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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
- You know when somebody you know goes on holiday, and then comes back and bores you with their holiday pics...?
I'd always wanted to take my C6 back to France, but these weren't quite the conditions I was dreaming of!
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Did I mention I own an SM?
If anyone had told me I would spend 45 mins of my life watching someone sitting on a stack of tyres whittering on about their holidays and enjoying it, I would have suggested they'd been sniffing brake cleaner. But I did and I did. Great video and glad you had a such good time.
Try watching while sniffing LHM, it just makes sense.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine watching someone talking about his holiday with his family in a Citroen for 46 minutes, but I certainly did.
I like how you tell us about this as if to a friend
- you have a natural facility for talking to camera, Richard.
I’d love to go to St Nazaire for exactly the same reason. Operation Chariot… just amazing.
Isn't it just?
Mysterious. Car number 1 had issues so you were forced to drive the car you always wanted to drive in France? Funny...
Ssshhhhh
This channel is peak-TH-cam and you can’t convince me otherwise.
I won't try!
Excellent. Riveting. And, very well-edited.
I’ve spent time living in France (with a wife fluent in French) many years ago. It IS quite unique quality way of life in most ways. But, the bureaucracy was maddening. Everyone just deals with it. UK used to be an interesting place with lovely, genuine and often hilarious people well into the late 90s in my experience. Then something changed - can’t put my finger on it. It was ok. But, there was this nearly universal stress. Less sense of humor. The last week long+ visit to London (Spring 2011) - I couldn’t wait to get out. Maybe that was just London.
However, Re: road rage you have experienced nothing until you come see us in much of the US. A cocktail of resentment, self-importance and easy access to firearms awaits.I
A friend of mine, who moved from London to the Vendée, described French traffic exactly as you said.
"The world is revolving around each Frenchman individually. They will cut you off in traffic but expect everyone else to do so as well, so they will shrug if you have cut them off."
i love hearing you chunter on about really anything you wanna talk about. thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YoutalkWelike your podcast!
Love the Clement goodies and DS plate.
Fab story, I have really enjoyed it.
I believe Vendée is pronounced "vonday" as in "one day".
Soaking your seatbelt webbing in biological washing powder should help clean them; the enzymes in bio powder will breakdown organic stains such as blood, sweat, fat, grass, organic dyes etc. (Do you remeber the Biotex commercial on TV?)
I always feel grumpy when I come back home to the UK from France.
The roads in France are superb; often so straight and flat that you can plan your overtake at leisure, the asphalt road repairs are so smooth that you would barely know that they are there other than the colour difference, and you can buy real, whole lettuce and endive in the supermarkets.
The PARKING is amazing in towns and villages: here are some shops; butcher, baker, patisserie, or food market, etc, and here is the free parking in the town or village square so that you can patronise those shops and businesses.
It's almost as if they actually want you to shop local and enjoy the best that it can bring at a good price.
Good tips, cheers!
You, good sir, are an excellent story teller. You really get the listener's interest on your side and you know how to tell the events vividly and without forgetting the humor.
Thank you, that's kind!
Cracking vid: echoes of our sprint to Poland in my old e36 M3 a couple of weeks back, when the e53 X5 failed to proceed due self level inactive 🙄. Think we clocked around 3k with roof box, broke 1 indicator due debris thrown at it & the air con gurgled a bit in the heat. Incidentally those belts will clean up, a soak with & in a cleaning solution of your choice, some microfibre towels & a steamer. You'd be amazed, come up like new.
Richard. That was a brilliant video regarding your holiday adventure. What an incredible car. Nearly 160000.00 miles on the clock 40 to the gallon averaged and totally reliable and you paid just 750 pounds for it. What an absolute bargain.
I drove from Birkenhead to France in my Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0HDI a few years back to visit Normandy and the coastline along there. The car didn't put a foot wrong.
Lovely place to be. As you say the place was clean and tidy the roads are great and France in general is stunning. Good on the C6 getting you there and back. And it sounds like you had a great holiday.!
Love it, a great adventure and it made me feel like I just had another European holiday too as it brought back many memories of traveling in that part of the world myself way back in 1973/74, thanks for the memories...❤
Thoroughly enjoyable and strangely entertaining….. or maybe it’s me that’s strange?
Totally agree with what said about France, We have had about 30 holidays there plus about 15 short breaks. Roads Brilliant, Cleanliness France Belgium and the Netherlands agreed. Life style and the space is so much more than the South East of the UK. We always stayed in gites in the countryside . Adjacent homes had big family social gatherings on Sundays lots of food and drink and laughter, really nice and because my wife speaks French fluently were invited as well sometimes. ( Suspected you were a francophile) 😎
Also French chocolate is best by far. Belgium chocolate is overrated Jeff de Bruge (nil point)😀
Oooh....not sure about that!
Its alright to admit being a francophile. Pretty sure Boris one as well
Fabulous Mr Kitch, thanks for sharing 👍
Avions Voisins, what remarkable motors they are! Often shown at Goodwood FOS on the Cartier Lawn.
Funny, I got a C6 and I am going to see the dock for the same reason! I she is still too floaty, remember the pump, worked wonders on mine and if the old one had not died I would never figured it out!
Apparently Paris has always been like that I've a book my dad Gave me "car driving in two weeks " written in 1966 .
There's a part in it that says ( along the lines of ) if two Englishmen have a near miss on a narrow street the horns are blaring they get out and start shouting.... If two Frenchmen have a near miss on s narrow street they wave ,get out , shake hands and congratulate each other on a magnificent piece of driving ...........nothing is ever new is it? 😁
I have some real funny film of Rouen des les Artes track with R8 and R12 Gordini's racing. The corner you showed features heavily and in one bit a car overshoots the hairpin and goes around the back of those bushes and a fireman carrying a fire extinguisher has to run out of the way - circuits were so much more dangerous in the past
Superb story telling, Such insight into Citroens history. This was a great watch and made even more enjoyable because French!. I enjoyed this a lot!
I really miss driving in Europe I lived there for 6 years in 90s when I got back I had to remember to drive like an English man again, approaching someone from behind at 70 with the right indicator on doesn't get the same response here
Because the person you're steaming up behind likely hasn't looked in their mirror for the past 15mins...
I’m a recent convert to your channel and thoroughly enjoyed your holiday stories. I got my licence well over 40 years ago and learnt to drive in my Dad’s Citroen GS/GSA. It was a company car and his employer also owned the local Citroen garage so I also often drove a 2CV, Dyane and Ami. That’s what started my love of Citroen and their cars of that era! The Traction Avant, 2CV, GS, DS, CX and SM were groundbreaking and the models with hydro-pneumatic suspension were awesome! The only pity is that some of the engines should have been better. It is such a shame that Citroen is no longer the innovative car company it once was. I look forward to watching your progress with Clement and your SM!
My CX of the 80s was awesome but I always maintained that it deserved a modern engine.with tractable and torquey small V6 it would have been the best car ever made instead of being a ‘Nearly, Nearly’
@@blxtothis I also used to lust after the CX 25 GTi Turbo which I would have loved to have owned. I don’t think Citroen had the money to really develop great engines although they tried with the Maserati engine for the SM.
Enjoyed this episode, we took our three children on camping holidays to France many times from the early 90s, lovely place and yes not much litter and patience abounds from the natives whilst driving about , we thought the same more relaxing place to be and to live .
Ha ha I had to keep watching this video as you were so engaging just talking about your family holiday.
Thank you for sharing it with us, that seat belt at the end I suggest using a Bissel Spot Cleaner or similar on it 😉
Catch you again soon...
Thank you for sharing your holiday adventure with us. The C6 is made for long distances, as it turns out. When I go to France I always stop at the Reims-Gueux circuit to check the progress of the refurbishment. Have you ever been to the Reims car museum? Well worth it. Memories of Le Mans again. And you also paid a visit to the country where I live, even though you were in the most south-western tip of the Netherlands.
Yeah, I went a couple of years ago, but couldn't this year as it's closed on Tuesdays!
Loving the County Antrim registration on the S-Max!
That's where it came from originally. Apparently DVLA would issue us with a GB one FOC, but it's just part of the car now.
It's been about a decade since I've been to Paris, but the three manufacturer salons on the Champs Elysses were quite good for memorabilia (I still have a random selection of 1:64's in my office, not sure where else I'd find a Citroën C5).
I also appreciated how many C6's I saw in Paris (seemingly as common as black Town Cars in any North American city), just to see virtually none anywhere else.
No C6s there when I went, other than that Spanish-registered one. Had the kids in tow, though, which limited time there. Need to head back just me and the wife, and actually have time to look at stuff.
I used to drive to the outlaws in a little village called Saint-Palais - 03370 - in my C6s. 5+hrs from Dieppe, and arrived feeling like we’d just driven from Southampton to London! I even replaced the timing belts and the coolant input manifold - the one above the alternator(!) - whilst there. Dans l’autoroute, so many passing French drivers slowed down alongside and had a good looksee at us, even though on a UK VRM; we could only think they were looking for Nicholas Sarkozy… 🤷♂️
The sheer chance of an S Max shatting itself gave us this delightful content. Excellent road trip for a petrolhead.. I imagine how amused my wife would be if i found an excuse to blend in some of the iconic French motoring sites…
Paris emissions laws mean very few classics in central Paris although I know it is supposed to change or maybe has now. As regards British egos I am sick of this woke society and ignorant middle class belief that you are somehow always right never make mistakes and everyone else is wrong. Your 100% correct.
Drove 2800 mile round trip to Italy via France and Switzerland in a W140 S Class this year and loved it huge boot mega reliable superb aircon and lots of love for the car.
£750… that is an absolute bargain for a beautiful stylish car that took you and your family on a great holiday without any issues. Bonkers 🥰
Sounds like a great trip.
It was. Great memories.
Great pictures, it must have been a good trip. Greetings from Brazil!
I found the best way to tackle a dirty seatbelt is a bucket of warm water with loads of Vanish in it, and a small scrubbing brush (nail brush). Towels to prevent drips onto the leather. Pull the seatbelt out as far as it will go and clamp it so it can’t retract. Then set to with the brush, Vanish and a cloth. Rinse well and leave to dry. It’s a trick used on MX5s - usually needed to speed up the retract which slows when dirty.
That’s works very well. But if your in a hurry. Do all the prep you mention and use a power hose, something like a power adjustable Karcher. I did the rear cream belts and they are like new. Then also use the towels as you say to protect the leather and door area. I hold the reel open with a clothes peg as well.
I know it's been 8 months already, but if you are still thinking about cleaning those filthy seatbelts here is a tip I saw on C6 Polish owners group. Go to a car wash, those where you wash the car by yourself. Bring the seatbelt out as far as it goes (outside of course), close the door and start pressure washing it. It works marvelous!
It helps when a second person holds the seatbelt so it doesn't flop around
I was actually thinking of doing this in the summer with my Karcher and some upholstery cleaner.
@@UPnDOWN I bet the process will be very satisfying 😎
I have driven in Paris and also Rome. You're quite correct the French are more laid back. Rome was a different story, but just as fun. Plenty of horn action and gesticulating, but no real tempers frayed. Every car in Rome had some paint missing, even the shiny new ones. 😁
Really enjoyed that 👍 thanks
Last time I drove to Paris was in 2005. Put my family in the DS23 Familiale and went to the 50th anniversary of the DS. First time driving in Paris. Loved it! And that´s not even considering that there were about 2000 DS´es in Paris that week. I thought everything would go wrong but no. It just worked. Same car has to this day never let me down. Best vacation ever. And yep. France is better than Sweden too. Loved to hear your story. Brings back so many memories.
Sounds great!
The Spanish C6 was registered Jan 08 and is a 2.2 HDi 170cv, engine code DW12BTED4
That was delightful!
What a car! Well done C6.
You're a true ambassador for Citroen. Looked like a great trip, thanks for sharing.
I have the same attitude, it makes ALL the difference when you indicate, by law you must do so, to show you're intension but above that it says you acknowledge the rights and presence of the other road users which also says that you care somewhat and so you don't flip into a rage.
I have to say that I enjoyed this video. Well done Richard!
Great yarn, mate!
Now you have to bring your Clement to Etretat, on the coast of Normandy ! I was on the rouen circuit couple weeks ago with a 1990 Xm turbo D12 !
I've just come back from a week in the Vendee in my Dsuper5. We stayed with french friends and their family. We did 1000 miles and never saw another Ds. The french didn't think much of it, just that they remember feeling sick in them! I think we've been duped ha ha. Lots of nice comments...from English people on holiday.
I really enjoyed this video Kitch, Excellent. I have only ever driven around the Périphérique to get to Versailles when I worked at Airbus, and that frightened me. Driving through Paris was brave. All credit to you and you family for putting up with the cramped conditions..
Sounds like a bloody great holiday in a really special car... You now need to name it.him,her...
I don't normally name cars tbh, it's just the C6. And Clement isn't a car, so it doesn't count.
@@UPnDOWN 🤣🤣🤣
My C5 did the exact same thing here in Australia as your C6 did at the Eiffel Tower, scraping the plastic underskirt while entering a car park too quickly. In retrospect I wished I'd pushed the ^ button in the centre console, as my wife was driving at the time, but it happened too quickly and I didn't see it coming anyway. It seems there is room for Citroen engineers to design some kind of proximity sensor that would react to such hazards by giving the suspension a quick uplift, but sadly Citroen engineers no longer think of anything so innovative as hydropneumatic suspensions. Those new squishy dampers are no substitute, unfortunately. It's sad really, because in this era of EV's you'd think Citroen would come up with some kind of tour de force of innovation that would incorporate Hydractive with all the latest EV wizardry. Even Tesla has a fairly respectable air suspension on the Model S, which puts to shame anything Citroen is doing with its current models,
I went to Spain last year in a £300 Honda Civic expecting to travel 320 miles to the ferry, 50 miles to our destination on the other side and return, plus a few hundred miles over there. We arrived home with an extra 2400 miles on the clock. BRILLIANT
A great video! Nice to hear that your C6 did well, surely taking a C6 on a European road trip is the dream. Didn't get to take mine abroad, but I think I need another C6. I'm heading to Reims next month, amongst other places, so it was interesting to see you visit there.
First time i’ve watched a vídeo from you and ir was great. Didn’t think I Would watch it to the end with you just talking! Best regardes from Portugal
Thanks. I watch them back and wonder why people do watch them, tbh!
good luck with the C6! I have (had) two, traveling with it from Metz in France to Prague, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milano, Spain, Switzerland, even up to Norway, 100 000 km with a black one, 2.2 hdi that I sold and ca 60 000 km in a blue 3.0 hdi, that I'm about to sell. I always enjoyed the driving so much, despite of a certitude to returning back home by plane time to time as both cars every now and then didn't make it back home due to defects on the road...now I replaced the by a Jaguar X350, that also had quite some problems, and a beautiful XJ X351, that is ''brand new'', 20 000 km only, despite of being a car from 2013. The C6 has better suspensions for sure, Jaguars have better interior material, let's see how they will work in time, compared to the C6'
I’ve just come across your channel, for the pure fact you made one of the kids sit on the jump seat all holiday I’ve subscribed as it’s what my dad would have done back in the day. I can remember a really uncomfortable holiday sat in the back of my dads Healey just because he preferred driving it rather than my mums Cortina! Anyways I’m strangely attracted to large French barge’s, dad had a CX back in the day and I met a lovely chap with a metallic green SM at the weekend who ran Middleton motors in Potters Bar where my dad used to service his CX.
Fab. Kinda always wanted one but so much bad press has engulfed this car from day one. I love your C6 story and have followed it all the way. I'm more than intrigued now that I see how ridiculously low a price a £30,000 limousine can fall to in 4 years!!! Love your Channel too.!! I live in France and the lifestyle suits me just fine. Citroën fits the bill here too. 😊
I think the bad press is a bit sensationalised, to be honest, but then if I wasn't, my C6 videos probably wouldn't get as many views!
You are a natural. Great video, glad that you had a great holiday and plenty of legroom.
Hi, I have C6 my self and I like it a lot. it has perfect ride and it has pretty powerful engine. No for racing, but perfect for cruising and overtaking. I guess yours is Gasoline 3.0 V6 204 bhp manual gearbox as I heard you saying about the litters per 100 km. Mine is 3.0 V6 Diesel Twin Turbo 240 bhp 6 speed automatic gearbox. and the economy is much better. I drive it mostly in city and as an average I have achieved 10.8 to 11.0 liters per 100 km. Outside of the city when you drive below 100 km/h it is about 6.5 to 7.0 liters per 100 km. On a highway with about 140 km/h 7.5 to 8.2 liters per 100 km. For me it is the perfect car. Yes the boot is a little bit low because it is a sedan, but can't say that it is small and you ca still lower the back seats if you need more space. The car is really specious inside and even people in the back sets have plenty of room for their legs. Mine is also black with the beige saloon and carpets as yours and this makes it look very cool and sunny inside.
It's a 2.7HDI.
The manual box wasn't available with the petrol.
The figures I quoted were km per litre, not litres per 100km.
I can't lower the back seats because it has the lounge pack (and besides, there were kids in it).
Mine's Storm Grey, not black.
I’m going to dig out some Citroshite that I have laying around, which you’re welcome to, mate. Publications, unused calendars, etc. Mainly DS related…
Thanks!
great fun! unless my C6 is unique you should be able to raise the suspension. Next time you visit France to get Citroen memorabilia watch out for local vide-greniers or brocante - just like our car boot sales. In Paris the march au puce (literally flea market) is famous and a lot of fun. Beware pickpockets! Thanks for your videos and don't forget the seal which protects from rain getting past the foil hinge and destroying the electric junction. Bruce ps if you are near Cognac in the Charente there is an excellent Kegresse museum quite nearby.
I can raise the suspension...I was joking 😜
Great stuff Richard! Thoroughly enjoy your videos and the stories of your brilliant French cars. You’re the true antidote to the likes of Shmee150. PS I can absolutely recommend the Le Mans Classic and can guarantee that you will see SMs and DSs there 🇫🇷
You are the Alan Wicker of dodgy old cars.
Throughly enjoyed that.
*goes off to look for a C6 on ebay*
*goes off to Google Alan Whicker*
Aah, the missed opportunities due to TH-cam timelines and video releases. I live 25 minutes from the Musee de L'Auto in the Vendeé. Lots of good things could of happened😁 and yes, France is now a better place to live than the UK
I probably passed a lot of people's houses, to be fair 😆
Actually seatbelts are very easy to clean. Whatch some videos about it. I used warm water with some bleach and a scrub with soap neutral. As new.
I must admit, I would love to see the U-Boat pens in St. Nazaire. So much WWII blokey stuff that I would love to see around Europe in general. Not least because I would like to know more about how life was on the other side of the front lines. Odd really, being in a relatively modern Citroen, in France, and it being a rare car. That's quite HubNut.
Great little video Rich and the C6 performed amazingly on the trip! Cannot complain for £750 and some great little goodies. I think me and my wife went to that restaurant in Bruges many years ago and totally agree the food was lovely.
Visited The Le Mans museum many years ago on a family holiday to the Loire.
If you thought taking a C6 around part of the Le Mans circuit was unusual, at the time we had a 1992 Peugeot 309 GLD.
Nice talking in front of a C6.
I can always take my bike and
make a tour through our village and spot at least 5 or 6 of those beautiful cars.
I live above Amsterdam.
Next week holiday in France perhaps we spot one.
Did you ever visit the museum
in Loheac under Rennes.
No, I haven't been to that one. Need to, though!
As the third son, I was unceremoniously thrown into the boot of our 1964 Cortina Estate and driven to Rome and back, aged 7. Now aged 61. Addicted to traffic fumes.
I love the fact that a rare odd Citroën is the more reliable choice!
Injoyed all of the 46 min.
