GTi Auto

Tell us about BXs you have spotted on the road, or BXs/parts spotted for sale including eBay finds.
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deltic
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by deltic »

Paul296 wrote:Apart from the 4x4 a Gti auto is, from a practical point of view, probably the worst BX you could buy
Now you tell me barely a couple of days before I take mine on the Challenge!!! Is it really that bad? I've little experience of modern auto gearboxes, but mine is the nicest auto I've ever driven with the gearbox only really hunting up and down on steep climbs where I can't maintain a reasonable speed, so I met be getting a bit frustrated in the Pyrenees next week! Other than that it's a relaxed cruiser - just point and shoot.
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 137,000 miles (2015, 2017 & 2019 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 92,000 miles (2022 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
2006 C4 VTR+ 2.0 Coupé, silver, 78,000 miles (RIP)
2016 Volvo V40 T2 R-Design Pro, blue, 24,000 miles
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by MULLEY »

I suspect what Paul means, its not exactly mega quick, but is ok, but when you push on, it eats a fair big of jungle juice. Its a cruiser with a decent amount of poke imho, & if you like it, thats all that matters :) I've never been in a Gti Auto, although i had the manual version & thought it was great, now i've got the valver, i now understand what all the fuss is about these XU9J4 engined beasts, its an animal :)
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
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deltic
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by deltic »

Mine is actually most economical as you'd expect on long motorway runs and always willing me to go that little bit faster. And of course it's the perfect, easy car for wafting around town or in stop start traffic, fuel consumption apart of course. Conversely I've never driven a GTi manual as a comparison and would be interested to do so. I have however borrowed a 16v for a couple of weeks and to be frank was glad to get back in my own car as on motorway journeys it just wasn't relaxing to drive revving about 500rpm higher than the 8v. On those rare occasions where I could use the 16v's performance then, yes, it was a beast. Perhaps if I lived back in quiet Northumberland rather than crowded Kent then a 16v could be more fun. Perhaps I just never really gave it a chance, after all back in 2001 if someone said I'be be driving an automatic (hated them) BX (wasn't a fan) I'd have said never.

Doubtless on the very twisty bits of the Challenge I'll be wishing I was driving one of the other Challenger's 16 valver!
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 137,000 miles (2015, 2017 & 2019 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 92,000 miles (2022 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
2006 C4 VTR+ 2.0 Coupé, silver, 78,000 miles (RIP)
2016 Volvo V40 T2 R-Design Pro, blue, 24,000 miles
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Paul296
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by Paul296 »

I didn't mean it wasn't reliable Deltic. I know I'm probably going to get shot down in flames here, but if you don't maintain a petrol BX properly it isn't going to be quite as unforgiving as a diesel and it's definitely going to be quite a bit thirstier - particularly with an autobox. Other that that, I'd drive round France in one all day . . . and love it. :)
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Jaba
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by Jaba »

I have a GTi Auto. I love it, with its manual conversion that is.
As an Auto it was a very relaxing car to drive around town and lanes. However what bugged me was the loss of poke through the auto box and the fuel quantity it drank. This of course applies to all autos of that era not just the BX even though it is direct drive in top gear (fourth).
So I decided to put a manual box in and to change the fifth gear ratio to drop the revs at higher speeds and we have lived happily ever after together.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
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Tim Leech
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by Tim Leech »

Ive got one of each and the same with Xantia, I agree that the auto does sap fuel a bit but it makes up for being such a relaxed car to drive. Would I want an autobox on the GT (yes I Know they never made them) then I would say no as its a point and squirt kinda car but is quite short geared so noisy on the motorway.

I am using the Xantia auto for work at the moment and its a very nice drive and for town driving its perfect, also it has a nice long top gear 25mph/1000 rpm so its quite relaxed, if you hold on to the gears manually its surprisingly brisk.

I think with all BX's these days, the condition is just as important as the model, that Pilot for instance, ok a 1.6 carb isn't everyone's cuppa BUT it looks beautiful.
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
mds141
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by mds141 »

A shame that Citroën didn't fit the TD variants with an auto box. The XM TD with the auto box is the ideal combo. Relaxing to drive, particularly in town, plus the frugality of 42mpg round town and over 55 on a good long run.
Mark Smith

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1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.

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Tim Leech
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by Tim Leech »

I understand that box wasn't up to the job as the torque may have been too much?
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
mds141
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by mds141 »

That's what I'd heard, but the XM produces much greater torque than a BX TD. I'm sure a 'home brew' conversion would be eminently enjoyable.
Mark Smith

Is it just me or is everything shit?

1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.

1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
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MULLEY
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My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern
2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
x 8

Re: GTi Auto

Post by MULLEY »

Doc fitted an autobox to his dads BX td, so its possible, although i'm not exactly sure what type of box it was. I'm sure someone on the continent fitted a valver with an autobox as well, the best of both worlds ;)

Shame about the gearing on the GT, Tim, can you not use a TD gearbox 5th gear as a final drive to make it quieter on the motorway? I'm thinking i may get this done on the valver, depending upon cost, time etc etc....
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
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Tim Leech
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by Tim Leech »

It's a consideration matt, but I don't use it enough to worry too much, plus the box on that car is so sweet I am loathed to touch it.
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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deltic
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Re: GTi Auto

Post by deltic »

Might seem odd to resurrect this post which I stumbled on by chance looking for something else but I'm 99% certain that this is my "new" GTi which is a bit spooky to say the least.

Clues are:

Low mileage, GTi auto

Was MOT'd about 6 months before Phil's post

Pilau123 who viewed the car was from Northampton and from 2008 to 2017 was at a classic car garage in Northamptonshire, most of the time off the road

Has had paintwork on some of the poor areas highlighted, not all of it particularly good either...

Still has rust in most of the areas mentioned :(

I'm not sure how or if the sills had been repaired, but there is some rust and they had been badly painted

The biggest clue is Pilau123's comment about paint extending into the lower part of the door recess something that had me concerned about the car when first saw it. I have have begun rubbing some of that off and it all seems to be metal underneath.

It still could do with more of a clean!

And the other big clue either a CX or Mk1 BX "automatic" badge on the tailgate which I'm loathe to remove in case I damage the paint. I guess it is part of the car's history now!

I wasn't aware that the OSR had been damaged though! From the car's history it obviously didn't sell either at £2800 or £800, but was eventually sold on eBay in late 2017 needing a lot more work. It's rather ironic that having slagged off the car back in 2015 I'm now the current owner. It kind of encapsulates the marmite views of BXs, what they may or may not be worth and what work may or may not have been done to a car or really that needed to be done back in 2015. Or more importantly what work might still be needed - I might just discover why non of you wanted it in 2015 or 2017!!!
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 137,000 miles (2015, 2017 & 2019 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
1991 BX GTi auto, grey, 92,000 miles (2022 Citroen Classic Challenge veteran)
2006 C4 VTR+ 2.0 Coupé, silver, 78,000 miles (RIP)
2016 Volvo V40 T2 R-Design Pro, blue, 24,000 miles
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