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I find it interesting that the X body car was first introduced 5 years before the first Citation appeared on the market--April 1974--right at the tail end of the first energy crisis, and that the Citations' introduction on the market was right at the beginning of the second energy crisis (April 1979)--and that versions of the body were introduced in 1976
I post this because I drove one on and off from 80-87. the pwr steering did indeed develop a "dead spot" in it's later years
I was so fed up with the '75 volvo 242 in '79 that I almost bought one of those X body POS. Thankfully, I didn't as I would have traded one set of problems for another.
How does, "The first prototypes were created in mid-summer 1976, with the intent of releasing it as a 1978 model. This did not happen, largely due to problems with supply of parts that up to that point, had never before been produced", equal, "the X body car was first introduced 5 years before the first Citation appeared on the market--April 1974--right at the tail end of the first energy crisis"?
Unless there are some details that I have never previously read, and which are not mentioned in that Wiki article, it appears that only prototypes existed prior to late 1979. Can you elaborate regarding the information about X-cars existing 5 years prior to the introduction of the Citation and its stable-mates?
As to Rogarven's comment, I was the extremely unhappy owner of a '74 Volvo 242 GL, which was the absolute worst POS that I ever owned. While my '81 Citation--which I bought to replace the Volvo--was not a good car, believe it or not, it was far more reliable than the Volvo, and required fewer repairs over the years that I owned it.
Yes, I know that saying that my Citation was better than a Volvo is...faint praise...but it honestly was a better car than that Volvo!
How does, "The first prototypes were created in mid-summer 1976, with the intent of releasing it as a 1978 model. This did not happen, largely due to problems with supply of parts that up to that point, had never before been produced", equal, "the X body car was first introduced 5 years before the first Citation appeared on the market--April 1974--right at the tail end of the first energy crisis"?
Unless there are some details that I have never previously read, and which are not mentioned in that Wiki article, it appears that only prototypes existed prior to late 1979. Can you elaborate regarding the information about X-cars existing 5 years prior to the introduction of the Citation and its stable-mates?
As to Rogarven's comment, I was the extremely unhappy owner of a '74 Volvo 242 GL, which was the absolute worst POS that I ever owned. While my '81 Citation--which I bought to replace the Volvo--was not a good car, believe it or not, it was far more reliable than the Volvo, and required fewer repairs over the years that I owned it.
Yes, I know that saying that my Citation was better than a Volvo is...faint praise...but it honestly was a better car than that Volvo!
I am thankful we did NOT buy a X body. The Volvo was fine for 2 years, then started costing us big sums of money to keep going. It stranded us several times as it quit running, good thing we belonged to AAA to get towed. It was serviced by one of the top mechanics in Dallas so I know they knew about the car. Granted, the body was well-built but the engine stunk! The reason I didn't trade it for an X body as I knew we were wanting to buy a house and I didn't want a car payment when we went to apply for home loan. We later got an '83 Accord which I kept for 14 years.
I find it interesting that the X body car was first introduced 5 years before the first Citation appeared on the market--April 1974--right at the tail end of the first energy crisis, and that the Citations' introduction on the market was right at the beginning of the second energy crisis (April 1979)--and that versions of the body were introduced in 1976
I post this because I drove one on and off from 80-87. the pwr steering did indeed develop a "dead spot" in it's later years
The X body was introduced in 1962 as a low dollar economy car. It was killed off on December 10 1978 in favor for the Citation. Another example of when they kill off a good thing for something not good.
The X body was introduced in 1962 as a low dollar economy car. It was killed off on December 10 1978 in favor for the Citation. Another example of when they kill off a good thing for something not good.
The X-body designation of the '60s was for RWD vehicle.
The X-body designation of the '80s was for a totally different FWD vehicle.
Aside from the differences in drive systems, if you compare the suspensions of the two, "X", cars you will see that they are different designs. Just as Henry Ford used the designation, "Model A", more than once, GM used the designation, "X-body", more than once.
The X-body designation of the '60s was for RWD vehicle.
The X-body designation of the '80s was for a totally different FWD vehicle.
Aside from the differences in drive systems, if you compare the suspensions of the two, "X", cars you will see that they are different designs. Just as Henry Ford used the designation, "Model A", more than once, GM used the designation, "X-body", more than once.
Yep well aware of that. Just it sounded like the Citation was available in '74....might have been a concept car. The FWD X body was crap. The RWD X body kicked butt and still does. Chevy II/Nova....they should have kept it around longer IMO
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2nd gen Citation (celebrity/sport wagon) was one of my best ever. 240,000 miles with only one change of sparkplugs and wires.
in it's later life, it would only steer one direction till warm, I just planned my trips that direction and would back into the driveway on cold nights so I wouldn't get stuck having to turn toward a 'dead-end' street.
My Mom used to have an '82 Phoenix (same as Citation). I don't remember to ever having any steering problems, however it did seem to go through CV joints. Reverse gear also eventually went out, I remember pushing that car backwards many days, LOL.
I never had any steering issues with my '81 Citation. It was ugly, slow, but dead nuts reliable for the 323,000 miles the family had it.
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