Citroen XM Forum

Just to confirm that Steve and I are now across the channel and settled at our campsite meet Amiens. The journey has been very smooth so far both at sea and on the road with the 12v auto performing well and eating up the miles (km) despite a full load including heavily packed boot and roof box. In the morning we rendezvous with the other dozen or so cars for the big off. There is an especially long 300 plus mile stretch to Bescanson to the east so wish us luck! Regards. Matthew T.

We have now started the Challenge proper with an impressive 320 plus miles covered today. The car continues to perform well apart from the occasional suspension lock up, which has always been a feature of the Essex car! The journey has been quite varied from several mile tree lined open straights with impressive open vistas to winding wooded hills and villages with ancient stone churches. The XM count since arrival has been three quite tidy S2 cars, with very many Xantia but not a single BX. A couple of 2cv have also been spotted and three Tractions parked by the roadside and another leading a wedding party. Other cars have included one 605, a handful of R25 and R19. Our convoy today was joined by James Walshe in his very handsome and recently recommissioned DS. Tomorrow Switzerland and the Alps!! Regards, Matthew T.

Another 200 miles today and we are now in the shadow of Mont Blanc near the Swiss border. The driving on the latest leg has been very different with more and much steeper climbing through the hills and along valleys. There have been some really impressive views and challenges for the car, partly due to the heavy load including top box and tools in the boot. Another highlight of the day was the very nice French couple in a XM estate who stopped to enthusiastically greet us in a layby! A manual V6 would have brought benefits certainly although the auto has been a great cruiser and comfortable through the towns and villages. Further south tomorrow and then two more relaxed days to follow. Regards, Matthew T.

Hope your both having a good time, nice to see some pics and the updates.
Matthew, is that everyone on the challenge in your group photos or are some doing separate things?

Thanks Russ and we are mostly travelling in smaller groups with yesterday just the two XM! After a very wet night and packing in torrential rain we found a local supermarket cafe for breakfast before the big off. On Monday we had the most interesting and demanding drive to date climbing to nearly 2,000m with snow along the verges. The scenery has been really dramatic except at the very top where we were surrounded by cloud. As mentioned by Paul the two XM autos coped well with frequent lock down required in first and second gears! After reaching the furthest point south on the planned route over the next two days we have time to relax and have opted for a chalet after all the wet! The campsite overlooks a beautiful lake that we plan to explore today and tomorrow hopefully a venture to the Mediterranean coast at Nice. Regards, Matthew T.

Magic expedition! With Swiss roads, everything works hard except the suspension. It it still the best tarmac in the world?
Another great photo above, Matt.

Looks fantastic Matthew, am sorry I missed out on this this time around!
Enjoy the journey, magic expidition like Chris says!

Ciarán

Lovely. The Alps are quite stunning.

Well done Matthew. Hope u won't need all those tools!

Nothing fazes Matthew, tools or not, after the festivities of last time where he and Russ changed a steering pipe (I believe?), in a French supermarket carpark!

Ciarán