I'm on my second CX now having bought the first one in 93 trading up from some Euro box or other.

The first was a Series2 plastic bumpered CX25GTi auto with the VIP interior - I think these form the bulk of CXs in the UK these days. I kept this car 6 years and had all the usual troubles - rear swing arm bearings, dodgy electrics and some crumbling bodywork. I count the tyres, battery, alternator and spheres as routine maintenence needed on any car. In this respect I would say the car is no more or less expensive to maintain than the equivalent spec car from some other manufacturer - i.e. a BMW 5 series, Merc E class or Alfa 164. The last thing I did before I sold it was to have good second hand autobox fitted as they are v. expensive to re-buid and they all wear out eventually. I did about 100 000 miles in that car on top of the 100 000 it had when I bought it.

I then got a company car (Ugh - another Euro box) for the day to day stuff so I bought a S1 Chrome bumpered car this time a manual box and all the S1 features like the rotating drum dashboard and the non-skirted and spoilered body.

This car has a much better body condition and has been quite well looked after - it does have the Metric alloy wheels which are expensive on tyres though.

The reason for buying one of these cars is a lifestyle one - the car represents a paticular period in French culture, before Peugeot completely destroyed the innovative trend at Citroen and when the French cars were still the preserve of the cognoscenti. However, be warned that the reason Citroen was placed in the predicament it was was just because these features were not economically sound, and running one of these cars requires a great deal of planning, forethought and committment. This is not a Saxo and Citroen dealers do not want to know you.

If you want one then
a) Join the Citroen Car Club
b) Go see a few cars
c) If unsure take someone who knows them with
you
d) Make sure you get lots of service history - much more important than age or mileage is condition
e) Don't worry (too much)about mechanical jobs
f) Do worry about bodywork and interior condition