I have Citroen C5 mark1, odo 162tkm 1.8L autotransmission. After driving long years with Toyota, Vw, Peugeot I finally sat into this old Citroen cockpit and what a euphoric feeling was it, like floating in space. I had to stop and think am I high on something it was so etheric feeling. No annoying sharp punches from the road every 20m just absolutely silky smooth floating around. What an quality machine!

Ohhh, C6 in blue or grey metalic and bright interior with AMVAR is a dream 😍😍😍 I had a 2004 C5 Break Exclusive with 2,2HDI and 6 speed manual transmision. An amazing car! Now I have 2016 C5 Tourer Exclusive 2,0 BlueHDI 180 with Aisin gearbox, bright interior and panoramic sunroof. It have 370 thousand kilometers and still driving like a new one. Love it!

I'd say the BX was highly innovative. Nobody else combined hydropneumatics (for great ride comfort) with low weight. First time for Citroen too. No other car was so quick and so comfortable for the price.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

I accept any and all praise for the BX

Oh yes, one more, my aunt in England bought a Xantia, an early one in 1994, top of the range, even had heated elec seats, she did over 200,000 miles in it, totally loved it. That Bertone styling was so good. She never had problems with it. She had a house in France, drove it there many times a year.

@19jacobob93

4 ай бұрын

If it was a manual diesel, she was literally living the dream.

Thank you so much for the quality content. I'm the proud owner of a Cx fuel injected 2.5 liter RI. A wonderful, wonderful car. No other car can touch it. This car moves me like no others ever will. Cheers great video

My grandpa had a BX in the 90s and he swapped it with a Xsara when it came out. He still has it to this day but it’s only good for the scrapyard now 😅 He loves his Citroens though

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Your grandpa has good taste

@19jacobob93

4 ай бұрын

Citroëns, as in based on actual PSA platforms and using PSA running gear (I.e. HDi + 6sp manual) seem to be coming to an end. Quite sad, but before long, the line up will most likely be entirely rebadged, ultra-shared Stellantis platforms running small turbo petrols and DSGs/CVTs, if not EVs.

I just find your channel today. What a discovery ! This is such an interesting topic. I have driven Citroëns fore more than 30 years and at the moment I am driving a ë-C4. Which in my opinion is more than a proper Citroën. It has the superb progressive hydraulic cushion suspension and avant-garde looks, that really stand out from the crowd. Designer Pierre Leclerque will come up with some cool things for the future.

Quite nice listening to the lovely cars that Citroën produced in the past. As a Citroën enthusiast (have my 4th Citroën currently which is a C5 X7 Hydractive3+) I liked this video quite much. I'll also check the other videos on the channel, almost all seem interesting.

I think all hydro Citros were decent. I test drove a C5 MKII in 2008 and it seemed to be a great, great car. The C6 was a remarkable car. I almost bought a XM Station Wagon with a 3 liter engine but the fuel consumption put me off. In these days I own a C5 Aircrews Hybrid and it is a very decent car. My wife's car is a C3 Aircross with a diesel engine of 99cv and, under a different concept and lower level of refinement, it has been a great servant with a very good level of comfort and fuel frugality. Your channel is making me feel compelled to go after a C5 Hydractive but I might go for a C5X as soon as my lease ends.

I share your reverence for the C6... Definitely the last PROPER CITROEN.... I want one.... fabulous. Here in Australia my C4 Cactus with Airbumps, meets all my PROPERTY CITROEN criteria... love it. Wish it had the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension. The CX does meet all the criterial. Dad has a 1977 CX 2400 Pallas C Matic. I had a new RHD Paris delivery 1978 CX Prestige 2400 EFI 5 speed manual with leather. It followed 5 x ID/DS and 2 x GS. You have forgotten the many CX innovations in addition to rotating drum speedo/tacho plus pod controls and DIRAVI self centring steering... The CX had amazing aerodynamics including a single wiper and concave rear window. You could charge down the motorway without using the wiper in the rain plus the rear window stayed clear. It was the only car I know that had two longerons on rubber mounts to carry the body and mechanicals. My Prestige was longer with a higher roof and had footrests for rear passengers plus sunvisors for the rear doors. Loved it. So much quieter and better handling than the DS plus it was like piloting a space ship on wheels... 52 years of Citroen ownership, 17 Citroens and my partner and 2CV Charleston were made in Portugal. Dad had 2 Citroens and my brother had 3... Not very many in Australia, but we do have 12 x RHD SMs and the only RHD GS Birotor... IDs were assembled here 1961-66. The first car to circumnavigate Australia was a 1925 5CV in 1926. Vive La Difference...