If you're into sleeve valve engines, check out the bonkers Bristol Centaurus
It’s a credit to you Richard after all the hard work resurrecting it. Great car, great holiday
Chops Garage - Salvage Rebuilds UK and Tyre Kickers will fill you in with products to clean that beige interior including the seatbelts - personally I find their results amazing but on my own car I can never be arsed - as long as there is no actual mould its clean enough for me ha ha ha
Hey Rich, three things:
1: Great video
2: The Le Mans sticker looks superb
3: LMAO. My was exactly like the C6 on the inside when we got back from our hols in the Isle of Wight.
and 4: I very much look forward to more videos from you. Thanks for taking the time and effort to make them
That's four things
The background of the DS21 ceramic sign is the cliffs of Etretat in Normandy.
I'll have to recreate it one day.
How cool will it be to remedy the dearth of Parisian DSs by cruising around in full-patina Clement. Prepare to be photographed - a lot!
Aside from the photographing bit, I really want to take Clement home.
You must have been there about the same time as we were - I took my 2005 C5, did 1700 miles in 2 weeks in absolute comfort!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember my first time in Paris 1972. The whole city was littered with Citroën DS's, some with the "new" front (turning lights), some with the old; many with built-in fog lights over or under the normal headlights (my dad had a DS - so I noticed). The rest of the cars were of course other Citroëns, Renaults, Peugeots, and even Simcas. You would see the odd Mini, Merc, or Fiat, but 95% of all cars were French (or so it seemed). Now there is hardly any difference whether you go to Paris, London or Rome: it's the same Euro/Asian SUVs. Sorry you couldn't find any real Citroën stuff in Paris, I think most people do not really care about the car history anymore.
Another Intreguing look behind the scenes of you & your family's varied lifestyle, Thanks. See you in the next one. 👍👍
Lovely Jubbly, I'd be very happy to own your car. Citroën still today get a a bad name, but in the top ten unreliable cars there isn't a French car in it, plenty of Audi's and JLR vehicles though.
I feel the same way about Austria (specifically Tirol, up in the Alps) as you do about France. I'd live there in a heartbeat.
This is like what George Bishop would have done if there had been TH-cam in the 1970's, brilliant content!
George Bishop; excellent. Fond memories.
Don't forget there'd be an extravagant lunch involved including a run down of the wine list. 👍 To think his column was replaced by James May. 😕
it is a lovely old hector really though
A brilliant engaging video talk Richard, thank you. I think now have a special bond with your C6. 👍👍
I so want a citroen c6. No idea if there are any in nz though so may have to stick to the horror of my au falcon.
Import one from the UK while they're cheap! They're RHD at least.
I was shocked the first time I rode a bus in Paris. They drive as crazy as everyone there.
Wow. I was planning on doing a video on my holiday to the Algarve in my C5, I got footage for it and everything, and now it's going to look like I copied you
😆
A homage, Monsieur, a homage.
A great video to watch when waiting for the Netherlands F1 GP to start. Btw, I would think you'd find the best SM (the car, not the other one) memorabilia in Netherlands. They like classic Citroens over there.
I just had a look at C6s for sale over here: found two. Both over $20k and in Melbourne that is twenty hours drive from here 😀
I plan to return to the Netherlands for a better look 🙂
@@UPnDOWN 😂
Coming from France I was amazed at the number of beautiful DS and CX driving around in Amsterdam.
Brilliant 👍
The car is the star.
Nice camp site at Berny Riviere, La Croix de Vieux Pont. At least it was in 2008 last time I was there!
It still is.
Pull seatbelt outside car, shut door, cover in vanish etc, lather, pressure wash. Clean.
Might work.
I agree with you.
I don't need a car that communicates the road condition to me.
I don't need a superfast car.
But what I do want is a car that brings me comfortable from point A to point B.
So I bought a C6.
And my C6 also has two speed limiters. The build in one and "her"
I know you're not allowed stop there, but I'd still love to take a similar picture at the pit stands at Reims. Looks so cool.
The cops did actually see us, they just waved!
That brings back memories, been to Le Mans 24h many times between 87 and 01. Not the same now though, I can't help feel its glory days are behind it. Looks like you had great time, how did you get away with it, my wife wouldn't be quite so understanding. 🙄
I’d pay good money to see you take the C6 round the go kart track that was part of the staff social club at Aulnay-sous-Bois. 😂
I'm game!