FWD X-Cars

[citation-z]

Hi there, I leave near montreal and it's funny to see so many articles about these cars and there problems . No cars are perfect! And people don't do the maintenance like they sould so yea of curse they will have problems. I had 2 citations. And never had any magor problems! Now I have 2 of them again and it's a plaisure to have again. One thing. I did and do have is water infiltration but it will be solved shortly. Old seals to change. My 1984 citation notchback is in mint condition! An I plan on keeping it for a long time! With no offence !

[2005 Equinox LS]

What strikes me as funny is the fact that most of the problems on these were NOT due to the new FWD powertrain. It was a lot of other things totally unrelated to the FWD powertrain. My former brother-in-law had a 1980 and this thing was chopped pretty bad. It origionally came with the 4-cylinder and 3 speed automatic. Somebody managed to put a 229 V6 and 4 speed manual in it. And it wasnt very old when this was done. The transmission was a problem though. I dont think it was meant to handle the 229's torque. With that powertrain though that thing could really move.

[Joe in T.O.]

Originally Posted by citation-z

Hi there, I live in canada and I own 2 citations. 1 is a 4door 1985. And the other is an 1984 citation X-11 notch back. I previously owned 2 other citations. 1 was an 1984 4 door. And the other was an 1982 X-11 hachback. My 84 notchback is the recent one I just bought 3 weeks ago from the original owner! It has 153 000 km ! Not much for it's age. It is curently being fully restored. One of the rarest around ! More pics is to come of it's full progress. My 85 4 door is my parts car. I wonder if GM will ever come back out with a new citation or X-11 ?? I. Built my cars from scratch. I know these cars very well and if anybodie need some info. Please ask-me it will be a pleasure to help. For my opinion the 81 X-11 is more powerful but all. 85 citations are far most reliable and interior design is better. My notchback X-11 has the 85 interior cause it was end of year model.

Nice to see the X-11 notchback. I still remember the picture in the brochure.

[Vinsetta]

Originally Posted by autofan

I loved the Phoenix coupe, especially the LJ or SJ models with the two tone exteriors. They had such a nicely proportioned and crisp look to them.

Agree completely. For some reason I've always had an interest in the X cars. The first new car I bought, a 92 Sunbird with the 3.1 reminded me of them b/c of the high horsepower (for the time) V6 in a small FWD coupe. I do love the X-11, especially the 1985's. But my favorite is a gray two tone Pontiac Phoenix SJ. I still have the 1984 Ponitac brochure with one at a turnaound here in metro Detroit.

The X car was revolutionarly in 1980 with it's fwd layout and transveresly mounted engine which gave it unheard of room inside the car without the transmission hump going from front to back.

Jay Leno even has a 1980 X-11 featured in his used car garage (cars owned by viewers)



1980 Chevrolet Citation X-11 2- Door Notchback | December 27, 2007
Bought new by my Father in June, 1980. 2.8L V-6, Muncie 4-spd transmission, F41 suspension (all factory). Shows locally in Indianapolis with numberous Best-in-Class wins.

[citation-z]

Hi there, well the X-cars where not so bad, yes they needed care , but they would take good care of you some how by bringning you back home !
Cause todays cars. Don't
If that surpentine belt brakes. In traffic and that engine overheats cause of the sup. Belt. Your in ****!!

But like me that still has one ( citation) I can still make it home cause I have more then one belt to rely on!
And also my water pump will still work cause it is a multi-belt pully so rather it's the alt. Belt or power steering or ac . Belt that snaps I know I can still make it home . With or without my family.

Even- do. I use it as a summer car.


I just think GM lost it, they should come back out with a new citation or X-cars ,
With multi-belt system and.
With some type of backup system for any sensor failiure that we all know that to poeple lose confident in there cars when they get stuck on the side of the highway because of a sensor faliure!!! I'm sure that would bring GM back up again!

People would have trust again, and for the new X-cars or citation .

