Ode to be in France.....

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:39 pm

http://cgi.ebay.fr/BERLINE-BX-14-RE-COU ... dZViewItem

Maybe its about time i bought that French holiday home i keep talking about

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:06 pm

Interesting Q&A in that the seller has never driven the car, and can't really give much info - but it has had new spheres and so on. But there's a question mark over the brakes.

I am considering a trip back to the town I lived in a few years ago - Agen, in the SW. I try to go each year, but missed last year. Howver there's a guy there running around in a really nice condition Sport. I might summon up enough courage to approach him and see if it's for sale... who knows?!

I'd get my French friend to help me, and he'd oversee it's servicing etc. I could then pop back and get it later on in the year.

I don't think the French generally care for their cars as we do and have a far more pragmatic view - having said that they don't half expect a lot of money for their old bangers - even a 205 bucket - maybe an '87 will fetch over £750 in my experience. I had a hell of a time convincing the owner of a Visa GTi to part with it for less than €1000 - but eventually he realised that no one in France could afford to insure it, let alone want one with a 1.9 8v lump in it!

Mind you, sold it to a Belgian for what I paid for it (although I'd spent £250 on it since!) so there are other nutters out there apart from me...

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:15 pm

Best colour

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:54 pm

I don't think the French generally care for their cars as we do

Speak for yourself! I'm talking my fiancée's approach now. Minimal maintenance. It works with her 1 litre AX. Over 130,000 miles and the engine sounds like new despite getting one service a year regardless of mileage (about 20k) and generally running with less oil than a sane person would consider reasonable!

It's a French (albeit Spanish built) car and it sounds from your description like she's treating it the French way. I look after my cars and always seem to have huge bills to pay. Her MOT/Service every year costs £300 on average! It's just not fair!!

Ian

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:39 pm

There is a law that says 'If it ain't broke...' I guess this little AX must've been built on 'Inspection Day'!

I won't be so blasé and tar all the French with the same brush. It was my experience in SW (rural) France and it could be different in, say Lyon, Marseille or Paris... But maybe not?! (I would feel bad about setting fire to my neighbour's car - unless it was a BMW maybe

)...

Back to the AX - I thought they were notoriously unreliable. How prejudiced is that?! I must be wrong. Bon chance, mon ami

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:07 pm

The AX isnt a bad little car really. They're very comfortable for a small car and even the 1.1 i bought was a peppy little motor.

It has suffered with blown dash bulbs (now replaced) and various other quicky things like the speedo cable. It is immaculate though and looks great in shiny black.

The biggest problem now is an oil leak which my citroen specialist friend assures me is the headgasket as the oil gallery is right next to the edge of the cylinder head. Its leaked oil over the alternator causing a charging fault.... But who cares...... The car still goes!

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:44 pm

It often depends on the engine. Some will take massive abuse, others need metuculous attention.

For example... the 1.9 XUD engine. Will take abuse up to a certain point, but when you let the oil turn to tar, have no coolant in it, and belt down the motorway, it does nasty things, as the owner of a Pug Expert van is currently finding out.

It's actually melted the Cylinder head internally between the swirl chamber and the coolant passage. BIG mess, and some big holes where there shouldn't be! The block and head are scrap.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:53 pm

So how much did that French eBay BX end up for in normal money then? I couldn`t understand the description and the price may as well have been in Outer Mongolian dinah for all I understand about exchange rates.

(I was too busy eyeing up the well endowed girl in short skirts during my French lessons)

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:00 pm

finished for ~£220. Considering how rare Mk1's are, that's not bad I guess.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:47 am

They're very comfortable

Until the front seats refuse to adjust! And I hate the fact that the pedals are skewed into the middle of the car. Driving it long distance is not my idea of comfortable!!

I'll stick to my BX. Drove York to Daventry in one hit yesterday in pouring rain. No worries. No discomfort. No sunroof leaks! Hoorah!

Ian