Poor mans Lamborghini Countach

[Tahko]

I'm going to buy such a car this week before my next job begins next week... Everyone knows the Countach, right? Well who here knows Citroën BX? Good, I see some hands rising! So, who knew that both cars were designed by the same Italian designer?

Anyways, I'm going to buy a black Citroën BX 1.6 GTi this week. :D
9.9 seconds 0-100km/h on a hydropneumatic magic carpet is a must experience!

[iGav]

So, who knew that both cars were designed by the same Italian designer?

I did... Gandini of Bertone.

[iJon]

Looks like a car from the Jetson's or something. Hideous in my opinion but to each their own.

jon

[joecool85]

9.9 seconds to 62mph...hmm. Seems that my Escort ZX2 does 0-60mph in 8 seconds flat. I don't think thats fast sir.

[bousozoku]

9.9 seconds to 62mph...hmm. Seems that my Escort ZX2 does 0-60mph in 8 seconds flat. I don't think thats fast sir.

It's more that the suspension allows you to travel over almost any rough surface without noticing how bad it is or bottoming--at top speed. It's the finest Peugeot available. ;) I still wish that Citröen had its Maserati connection. The engines were quite more interesting then.

[Nickygoat]

We used to have one of those when I was a kid - not that exact model but close. Looked butt ugly at the time but had a great ride and handling, and for a Citroën, good reliability ;). Have a really good look at the hydraulic suspension - it's expensive if it's borked :p

[Nickygoat]

I still wish that Citröen had its Maserati connection. The engines were quite more interesting then.
I read a horror story a few years ago that after the SM flopped they threw all the engines left out of the first floor window of the factory because nobody wanted them. I wanted to cry :o

[robbieduncan]

I used to own a BX. My parents gave me their 10 year old 1.9 diesel estate for free when they bought their Xsara Picasso (yes they always buy Citroens!). The suspension is great as long as it works and they handling is a lot better than you'd expect. Enjoy it :)

[bousozoku]

I read a horror story a few years ago that after the SM flopped they threw all the engines left out of the first floor window of the factory because nobody wanted them. I wanted to cry :o

I'm sure. The SM was quite a contraption but that V6 was also used in the car smaller than the Maserati Bora. Sorry, but I forget the particular wind it was. The Khamsin came after it. That Maserati was quite futuristic looking and had the speed-sensitive Citroën steering in it--2 turns lock-to-lock. That wouldn't be a big deal now but in 1974...wow. It was in a head-to-head comparison with the Ferrari GT4 and the Lamborghini Jalpa (or was that later?) and did quite well, despite its lack of cylinders.

Still, Citroën has made some dowdy Peugeots that would go since being acquired. They always have good, and usually wacky, ideas.

[Nickygoat]

I'm sure. The SM was quite a contraption but that V6 was also used in the car smaller than the Maserati Bora. Sorry, but I forget the particular wind it was. The Khamsin came after it. That Maserati was quite futuristic looking and had the speed-sensitive Citroën steering in it--2 turns lock-to-lock. That wouldn't be a big deal now but in 1974...wow. It was in a head-to-head comparison with the Ferrari GT4 and the Lamborghini Jalpa (or was that later?) and did quite well, despite its lack of cylinders.

Still, Citroën has made some dowdy Peugeots that would go since being acquired. They always have good, and usually wacky, ideas.
The Merak (http://www.maserati.com/jsp/carMonografiaDettaglio.jsp)

[Lord Blackadder]

Ah, another place I can lament the fact that there are no French or Italian cars for sale in the States. Especially the Alfas...beautiful.

I constantly go back and forth on the styling of many French cars. At least they take styling risks, I'll give them that. The BX looks cool, in an 80's sort of way.

[robbieduncan]

I constantly go back and forth on the styling of many French cars. At least they take styling risks, I'll give them that. The BX looks cool, in an 80's sort of way.

When you see one rise as it starts you'll be amazed. The hydraulic suspension sinks when it looses pressure with the engine off (it takes a while). When you start the engine it rises (which you have to wait for). It sounds really weird, but I grew up with it and thought it was normal! One of the cool things is that you can pile heavy stuff in the boot and the car automatically levels the suspension (and you can raise and lower it a bit via a lever in the car too).

[Tahko]

We used to have one of those when I was a kid - not that exact model but close. Looked butt ugly at the time but had a great ride and handling, and for a Citroën, good reliability ;). Have a really good look at the hydraulic suspension - it's expensive if it's borked :p
Yes, regular BX looks like tuned up refigerator from Hell or something. But GTi model boasts better looking front-bumber & Maserati rear spoiler, which adds kinda supercar character to the car. And it uses very much polycarbonate to make the car lighter, including bonnet. :cool:
And I know that once hydropneums are scrapped, it's time to say goodbye to the car. :(

When you see one rise as it starts you'll be amazed. The hydraulic suspension sinks when it looses pressure with the engine off (it takes a while). When you start the engine it rises (which you have to wait for). It sounds really weird, but I grew up with it and thought it was normal! One of the cool things is that you can pile heavy stuff in the boot and the car automatically levels the suspension (and you can raise and lower it a bit via a lever in the car too).
One can raise the car quite a lot actually. And the excitement never ends: thanks to extremely stable hydropneumatic system, one can raise the car and change wheel without a jack. Yes, it really can stand and drive on three wheels. :D

[bartelby]

With a tenuous link to the topic, the Citroen DS is my all time favourite car.
My mate has an immaculate condition one, it's beautiful!

