Driving a Citroën CX from New York to France - CAR and DRIVER
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- čas přidán 7. 11. 2011
- French Fried: Twenty years after French carmakers left America, we try to give a smelly old Citroën back to France. - www.caranddriver.com/features/...
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I genuinely felt bad about how this Citroen was treated. I scrolled down to see the comments and there is an overwhelming evidence of how much it has saddened others as well. I would like to own one of these classic Citroens someday but if it is going to annihilated by such folks then that dream is totally shattered.
this poor CX deserved to be restored correctly and it works perfectly .
the video says that it s a cx of 1989 , the car is not so bad for 22 years old !
I am shocked by this video. After just restoring a white Citroen CX, it is just a sacrilege to watch a pair or idiots destroy a repairable car. They show an ignorance of the French, European cars and what the CX was all about. For example, the suspension height settings were not meant to be altered for driving speeds. Such an all-round lack of grace, understanding and common sense.
LOL because these 2 idiots though that it s necessary to change the height with the speed ??? it ' s so ridiculous ! it s just to drive in a field with mood at low speed for example ( max 10- 20 mph ) . don 't touch the height setting when you drive quickly on the road !
Shame how you treated such a beautiful car at the end
I'm 19, we still have my father's 88 Cx. It's such a good car. I have never driven a car that is so much comfortable.
You said so many stupid things...
I want it! The car I learned to drive in was a '83 CX 20 in green. When it caught fire (of course) my mom bought a newer CX 22 Pallas instead. Drove that one on many a long road trip when I got the license. Ah, memories.
Kevin Diener fuck off hater
Why are you such a fanboy and dedicated to these guys? Everyone here in the comments are normal people who just wanna say that these guy are idiots because they destroyed one of the finest cars ever produced,And they are idiots for that.
Lol, now lets take a US car from 1989. Ow wait ....
these cars were available in 1989 in the US through CXA
Ouch. This was hard to watch, one of the last truely unique Citroens made. And unbelievably rare too, even in Europe so I'm assuming that they're even rarer in the States. Id like to think that it was beyond economical repair or restoration and that's why it was scrapped, but it did look like with a little TLC it could be a little gem. Even the suspension worked! Sad it ended the way it did.
To me it seems like this video was only made to troll the internet. You just don´t do this. Like you say, the suspension was working fine and the bottom did not have much rust 2:22 .
warren6815 Beyond economical repair? That's nuts. Put a grand worth of labour into it and no new parts whatsoever, and it'll shine, and will certainly be worth a few grand on rarity alone.
warren6815 I share your sentiments. It was just too painful to watch. They just dissed and scrapped one of the most amazing and unique cars like it was some generic nameplate.
And yeah, the suspension. Citroen devised it when they were on top of their game. The suspension system was the most reliable system of all Citroen cars that ever used it. It almost never broke down.
You just don't scrape a hydractive equipped Citroen like that. Just no.
Idiots found a rare classic car and destroyed it. Only in 'Murica.
Fuck off
It happens in all corners of Earth. Just watch Top Gear sometimes and see wha british "car lovers" do with valuable cars.
@@AdrianoCROST but even they wouldn't destroy a cx.
Aaww! Poor Citroën! I remember seeing these in top shape in Argentina. Here in Brazil french cars are much loved. They're not your cookie-cutter design and have personality.
So, let me get this straight: You set out to drive a Citroën to France, but instead of France, you went to a small French island, and instead of driving, you spent most of the time towing it and being shipped across on ferries, and instead of taking the car to this island, you left it in Newfoundland...
Great job guys!
That was just too painful to watch. Acting cool won't make up for all the stupid things you said and did.
I expected an objective review rather than a 3rd rate version of Jackass. You've failed to appreciate the many virtues of this classic car which was light years ahead of its time and had to top the DS (not an easy task). If the car is braking down, it's telling you that it needs a garage. So what if the spare wheel is under the bonnet, which way the window switches point. By slating it you've missed the fact that this car dares to be different from every other box on the roads.
Watching this video gave me hope that I too could be an automotive journalist in the future. Honestly, a bunch of 4 year olds would've been more knowledgeable and charismatic.
This sort of thing makes us French car fans want to scream and throw things!! and Yes contrary to popular belief, there ARE French car fans right here in the US of A
Yes there are fans, Im right along with you!
