Long live the BX

[Philip Chidlow]

Prompted by something Jaba mentioned about keeping BX's on the road vs. the practicality of everyday needs, I ask, assuming many of you already run a non-BX as 'alternative transport' (dare-I-say more modern?), what would your ideal alternative to the BX be?

Jaba mentioned the Mini. Fair enough; it's hugely popular as is the Citroen DS3

I am really happy with our Rover 75: it is all-in-all a superior car to the BX in all but ride and fulfils the 'family needs', and if I could swop it with something new I wouldn't find it easy to replace. Much like the BX... The Xantia doesn't fit the bill (and it isn't new either!) so if I had to find a BX replacement from everything new out there what would I pick?

It has to be of modest dimensions, efficient, relatively cheap, lightweight yet safe and practical as everyday transport. It has to be able to carry a similar load to the BX and have that 'something different': to somehow be, if not exactly a replacement our favoured model, a worthy stable-mate - spiritual successor even?

And ideally it would be a Citroen.

Can anyone guess what that might be?

[Kitch]

I can't think of a Citroen that I'd want to own post-2000, other than possibly a C6 (though I still can't think of a reason why I'd need one). I had a Picasso, and it was a dependable car, but it wasn't a nice car.

Nope sorry, I think Citroens are pretty shite these days. I wouldn't stick with one through badge loyalty or anything silly, I just don't like the way they've gone, and modern ones are nothing special to drive. French equivalent of Vauxhall now.

Mental to say it on here, but the best all-rounders these days either come from Honda, or Ford. We've got an S-Max, and it's probably the best modern(ish) car I've ever driven. I've also got a Saab, which is much more interesting in terms of engineering, and it's very refined/comfy in the old French car mould, but it's nothing special to drive. Looks nice though.

I don't think there is a spiritual successor to the BX, I think you'd just have to land at the feet of the C5.

p.s - Not find it easy to replace a Rover 75? Really?! Mondeo, Accord, Alfa 156/159, Volvo S40......there are quite a few cars that could do everything a Rover 75 does, and probably do it better (I speak a someone who likes them, or at least an MG ZT in a subtle colour). The only thing they couldn't do is make the driver look old like a Rover 75 does. My missus veto'd a sage green 75 Tourer a couple of years back!

[Tim Leech]

My daily is a 18 year old Xantia TD which I regularly do 200+ miles in one day in, Mr Handley and myself spent most of the day in it Saturday and it was commented on what a lovely car to travel in is, I could have a newer car I guess, or a new one on finance, but this tows the caravan, does 45mpg, is quite quick, supremely comfortable and is a car I look at and think, you know what that's a handsome piece of tin (unlike its replacement) and if it breaks its fixable so for now it stays.

I agree with Kitch, the modern Citroens asides the C6 don't cut it for me, pile them high and sell the cheap, great value but not inspiring.

Come spring the BX's will be out and about again!

[Philip Chidlow]

I think you are broadly right, Kitch: The only Citroens that interest me remotely would be the C6 - which of course isn't new anymore - possibly the DS3 and the new Cactus. The C4 Picasso gets very good reviews indeed but doesn't fit the brief.

I would like to keep the Chevrons theme going... So, recognising fully that there are better cars out there, I would go for the Cactus, to be honest. I drove one and found it fine. A few irritations but nothing serious.

As for the Rover, it does have a lot more character (the interior is special) than a Mundeo, Accord etc. Alfa? Maybe, but then I'd get into the whole romantic notion of Italian cars and somehow end up with a Lancia or something... and the BX might get side-lined. The 75 is no such distraction.. but what it does have is character, presence and (since it has had a remap and intercooler/engine clean/new exhaust etc) it goes bloody well too. (It's good on fuel too).

Tim, don't get me wrong: I like the Xantia (I'm the only one in the family who does though) and will use it as the daily hack over winter, once the handbrake cables are replaced, the permanently dead-locked rear passenger door is unlocked, the various rattles and noises are dealt with (sounds like pump/belts and the aircon rattles) and the central locking can be persuaded not to activate itself.

The BX is in daily use at the moment - and loving it. (Needs at least one new glow plug and that's it... everything else is OK until I can sort a few bits out in the warmer weather; not least the sunroof drains).

