I live in New Zealand centre of the North Island to be more precise after emigrating from the UK 4 years ago. Back in October I stumbled upon my first BX that I could afford since leaving the UK and the beloved BX I had back there.
Lost count of exactly how many BXs I have owned since leaving Plymouth and I got to admit I miss the knowledge of my trusted Citroen Mechanics at Euroservice (shameless plug).
First BX I owned was a 1984 14RE back in 1990 which was demolished by a uninsured driver slamming into the back of me at a ped crossing. Got myself a Black BX19GT which came to a fiery end thanks to some toe rags. Then came the BX GTI the first was a real dog got shot of that one real quick before my Mechanics found me a sporty Red 1988 GTI which unfortuantely I sold to finance a 18 month Trip to NZ and Australia.
In its place I got a 1984 16RS which I only planned to keep a couple of months but my parents kept it going for my return. Unfortunately she failed a MOT on some rust and had to go. Her replacement had a faulty head gasket and did not last long.
My last reliable BX was a 1989 BX16TRS Automatic, my very first Auto and the lowest milage BX I owned with just 55,000 on the clock. This little beauty took my wife and I to southern France and back we would have liked to have brought her out to NZ but unfortuanately she failed to mmet the front impact standards that NZ now has on imported cars. We gave that car away to a friend who still owns it.
Now after 4 years of resigning myself to saving money and driving a reliable 1989 Korean version of the Vauxhall Astra (MK1). I finally convinced the wife that our 2nd Car should be a BX and with that we spotted on Trade Me a 1991 BX19TZS for what works out at 600 pounds. Yea have to be plantnium plated in the UK huh?
She has 170,000kms on the clock and last owner was another Englishman who works for Citroen NZ. Great thing about this car its Registered as New Zealand New in 1993 and was sat in storage for 2 years. One of the features is Air Conditioning which I have never had other than open windows and Sunroofs
We had a bit of a scare with loss of coolant after changing the antifreeze but that radiator leak seems to have been fixed with a bit of additive. Been no signs of the leak since however it has been drinking coolant which the local mechanic says could be signs of early Head Gasket. I hope not because the Van we had suffered the same fate this winter.It only seems to occur after running the Air Conditioning, never owning Air Conditioning just wondering if that could be the cause?
Other than that a couple of small paint blemishes, New Zealand does not salt its roads so corrosion is a none issue really. Its been well maintained except for that Auckland dont need antifreeze attitude, but I have my doubt on the Octopus pipe being replaced yet.
And the best part is steaming past the Subarus that think they own the roads
Few people get a shock at the BX performance.Well that a long introduction and hope to have the pleasure of advice when needed.
Colin