There is a fair share of Francophiles out there along with Anglophiles
They have absolutely no idea what they are doing. Such a shame to treat a rare classic that way.
When you said "it's more comfotable than a cadillac", you said everything. Jay Leno said citroën ds (predecessor) is the most comfortable car in history (and he owns 200+ cars). Watch his review of DS, please!
"Car and Driver. Intelligence. Independence. Irreverence"
... this video is mocking itself at the last frame.
Shame the destroyed that car. I would have gladly bought it from Car and Driver and restored it! These make great highway cars and are perfect for very long trips.
Totally idiotic video, amazing cars in my opinion and I'm British.....enough said.
alex carsley you're right !
Show the Citroen some respect!!!
the cx its quite a singular car, a true collector understands its value and which role it has in relation to the time it was produced. if you can buy one, its a good investment.
I owned a 1986 CX, bought it outside of Cleveland, OH brand new. It was the most comfortable car I ever owned, it road like you were floating on a cloud, the steering always self corrected itself and drove straight as an arrow...zero geometry steering it was called. I traded it in for a Mercedes, they had to call the dealer to find out a price, since none were listed in the NADA book. Wish you hadn't destroyed that car, could have given it to me. :o(
This particular vehicle was imported by CX Automotive in New Jersey as evidenced by the "CXA" replacing the usual "Citroen" emblem on the back. Though this car has clearly seen better days, one in good condition can command $20K.
For a 23 year old car I didn't think it looked that bad, it was running (just) but like any 23 year old car without maintenance it's going to break down. The Citroen CX was and is a fabulous motor and I'd have it over anything that came out of America in 1989!!
Ok, it seems you don´t know anything about car design, it´s a classic!!!
Stop watching at 7:43 or maybe even 0:00
I can't believe this video comes from a "serious" car magazine like car and driver.
Just so you know. Those Morette headlights are worth around 300-400 euros.
do those car and driver guys know that this car was awarded as the Golden Car of the Year?
citroen is the car of elegance and high taste.
This is just so American..... Man, Europan cars are better. When americans make cars, they just put enormous engine and that's it ! They're rubbish ! Nascar is really nice example of it ! Greeting from the continent ;)
Both Euro and US cars are awesome in different senses. American muscles are all about wild badassness and Euros are more sophisticated, so are Asian rides. I'm a massive fan of both Citroen and Chevy. (I know where you're coming from. It's a waste of a nice Citroen. Yanks are barbarians for sure)
Thank you. Yeah I agree. Muscle cars are awesome. I forgot about'em
Matouš Hasoň Muscles and SUV's/trucks or not American. They can't build compact cars in a decent manner.
The suspension is actually amazing... especially for the time
I said it 3 years ago and I'm going to say it again....how on earth is this even still one here ? Why isn't this video deleted by now ?
why do they repeat " this area is really strange " ? ( on the french island saint pierre et miquelon ) . it 's a very little island living of fishing ,they are all fishermen . do they expect to be at new york or paris center town with a lot of poeple ?
they found strange because mostly were small french cars and nhot those beast trucks and SUVs
Francisco Gallardo Castro ok , in france we don't need big SUV (even if we have suv middle size ) because our weather is not so hard than in usa with lot of snow in the north or wild road .And our cities in europe are not so wide and so big to support Suv . it s why we have middle size cars or small cars .
stephen10
looks like in here in Chile our streets are not that wide for those american trucks and SUV even the parking lots for those vehicles are just not adequate and yeah even in here the climate those years been just odd, global warming and just already i miss that some europeans brands just trade those big SUV instead of an normal Station Wagon , all what i see in Chile is those biggest SUV and on ads make looks like familiar cars
I LOVE american cars aaaand... I LOVE french cars... Own a '58 Plymouth and its a good car but... It is just a huge V8 automatic trans and simple as a rock, just like driving an old truck... It is great for me as i love its style but again... Like a truck, it only has its style to be "something". Then, I own a 1964 Citroen DS-19, which is simply good in all its aspects, its shape has been considerated the most beautiful ever, its confort is also unique, power brakes (AWESOME DISC BREAKES by the way), power steering, A/C.... Not the most powerful car ever made, but maybe the most confortable one, and the quality of its materials is exceptional. Never an american car has beaten the ride, even the quality of old Citroens. As I've said, I own, and have owned, french, amercian, italian, spanish, etc... cars, and more over I'm a mechanic and have the chance of testing cars everyday... My conclusion then of your video is that... Is quite stupid, you'll have to apologize me, its not being rude... Its just what it is...
I love the big barmy citroens, they characterise the era when car designers were dream makers. my dad had the Gandini styled BX to take me to school in & after many years without it, I want one. You lot didn't even buy a good one so don't come out "We bought a banger, all of them are crap"
I see now see why C&D stopped making videos and Motor Trend flourishes
This car is not to destroy it is a gem.
I would have bought it
i always wondered about that little island....
You also have to consider just how rare a CX is over in the States, hell, they're rare here in the UK (that's England before you ask what State I am in). The model you destroyed, was seriously rare. There is a guy near me, who owns a 2004 Mercury Marauder. Rather than want to destroy his car, I admire his choice (as I rather like Panther platform motors). You could have taken the opportunity of showing your fellow Americans, just how a car, can be done so differently. A shame.
Citroën understands more about Designing and processing as the American auto industry . Why a great car to be scrapped that. there could have been scrapped and a Dogde Aspen or Plymouth Volare !?
Like all cars, such car need a minimum maitainance, and this car looks the last time he see a real mecanic is long long long time away...
My 1972 Citroen DS has 356,879 miles, carries 5 passengers in luxury and comfort, relevels itself under load, automatically adjusts it's breaking, the inner headlights turn with the steering and it still gets 27 mpg with a semi-automatic transmission. I love cars. and I love American cars. BUT, I have to say, these vehicles are brilliant and way ahead of their time. With reasonable maintenance and care, they run very reliably.
the green "bombs" are actually very simple we have a compressible gas in the top half and a fluid in the bottom half in between theres a rubber membrane separating the fluid from the gas since gas is compressible and fluid isn't you will get a "bouncy" effect add a bit of weight from the car and the bounciness gets turned into a beautiful cushion of air
WTF MAN!?!?!? Car and Driver??? seriously???
Lucky I came over a CX in a 3 port garage.
I will buy that car to save it from people like you, and restore it bit by bit whenever I find some time.
I also came across another rare thing, an 1986 Isuzzu Piazza, or Impulse as it is called in the US.
I will also have that car as my precious captive ;)
Car and Driver Magazine, your employees have no interests in cars whatsoever, no one needs to be an expert to see that!
Three years have gone, things may have changed by now, but I won't believe it anyway unless you can provide sufficient evidence ;)
The Impulse is awesome, hell of a find. they extremely rare here in America. Rust got the lot of them, and they barely sold any to begin with.
+Antwon Jenkins I can't believe i've actually seen an impluse. The more I read about them the more I realize how lucky I am to actually have seen one in the flesh.
OMG this was one of the worst car videos ever and these guys actually represent Car and Driver? Citroen DS at its time was one of the revolutionary cars of the 20th century. Sure it was no Ferrari but it certainly did not deserve this treatment. Shame on you clowns.
I don't believe C&D would actually employ two idiots who would take a vintage car they have no understanding of, out on a mission like that. I'm hoping it's just a user submitted video. I can't believe the Jeremy Clarkson wannabe sets the suspension to "access height" not only while driving but complains about how it makes the ride harsh. hahhahhahaa that alone was *phenomenally* stupid. I think this video was nothing more than two avid Top Gear fans, happening upon a Citroen and attempting to show off how clever they are. What a shame they were so go grotesquely overconfident. I wonder if they've made another video after seeing the reflection of their talents here?
well, that was not a DS, so save your breath. they had time to kill.
Richard Macintyre Top Gear fans wouldn't be that stupid. They're just two idiots who think Cadillac and Chevrolet are the best things since sliced bread and coca-cola.
I just want to remember that Citroën were "complicated" cars to take to repair ust for the fact of the technological advances they had. A wonderful car. That'd be an ideal car with A/C, ABS, ESP. And a wonderful GPS attached to the window!!!
That car has more technology than American car nowadays....
Kevin Diener True
In the end I just scrapping, you had him well kept only thing losing fuel and could be a fire . I'll give you some advice, never change the height of the suspension in place , much less traveling at high speeds , the more the car climbs the suspension is stiffer and can dump . The suspension must drive with her normal height and if you climb to the next level not exceed 40km / h . I prefer the Citroen Xm before the Citroen CX
Nice Cadi!
i drive this car before is very good suspension
Amazingly the only components that used to fail was the components standard to any automobile (steel, door hinges, starter motors, electrical connections, etc.) that proved troublesome in service, not the advanced components.
I think I probably did the last good service on this car about 8 or so years ago. It was not in all that great of shape back then. The owner at that time wanted me to make it run so his daughter could drive it while she was in college. He should have gave her a space ship, or a leaky hippide-hop. Instead he gave her both! I always wondered what became of that car, now I know. You guys should have drove it to my place, I could have really used it for parts! Great engineering, bad neglect!!
Cx is a fantastic car.
I certainly have. I've also driven a great many Euros. A Massey Ferguson may well do 500,000 miles but it doesn't make it a better mode of transport. Your Lincoln might not leak but it also slides around corners like a marshmallow and proffers as much style!
Why did Citroen sales cease in America ?
I totally agree.
when are you going to make a video with spanish cars in America?? It would be nice. I talk about SEAT León, SEAT Toledo, Seat Exeo or SEAT Ibiza. They are very popular in Europe.
iliadde Are they even sold in USA?
I think remarkability of SEAT is rather low. They are nice-going and stylish modifications of well known Volkswagen vehicles... but there's just nothing entirely ground-breaking about them.
Citroën though ARE ground-breaking, especially those old ones. There's nothing even vaguely similar.
Besides, these guys have demonstrated that they cannot treat a European car, or even a European province with respect. You sure you want them to dump their shitty prejudice all over your favourite car brand?
Nice car.
alright im not exactly sure what this video is about because any car that age i feel would be just as bad... so is it just because it was french in the us?
I owned an 87 Cabriolet Volkswagon and a 94 Passat. The Cabriolet needed three fuel pumps and complete engine overhaul at 83,000 miles. The Passat burned oil and blew the transmission at 60,000. I never owned an American car that didn't make it past 150,000 before extensive work was needed. I bought these cars new. The Amewrican cars were Ford products. I got 100,000 miles out of a Yugo without any problems save for a new clutch.
Sorry to make some corrections: the technology used in the CX, the same one that started all the rage with the DS, was created AND implemented in 1958. The first cars had the all-encompassing hydro-pneumatic system that drove suspension, brakes, gearbox and steering at the same time with a semi-automatic 'box. Picture this: the DS was introduced as a substitute to the ground-breaking Tracion Avant, the only car -then, to sport front-wheel drive. The CX was the car to replace the DS in the 80's.
Carlos Martinez yes the Citroen Traction Avant had Hydropneumatic suspensions but only on its last years. So nobody drove a lot of these . But the Citroen DS had it since the beginning so it was more "official" and it was so advanced that it eclipsed the "Traction Avant" .
maannn!!! why did you do that? I would have bought that from you , I love Citroëns
If they'd done any research, they had found this:In 1974, the final nail in the coffin of Citroën selling autos in North America was delivered-the decision by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to prohibit passenger vehicles with height-adjustable suspension. Citroën ran into issues where U.S. design legislation fixed older technologies in place, and prohibited certain engineering innovations "not invented here" - sound familiar?
Citroën cx my favred car
5.59 that is a Renault Express van with windows and seats, forerunner to the Renault Kangoo.
"That giant peace of crap", first come o market in 1974, still drives better than most US developed cars until maybe 2010 on.
More comfortable while still having an amazingly save behavior when driven fast.
Just any TV show - has probably nothing to do with cars...
Good point. Let's see who's reviewing the truck they were towing the Citroen with in 30 years. Citroen had 3 cars nominated in the Car of The Century. No American manufacturer (or any other in fact) managed three.
Also DS was 3rd in Car of the Century
So many exceptional unique models
Traction - 1934 - 55
2CV - 1948 - 90
DS - 1955 - 75
GS
CX
SM
C6
In 1978 I was custodian of the new RR Silver Shadow II, A Citroen CX Prestige plus a 2CV6 Club.... The Citroens won out on comfort, personality & fun.
The Roller won on WAFT factor, but was actually quite unreliable as were many British cars built in the late 1970s. "Failed to Proceed" 3 weeks old on first trip out of London near Stonehenge. The RR emergency mechanic reseated the main electrical harness plug and crimped it in place with a pair of multigrips.
It had dropped out. Many other issues including loss of power steering fluid - twice.