@comcarclub

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the stories and descriptions. It's always great to hear about a fellow Citroën enthusiast from a family of Citroen fans. Don't forget, I am of the opinion that CX is probably the best car ever made, but none of what you mentioned (pods, revolving speedo and DIRAVI) were debuted on the CX, thus they cannot be claimed to be innovations. The focus on aerodynamics was introduced on the DS and the CX took it a step further. All the best!

@stephenberry1205

5 ай бұрын

@@comcarclub Agreed on the magnificence of the CX. I am not aware of any other car having the two rubber mounted longeron subframes. The pod control systems also debuted on the CX. No other systems was its equal in functionally or ascetically. Series I CX with stainless bumpers and rotating drum tacho and speedo had a horrendous rust problem. Rust fixed on series II. But less attractive with plastic bumpers. The CX GTI Turbo II was as fast as an SM... It was a better touring car with 4 doors and a proper boot... I did miss the swivelling headlights.... of the DS & SM The GSA X - 1299 5 speed was also quite exceptional for a small car.. Leased one in 1982 in Europe.

I know that golden age for Citroen is long behind us. But even in new and seemingly ordinary Citroens you can find some quirks, moreover when I compare them to more conservative manufacture's cars they seems to be quite distinct. Examples: Citroen C3 second gen with long front windshield, C3 Picasso with semi transparent speedometer, C4 Picasso one of the most quirkiest MPV on earth, C4 first generation that has steering wheel with stationary center ... I can do this all day long.

@patrykperonski5459

12 күн бұрын

I don't event start with DS automobiles which seems to keep avant-garde of old french cars.

I have a 2012 C5 3.0 HDI Tourer, I was going to buy a DS5 but it had a very firm ride whilst not being sporty. Still looks amazing tho

Fab! Hey mate, hello from Melbourne, great review! Our company car is a 2015 C5 X7 (hydro), it is amazing on long trips and so economical (makes electric cars a joke), 800++ Kms on a tank, soooo smooth, everyone riding in the car loves it. Makes the German cars feel very uncomfortable and bouncy by comparison. I don't think we'll sell it for a long time, it's so reliable and faultless (the stupid cup holder under the front arm rest, is a joke! hahaha). I just love driving it, quick, smooth and fabulous easy road holding. And it looks years ahead of its time. I had a CX2.0 Pallas in London, loved it so much, never had a problem. My parents had a 1978 GS Pallas, late model, silver, lovely looking car with that super innovative modern dashboard. Then a BX 1.9 auto that flew, such a quick light comfy car. Then an idiot smashed into them and wrote it off. I think, maybe, the new C5-X has some of the correct genes, I want to drive one, the ride seems to be quite amazing and again, it is a new type of segment car and very good looking. Thank you

The BX is excellent. Also, the Peugeot 405 connection is often misunderstood. The 405 is just a Citroen with the hydropneumatic ripped out. It came out many years after the BX and just took its platform. Kitch (UPnDOWN) made an excellent video about the suspension geometry on the BX. It is actually quite innovative in that regard.

@comcarclub

8 ай бұрын

Yes, that's a brilliant video from Mr Kitch!

Please more infos like this ! I never have one, but i dream about a CX One day !!

I personally think that there should be two separate questions. What is a proper Citroen and what is proper hydraulic Citroen? For some reason many people think that the proper Citroen always had the hydraulic suspension. But what about all the older Citroens? For example 2cv was car for masses, it was just a weird cheap car and there for I’d say that AX and even the C3 are proper Citroens. I also think that if they start production of Citroen Oli that would be a 2cv of electric cars.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

I agree wholeheartedly, especially regarding the AX and C3 (2nd gen onwards, though). The new C3 is based on the Oli and I'm actually doing a video on it (the C3, not the Oli)

Thanks for the video. Interesting and valid takes imo. I still have our old CX family car (which I’d love to put an electric motor in), but I’m very chuffed atm as I have just bought a red 2010 C5 hdi in good condition for $2000… Without a RWC, and 412,000 km but running well. Very much a Citroen with a pretty face 👌🙂

Nice video! Xantia owner here and just subscribed 😉👍

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Thank you and welcome!

Well I have one C6 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Diesel and definitely it is the proper Citroen. I am just loving it. and you forgot about the automatic rear wing popping out from the boot.

