I really like Citröens. A lot. And even when they were mundane and faceless. Way back when the DS was something even your dad had forgotten about and they’d long since done everything they could to make their cars as conformist as KRudd. The thing is, during this period they actually turned out some hidden gems. Gems like the BX GTi, a car that really had the whole everything-you’d-ever-need-from-one-car all wrapped up. (Addendum to my last note to Audi: So you don’t have to spin off 452 body styles from the A4 platform of decreasing marginal distinction, how about getting one just right instead? Ask the French for advice.)
The GTi in 16 valve form had 119kW and could meet 100km/h in the mid 7s, which is frankly not slow. And, yet, it rode like the proverbial magic carpet. In all reality this is what you actually want from a car, right? To feel like suspension design has evolved past the antiquity of the horse and cart. Plus, the Gallic charmer could slip around a twisty back road with alacrity. It even raced, and raced well, at Bathurst – confirming their advertising slogan, “Built for driving, not for garages”.
Inside, Citröen managed to put together an interior that was both stylish and well equipped, and far more daring than the typically austere German offerings of the day. Taking this fast and comfortable car design to its logical conclusion meant using the most versatile body style – that of the hatchback. Not for gauche lifestyle reasons as BMW would have you believe, but because it just works better than anything else for Getting.Shit.Done.
Don’t anticipate some sort of qualification because I would have recommended this car to anyone at the time, if I could have found time away from grappling with zits and trying to cop a feel of Jenny Scott’s tits, that is. This car was, and is, a firm favourite of mine.
That I would never buy myself.
Ah.
I have a mental roll call of brilliant cars that would never grace my driveway. Like the remarkable Mazda MX-5. Every time I see one parking up it just makes me want to walk over to the driver, shake their hand and congratulate them profusely. It was Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond who concluded, in all seriousness and devoid of any satirical antagonism, “Why would you have a Boxster?”
He then did exactly what I would have done and walked to the nearest Porsche dealer and asked for a Boxster. (I know Porsche hoodwinks you into believing the 911 he actually bought is different from a Boxster, but the truth is no more than semantics.)
The job of journos and TV presenters is to offer up the idea of a smorgasbord of choice for you, the punter. Yet we aren’t the ones stumping up two years salary for a car to – let’s face it – get you from A to B without sending you broke or making your commute a misery.
It happens right across the spectrum of professions from a fat doctor telling the patient to lose weight, to the real estate agent talking up a place in Macquarie Fields as the “next Double Bay”. So, I don’t think I’m alone in backing great cars that I love but wouldn’t buy myself – so do tell, what are yours?
12 replies on “The European: Do as I say, not as I do”
I often recommend Toyotas to my not-really-car-people friends. But stuffed if I’ll ever don the cardigan and slippers from Toyota City myself.
The mini. Love them, but would never buy one cos they are just too small and expensive to be practical, but not fast or special enough to be a ‘fun’ car. Still love them though!
Fair point on the size/practicality issue, but claiming a MINI is not fun. Spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a Cooper S? They’re awesome!
i hold many fond memories of the old BX 16 valves. my best mate learnt to drive in one. belonged to his dad but he never drove it since he bought his RX7 SP. i remember my mate putting the L plates up then doing clutch dumps away from the school pick up bay with is mum going mental in the passenger seat. we couldnt beleive how fast it was too! that Mi16 engine was a screamer. such a shame it was written off by a careless ute driver
I did buy a BX 16 valve……
Great car except I suspect Citroen had discovered how to make biodegradable plastic, not what you want for the connections in the cooling system…..
It was fast, nimble, the ride made/makes a mockery of german ‘sport’ suspension, and the seats were soft as armchairs, and still held you tight with adjustable side bolsters a la an RS4.
Best bit was once the suspension had settled it had that slammed stance that drew envious glances from boy racers everywhere.
I now drive a boring german car. It is safe and reliable, two attributes the citroen struggled a little with.
No, not saying its not fun, but say you have 2 cars, a daily, and a ‘fun’ car. The cooper is great, but it’s not quite special or fast enough to be your ‘fun’ car, but it is definitely a fun car! If you get what I mean.
In your case you have your S3 as a daily, and your GTI mk1 as your ‘fun’ car, get me?
Yeah, still don’t necessarily agree, which is fine, but I understand better where you are coming from.
haha saad makes his final point by comparing what are intrinsically the same car, one has the boost turned up and 4wd, and a JCW/pullyed Mini is roughly as fast as either (ok not on a track by split seconds, but about the same on normal roads).. yet not up to his standard of “fast enough” haha.. good work bro. I’m never gonna argue the Mini is a sports car but your comments make little sense.
I’ve got more than few cars and a new and an old mini, The new MINI is as close in spirit and feel to the old mini as any car i’ve ever driven despite its much larger size, comfort and more power, its unfortunate the later versions have got softer, Americanised and lost the spirit of the original 2002 model perhaps which is mostly why i’ve hung onto it and not “upgraded” but still I’m still missing your argument.
Two cars jump to mind on the ‘Great-but-not-on-my-drive’ category… Both are Volvos but bear with me..
1) 1997 850 R wagon… unless my memory fails it was 185kw and used to Destroy HSV’s of the day… brilliant car, bulletproof build and reliability and a sleeper of the best sort, but…. well…. its a volvo.. and therefore epic uncool points
2) 1980 262 C Bertone… Chopped roof, 6 cylinder, rwd coupe.. I always thought of it as the angry geek car..
Nice one on the Volvo Monts.
I remember when Rickard Rydell used to hand people their arse in his touring car.
Not so much John Bowe in his square volvo sedan haha!
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Ferrari 308 GTB. It still looks like heaven to this day, and it sounds unreal. It’s also (somewhat) affordable. But the servicing and insurance costs have me twitching everytime I think about them.
I’m more than happy to let someone else shell out constantly for one.