Real Road Test: A shonky Citroen CX diesel

I drive a left-hand drive Citroen CX TRD Turbo that is in quite spectacularly battered condition after living in London.
This video is sponsored by Lancaster Insurance: www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk/... or call 01480 587035 for a quote. Use promo code DISC15 for £15 off!
Visit hubnut.org for lovely HubNut merchandise, including stickers, T-Shirts, hoodies and mugs!
We now have a Patreon account too - take a look: / hubnut
This CX is a turbo diesel, though I'm not convinced it was turbo-ing very much. It was the fastest production diesel for a time.

[@truthseeker8483]

Even a shonky CX is more interesting than 99% of cars on the road.....

[@Baerchenization]

The CX would have been amazing, if it hadn't been for the soul-destroying build quality (we had 3 CX from new).

[@truthseeker8483]

@@Baerchenization No reason why new cars cannot have a new modernised reliable version of the Hydropneumatic system afterall auto gearboxes and power steering is generally very reliable..

[@Baerchenization]

@@truthseeker8483 It has nothing to do with my comment, but you are correct... imagine what would happen if you were to give a license to the Germans for building a proper pneumatic system - that would be awesome. Oh wait, Citroen did give a licence to MB and it is indeed awesome ;)

[@truthseeker8483]

@@Baerchenization pneumatic systems are different ...try a Tesla model S and you will find it is quite bumpy. Pneumatic systems are purely air not Hydraulic /gas

[@Baerchenization]

@@truthseeker8483 You mean like a Mercedes air suspension, produced under a Citroen license? ;)

[@tomhart-shea8344]

I enjoy your road tests because you try to understand the car you are driving. Other online road testers waste time saying, things like, 'it doesn't do this, its not as fast as 'x', it doesn't corner as well as 'y'.' etc. . Here we got a flavour of what it is actually like to motor in a CX. Well Done.

[@Sherukka]

Tom Hart-Shea This is the most important thing that makes normal motor journalists useless but this is great!

[@Turnbull50]

When I worked as a mechanic in the early 70's someone parked a Citroen DS with the rear under a sink when it was started in the morning the back end raised and ripped the sink from the wall.

[@millomweb]

Wasn't there one of the Citroens that had issues with 'rise and fall' affecting the handbrake - slightly releasing it as it sank - so if not firmly applied you risked getting unauthorised creep :)

[@HubNut]

Wasn't the rise and fall. It was just a crap handbrake. Xantias on Watchdog about it. Never trust a Citroen handbrake.

[@millomweb]

@tecdessus What - no brakes ?

[@millomweb]

@@HubNut It's not just those cars now either - was it the 'new' minis where the parking brake (electric?) was randomly releasing ? Wasn't there a case of one rolling into a river with kids in the back and another running off a driveway and crashing into a wall opposite ?

[@01322521959]

@tecdessus You'd be OK here in Bangkok, handbrakes must be left off at all times so that inept security/car park attendants can push them back and forth to allow the greatest number of cars to park. Woe betide you if you actually leave it on. Possible brick through window time!

[@braceuself]

My dad had a white one and told me it was a James bond car cos it went up and down.i believed him lol

[@jo05dk]

On a childhood vacation i went for a ride with a kid i played with, and his dad, in the dad's Saab 900. On the slow dirt roads aorund the house we had rented, that damn car steered itself. Imagine how impressed i was! The dad told me i don't remember what, but some far-fetched story about the tech behind the self driving ability. My poor grandfather had a hard time keeping a straight face when i, very enthusiastically, told him about this amazing car. Never trust a strranger they tell kids.. Perhaps there's something to that.. Anyways.. Kids are gullible :D

[@harryireland1935]

In this episode, sponsored by Bison Glue, we re-attach my long manes back onto my scalp!

[@69Phuket]

C'mon we were pre warned of Hair. He gave a disclaimer!

[@notmanynamesleft]

Hahaha

[@Hiddenuser-bv5mo]

Hair today, gone tomorrow

[@smhorse]

LOL

[@dougodyssey50]

Harry Ireland that's below the belt 🤣

[@johnnypsycho9628]

The Haynes Manual in the correct place , Long Glow plugs is to allow the finishing the glass of wine or shouting at the kids to sit down .

[@-DC-]

From a time when Citroen engineering was at the cutting edge of car design, unfortunately they'll never produce anything as special again .

[@smhorse]

Farina Marcini : not under the dead hand of PSA, they won't.

[@casualagent7250]

Don’t be so sure, my 2010 C5 diesel manual had its moments, wasn’t ‘that’ long ago, it kept on leaking all manner of fluids though.

[@notroll1279]

Well, what was the special engineering about the CX? I think they recycled some ideas well established by the DS but somehow managed to get the aerodynamics significantly worse that its 20 year old predecessor's and to lose the brilliant swivelling headlights the DS had had since the mid-sixties. By the time this particular CX was put together (mid- to late 1980s), even the CX was pretty long in its tooth and lazily harvested ideas developed more than 30 years previously while the engineers hatched out the XM most of which were to fall apart even more quickly. I daresay that Citroën engineering went lost around the year 1970.

[@fasthracing]

Didn't take long for your hair to grow back.

[@adampoll4977]

Even here in Australia they came with the air horns - great for scaring the crap out of unobservant road-users. But what? No wiper test??????

[@HubNut]

Can't believe I didn't indulge in some huge wiper action. Like I say, it was a rather rushed test!

[@PeeJay7290]

I wish the hydro suspension would make a return. I remember having new spheres fitted to my XM. An experience that can’t be forgotten

[@mattw8332]

One of the best looking cars ever! Maybe not this particular example mind. You can keep your supercars, I'd rather roll (!) in a CX. It's sad that Citroën has lost a lot of it's idiosyncrasies these days.

[@kittyhawk9707]

Well my Mk1 Cit C4 (57 plate) has the central boss of the steering wheel fixed and just the spokes turn.. takes some getting used to .

[@pierrechristian6767]

Just dressed up Peugeots now.

[@coldwarmotors]

Hi Ian! Thanks for the review of the amazing CX... I have a pair of Series One diesels languishing here and now I want to get one going! All the very best to you from Canada!

[@georgebrown3359]

Ooh-la-la! The French were masters in making bizarrely, quirky cars. This example is no exception!

[@utubeleplague]

They WERE. What is Sit-Roen doing right now? Dressing up Peugeots and calling them c something...

[@stevehallam0850]

@@utubeleplague My Cactus is pretty quirky. I love it.

[@jamesie-sf1cq]

@@stevehallam0850 Yup. Mine too!

[@smhorse]

True Normality : c-rap, maybe?

[@smhorse]

Farina Marcini : Vauxhall/Opel now part of PSA, I think, after GM offloaded the marques.

[@alzeNL]

the CX has such much masculinity about it, its turbo-charged with testosterone, so much so, it can restore hippy-hair.

[@robobyrne2685]

Great video! I found this as I was looking for CX footage, and then when you started driving realised I knew exactly where you were. I only live a few miles away and know the road from Bickleigh to Crediton like the back of my hand. I was driving a CX DTR saloon in dark grey 4 years ago, before the engine blew up (my fault, not its) and I sold it as spares to someone who came over from Northern Ireland. 10 years ago I had one of the very last GTI Turbo 2's and regularly used to blast down the same road as in your film. It was silver with every extra - the black leather with red piping, no sunroof, 250,000 miles but looking and driving like new. Amazing that such a large car could go down a twisty road like that with such assured handling. I sold it because it was thirsty, at the low point in CX prices and immediately regretted it. I have driven "faster" cars down the same route and found them much, much slower in reality. I once floored the Turbo 2 on a deserted A30 going past Exeter airport and it was still accelerating when I met my turnoff at Ottery St. Mary at an indicated 138mph. Any speed, any gear - nothing beats a CX Turbo 2 for the combination of speed and comfort!

[@stephenpointon]

in the 80's my dad wanted a CX estate but never could find one that met his standards. He ended up with a Xantia company car instead. How many people remember that the BBC used CX's as camera cars especially for the grand national

[@vikingraiders4138]

I was more interested watching the CX keeping up the horses, I remember it clear as day.

[@krollpeter]

I drove one for a few months. If all cars were made like this, then there might be no more traffic accident. It is build to relax and sooth.

[@johnnorth9355]

Oh how I used to amuse myself and others on the M4 when stuck in traffic jams by rising and lowering the suspension on my Citroen :-) . What fantastic machines they were.

[@millomweb]

I just don't know how they managed to avoid the temptation to fit a grass cutting blade underneath them - so easy to choose the grass length you preferred.

[@rheinerftvideo2647]

In the 1980ies, this was the fastest and most economical Diesel you could buy. At 6 Liter Diesel / 100 kilometres going well up to 120 mph or even more. It´s a motorway engine design, in a township you won´t find the Turbo effect. The self-centering steering with the CX almost caused me a crash inside a multistorey car park. It was good for nothing and hard to get used to it. Apart from that, a far better design than anything else offered today, especially the 2.5 Turbo Diesel engine concept that no other Diesel motor could keep up as of today. Cheers from Germany, Bernd

[@Paintheshed]

3:46 a 305 VAN, splendid

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

Absolutely adore the CX, a fabulous retro-futuristic French space ship of a car. I'd love to get hold of one but good affordable ones are so hard to find

[@smhorse]

....and once you find one, cheap original parts are nearly impossible to find. Go into CX ownership with your eyes open; everything will seem grand after that.

[@smhorse]

tecdessus : as long as you can afford their eye-watering prices. The car may not bankrupt you, but the spare parts prices will....

[@smhorse]

tecdessus : I'm looking at 800 Euro for a used front bumper moulding. Not new. Used. Citröen dealers don't really support their old cars in the same way that VW/BMW/Mercedes do.

[@jo05dk]

This brings back memories. My sister and i were driven quite a lot in taxies, in a part of our childhood. We got used to wonderful cars like the Audi 1005E, Audi 200 Turbo, Mercs, and the likes. One day we got picked up by a somewhat worn looking Citroen CX Estate diesel. We had seen the car lots of times, heard its primitive sounding engine, and we weren't impressed when it showed up to pick us up. ..but damn.. We both fell in love with it. I'll never own a CX. it doesn't fit my needs. But i do love them, a lot, and i do love looking at them, a lot.

[@ryanlike2162]

Engines that simply won’t die, even the 1.9 turbo diesel in my dads Xantia is still going.. 4/10 though, no wiper test :(

[@johnclarke2997]

Good for mounting BBC cameras on top. Often seen in the bacground at horse races.

[@millomweb]

Not surprised as I bet that suspension handles the jumps beautifully.

[@innercityblues4921]

My friends dad had one of these in the late 70's, a safari model which was so futuristic or so it felt back then, still one of my favourite cars of the 70's, thanks hubnut

[@SoundsVintage]

I loved my old GSA with its curved windscreen and quirky dashboard. Handbrake where you might expect the radio and the radio where you might expect the handbrake. It was my baby DS :)

[@trespire]

The danger with driving a CX is their deceptively quick. 140Kph feels like 70, steering input needs to be with fingertip control, no ham fisting it. The breaks are phenomenal like dropping 4 anchors.

[@smhorse]

Unless it's a petrol turbo, the whole point of a CX is not to rush. Sit back, relax, it will get you there.

[@julienbee3467]

@@smhorseit's true

[@friedjohn]

Another fantastic review, Ian. But you seem to miss the point of the bonnet scoop. It is not for a boy-racer "go-faster-look", but it's there trying to address the appalling ventilation system that you rightly mention in the video. The air intake for the cabin is not directly in front of the windscreen as on most cars (normally a pressure zone), but actually in the middle of the hood where the aerodynamics is more likely to suck the air away from the cabin (you have to have the fan on high to get any air into the cabin). That's why the scoop is there, it helps this problem to some extent (though not very much). It was a popular addition back in the day, allthough I admit it looks stupid. I just loved the CX, but you are right everyone who tried it for the first time absolutely hated the way it drove. Particularly the powersteering (Diravi I think it was called) took some getting used to.

[@markpitt5248]

My uncle had a petrol CX with the starship enterprise dash, I used to love having trips in it because it looked so cool and the hydropneumatic suspension fascinated my young mind!

[@leooostveen4435]

the joy of driving the CX. My niece asked me if it could fly. I said yes. I then drove Sydney to Brisbane. They flew a couple of days later: the look on her face when she saw the 'flying' CX in the carport.

[@klwthe3rd]

In the United States, this was the very last Citroen to be imported. I grew up in a town that had an old Citroen dealer that even after Citroen stopped selling cars here in 1974, still provided parts and service all through the 1980's. A local business owner had a CX in white and I would often stop into his shop to talk to him about his car. He told me that there was one company left, an automotive importing company located in Somerset New Jersey, that was importing Citroens. This company was the one he used to purchase his CX. It was the only CX that I ever saw driving around my area and sadly I lost track of it over the years. I love Citroens so much because back then they stood for being engineering marvels. This video brings back memories.

[@wanderinggentile]

There was also a dealership in Roswell, Georgia. It's now a doughnut shop.

[@klwthe3rd]

@@wanderinggentile no doubt there were Citroen dealerships all over the United States back before 1974. But if you wanted to buy one after the dealerships closed, you had to go to this one company to have it imported just for you. The company not only imported them but would make all the necessary federally mandated changes to the cars to make them legally able to be driven on the road. To my knowledge it was the only company still importing Citroens between 1975-1995 before finally closing up shop. There might have been an importer on the west coast, I'm not sure.

[@wanderinggentile]

The dealership in Roswell was 1987 or so. I remember a Georgia address listed in the blurb on the unit Car And Driver tested in 1986-87, but I could be mistaken.

[@klwthe3rd]

@@wanderinggentile yes some dealerships stayed open long after 1974 to provide service and parts. Our local dealer in Connecticut stayed open well into the late 1980's. Maybe 1989 I think. Now the building has been torn down and I miss seeing it when I travel back to my old stomping ground.

[@wanderinggentile]

I apologize for not being clear. The dealership in Georgia was offering new CXs in 1987. The importer's name (which I have long since forgotten) was listed as the manufacturer on the Monroney label.

[@paulbennell3313]

It'd doubtless be a lot of work and expense but I can't help thinking that CX would be worth restoring and it'd restore well.

[@dmodeboy]

How did I miss this video? I absolutely adore the CX. So unique. Oh to drive one one day!!

[@torresalex]

The car I grew up in. Still love it to bits!! Thanks for this review, Mr. Hubnut

[@richardcallison1637]

Shonky is a huge understatement but the car is still particularly pleasing to behold! It’s a wonderful shape, that I had more or less completely forgotten about! Great video 👍👍

[@Le_Rennais]

My parents had a 1977 white CITROEN CX 2000 Super.

[@stephenberry1205]

Love the CX. Drove with a friend to Adelaide from Sydney in his non turbo diesel getting around 55 mpg. Incredible steering and controls. Amazing high speed tourer. The Achiles Heel of the Series I CX was rust. Fixed in the series II with the plastic bumpers. My dad has a 1977 CX 2400 Pallas CMatic I imported a 1978 CX 2400 EFI 5 speed Prestige in 1979 after time in the UK and Europe. Many aspects of the CX were a huge leap from the DS including quieter, better dust sealing, better air conditioning (poorer fresh air ventilation), better performance and handling, bigger boot and more spacious in the rear seat. Prestige had more space than a LWB RR Silver Wraith.

[@logicastephen]

What a magnificent thing. Enjoyed that, and very true about cars no longer having much individuality. Cheers, Essdeewon.

[@mjcoughter4821]

lovely cars, always loved the look of the cx too. when we were kids dad had a metalic green gsa and what a special car that was. getting picked up from school was fun, all the other kids looking at our car raising up after being started i think they were jealous!😁 many happy trips were made in that car wish we still had it

[@michaeljones1475]

I had a GS 1220 Club back in 1974, it was two years old when I bought it and only had 12,000 miles on the clock. It was like new, best car I ever had. Wish I had one today!

[@mjcoughter4821]

@@michaeljones1475 one came up recently here in ireland but i missed it, they don't come up often!! I'd rather the gsa though with the fancy roller speedometer i was enthralled by that as a kid!! easily pleased lol!😂 i wish they would make cars like those now

[@paulrandomview]

Excellent test drive & superb commentary. I think the CX is rapidly becoming one of the best classics to aspire to. I would love to buy one.

[@Perkelenaattori]

If I remember correctly, some of the CX's had a dual function horn. If you pressed the horn slightly it would give you a polite honk but if you pressed it for long you'd get the airhorn of doom.

[@seed_drill7135]

That's been a French thing for a long time. I've got a commercial for a Dauhine from 60+ years ago and it had a country and city horn.

[@Perkelenaattori]

@@seed_drill7135 Yeah I didn't know as I've never had a Dauphine. My oldest frenchie was a 205 GTI.

[@pierrechristian6767]

The DS had a 2 stage horn too. Stage 1 was 1 horn, stage 2 activated another horn pitched slightly higher, in effect a twin tone horn.

[@GgGhostOfTime]

One my friend have bought recently a 1980 CX Prestige diesel ... I hope one day make a video of this car .

[@julienbee3467]

Is it fun to drive and reliable ?

[@smiffy1071]

I also had a 22trs at the same time as my gti turbo, which I drove from bristol to Utrecht in Holland, it felt like I’d just gone up the street. TrueType wonderful cars....

[@klenchmecheeks9377]

Good stuff. Take it that was at Shitefest, with a DS too!!! Top vid as always Ian

[@ASCIITerminal]

That last shot with the car running reminded me of a French village I visited in the 80s. Every morning an old boy used to roll up at the Boulangerie in his almost equally beaten up CX, and leave it running while he went in to get his Baguettes. Amazing cars!

[@ralfrisberg8009]

This video remind me of the estate i used to have , miss that car !

[@captscarlet17]

I love 💕 the CX’s I was so close to buying an Athena from the local Citroen garage once, I wish I did now.👨🏾‍💼

[@HowardLeVert]

Have just returned from a holiday in Paris, and by a happy coincidence I found myself watching this video literally just after I had returned from the Conservatoire Citroën in Aulnay-sous-Bois. If you've not been Ian, you *must* go - it is fantastic.

[@malcolmaston3547]

I remember my mates dad had a cx, we all thought it was off battlestar galactica. Brilliant video, I WANT ONE!

[@julienbee3467]

Were they popular in the UK ?

[@workonesabs]

My Vectra is a 1.9CDTi at 120hp and goes well, shows how much engines have improved over the years.

[@stewartlundy5858]

It was always a cracking engine in the day when other diesels of the day wouldn't or hard to start in the cold wether they would just start no problem and just totally reliable, the engine that is.

[@sumo1756]

My older bros mates Dad had one of these in the 70s and my bros mate just passed his test, i was about 10, and he took us out in it a couple of times. A 17 year old and a CX, speak about corner roll! I thought it was a cool futuristic car tho. Same bloke bought a light blue Triumph 2.5pi as his first car and took me for a blast in it a couple of times and it sounded epic. He just ragged that car AT ALL TIMES for about a year till was totally fkd. Good memories. Thanks for posting Ian👍

[@errcoche]

Loved the CX. Rode in a Pallas in 1980 in France. If I had money I would drive a Citroen.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

A friend had a slightly earlier one of those. It was also LHD with a C Matic transmission. I drove it a few times and absolutely loved it. I thought it was not a Turbo however after your video maybe it was. He also had a 7 or 8? seater wagon petrol which was not as nice to drive but ultra practical. I remember when you loose hydraulics after a while the steering takes a long time to respond and catch up with the steering wheel.

[@matejblaha6870]

Oooh yes, a mighty Cx.. Definetly get another one, I would love to watch DIY series with this car!

[@philobrien4129]

Even battered and bruised, the beauty of this lovely machine shines through! Last MOT was in 2019 though...hopefully it's being fixed up for the road again!

[@georgebamber6871]

It's for sale on car and classic for 650

[@pete3767]

When I saw all the dents I just knew it had to be LHD - the few times I've been to France, it seemed almost impossible to see a car without a big dent on at least one panel! They have lovely motorways though, smooooooth.

[@jamesjacocks6221]

This test drive was a treat! One of my fave hitches on Welch roads deep set in hedgerows, whilst driving wrong side and carrying on engagingly. Reminds me of a recent trip to Ireland where we got a gite and car and tried to see the whole island. Now if you pulled into every pub to rub elbows and wear them a bit...

[@benzinapaul7416]

Love the CX, the Prestige was the Mafia car of choice in the late 1970s apparently

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

I see a Citroën I click!

[@gammaraider]

I love the center console in the mark 2. For its time it was very elegant and clean

[@davidking9707]

I have always liked the CX. My mate at schools dad had one and it was fabulous.

[@adampowell5376]

Thank you for making this video. I am a fan of big French cars.

[@davt8615]

Cx has to be one of the most interesting cars ever made I'd love a mint 1

[@dodgydruid]

A friend of mine, an ex BBC soundman had a beautiful 7 seater in white as he couldn't use a van to get into the places he needed to set up but wanted something that could carry just about anything and a lot of the sound stuff he had was quite lengthy like boom poles and fitted perfectly with the seats down, fast too and crazy instrument and dash. I think he sold it to the chap who owned Christchurch Citreon who had an amazing metallic green SM and factory perfect too, he had the engine bay as clean as the interior, everything just gleamed under there.

[@lambrettadave7]

You referenced the BX quite a bit and they both had that hard foot brake. I loved my BX alot and wished I still had it. Great review of a non restored car. Very very down to earth

[@kevinwhelan8126]

And there was me thinking the owner taped over the word prestige because the car is hardly prestigious lol! Another delightful video of an equally delightfully dreadful vehicle, thanks Ian for sharing 😀

[@moochincrawdad]

There's something about those old Citroëns, I'm in love with 'em all, especially the SM! 😃

[@2812helenpaul]

Use to love to drive my dads CX and yes the steering was so light could drive with the little pinky

[@micheltebraake7915]

A school friend could occasionally take the CX diesel from his parents on the drive to school with 5 students in it, great car, floating over the road.

[@lewishart9698]

I miss my Daihatsu Cuore, nice to see your friends. I've always loved the ride comfort of older Citroens and Peugeots. I had a (granted not as old) Peugeot 307sw Hdi and it always felt like it was going alot slower than it was as you didn't feel every lump and bump in the road and the seats were shaped like those in the CX...very comfy!

[@vincentdubois3291]

There was also an estate version of the Citroën CXwith a slightly longer wheelbase and it was really spacy ! In France those were often used for ambulance purpose because they needed very few interior and exterior modifications. And the extreme smoothness of the hydropneumatic suspension probably helped to keep patients alive on the way to hospital !

[@TonyLing]

We will have you loving Diesels in the end Ian

[@steveboatronics]

The “bonnet scoop” on a CX was an accessory that was fitted to produce a ram-air effect for the ventilation/heating system, Ian… 🤗

[@grabham59]

God the sound of that engine takes me back....Dad had a series of Citroen's - 2x BXs and a Xantia...very distinctive sound

[@chucky2316]

Xantia was a pretty car

[@mindoza44]

i had a 1980 cx 2.0 athena back in 1986 .it was white and full of rust holes and scabs in crazy places. i paid £90 at auction for it. it drove really well and was very comfy. sadly one day i hit a wagon carrying rocks from the local quarry head on. the cx was destroyed but due to that massive chassis and the sheer size of the bonnet etc i escaped unhurt. great cars.

[@rydermike33]

What a wonderful, whacky, characterful car. Hope your friend manages to restore it. Well worth saving.

[@ShaunMurray63]

Nice video that , they're great are those older Citroens luv em.

[@rich_edwards79]

I do like big Citroens and for me the CX was the pinnacle of the type. They were renowned for interiors that were as comfortable as the 'magic carpet' ride, and this one seems to be no exception. My preference would be for a Series 1 with the metal bumpers and chrome trim, as they basically looked like a 4- door version of the SM (one of the most beautiful cars ever made) but I agree with others that this would be a good restoration candidate given how rare they have become. As with most 70s / 80s cars, it's years since I've seen one (there was a dead, moss-covered blue Safari in the garden of a house on Cardigan Road in Leeds for many years, but it's gone now - I always hoped for restoration, but more likely to the crusher).

[@philryan7254]

Hi to my brother's at citroens like this .one had a DS 21 Pallas and the other one had the CX like you've got now both fantastic cars.Cheers Phil from Newark

[@veritasvincit2745]

It's as though Gerry Anderson knocked the puppets on the head and ran off to France to design cars.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

What a fantastic statement! 👍

[@kernowrock555]

Yeah, I'm 53 now and I still want one so I can be ... " Captain Scarlet"! haha.... They are beautiful cars!

[@andypsunshineisle5655]

Wifes cousin had a 77 diesel cx estate, went all over europe in it for years till the rust took it . I fitted a 5 speed gearbox at one point which took a week or two in a lock up and used all the favours he was owed by his works machine shop to modify a few things to fit. It was a monster and swallowed his family and camping gear with no problem

[@jgvgjv2980]

Wonderful, characterful and comfortable, innovative car

[@caver1]

Ah lovely. I had a Peugeot 309 (non-turbo) diesel, which I very quickly developed the nack of unlocking the door, and clicking the key on to 2, before even sitting down. Then you got in, put your seat belt on, clutch down and into gear, and more often than not - you'd be just right for the glow plugs to finish. Don't be slow in trying to start after it's done though, or you'll have to do it all over again. Being so light, it was one of those cars that surprised people. Hills - yeah what hill you just didn't slow down, mechanics used to hand it back, with a "what did you do to the engine?" question. Just stock. Even more so, with 4 people in, not much different too. And much bigger tyres than the normal 309, so it cornered quite well. Though you had to really watch it in the wet. It would understeer alarmingly, not to mention wheel spin in first. Big heavy diesel jump up front and no weight on the rears. Was ace in traffic jams, as it had so much torque you didn't have to touch the accelerator at all, same for reversing, unless it was a hill. All that said the interior was awful and fell to bits, switches literally fell off or exploded in your hands. The indicator stick literally came off in my hands, and the twist for lights confused everyone. Same for the front wipers stick which was "upside down to normal". The rear wash wipe, was a button. You pressed it once and it wiped once - that's it! Very tedious on a long trip. The rear door would never open from the outside, despite many attempts at repair. So gloriously French :) It had a tow bar, which I used a lot - great tow car, plus the tow bar covered up the number plate wonderfully lol. No clue how that was legal.

[@richardgregory8964]

So lovely and beautifully french! I would give up internal organs to have a cx!

[@uk4caster]

What a car...magic...c'est bon, c'est magnifique!

[@niklaswejedal463]

Ahhh - I have such a serious craving for a CX! A completely irrational craving, since it is far to big for my needs and does not even have a hatchback rear end (and I normally hate executive saloon cars) - but a craving no less. It must partly come from the fact that I spent my childhood in the rear seats of Volvo 240s and a 745, which is by definitition the most boring man made objects ever concieved - this is the absolute opposite, how can I not love that? I have only traveled 500 meters in a CX, but those were 5 minutes in heaven - what other could be expected from a vehicle that is in essence a space-ship for the road. More CX-content please! :D

[@peteramberley9952]

I had a cx2400 pallas semi automatic 3 speed amazingly comfortable car the front seats were like armchairs. I remember down our local late night hamburger van every one was laughing at it .especially a guy in a 2.3 ghia mk 5 cortina after 10 mins of barracking we agreed to resolve it with a race but as mine was semi automatic we agreed on a rolling start. Left him all the way to 90mph then went into the roundabout with a bunch of understeer.but his shame was so great he never was seen down the burger van again

[@kjeldpedersen666]

I had one of these (-2,4 petrol engine) around the millennium - the most comfortable car so far. Compared to my much more modern BMW 5-Series, the BMW doesn’t even get close when it comes to comfort. And I very much doubt that I’ll ever get a car that can compare to the CX again in that respect... Those Citroen’s, the DS, the CX and the XM, were cars build with a very special driving philosophy in mind. Back then Citroen’s really were unique...

[@uzaiyaro]

This is one of the things I love about my 2004 Holden Calais. Because it has a Buick 3800 up front, it just pulls up hills like they don't exist, and it'll do it in overdrive, locked up, and at 80km/h, and at 1300rpm. The LS2 option is this turned up to about 22. It's meant to spend hours on the highway, and it does them at 1600rpm. There isn't all that much road noise, but you can't hear the engine, at all. It's like a lounge chair on wheels. So comfortable, and yet not too boaty either. And I'm constantly told that it's a beautiful car to boot. I do need to detail it again, though. But even though it's a modern car, it still has a lot of character, in my books. It's not a Hyundai you just get in and don't think about. This car is genuinely a nice place to be. I bought it because I'm always on the highway, and I'm glad I did. Almost 300,000km, and feels like it could do 300,000 more. Still throws you back in the seat like a punch, and this is the small engine!