[Jaba]

Oooh I have got things going a bit. I had a Xantia once. It lasted no more than six months because I just did not feel comfortable in it, in fact the poor seat design ( for my physiology anyway) continually gave me a lot of back pain so it went and I resumed using my BX GTi.
My comments about getting a mini as a BX replacement need filling out a bit because clearly a mini is in no way like a BX. Its just that we want a smallish nippy and economical shopping and station car for daily use locally that will not need the regular attention that older cars need. We like the look of the DS3 and the mini but like many other people here I feel modern Citroens do not appeal a great deal.
I have given up using my BX in Europe because of reliability fears and its performance on snowy mountain passes and have replaced it with a Skoda Octavia 4x4 which does the job well but in a very very unexciting Teutonic way.

Anyway, BXs still rock for me but I will be selling on my TD Hurricane next year after it has a clutch replacement.

[Philip Chidlow]

I bet the Skoda is pretty good at the job
I wasn't intending to imply you had, in any way lost the faith Jaba

I know you better than that, sir.

[Tinkley]

I have thought about this as the BX is now a bit er, er, long in the tooth. I'd probably buy an 04 or thereabouts Honda Civic 1.6. Handles sweetly, nice build quality the same size but regrettably not as accomodating of 'stuff' in the car. Failing that, a Focus as it is again similar size and unlike the wretched Mk3 Escort and sucessor, Ford got these right.

I'm not too keen on the VW offerings but the Fabia Mk2 we had was a well behaved and balanced car. For some reason the rear opening of all the VWs' is incredibly narrow - try getting a sheet of 4' wide ply in..... You need a Touareg and even those I've seen with rear wheels splayed outwards with no load and nearly new! Seems an odd set up to me, it's hardly a racer, yes I've seen the desert ones but tyre life must be a factor.

The 2009 C4 we have is not bad to be honest, but the BX is more comfortable on a really long run and more relaxing to drive. I've actually decided it suits women better than men physically, probably the seats or the seating position. I will say that I dislike the internal display of information in it - too many places, and I don't like a big number speedo, give me the old school analogue style display (or maybe both). It is a competent car and has been fairly reliable, we've done about 80k and some suspension stuff has worn (potholes), but not bad not really worse than the BX. It is a better lookin car than the current offering though, I'd rather have a Cactus than that. Best of all would be something with a light power unit, maybe composite light chassis with zero emissions AND hydraulic suspension, well we can hope.

[mijfife]

I'm thinking on heading in the opposite direction, away from modern tin. My "modern" is an 07 plate Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi that I've had for the last 4 years. It's been totally reliable and really practical but extremely dull to drive When the time comes to replace it, I'm thinking on nothing newer than a 2000 plate as the newer diesels just seem to be getting ultra complicated with sensors everywhere, dpf's, egr's and the need to remove half the contents of the engine bay just to reach some bit that should be a 5 minute job to replace!
I'm thoroughly enjoying the BX TZD as an alternative daily driver, although access in the engine bay can be a bit tight at times. I think having two older, interesting cars would be much more fun that one modern Not sure what I'll end up with though as it has to be an oil burner since I run on home made biodiesel.
I had a 1995 Xantia TD for a wee while as a stop gap and did enjoy it, that's probably what made me go for the BX. I could be tempted with a CX estate as well, certainly big enough for the practical aspect I guess! I still like the idea of converting an older petrol car to diesel as well, something like a Triumph 2000 or an old Jag

Cheers Jim

[MULLEY]

Phil, depends upon your budget, if you really want a citroen, i've been pretty impressed with my C5, floaty enough to deal with Sheffields crap roads, plenty of torque, decent economy, no dpf, egr can be gotten rid of easily, spare parts don't seem to be extortionate, servicing is cheap, not too many things have gone wrong with it, never broken down, only cost £850, very light steering, gearbox is nice & light, light clutch as well, very quiet to drive, quieter than the 2011 mini. Is it as fun to drive as the BX, erm no, but my ears don't hurt as much as noise levels are a fraction compared to the TXD. Absolutely stacks of room inside, its massive & even when the whole family is inside, everything fits in the boot (mine's an estate) so you don't have to squeeze in crap inside the cabin. If the MK1's are a bit old, you could get a 1.5 version which is slightly more modern etc.....