[iGav]

Anyways, I'm going to buy a black Citroën BX 1.6 GTi this week. :D

couldn't you pony up the extra £.. €.. $ and source a 1.9 GTi? :D

[Tahko]

couldn't you pony up the extra £.. €.. $ and source a 1.9 GTi? :D
I could, but those babies are pretty rare here. I was in Lahti today to see one of those 1.6 GTi's, but that was in baaad condition. No service history, rusty skirts, bizarre owner history (17 owners..), engine dripped oil and had funny squeaking noise on low rpms. Hydraulics & electronics were good, tho. I just wasn't ready to change my easy-going AX to that! :(

[ham_man]

Looks kinda like a Hearse...

[cheekyspanky]

I'm really liking the Citroen C4 at the moment, the three door version. Are the newer Citroens reliable, nice to drive etc? I won't be buying a car for a while, but I do quite like the C4 and the Clio so I could end up with one of those.

I've been in a BX, strange lifting up sensation and it felt a bit cramped in the back - but other than that it seemed okay to me! My mums friend used to have one and she would happily let her little child run up and down the bonnet/windscreen/roof - that one must be in a scrap yard by now, they really wrecked it over the years!

[Toreador93]

You don't think it looks more like a Saab 900?

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/1997/Saab/337/009508-E.jpg

[takao]

yeah the lifting always has been a big eye catcher (we only had a diesel though) no problems as far as i remember, except that you should keep a small hammer ready just in case the car decides not to lift up on a cold morning (a little smacking on the cylinders always helped with our one ...)

not needing to adjust headlights and the low trunk were pretty fine .. i think my father made 200.000km on the BX (bought used at 50.000km) before some guy stole it and crashed it (who the hell steals a 60hp diesel ?)

[mpw]

Don't try to do any hand-brake turns in it, trust me from experience it gets messy :(

[Tahko]

Don't try to do any hand-brake turns in it, trust me from experience it gets messy :(
I know, the thing has front/rear weight ratio of 62/38. :D

Next Saturday I'm going to see another BX GTi in Turku. And that's metallic silver! :cool:

[mpw]

I know, the thing has front/rear weight ratio of 62/38. :D

Next Saturday I'm going to see another BX GTi in Turku. And that's metallic silver! :cool:

It's not that, it's because instead of the handbrake just operating the normal pads against discs/drums the BX has holes in the drive/prop shaft into which a metal rod is slotted. There's no give so when you pull on the handbrake hard when moving something's gonna break.

[saabmp3]

It's not that, it's because instead of the handbrake just operating the normal pads against discs/drums the BX has holes in the drive/prop shaft into which a metal rod is slotted. There's no give so when you pull on the handbrake hard when moving something's gonna break.

Wow! Do you know of any other cars that behave this way? I can honnestly say I've never heard of such a design. It sounds like it would work as a perfect "parking" brake, but as a terrible "emergency" brake.

BEN

[keysersoze]

I'm going to buy such a car this week before my next job begins next week... Everyone knows the Countach, right? Well who here knows Citroën BX? Good, I see some hands rising! So, who knew that both cars were designed by the same Italian designer?

Anyways, I'm going to buy a black Citroën BX 1.6 GTi this week. :D
9.9 seconds 0-100km/h on a hydropneumatic magic carpet is a must experience!

Craptastic!

[mpw]

Wow! Do you know of any other cars that behave this way? I can honnestly say I've never heard of such a design. It sounds like it would work as a perfect "parking" brake, but as a terrible "emergency" brake.

BEN

I have heard of others but can't remember which, there was a new car review in Autocar magazine in the UK in the last year that mentioned this type of design.

On a sunnier note I only know about the BX 'cause a local Policeman (off-duty) who was banging on about his supierior driving skills as a Police driver bought one, a GTi, brand new back in the 80's/90's and tried to perform a handbrake turn in his new car only to leave lots of little bits of gearbox scattered about the road. :D

[iGav]

I could, but those babies are pretty rare here.

wowser... I just checked Autotrader and they're only 2 em' for sale in the UK. :eek:

[witness]

I had an XM (slightly bigger than the BX, but has similar styling), it was just about the worst car I ever had.

I guess that if you're very lucky you might not have problems with it, but most people I know of have very bad experiences - mainly caused by faults with the suspension.

[mvc]

Wow! Do you know of any other cars that behave this way? I can honnestly say I've never heard of such a design. It sounds like it would work as a perfect "parking" brake, but as a terrible "emergency" brake.

BEN

No it's an excellent emergency brake, just yank it on at speed and bingo, you wake up in the emergency ward! :p

[Tahko]

It's not that, it's because instead of the handbrake just operating the normal pads against discs/drums the BX has holes in the drive/prop shaft into which a metal rod is slotted. There's no give so when you pull on the handbrake hard when moving something's gonna break.
Sounds terrible. :cool: