1988 Citroen CX GTi Turbo 2 2.5 turbo petrol

Summary:

Once in a lifetime experience

Faults:

Split hydraulic hose (low-pressure feed to the HP pump).

Rear tyres tended to go down to 0 psi without it being apparent.

Metric size tyres are agonisingly expensive (250 quid a wheel).

Front foglights (mounted in the plastic bumper/airdam) were corroded away.

Muffler shows it needs replacing due to internal corrosion by banging on the bodywork!

General Comments:

Absolutely stunning car, if and only if you have a very friendly INDEPENDENT Citroen mechanic to look after it for you. Don't take them to Citroen garages.

Fastest car across bad roads I have ever encountered: massive mid-range torque - this is a turbo *pushrod* engine remember - and superb soft suspension make it astoundingly good.

Lots of foibles. Steering is ultra-sharp, and no matter what happens to the front wheels your hand stays steady - the power assistance makes this certain. Come to a stop a T junction and leave the wheel turned, and it will force the front wheels to straight-ahead. Brake pedal has no travel: it works from the amount of pressure you put on it. Gorgeous seats, huge headroom. Needs oil-changes every 3,000 miles, and synthetic oil at that.

If you want an eccentric, enormously fast, cleverly engineered car, and you know you have a first-rate specialist mechanic in reach, get one of these incredible things. I'm thinking of buying mine back...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th February, 2001