BX power question

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:43 am

To expand on that, Chris they either think... "He's skint" - or they think "Don't see many of those any more. I think my neighbour had one about twenty years ago"... or they think nothing at all

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:20 pm

True, and there's the brigade that just think "oh, a shitty old french thing" and smirk, until you blow them away, as I did several times today going to and from Kitch's! And still managed 43.6 MPG.
Valvers FTW!

Kitch's bloody motors too!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:31 pm

So, as someone who owns both a valver and a tweaked TD, if you had to get rid of one of them which would it be and why?

That sounds like one of the questions you get on Blind Date...don't worry!

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:39 pm

I'll never ever get rid of the TD, I've had that car forever, rebuilt the thing three times after some massive collisions (non of which were my fault) and put alot of "me" into it.
Once the bus is done that car will be totally restored, from a bare shell, it deserves it.

I would sell the valver for enough money, and only to the right person.

I love them both, but the TD wins it just because I've had so long, it's not a car to me, it's an old friend.

I love the valver, and I've done rather alot to that aswell, but it's a play thing really, so I could live without it.

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:02 pm

This thread makes me think of today's driving. I've been punting about in the A-roads of Surrey and West Sussex in the TZD Turbo, being held up behind all sorts of unlikely machinery - things like BMW 6-series, Audi S4s, Focus STs... Makes me think that there's more to the driver than the car. And I don't drive that fast.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:23 pm

stuart_hedges wrote:This thread makes me think of today's driving. I've been punting about in the A-roads of Surrey and West Sussex in the TZD Turbo, being held up behind all sorts of unlikely machinery - things like BMW 6-series, Audi S4s, Focus STs... Makes me think that there's more to the driver than the car. And I don't drive that fast.

I got stuck behind a one-speed-driver doing 40 the other day, he was driving a BMW X5 and he was on his phone too. I don't think he was concentrating, because he overtook a bike on a blind corner and almost hit a car coming the other way

CitroXim · Post by **CitroXim** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:44 pm

stuart_hedges wrote:...being held up behind all sorts of unlikely machinery - things like BMW 6-series, Audi S4s, Focus STs...

We've all been driving Hydraulic Cits for years now and we forget that other cars don't feel so sure-footed and planted as ours do and so we likely achieve better point-to-point speeds and likely drive a bit faster than those mentioned above on the rough and twisty stuff.

It's only when you drive one of those modern tin-sprung things you realise how bad they are and just how they don't cope with a twisty, bumpy unclassified road. I loose people like that all the time on my way to work along aforesaid rotton old twisty stuff and not just in the Activa either. The 2.1TD handles pretty well...

CitroXim · Post by **CitroXim** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:50 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:So, as someone who owns both a valver and a tweaked TD, if you had to get rid of one of them which would it be and why?

That's an unfair question Mat

Mine are like my children and the true answer is none of them really.

If push really comes comes to shove though, I'm with you Doc. It would have to be the 2.1TD that stays although in a few months when the V6 is up and running, it might change

The 2.1TD does everything pretty damm well really.

I don't drive my Activa very often but boy, when I do, I love it

That one has to be a keeper...

Mat, as I say, an unfair question...

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:13 am

CitroXim wrote:
stuart_hedges wrote:...being held up behind all sorts of unlikely machinery - things like BMW 6-series, Audi S4s, Focus STs...
We've all been driving Hydraulic Cits for years now and we forget that other cars don't feel so sure-footed and planted as ours do and so we likely achieve better point-to-point speeds and likely drive a bit faster than those mentioned above on the rough and twisty stuff.

I'm a fan of all things hydro-citroen Jim, and havning had an Activa before I know how good they can be but in fairness an S4 or even Focus ST would rape most hydro-cit's on the backroads. Granted they have an uncanny way of covering ground quickly, but the emphasis is always on comfort.
And S4 is a different league of speed. I don't like them, but I know they're quick!

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:18 am

Well there is an IF in there, and unfortunately it's not a big if for me at all at the moment. I have a Cat Phase 2 needing a new engine (or else), so this is all very interesting, although from a rather different perspective than anyone else. Thing is, although I'd always hope to keep at least one valver, there is no doubt in my mind that the TD conversion would be the one I'd choose as my main car if I went for this option.

Anyway my next questions are:

Handling? can the TD handle as well as the valver? Is it worth converting one? or is there no benefit?

Insurance? which is more to insure, straight valver or tweaked TZDTGD?
(I know mine would be a conversion and higher premium, but I'm thinking of writing for a quote so a starting point for negotiations would be good). Otherwise I'll have to write twice

Post by **docchevron** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:04 am

A TD can handle as well as a valver aslong as:
You fit roll bars and spheres from a valver, and lower it a tad at the front so it sits at a 12deg angle.

Other than that the suspension is the same on all BX's.

insuring a modified car is ALWAYS more expensive than insuring an unmodified car, so it would be more expensive by a margin to insure the valver with a diesel engine than it would be with a proper engine in it.

Sad, but true.

citro-geoff · Post by **citro-geoff** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:50 pm

Hi All,thanks for the warm welcome. Has anyone fitted or had an idea to fit the 2.1 or 2.5 TD engine into a BX? It fits a Xantia, and the XUD is the same physical size as the BXTD(same engine) Also Doc,I believe the TZD Estate and valver rear cylinders are a larger bore too. One of mine blew the day before I went to the International in Italy last year. Got it fixed courtesy of an overnight delivery from Mark Edwards in Billericay. I might buy a cheap 2.5TD XM for the running gear to see if it can be done.It would make a good towcar for my 23' caravan(after I put some ballast in it lol).This is after the 16v project and my CX DTR2 Safari were finished.Any thoughts!!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:35 pm

Well the 2.1 is an XUD but I've heard it's pretty tight. The 2.5TD isn't even an XUD...god knows what its from, the Relay van IIRC!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:36 pm

Jack wrote:Well there is an IF in there, and unfortunately it's not a big if for me at all at the moment. I have a Cat Phase 2 needing a new engine (or else), so this is all very interesting, although from a rather different perspective than anyone else. Thing is, although I'd always hope to keep at least one valver, there is no doubt in my mind that the TD conversion would be the one I'd choose as my main car if I went for this option.

Anyway my next questions are:

Handling? can the TD handle as well as the valver? Is it worth converting one? or is there no benefit?

Insurance? which is more to insure, straight valver or tweaked TZDTGD?
(I know mine would be a conversion and higher premium, but I'm thinking of writing for a quote so a starting point for negotiations would be good). Otherwise I'll have to write twice

As what Chris said, although the remember the TD's are slightly heavier at the front end so have a tendancy to plough on a little bit more than valvers.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:36 pm

Kitch wrote:The 2.5TD isn't even an XUD

Is it not

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