Just remembered one other model I owned, GS1220 Break. Amazing car. One for sale in my town now. 2 owners $30,000.

I don’t mean to offend anyone but the big Citroens like the C6 suffered in part because of what the executive class itself has become. Generally they’re fairly venal status seekers and exquisitely concerned with peer pressure regarding conspicuous purchases. Since everything German walks on water (no matter the reality) then that was it. I don’t think Citroen should ever have tried to appeal to Teutonic buyers and maximized their historical trajectory, making something lovable, as you say. I only wish Citroens had continued selling in USA (although I’m cognizant that federal regulations were making it nearly impossible during the 70s) because I would be driving one today. The newest I’ve driven is a CX. I’ve owned DS & SM and still have an ID19. But I could see myself nursing along an old Xantia or C5 today. But I concur with your judgment on this decidedly objective subject.

@famousutopias

4 ай бұрын

*This decidedly subjective subject* is really what I thought I typed! Regardless, your objective treatment of this subject is appreciated.

I agree with you all the way!!! But don’t you think the last proper Citroën is the Ami? It has been a game-changer in many ways and has succeeded beyond expectations! Innovative, has set a new standard in that type of « car » and so many quirks!!! 👍 And so will the new ëC3! 👍👍👍😀

@comcarclub

7 ай бұрын

Oooh, it's a good shout, undoubtedly. I think you could argue that, but I also have to admit that there were similar vehicles previously and the Ami was an evolution.

@atreyuidaho

7 ай бұрын

@@comcarclub alright, there were other quadricycles before but probably the first electric one at a low price! 😁👍

Two more categories for you to consider -4 Can you mend it? 5. How often will you have to do this? Like you, I have been driving Citroens forever starting with a Dyane 6, and working through them since then. CX - no, terminal rust in the roof sent many to scrap and electrics were awful. XM better, C5 best. I agree with the comments that the ZX and it's countless variants were probably best, with sales of over 14 million of all variants this is the sort of thing that will keep the company alive, not the C6 which had dismal sales..If you get one, go for the 3.0 petrol!

Thanks. Thoroughly enjoyed your post. I've owned and enjoyed a CX25 Gti and a BX Gti. I'd love to get hands on a C6 3.0 diesel but that model was never sold in NZ sadly. My first Citroën was a 1939 Traction Avant which I also adored.

@comcarclub

8 ай бұрын

That's quite an enviable collection! I always find it fascinating how New Zealand, being so far away from many car makers, has such a vibrant car culture. All the best!

Had a Citroen BX TRi Estate back in the day and it was brilliant. Only negative was a very heavy clutch.

You just described my Citroen shopping list.. currently restoring a cx,(and a gs) I drive a c4 and I’m glad you put it on the list I love it and don’t want to get rid of it.. although I am currently looking for a last iteration of the c5 with hydractive suspension. I am also new to Citroens, only 4 years..through my partner who loves 2cv’s.. and here in Australia it isn’t a particularly well known or well liked in ‘normal’ car world..

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Well, a warm welcome (4 years overdue, but welcome nonetheless)! Oh, a CX restoration. You're living the dream, IMHO. Thanks for the reply!

@ianspeer3530

9 ай бұрын

I have one of the last C5s with the twin turbo 2.2 diesels only ever serviced by Citroen and done less than 30,000km always garaged. Getting a bit old to drive. I case you are interested. In WA.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

@@ianspeer3530 my goodness, that sounds amazing. Forgive my ignorance, but is WA western Australia?

@gregoryharris4840

9 ай бұрын

@@ianspeer3530 sounds like a car I’d be interested in..

Thanks for the history lesson ❤, I watched the whole thing, Very informative, I agree with the points on the Xantia & C5 X7 Saloon both of which I proudly own (altough my Xantia is non-activa, 'standard' 😉 citroen hydra-active suspension, without the anti body roll)

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

The Xantia is a lovely Citroën in any guise. If I had my ideal garage, I'd have a pre-facelift Xantia, though I'm not sure if it would be the saloon or the estate, because they're both brilliant

@asaflevy1540

9 ай бұрын

The thing I'm really worried about, is what about the future? I'm addicted to the hydropneumatic suspension, of which, the X7 is the last of it's kind.. I know they continued innovating on the suspension in the 202X+ models, but nothing will probably ever feel quite as the cusion of compressed nitrogen gas, pushed by that beautiful Green\Teal LHM hydraulic Oil, or less so but still impressive LDS Oil hydraulic. Basically, what Citroen is going to be my citroen, in 10 years time, when the X7 can no longer be maintained without going insane.. @@comcarclub

The C6, in my opinion, was the last true Citroën. Never drove anything better, apart from my DS, though of course it was not AS innovative. Still, it was kind of modern conservatory of all things good about Citroën: thinking outside the box (much more different nowadays, so hats off to the fact that they were able to put such a car into production!), comfort, frenchness, safety, roadholding, design etc. Compared to current Citroën production, she is much closer to the originals than contemporary models. Besides, she was still badged as a proper Citroën, not that DS branding nonsense which killed the identity of such a venerable carmaker.

@gavgams

5 ай бұрын

Such a beautiful looking car, too … follows the XM heritage.

Great video pal ☺️. Would you class the Citroën ZX as a proper Citroën?

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Yes, I would

@jamesstanden1899

6 ай бұрын

The ZX gets my vote👍 Brilliant suspension. Incredible cornering. Squashy door handles.

During my time of driving i have had a lot of citroens. gs gsa visa cx 2000 cx 2400 cx turbo 2 diesel xm and finally a c6 3liter. A total of about 25 cars. Guess i forgot some . Being a petrolhead i did and still do spend an aweful lot of wasted money on cars😢😊

To be a bit pedantic about this, I think you answered this question when you said the CX was the last car to be wholly designed and engineered when Citroen were still a company on its own. OK, I’m biased, I’ve got a CX Athena, and have to say that I also share your opinion that it’s the best car ever made. As for not allowing it to be granted as innovative, I have to disagree on that point. You mentioned the grouping of all the switchgear within fingers reach of the driver without taking their hands off the wheel. I accept hat the GS pioneered something similar with its “satellites”, but they aren’t as well designed as the CX’s. Citroen also stressed that the CX had an emphasis on safety, and one of the elements in this was the unique way in which the door handles were positioned and, particularly on the series 1 cars, the door cards were sculpted in such a way as to allow the passengers body to move without snagging on any protruding door furniture. Another element in this design was the way the dashboard curved away from the front passenger. In an accident, when the passenger is thrown forward initially, that curvature prevented the face from impacting on the dashboard. Even the curved rear screen was designed that way to disperse any rainwater which fell on it. This dispensed with the need for a rear wiper. So, come on, grant it that missing tick, you know it makes sense. Good posting anyway, and I must agree with your opinion of the C6. Before I bought my CX I was seriously considering getting one, only the horrendous excise duty levied on it here in the U.K. made me falter, and then I thought, why not get the original rather than buy the re imagining. I even completely avoid the bloody road tax altogether now as my car is a 1980 model.

@comcarclub

8 ай бұрын

You need some verbal dexterity and/or to go very specific to find the CX's innovations. But I'm fine with that, as you can imagine. I'm very envious of your 1980 CX Athena (but in a good way). I sometimes still close my eyes and dream of the feel, sound and smell of the CX on cold mornings in the UK in the 80s. God, I miss that car.

C4 Cactus... Quirky - Yes.. Airbumps Air bag in roof Lightweight Interior - including leather strap door pulls Wipers with washers in the blade 3 cylinder characterful motor - before they 3 cylinders were popular. Then - the first Citroen with Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension... PS - In Australia CACTUS means caput / dead - in itself the name is quirky.

For me last true Citroen is last one with hydropneumatic suspension which is C5 x7 produced to 2017

I vote on a XM gasoline v6

I drive a C4 Gran Picasso Mark 2, and I'm not sure if it is a proper Citroen by your criteria. It's not really innovative (the digital dash and the interior layout reminds me a little of the Espace III and IV), it's not really unique compared with the competiton (maybe minus the AC/satnav unique module, common in most PSA of 2024 but I think debuted in that and the Peugeot 308 II, but it's not really a competitor) and it has a small quirk (the windshield is very big and the sunvisor extendes because of that, apart of the module that I find it slow and I'm not a fan of having hidden AC controls). Is it a proper Citroen? Idk... But I love its confort. I'v drove it like 15 hours once (with breaks, of course) and I've felt as good as I came in, minus a little bit of sleepiness, but I think that was expected Even smaller citroens like the new C3 or even the C1 has some quirkiness on its stiling. But I don't think they are really innovative neither unique.

@comcarclub

3 ай бұрын

IMHO it's a proper Citroën if it makes you like the brand and you're happy with it.

