BX driving comparisons

Anything about BXs
KevR
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Post by KevR »

If there's one thing I really, really loathe, it's automatics...
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Well, that's an uncompromising stance! :lol: :wink: One thing you loathe? Blimey. :D

I have to say the GTi Auto combination is pleasing. But the 'GTi' bit is misleading. If you want speed go for a GTi 8v or 16v but nothing in the BX range holds a candle to the 19 8v automatic for flexibility and day-to-day driving comfort. Shame the economy's so poor, that's the only thing.
Last edited by Philip Chidlow on Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Duplicate post :?:

Anyway, I've never driven a 19 diesel auto, but I do imagine it's frustratingly sluggish at times. But round town, probably a decent compromise.
Last edited by Philip Chidlow on Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
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Post by Kitch »

Good topic, I echo everything the OP found too. Not into the TD's, love the 1400TU and enjoy the n/a 1.9 diesels.
1.9 8v's are a relaxed drive but no speed machine. 16v engine is in complete contrast to everything a BX is about - which is great! Not into 16 petrols and can only imagine an 18 diesel is pretty lazy!
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Post by docchevron »

Roverman wrote:
Defender110 wrote:What modifications were needed to the auto box before fitting to the TD? Is the auto box fitted to the N/A diesel the same box as fitted to the petrols? I would like to put an auto box in my TZD
The standard BX autobox will go bang with all the torque of the TD engine, Doc spent a HUGE amount of money (thousands not hundreds) having one made I think, if you search the website theres a write up about it.
there's a dude overseas that stuffed a standard autobox on a TD which I think is still running?
We tried a spec box, it lasted 199 miles and went bang, and given that the original autobox on the NA lump also failed I couldn't really be arsed to fit another used standard unit, so I rang up Citroen, then ZF direct and had one made to my spec.
I had to send them a good case, they did the rest, new torque converter, beefed up flexiplate, heftier epicyclic, bigger bearings, reworked valve chest, the works. The guys at ZF were extremely helpful, although it took them 3 months from getting the case to get a built up working unit back to us. It cost many times over what the car is worth, but very much worth it, changing autoboxes every couple of hundred miles on your back is hard work!
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Post by KevR »

Philip Chidlow wrote: I have to say the GTi Auto combination is pleasing.
Bet it wouldn't please me...! :D

If I spent hours every day sitting in a traffic jam on my way to work then I could maybe, just maybe see why an auto would be worth having. But then if I spent hours every day sitting in a jam I'd want to seriously re-examine my lifestyle. Or possibly just shoot myself. I don't even like being a passenger in an auto - the ghastly, slithery way they take up drive and the general mushy feel, to say nothing of that nasty, clunky kick-down business. Yuk.

But each to their own! I know some people who like oysters, others who are into custom Harley Davidsons, or dancing or religion or children – all things I find repellent. It doesn't necessarily mean they're bad people... :lol:
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

You're not a bad person :lol:

In my opinion the ZF box in the GTi auto is the best 'box I've ever had in any auto; including Mercs, a BMW and Toyotas. But I take your point. In the open countryside who wouldn't choose a manual over an auto?
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Post by Tim Leech »

Philip Chidlow wrote:You're not a bad person :lol:

In my opinion the ZF box in the GTi auto is the best 'box I've ever had in any auto; including Mercs, a BMW and Toyotas. But I take your point. In the open countryside who wouldn't choose a manual over an auto?
You could always have one of each, or like me 4 of one and 1 of the other!
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Post by KevR »

Philip Chidlow wrote:You're not a bad person :lol:
That's not what the judge said... :twisted: :shock:
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Post by citsncycles »

While many consider the NA diesels slow, you have to take into account what was available when they were built. When I had my 19RD estate 10 years ago, I used to commute into Filton each day down the M5, and lift shared with a mate who had a diesel Orion of similar age (I need to wash my mouth out with soap now). For those who don't know, there's a big hill heading south from Falfield, which I had to run the BX almost flat out up in order to not lose speed, but I still did much better than the Orion, which would lose at least 10mph on the same hill. as for the TD's, they were regarded as revolutionary, and pulling from 1500rpm is much better than the Montego TDi I had (where's that soap again?), which would be awful up to 2000rpm, at which point it tried to launch itself into whatever I was following :shock:
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Post by Dollywobbler »

The PSA diesel certainly is an astonishing engine. When it was launched, Vauxhall thought the Cavalier could make do with a 55bhp 1.6 while Ford didn't seem to get much more out of a hugely heavy 2.3. It may fail to exactly be silent on tickover, but the PSA diesel smooths out beautifully on the move.
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Also worth pointing out that most manufacturers seemed to make do with one diesel variant in the 80s/early 90s, which you were lucky to be able to get with anything better than low to mid trim levels!
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Tim Leech
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Post by Tim Leech »

Dollywobbler wrote:The PSA diesel certainly is an astonishing engine. When it was launched, Vauxhall thought the Cavalier could make do with a 55bhp 1.6 while Ford didn't seem to get much more out of a hugely heavy 2.3. It may fail to exactly be silent on tickover, but the PSA diesel smooths out beautifully on the move.
Quite agree, try a VW Audi lump of a similar era and its very noisy and down on power, up until the common rail TDI engines came out in 2008 the XUD was more refined.
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

I'm absolutely loving the 19TGD 'Red Baron'. For whatever reason it seems to have so much more get up and go than my previous (non-turbo) diesels.

It's the first I've had with Lucas pump and maybe the simplified cone-only induction is helping, along with a good dose of cetane booster every other tankful is having results too. Up to 70 mph I would say it'd be close to a turbo.
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Post by MULLEY »

I think my n/a revs easier than the turbo used to, the turbo would kinda run out of puff so there was no point, whereas the n/a is still accelerating. I doubt its as quick tbh Phil, but it probably feels it due to the revvy nature of the engine & no turbo lag.

Everyone raves on about the turbo models, but i think quite a few people who wouldn't give the n/a the time of day are missing out on some potentially very nice, much easier to fix examples. Mind you, leaves more choice for the n/a crowd :lol:
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