[Philip Chidlow]

Before I got the 75 (which by modern standards is quite a small car incidentally!) I did flirt with the idea of a post 2004, facelift C5, 2.0 diesel, but even though parts of it work, I can't get over the exterior styling, I'm afraid (although I think the estate looks OK) - the interior's alright though, but a plush V6 is the best . It's all a matter of taste.

I'm not considering changing the BX, although the Xantia might be moved on in exchange for a more compact 'city car'.... so what I'm saying is, as a matter of interest what, from today's range of cars could fill the hole left by a BX? A C5 is too large and no longer 'new'. Frankly I would prefer an XM over a C5 but that's too big - no, this 'what if' has to be BX sized or smaller.

[Kitch]

I'm actually going to change my answer - the 2004 shape C4 is the modern BX I think.

I don't think it's as good as a BX was for its time, but in many aspects they're similar: Slightly 'out there' styling, inside and out, similar size and engine options, came out the same time as a rival Ford, replaced something that wasn't ever the best in it's class (GSA/Xsara), Pug underpinnings yet tries to hide it with Citroen feel...there are quite a few similarities.

Not mad on the C4 though. They're ok, and if I had to jack the Saab in I might look at one if it was the right spec etc, but all of them were diesel or 1.6 petrol, neither of which interested me.

[Tinkley]

Not mad on the C4 though. They're ok, and if I had to jack the Saab in I might look at one if it was the right spec etc, but all of them were diesel or 1.6 petrol, neither of which interested me.

There was a 2.0 litre petrol one, though not exactly 'hot'..... Our 1.6 is OK, and gearing is good, but why have a cast iron block when it could have been alloy? Shows cheapskating on cost of development/production trading cost of production against lower weight of vehicle and better fuel economy over life of vehicle. The new 1.2 turbo in the Cactus has gone back to alloy......

[Kitch]

Not mad on the C4 though. They're ok, and if I had to jack the Saab in I might look at one if it was the right spec etc, but all of them were diesel or 1.6 petrol, neither of which interested me.

There was a 2.0 litre petrol one, though not exactly 'hot'..... Our 1.6 is OK, and gearing is good, but why have a cast iron block when it could have been alloy? Shows cheapskating on cost of development/production trading cost of production against lower weight of vehicle and better fuel economy over life of vehicle. The new 1.2 turbo in the Cactus has gone back to alloy......

I wasn't looking for a hot one. I drove the VTS 180, and it's not exactly a scorching drive! Just something with enough punch to make driving it nice, as opposed to thrashing the arse off a monotone engine to keep up with traffic. Would be ok if new cars had character, but they don't.
As it stands, the Saab I've got has 185bhp/230lbft, can nip out into traffic if needed, or get up to speed quickish on a slip road, yet does high 20's/low 30's to the gallon. Can't help thinking I wouldn't better that by much with any of the C4 petrols, yet I'd be slower too. The diesels....I just wouldn't want to go there, not with all the issues they have these days.
I think the C4 is a car I wanted to be great, but having been in and around them, it's form over function for the most part.

[deltic]

Slightly biased owning one, I was going to suggest the C4 Coupe quite a shift design wise from the dull C5 and Xsara. It's as roomy as the BX, has lots of toys, looks a bit different (rear end at least), a/c and heating works very well and other than a 405 it's the only car I have felt comfortable in driving long distances. The only real downside is the bouncy ride compared to the floaty BX. Oh and lift off oversteer twice in France in September on wet roads - or could be the cheap rear tyres, but something caught me out. And watch for paint problems on the bonnet and roof. Otherwise a lot of car for the money.

Best looking the current C5.

[ken newbold]

Well I'm sticking with my "fleet" of boring dull 1.9td 806's. The Fiat one I've had for 6 years and is sooooo utterly boring, it only needed a fog light bulb for this years MOT. They just seem to go on forever, I find it just as comfortable as the BX,a great workhorse or long distance cruiser. Very economical and just sooooooooooooooooooo reliable. Best car I've ever had