Following a crisis loan from a very dear friend who is sick of seeing myself almost kill myself a la Passat's exploding tyres and never coming to visit her because cars like the Saab 900 are either broken down or not road-legal, I found myself with the funds to get something modern, sensible, but quirky enough to satisfy my need for something a little bit odd. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Citroen BX.
I'd really wanted an early one with the silly dashboard but obviously I'm getting sensible in my old age. Either that or the gods of sensible were smiling on me, because when I put a "wanted" ad on the forums at the rather wonderful internet-based BX club the most sensible BX of all appeared - a last-of-the-line diesel. The only way it could be more sensible would be if it was an estate, but I don't really need one of those. It's been tastefully modified with a black leather interior and 16V alloys which really look the part and suit the colour. It's got a lot of miles on it but flicking through the comprehensive service history shows that it's really been loved over the years.
So, up to Burton-on-Trent on the train to collect it, did the deal, and drove down to Brighton to visit the friend who'd loaned me the money. Then back to my parents for Christmas; another trip down to Brighton on Boxing Day, and finally home to Canterbury on the 27th.
The black GSA went in January and I've managed to slip this one in in December so I have owned four cars in one year, plus the Rover. That's slightly worrying. I will be keeping this one a little longer! It's MoT'd until October so until then at least ;)
Wednesday 28-12-2005
I do always take a picture of my cars to put on this site as soon as I can but the weather today was not exactly on my side. Nevertheless, enjoy!
Here are some better ones:
Monday 9-1-2006
Driving home from Brighton along the coast road, one of my favourite routes, setting off at 6.00am this morning. As I was leaving Eastbourne at around 7.00, just leaving the lights of town and going onto the unlit A259, I suddenly saw something in the headlights, heard a bang from under the car, and saw something pirouetting away behind in the rear-view mirror, silhouetted in the lights of the town. I think it might have been the lid off a bin or recycling box, but it was too dark to be sure.
The car seemed OK except for an exhaust blow and as I have nowhere to work at the moment I just dropped it into the local KwikFit for a check. I'd hoped it would just need properly re-hanging.
I realised that this wouldn't be the case when I saw that the end section had actually disappeared as the fitter manoeuvred the car onto the ramp. It had snapped clean off behind the silencer.
A complete exhaust is only twenty quid more than the broken section so I decided to go for that, even though the old one doesn't look too bad. £151 total.
UPDATE MONDAY EVENING
KwikFit didn't manage it. When the old exhaust came off, it bent the rear hanger which now dangles loose - and they are "not allowed" to do any welding. Yes folks, they actually told me I should scrap a perfectly good car because of a shonky exhaust hanger.
Saturday, 14-1-2006
Got that exhaust hanger welded back on and a new exhaust fitted at the rather wonderful Hills Motors in Wainscott (01634 290291) for a mere £116. Why so cheap? Because he only fitted the part that actually needed replacing, not the entire exhaust. I even got to wander around Rochester while he was working - pretty place.
Saturday, 21-1-2006
Came out of the house this morning to find a Pug 206 parked outside with a window smashed. Glad that wasn't me, I thought, but the BX hasn't escaped completely unscathed; there is a dent in the passenger side wing (same side as the 206's smashed glass) with a clear footprint on it. Not impressed with the local Friday night crowd. Is life not expensive enough without having to pay to repair malicious damage?
Thursday, 2-2-2006
I drove up to visit my mum last night and the brake pad warning light came on on the way up. On the way back the car had started making metal-to-metal scraping noises; not nice! So into Hi-Q for new brake pads today; they said the disks also needed doing so they did the lot for £121. The brakes had been OK before, but they are vastly improved now. I don't really like recommending chain garages, but it's not the first time Hi-Q on Wincheap, Canterbury (01227 464918), have helped me out when I've been in need. Their guys seem to be proper mechanics, and they managed to get the job done today despite short-staffing for which I am very thankful as I'm going to Bristol tomorrow.
I seem to be spending a lot of money on this car but I don't begrudge it; I have done an awful lot of miles and it's always been there when I've needed it. I've overspent a bit as I have done no work on it myself; but then I don't have the space to work just now. It's also saved me so much on fuel costs compared to my previous petrol-driven cars that I don't mind spending the difference on servicing.
Sunday, 19-3-2006
I spent the weekend at my dad's, and on opening the boot to load up and leave, the spoiler fell off. It's always been loose so this was the final straw!
I was looking at ways to reattach it, but Dad made a much better suggestion: leave it off. He's got a fibreglass repair kit and sander in the garage so we're going to sand down the old glue and general mank, fill the screw holes (which are currently covered up with Duck tape!) and touch the paint up. On the drive back home, I decided I preferred the car without the spoiler anyway - it does nothing for me in terms of looks, the rear visibility is much improved, and I'll be able to change the rear wiper!
Just realised I forgot to mention it at the time, but I got hold of a dent puller and popped out that dent from the wing. Very satisfying it was too - and well worth the fiver that the dent puller cost me. There's still a little ripple, but you wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it.