[@mr.slaphappy3794]

3:00 That's essentially the same engine fitted in my mom's Peugeot J5. There is one difference however: her J5 has got the U25/661 engine, which is a non-turbocharged version of the U25/673 (the engine in this Citroen CX). It must be said that the thickness of the head gaskets on both of these engines are not the same: the U25/661 engine's head gasket is 1.5 mm thick meanwhile the u25/673's head gasket is 1.7 mm thick (I believe). These engines were also fitted into "clones" of the Peugeot J5: The Citroen C25, the first generation of Fiat Ducatos (which also came with Sofim diesel engines, similar to the ones installed in the Mk1 Renault Trafic), the Talbot Express (sold in the British market (by PSA I think)). Another clone is the Alfa Romeo AR6 (only sold in Italy), however this wasn't fitted with the U25/661 nor the U25/673, but rather versions of the Sofim 8140 diesel engine. The Peugeot J5 and Citroen C25 also came with petrol engines, the same ones installed in the Peugeot 504. Jesus, I wasn't expecting this to turn into a bloody documentary about 1980-1990's vans. This does however show how all of the vehicle manufacturers "collaborated" to make the same, but different vans. [If you do happen to be a late 20th century van "lover", and you noticed any mistake in this post, then please inform me of the error.] .

[@stevenjones1972]

Hi Ian,you don't see many of these around,you have to use the gears in this one,I didn't know about the steering wheel centralising itself.great video.

[@protestagain]

I saw Citroën CX the first time, in spring 1973 as a prototype, that visited my hometown. For a young little petrolhead, it was the dream. Later in 1983 I had a new CX Break. The world's best car. Could use white gloves on it in the engine compartment, not much I could do anyway. However, many trips ran up to 2000 km in one stretch, without being tired.

[@protestagain]

Memorized, had an Audi 80 before the CX, and was accustomed to taking handbrake skid with it in winter conditions. At the CX, the handbrake was on the front wheels, so I went straight ahead, instead of skiding, nearly chrashed the new car. By the way, the CX Turbodiesel was the fastest diesel at that time, and they also made the "Road Runner". 6 wheels CX made for newspaper delivery.

[@protestagain]

Back in those days, I tried different cars on some speed bumps. Volvos and MB 123 and 124 series. They all had problems from 20 mph. With CX I could take those with 50 mph with no problems.

[@protestagain]

The only problem I had with my CX to 100K km, was a door hinge, and normal service. Then I had a new MB 230E. Just problems, and the ever worst car was then the new MB V-class. Met som workers from my MB dealer. They tought I was a employid as them. Had to tell them, that I had a shit of a car, and that was the reason why I nearly lived in the dealership. Sorry my english, but is my third language.

[@timevans815]

Hooked on your vids now Ian and being so Citroen orientated (founder of Just 2CV Sussex) I agree entirely with your CX comments, what a quirky delightful car. I have had about six of them including the enormous seven seater with a Renault engine and a semi auto Prestige. My ultimate love is the DS so when the lottery comes in I will have one of each!

[@alchapman1052]

Interesting switches on the dash area, the car has been through the wars alright.

[@automotivemischief.1978jamie]

The CX has a charm like no other.

[@Muushondje]

This CX goddess deserves a firm restauration.

[@martinpook5707]

You forgot the single windscreen wiper! Simply the finest.

[@HubNut]

I did forget. Horrible things!

[@robhosking9399]

Loved This Road Test Of A Citroën CX Diesel! What A Car! Magic Carpet Ride With Citroëns Suspension Genius. Always Loved The CXs, They Exude French Charm And Eccentricity By The Bucket load! There A Drivers Car, And Myself Being Blessed With Having Owed A 1994 L Reg ZX 1.9 TD, And 1995 M Reg ZX 1.9 TD, I Know Just How Brilliant Citroën Diesels Can Be! I Would Def Own A CX Diesel If The Opportunity Arose!

[@damianfuller74]

So naturally left!! Not right! I really love these old citroen cars. So weirdly correct!

[@smhorse]

That's left, as in Left Bank (of Paris)?