Steve Berry's Citroen XM - Crunch!

[Duke]

To be fair, we don't know what Steve's circumstances are which might mean he can't get it fixed...

Certainly looking at the location (near Kings Cross) I would imagine that isn't ideal for mending your car, and the prices down there for getting someone else to do it would be sky high too...

[russ92xmsed]

Could be the reason .

[jwalshe]

1) Steve isn't a 'muppet' (unless you know him and have therefore the right to an informed view). I love how internet forums appear to give some people the right to rudeness, no matter what the subject matter.

2) He simply doesn't have the time to fix the car - simple as that. Busy bloke with numerous other cars he's fixing at present.

3) Having seen the car, it's a really nice example of an early XM. If I didn't have my CX to drain my funds, I'd snap it up straight away!

Cheers,

James

[citroenxm]

Id just like to say, My term Muppet was reffering to the CURRENT three members of Top Gear, when Steve was presenting, it was a more enjoyable program, and Steve for one certainly wasn't a muppet at all... Along with Quentin Wilson,

[Eddie nuff]

I love how internet forums appear to give some people the right to rudeness, no matter what the subject matter.

It's not rudeness - it's an assessment of all the presenters on the show, who profess to know everything there is to know about anything with wheels on, whilst providing little in the way of actual knowledge.

[CitroJim]

Clarkson and May are far from Muppets. Both are very sharply intelligent people who act like clowns for the TG script. It's what's wanted and we must remember the show is a light entertainment mass-appeal show that happens to have a few cars in it; it is not a serious motoring magazine. More's the pity as I think there is room for both on the BBC. Maybe something serious on BBC4 perhaps?

Just read any of Clarkson's or May's written work or see some of Clarkson's serious documentaries to get a feel for the real people behind the clown masks. See as an example Clarkson's narration of the St Nazaire Raid

I offer no opinion at all on Hammond. I've never read him or seen any of his other work enough to be able to make a reasonable judgement.

Remember at the end of the day those three are actors and being told and paid how to act for TG.They are not being themselves.

[Gallic oddity]

Having met all three and been on the studio set more than once, all of them are good blokes. Hammond is a tad uptight and self-centred to my mind, but hey, he's done more in life than I have. Two are journalists, one was a radio presenter - which fits their personas. Clarkson admitted they all play to the caricature of themselves and he's jaded with it all - but it's made him a very rich man. Wilman is a great bloke (without whom it may not have been commissioned in the first place) who admitted six years back that they were running out of ideas for the show - but it brings more income than the BBC spend on it. They do work some long debilitating hours, more than many of us would care to. Being in the media does change you because those that aren't, treat you like they own you. A bit like I'm doing here

Met Willson before now but can't offer more than he happily plays to character (thus I wouldn't buy a car from him!), whereas Berry never met him but have heard from those who have so I'll reserve any judgement

Back to the XM. Anyone on here bidding on it? It would be a shame for it to head off to Diss to be broken

[russ92xmsed]

Clarkson and May are far from Muppets. Both are very sharply intelligent people who act like clowns for the TG script. It's what's wanted and we must remember the show is a light entertainment mass-appeal show that happens to have a few cars in it; it is not a serious motoring magazine. More's the pity as I think there is room for both on the BBC. Maybe something serious on BBC4 perhaps?

Just read any of Clarkson's or May's written work or see some of Clarkson's serious documentaries to get a feel for the real people behind the clown masks. See as an example Clarkson's narration of the St Nazaire Raid

I offer no opinion at all on Hammond. I've never read him or seen any of his other work enough to be able to make a reasonable judgement.

Remember at the end of the day those three are actors and being told and paid how to act for TG.They are not being themselves.

Totally agree Jim...it is obvious they are playing up to the cameras, but May and Clarkson certianly have more knowledge, especially May, who is genuinely interested in engineering and innovation.
At the heart of it all though, they are cars guys. And that is kind of important. What is getting tiring, is this stupid behaviour they now insist is part of the show. Watch earlier TG's and it is more informative and just as fun.

The way I see TG now..is basically a motoring program that test drives cars that the average man on the street will never afford to buy. From that point of view, and if you like Ferraris and Bugatti's, at least you get a decent review and a snippet of what they are really like.....if look beyond the silliness. I still find it entertaining, but I'm not that worried about seeing it first time on a Sunday night like I once did.

[xmexclusive]

Not sure why this thread wandered off but the car is there ready to save.

The car is not my type of XM so not for me.
A quick look at the photos suggests that both doors should accept new sliding glass.
So arrive with the glass and a couple of hours should see the car fit to move on.
Tape and a small piece of thick polythene and the fixed window is sorted.
An XM wing mirror (Mk1 or 2) is just 2 screws to fit.
I have the sliding glass panes loose and available.

Some detail photos of the door panels on the accident side would help the next owner decide.
As would photos doors open of the curvature of the A,B & C pillars to check on chassis distortion.
Opening and closing those doors would also check door fit in chassis so worth a note about that.
Insurance classification after accident would be the final issue to the cars value.

Potentially a good car if all checks out.

John

[Gallic oddity]

That's true, it would quite likely get a Cat-C and end up at Copart with a PAV of £1000 on it

It's appeared on eBay within days, so he's obviously not put it through.