bo'ness Revival Hill climb the other week, not competing but in the club exhibits.