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

Entry: Citroën BX - The Car - A690284
Author: Just zis Guy, you know? [my other car is a bicycle!] - U54363

I had one of these once, a BX 16 RS Estate. It was dire. It broke down constantly. Still, the car was not without merit, and this is I hope a balanced appreciation.

A cracking read. Just about the only article I've read which makes me feel good about driving a Skoda Felicia. One hell of an achievement, that!

I shall certainly recommend it!
The FM

I neraly bought my wife a Felicia, as her name is Felicity. But she got a Honda Civic instead (lucky thing).

In fact, the Skoda is a pretty bloody good car, truth be told. I have no complaints. They are comfortable, economical, incredibly reliable and don't rust, period. There aren't many other cars you can say that about.
Have a look at the www.skoda-superb.com website for an example of what I'd really like to have. Now THAT is a nice car.

Yes, increasingly taking on the VAG family look. Nice.

The 2.8 litre version looks the nicest. I suppose if you have £22K to spend on a motor you could do a lot worse, like buy a stupid 4x4.

Well, the car might not have been up to much but the article certainly was! It's just been accepted for the Edited Guide!


The FM

Being A Yank, I have'nt a clue as to what the Citroen BX looks like. You did a good job though. You can count on my vote.
The KID

See http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/car_reviews/main_review.asp?model_id=763

Dunka Guy The KID

Now there's an idea, why not include a link within the article to a page where a picture of the car can be seen (you'll have to make sure that its a permanent page and that it's not actually selling the car (this is the BBC after all)...

You could do the same in the Volvo article too (when it reappears)


whisky

Hello there,

The article about the Citroën BX is a fun read, but it is not very accurate.

- There never was a 2.0 l injection, but a 1.9 litre double carburettor (1985, 19 GT), then injection 8V (BX GTI, 1987 or 88), and then a 1.9 l injection 16v (first French car to have such), in 1991 or so.

- The BX never shared it's engines with the Volvo 440 (there was nerver a 1.7 petrol BX). Those engines were PRV's (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo joint venture), and were never mounted on a BX.

- The composite (plastic) parts (first mass production car using composite materials to gain weight) were painted in the mass (while molding the plastic). Those parts cannot lose their paint, as the article states, since it's within the plastic itself !

- Fuel consumption was fine, just below the periods averages (remember, the BX was produced as of 1982)

- The car was a great succes : more than 3 billions of them were sold (the most popular Citroën besides the 2CV, which boasts 7 billion units)

- 70 % of the people who owned a BX replaced it by ... a BX (one of the highest scores ever, so the satisfaction under actual drivers of the BX was high)

- The platform is great, and the BX is just fine on sinuous roads (Audi chairman Piech (don't recall his name exactly?) stated it was the best car in the world ...)

- Reliabilty is fine, too. I have two of those : a BX 14 built in 1991, with 236 000 kms, and a BX 19 GTI of 1988 with 190 000 kms.Both are doing fine, thanks

Best regards,

Andreas