How it started...

In 1987 I bought my very first car; a 1978 brownish-grey Simca Chrysler 1308 GLS [86-XK-38] (dutch licenseplate). A fivedoor hatchback with a 1500CC motor. He held out for a year and then gave up, ready to go to the scrap-heap.

Diana, then still my girlfriend, financed in 1988 the successor, a aubergine-grey 1982 Citroën GSA Club-break [HN-50-FT]. A fivedoor station with 1300CC. Up untill today It's my favorite allthough he only lasted two years. My brother bought it from me to have spar-parts for his car then.

After half a year without a car we bought another Citroën in 1990. This time a silverish-grey 1986 Visa 11e S6 Leader [PR-26-XP]. Once again a fivedoor but the engine capacity had dropped to 1100CC. In our carhistory this is the persisted one, we had it for 4 years before we decided that the inevitable repairs where so costly that it would be cheaper to search for a replacement.

In 1994 Diana took control; since she had been paying all the time, she now claimed the right to pick one. I suggested a Citroën AX but she decided on a 1991 blue Citroën ZX 1.4i avantage [DH-SP-62]. The last one with five doors in our series up till now and the engine capacity increased up to 1400CC. This was really our Bumper car; within a month I pounded it directly up-front. About six months later Diana repeated that same stunt. Well one thing is to be said about that model; it has the best crumple zone I've ever seen!

After two years we thought the time was right to buy a fully new car. Since we were (and still are) very satisfied with the model AND the safety it profided it had to be another ZX. This time a 1996 Bourdeau-red Citroën ZX 1.8i Furio [PL-NV-11]. It had to be a bit more sportive though and only three doors would subscribe that look. This speedy model had a 1800CC powersource that got us pretty spoiled.

From the moment it was introduced I had an urge, one day I would ride a Xantia and (finaly) enjoy the hydraulic suspension again. Our "economical" development made it possible at the end of 1998 to change to a bigger model and so it became a 1999 darkgreen Citroën Xantia 1.8i [XJ-PD-45]. The 1800CC engine had to drag a somewhat heavier coach work, but then again what pleasure it gave!

We were so delighted with this car that, allthough Citroën introduced the C5 and Xantia entered its last "season" we decided to buy another one. This one had to have more charisma like spoiler and aluminium rims. A 2001 silver metalic Xantia 1.8i 16v [50-GZ-XB] with a stiff 1800CC powersource.

Two years had past and it was time to search for replacement again. We weren't sure what it should be. Since I've took on this new job I had a companycar (silver metalic Opel Astra Station, 1.7 dti [20-HJ-LR] of 2001, unfortunatly I had no choice) and it wasn't right-thinking to keep such a big car beside it. So in 2003 we searched something tough but a bit smaller for Diana. But she had here demands and I couldn't keep her for Citroën (say C3 Pluriel?). It became something entiry different but o so like her.

It was a tough bargane that the C5 didn't belong to the possibilities, however there was a fitting alternative within reach. So when early 2005 the first companycar had about 158.500 Km on the odometer and had to be returned, I grap the oppertunity for another charismic car with Spoiler, 17" aluminium rims. A 2005 champagne metalic Peugeot 407 XS berline 2.0 HDi 16v [28-RK-HS] 2005 with 136 break-horsepower. In 2006, with swapping jobs, I took over this fabulous car.

What the future will bring us is very much unknown. Diana still rides her "sporty tiny one" and I have had about 185.000 Km's enjoyment and are not finished yet. Will there ever be an other Citroën for me?

Who knows, with the DS line, they have introduced some very attractive models. We shall see.