This was how automobile magazines used to get rid of the summer help after the unemployables were foisted on them by upper management.
Back in the days of David E. Davis Car & Driver was an enjoyable and subscribable magazine.
something old rare and expensive like that citron, you put it in the back yard and sell it in peices on ebay,help someone with a less detoriated one have a chance to get parts
put it in service height while driving upon putting the steering in full lock the drive axle could fall out which makes you most definitely crash
Ok but why did you destroy it? Wtf?
at first i was like,"Oh why are der a lot of dislikes on a nice citroen?" and den i realized " Oh Why Dey Making Fun Of Dat Citroen?!!!!"
They coming in a island of France, 6:01 and they say it's full of french people... sure it's not gonna be full japaness.
And what they did to this CX is unacceptable
Hey Sam , vous voulez en voir du monde weird ? Just go up north of N. Y . and take the highway 87 straigth to north until you reach Québec , lot of poutine to eat ( french fries with cheese & gravy ) for a total disorientation ( ... of the stomach ) and yes ... it's full of french people too .
The proof that many americans should learn more about several locations from their own continent in a week trip journey. It's like they discover an extraterrestrial secret base. ^_^
Every informed people knows Peugeot is the owner of Citroën in PSA group, like repair a Lincoln in a Ford concession.
@CARandDRIVER Why aren't you putting out any videos? Exhaust note doesn't count.
Glad to see someone still loves the CX! And you're right, you'd expect a decent mag to have a couple of road-testers that don't try to emulate Top Gear, which is foremost an entertainment program. I clicked on this expecting to see I balanced review of pros and cons (don't get me wrong, there were plenty of CX cons!). But a wonderful, if faulted car, has been panned by a couple of twerps who are too used to Ipod connectivity and satellite navigation. What a waste of a potentially good video.
I agree. Citroen has always been at the forefront of automotive technology. Check out the gorgeous C6. Why can't we have this car in the US?
@zendoking
true, atleast the Citroen had character and was unique.
i propose to car and driver to discover the DS actual ... or the citroen C5 in the same category of the CX in the 80 's
If you gave these two an original Picasso, they’d probably try to fix the proportions with a marker pen and the just burn it when they realise they can’t. What an absolute shameful end for a glorious piece of automotive engineering. I have never come across a video with more thumbs down than up, let alone 7 times the amount of dislikes.
Funny how many irate comments were posted about this kinda funny video. I rented a Citroen once in Nice, and thought it was very nice, though it was nearly new (1997 at the time). I don't remember the model, but it did have the compressed gas suspension, which worked well and was very comfortable.
Disappointed they didn't manage to get the Citroen to St. Pierre!
i like the escalade
Sadly, it is not Top Gear. All 3 Top Gear host have an outspoken admiration of big old Citroëns. Mainly because they are partially educated. Jeremy Clarkson did a wonderful test drive of the C6, starting with a decleration of profound love to the CX. I am really sad, that a serious US car mag like C&D pull of stunts like this. I wish, they had cared to ship off a couple of intelligent adults to drive a CX in very good to perfect condition. Chances are, the outcome would have been different...
This CX in good, not neglected, condition would be a thrill to drive.
i bet that was a nice car back in the day.
Nice looking car. It's too bad Citroen quit offering cars when they did.
...Pierre de Saint isn’t the only bit of France in the Americas, they still have an entire small country in the Guyanas.
Completely agree with @halvomeister
lol an American trashing a French car ! This has made my day!
@bulliish True, plus all Ford models that have air suspension dont work after a year. This car's still works. As long as this cars maintenance was kept up it would be fine. Cant say that about some American cars.
Here's a novel idea - replace the crankshaft sensor!
Citroen parts are very hard to find in North America.
jodebest north americans are just very ignorant.
jodebest
Ebay
jodebest Then they'd need to do something worth of a journalist's job description - get in touch with people in Europe who can get the part for them, perhaps make a nice video about it. Heck, any oldtimer repairman worth his salt has contacts abroad for EXACTLY that purpose!
But no, they had to stroke their dicks on this instead of doing any even mildly challenging work.
i think this car has lots of cool and unique features for its age. You cant expect a 24 year old car to be in perfect working condition.
100 vs 100
NICE!
@nenjalj I agree!!
the CX is also not crap. this example was just 40 years old and not taken care of. what do you expect?