RE: SOTW: Citroen BX GTI 8v
Discussion
Matt Bird said:
Great to see such widespread approval! We will try to maintain these Shed standards next week but it is very rare a SOTW pleases so many of you so I can't promise anything...
I like the Type 4 9000/Thema/Croma/164, but this BX urinates from another planet over that MoT less Thema we had last week.On reflection the BX is the Mercedes W124 or the Peugeot 504/505 of the citroen world especially in diesel form. When I think about it I know quite a few people who have done MEGA miles in one, one chap in particular had 500,000 miles on his 19RD estate and when he sold it, it was to a friend because he knew it was still a good car! Although this was the thing with French cars of times gone, bits fall off, they rattle, mechanics suck through clenched teeth, but fill it with fuel and strain the oil through a stocking once a year like a French farmer would and they just won't stop. or is that won't stop rattling?
Friend had a BX GTI as a company car in the early 90's. I have a very vivid memory of us driving around a car park with the suspension lowered to the maximum and wetting ourselves with laughter right up until the point he hit a speed bump and felt like we’d broken the chassis in half...
It was a fun car but think some I recalling the car through rose tinted specs. I don’t recall it being that special other than the fact we had loads of fun with the suspension.
It was a fun car but think some I recalling the car through rose tinted specs. I don’t recall it being that special other than the fact we had loads of fun with the suspension.
Edited by Agent Orange on Friday 14th September 17:35
S10GTA said:
Last weekend at CXM
That's great to see.My only Visa GTI story goes thus; I was a passenger in a Rover SD1 3500 manual which was being enthusiasticaly, not to say at stupid speeds, along a country road late one night. Headlights approaced from behind and in a very tight spot a Visa GTI blew past us in an astonishing display of speed and bravado.
What a shame it isnt a 16 valve, but still my favourite Shed since Ive been on PH.
Cars like this need to be cherished and preserved, what a brilliant buy for someone.
Never forget being dropped on the Avon Causeway (bumpy twisty road near christchurch dorset) by one of these 15 years ago when I was in my Cincequento Sporting. It was the only time ever, I was dropped on a narrow winding twisty back road, those BX's just used to float over bumps! Brilliant cars!!
Cars like this need to be cherished and preserved, what a brilliant buy for someone.
Never forget being dropped on the Avon Causeway (bumpy twisty road near christchurch dorset) by one of these 15 years ago when I was in my Cincequento Sporting. It was the only time ever, I was dropped on a narrow winding twisty back road, those BX's just used to float over bumps! Brilliant cars!!
No, no, no...
Bought a G plate one back around 1993.
Fast enough, comfortable, well-kitted (for the time), reasonable handling.
It broke down, oh, every 5 minutes or so.
The piston rings went. It smoked (a lot)
It leaked oil.
It leaked coolant.
It leaked green suspension fluid.
Eventually the distributor went and I nursed it home on 1 cylinder,
Truly awful - traded it (before I'd paid off the bank loan, didn't care) for an Astra SRi which was brilliant.
Thing is, it was a toss up between a 1.6 Pug GTi and the 1.9 BX with all the toys.
Idiot here got that one very wrong!
Bought a G plate one back around 1993.
Fast enough, comfortable, well-kitted (for the time), reasonable handling.
It broke down, oh, every 5 minutes or so.
The piston rings went. It smoked (a lot)
It leaked oil.
It leaked coolant.
It leaked green suspension fluid.
Eventually the distributor went and I nursed it home on 1 cylinder,
Truly awful - traded it (before I'd paid off the bank loan, didn't care) for an Astra SRi which was brilliant.
Thing is, it was a toss up between a 1.6 Pug GTi and the 1.9 BX with all the toys.
Idiot here got that one very wrong!
I've had two BX GTis, one 8 valve, one 16 valve and as with most old Citroens if you get a properly looked after one they're great. Very underrated cars.
The suspension is usually the least of your worries, providing the pipework is OK.
BXs are quite lightly built in places but they can hang together reasonably well given a bit of TLC.
I'd prefer a CX GTi turbo but too rare and expensive now to feature in SOTW...
The suspension is usually the least of your worries, providing the pipework is OK.
BXs are quite lightly built in places but they can hang together reasonably well given a bit of TLC.
I'd prefer a CX GTi turbo but too rare and expensive now to feature in SOTW...
Matt Bird said:
Great to see such widespread approval! We will try to maintain these Shed standards next week but it is very rare a SOTW pleases so many of you so I can't promise anything...
Next week? Hold on sonny one must learn to walk before they can run 
Told you the BX was the one to go for....
My last car was a BX GTi 8-valve. F reg. I'd had it for more than 12 years; economic, fast and terrific load carrier. So much plastic bodywork there was only one speck of rust to be seen, but it does mean you really do not want to be in a collision in it.
Smelled of our cigarettes but otherwise immaculate. I got £550 for it
, only enough to cover the 'private' plate for my GTO.
Smelled of our cigarettes but otherwise immaculate. I got £550 for it
, only enough to cover the 'private' plate for my GTO.I remember trying to keep up with one of these on a twisty part of the A68 in the Borders region back in the days when they were current - it was amazing the way the thing flew round the corners with far more grip than could be mustered from my car and quite a bit of lean.
I love classic Citroens and the BX GTi should be on someones preservation list. Great shed!
I love classic Citroens and the BX GTi should be on someones preservation list. Great shed!
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