@miguelcardoso1903

3 ай бұрын

@@comcarclub I'm not a fan of the brand, but I just like that car. It's very underpowered (100cv) and I don't fancy the hidden climat controls (my biggest complaint about that car) but it's very confy and and a bit quirky (I forgot the uncommon handbreak lever location that a friend of mine left it off when I borrowed it to him because he couldn't find it eheh) but I like to drive it. I don't have a very rational explanation, to be honest. Maybe it's a good car to check in a remake, idk

what about the new gen C5X? is it a proper one? btw your roof mate...

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Yes, the sagging headliner is an eyesore. I'm still looking for lining material that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and now I have to wait until the weather improves. And I might talk more about the C5 x in a subsequent Video. I think it looks cool, for a current car

@johnbowie4869

9 ай бұрын

@@comcarclub Would love to see that one coming! For me it's good but somehow not good enough on some aspects. Had a test ride already?

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

@@johnbowie4869 I wish. I actually live very close to a Citroën dealer, but they treat their customers like sh*t and I got rather upset with their treatment and told them to their face. So I'm a persona non grata there.

@asaflevy1540

9 ай бұрын

I fixed the roof in my C5 X7 just ~8 months ago, spent the equvilent of about 230 quid at a specialized shop for roof / door lining fixes@@comcarclub The C4's have the exact same problem, and same roof 'glue' that gives up after about 10 years.

@nocturnal1970

9 ай бұрын

​​@@comcarclubSome random guy parked at the harbour told me he liked it the other day (the C5 that is), maybe he likes French cars as he started talking about Peugeot sharing parts. Mine is the saloon metallic Aztec grey, facelift 2012, full leather interior VTR+ Nav 163bHp. I watched your other videos and the 1.6 110bHp would be crap after driving this. BTW my rear parking sensors stopped working, maybe I accidentally turned them off fiddling with the Jurassic RNEG menu 😊 but you know what it feels more Germanic 😆😁... Not

concave rear window allowed it not to have a whipper and not to be blurry driving in the highway on rainy days

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

All the quirks have a practical side to them. All of them

Mercedes have the small mirror sunvisor too

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Yes! I was informed W123 and W124 had them!

Think for me the Citroen started it decline after the c6 I loved the c4 grate car definitely a Citroen but my ds3 is a pug its got no Citroen soal while it's quick it's kinda boring and going from driving my xantia on the weekend to the ds3 is horrible I want to get to the weekend so I have a fun car to drive again I'm thinking of replacing the ds with the c5 hopping it will be better

Very interesting...What about the ZX ? I owned BXs, ZX, Xantia Activa and XM. My son has a C5 2006, I also drove 2CV, Dyane, Visa and AX owned by my parents so I know a bit of Citroens. I don't know how but I think the ZX could fall in your true citroen Category.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Oh, I love the ZX. I asked my dad to buy one in 1991 when it came out but he only bought second hand cars. I didn't include it because think it would only be distinct from the competition. Sliding rear seat, 4-wheel steering, the Avantage, Reflex, Aura and Volcane trim-lines, all very distinct but I wouldn't put them down as innovations or quirks

@Pierre-oi9vc

9 ай бұрын

Maybe the quirk was to go against the trend followed by all the competitors. Here in France for example Renault was advertising for all safety features but Citroen for the ZX was advertising it is better not having an accident than buying safety features.

2cv?

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

I mentioned it in my first video. It's not only a proper Citroen, it's one of the most emblematic. It doesn't qualify for this list since lots of "proper" Citroens were launched since the 2cv: DS, SM, GS, CX, Ami, etc

The tiny sunvisor for the rear view mirror was taken directly from Mercedes W126 and W124, so it's not a Citroën quirk.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Another attempt to be more German. Thanks for the information

@guillaumeromain6694

9 ай бұрын

​@@comcarclubCitroën in their good old days never tried to be german... They just couldn't be bothered. Citroën was very much standing for themselves. the 1955 DS was the closest thing to a middle finger France gave to Germany... so there's that.

DS3

The C6 is the last proper Citroen

Old guy with blue hairs. Pathethic.

@comcarclub

9 ай бұрын

Thank you, come again.

my choices as had them....xantia, bx and xm....wish could get cx gti ☺

@guillaumeromain6694

9 ай бұрын

Cx GTi is a space ship getting you from A to B like no other car. I own one and it is by far my best automobile I ever owned.