Blimey Hawkeye, surely after 18 Citroens you should have realised that French cars are totally unreliable and you shouldn't touch them with a bargepole. As for landing your poor old Dad with one..have you no conscience??!!!
PhilW Berlingo
SWMBO Xantia HDi
previous cars, Xantia TD, BX TGD, BX 19RD, R18, R5, R4 (x2)
Master W C2, previous Clio, R5
Miss W Clio DCi, previous ClioD, R5.
PS I once called out the RAC!!
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Prior to Mrs V getting her Mx5, not a deposit for a test drive, but photo copies of drivers licience, were taken.No problem there - obviously a checking procedure & we get the odd mailshot, now, from them.
BUT... wanting a £500 excess insurance form signing, wasn't so attractive!
We bought from another Mazda dealer, in the end.
VB
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Hi Phil,
I am one of those people who would touch a French car with a bargepole. Oddly perhaps, I would never suggest to anyone else that they should, or shouldn't buy a particular type of car.
What predisposition is it that causes Hawkeye and yourself to favour French motor cars, and me to shun them completely? (I'm not suggesting that either of us is 'right' or 'wrong').
To kick off, I don't like the look and feel of French cars (excepting the DS, of course!). I particularly do not enjoy working on them - things that should be simple usually aren't, although this is possibly a reflection of a lack of knowledge and skill on my part.
number_cruncher
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I particularly do not enjoy working on them - things that should be simple usually aren't, although this is possibly a reflection of a lack of knowledge and skill on my part. number_cruncher
Hear, hear.
When I lift the bonnet on a Japanese car all the wires, cables, hoses etc. are neatly routed around the engine and (often) marked. Usually nice identification on all the relays/fuse covers etc.
Open the lid on a French car and its 'where's the engine' - great tangle of wires and hoses covering everything.....
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Oh, for the ability to re-edit a post...I meant to say,
I am one of those people who would *not* touch a French car with a bargepole. etc...
number_cruncher
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I think a lot of the anti French car felling is a reflection of peoples attitude to the French themselves. For over ten years myself and SWMBO ran Puegeots and Citroens as driving tuition cars, an environment where the life of a car is tough. We had two 309's, four 205's, a 106 and three Saxo's between us and had no real problems with any of them. All were nice to drive and reliable, and the last Saxo we had is still with us today and giving sterling service.
If BL had come anywhere near the standards set by the French they would still be around today, and I bet Rover often look across the pond with an envious gleam.
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n-c,
Yes I rather gathered that!
Like you I wouldn\'t presume to advise people to buy a particular brand of car, but when changing cars I never even consider a Japanese one my uncle was in Burma don\'t forget!!!!
Suppose I have always liked French (and Italian also- well Alfa, but not Fiat!!) since I first saw a DS, and I also remember a bloke who had a Traction avant. I always liked the way DSs \"went to sleep\" and when I saw a BX in Strasbourg in 1983 I thought \"at last, a hydaulic(?) Citroen I can afford if I wait 3 years and buy second hand!\" Had several, always been reliable, never had any electrical or suspension problems (well, apart from many a time lying underneath a BX with lhm spraying in my hair!). Great diesel engines (always liked the reassuring clatter of a diesel!), fantastic suspension and ride and great for towing.
As for the Renault 4s, well, perfect practical car for wife and I when younger to throw camping gear in the back and zoom(!) off to Greece in the summer - Berlingo is a modern equivalent. Kids bought 5s and Clios, and C2 because they like the look of them - again , no problems so far with their cars.
Am I also of the age when I remember the early Japanese imports? The modern equivalent I suppose are the (early) Kias and Protons and Peroduas. BMW - don\'t they make bubble cars? MB - too expensive - but I like them. VW - not keen on 6 volt Beetles. Saab? What with that funny 2 stroke engine and free wheel - hang on Carlson has just won the RAC rally in one - not bad. British cars - Dad had a Triumph 1300, gearbox went, Morris 1100, differential went so I had to hitch hike back from Scotland. Austin Cambridge - blimey, why is the rear overtaking the front? Mirafiori - great engine but why is his new car rusting away after 2 years? Ford? blimey that sit up and beg Popular was uncomfortable and those windscreen wipers that stop when you accellerate?
Don\'t know why I like Citroens, I just do. Don\'t know why I don\'t like Japanese - they are fantastically reliable - but then I\'ve only once broken down in a French car since 1974 (until tomorrow that is!) so to me they are fantastically reliable.
And anyway, what does a Corolla/Avensis/Accord/Civic look like? Bet you can tell me what a Renault 4, 16, BX, Xantia, Berlingo, XM,SM, etc look like!
Totally illogical I know!!
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