h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[quote/]
"The penalty for innovation is often failure"

So it seems. It would appear that innovation could best describe this "research."
It is full of cliches & myths best left where they possibly originated; at the pub.
I started to debunk this entire article as I don't think I have ever seen a more inaccurate apology for an appraisal of any motor car, but simply ran out of time & patience. I will say however, with a son that races one (handling) 3 of us that own them, (bought for reliability), living 350 klms from the nearest service or parts centre (difficult to work on??), having 3 sons ranging in size from 6ft2" to 6ft4" (interior space & legroom), having had my back broken and now suffering from osteo-arthritis (seat support & comfort) often have to travel 700 - 1000 klms round trips (fuel economy) paint not adhering to plastic & poly substances such as boot & tailgate (whoops; they're not painted at the factory) living in the tropics in an area described as the sun cancer capital of the World, our cars are still above average internally (upholstery & internals susceptible to sun damage) hydraulics that won't lift a full load whooooohhooooohahaha that's a good un!! I have a "work car," a CX that has a less refined suspension that I tow a trailer with; it is single axle trailer & was registered years ago to tow 2 imperial tons. I can fill it until the wheels scrape on the mudguards, tow it, jack up the suspension, sit chocks under it and then drop the suspension and drive off. The only way a proper working BX suspension would not rise would be if it were filled with wet concrete. Otherwise it was a case that the researcher either didn't know how to operate it (likely) or it was faulty (highly unlikely)
I could go on but I can't believe that anyone could produce a load of urban myths and try to sell them as factual research. The comparisons to other brands was a big enough faux pas to give away the fact that this article is big on pub talk & low on facts.
I am more than a little disappointed at the standard of this article, as coming from Australia, I am often critical of the sub standard materials printed as fact, that are only newspapers propping up the products of their major advertisers. I would have expected something eminating from the BBC to have been of a much higher standard & not adding credibility to the myths surounding these vehicles and used quite often as a tool by unscrupulous repairers to ply the only trade they seem competant at; that of wallet stripping.
I would suggest that if ever this "researcher" decides to do anything similar in future; go & ask the people that actually own & drive them & not a cabby driving a Ford, the barber, old Joe at the pie stall or the boys at the "local" at about 10PM. That way, who knows? you might even go close to getting it right..'coz youse way off target on this one!!
This is more a piece of innovation than factual research if it is a serious attempt at a review. However if the intention was satire....then I'd give it ten out of ten. Top comedy stuff!

Give that man a pat on the back. My BX 16v is the most reliable car I have ever owned, and few of us on our forum have problems, and those that have, usually have had due cause.

--
A happy Citroen owner