What would you prefer?
Buying a 25000$ car that could let you down on a highway? Or 18000$ for something cheaper and more reliable?

That's why today I don't want to buy a new car , I rather my old car like lots and lots of people are doing now!! That's what is killing GM bigtime.

People want good inexpensive to repair and more reliable cars.
With all the guizmo's they put on them cost a fortune to fix.

Hopefully GM will wake up and listen to us.
Stop trying to beat the compitition and start making something that people want's . Then they will beat the compitition
With sales!!!

I would be the first one to buy the all new citation specialy if they take out another X-11 model!!!

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by citation-z

Hi there, well the X-cars where not so bad, yes they needed care , but they would take good care of you some how by bringning you back home !
Cause todays cars. Don't
If that surpentine belt brakes. In traffic and that engine overheats cause of the sup. Belt. Your in ****!!

But like me that still has one ( citation) I can still make it home cause I have more then one belt to rely on!
And also my water pump will still work cause it is a multi-belt pully so rather it's the alt. Belt or power steering or ac . Belt that snaps I know I can still make it home . With or without my family.

Even- do. I use it as a summer car.


I just think GM lost it, they should come back out with a new citation or X-cars ,
With multi-belt system and.
With some type of backup system for any sensor failiure that we all know that to poeple lose confident in there cars when they get stuck on the side of the highway because of a sensor faliure!!! I'm sure that would bring GM back up again!

People would have trust again, and for the new X-cars or citation .

What would you prefer?
Buying a 25000$ car that could let you down on a highway? Or 18000$ for something cheaper and more reliable?

That's why today I don't want to buy a new car , I rather my old car like lots and lots of people are doing now!! That's what is killing GM bigtime.

People want good inexpensive to repair and more reliable cars.
With all the guizmo's they put on them cost a fortune to fix.

Hopefully GM will wake up and listen to us.
Stop trying to beat the compitition and start making something that people want's . Then they will beat the compitition
With sales!!!

I would be the first one to buy the all new citation specialy if they take out another X-11 model!!!

I worked for the company that invented the serpentine system for cars, at the plant that invented it and built the tensioners. The car companies won't be going back anytime soon. And if your Alternator belt breaks how do you get home with no alternator? A/C I can see, but no power steering on a car with a power steering rack might make it hard to get anywhere. The serpentine belt is not going anywhere, it is more efficient believe it or not. And some cars do still use two belts with tensioners, like the GMT-800 and GMT-900 trucks with the A/C on a seperate belt.

Just my $0.02

[citation-z]

Hi, well ok, but I've done it and easy to, with a broken
Belt, you can still drive the car(but if it's the battery one - well you can still drive it home but not 4hr drive) . But my point was not just about that!

And lots of poeple are starting to feel the same way as I , about GM .

People want small but roomy cars and inexpensive to fix and also not a gaz guzlor .

As an exemple of my point I am trying to make,
My mother had bought a 97 malibu LS. And it was the worst car we've had !
Because it was the first year the malibu came back out!

It only had 28 000KM on it and it had lifter failiure + tranny problems (cpu signals) and front tables bushings ! They where liquide filled but in 2000 GM had changed them for full rubber. And last electrical problems !!

So you can't say it was a better car then the citation?
But now GM corrected the problems an gave the public more trust in the malibu that why the car is a best selling car compare to the impala!

For my expereince that was so bad with the 97 malibu today I would problably try the new malibu, you see people would do the same for the citation,

It's normal ! We all know today that when a car come out the first time there's always problems with them!!

But at the time , nobodie would though that,

A'm I ruining malibu 's reputation because of that no!!!
I myte even give it another try!

Because the citation had some flows in it's debut doesn't give anybodie the rights to ruine it's reputation ,

Today I still have a citation
An I can't wait to see how many of the newer cars
There be still on the road in 20years or so ?

There's still plenty of citations out there!! Even for the rarest citation X-11 like mine!!


I think the citation deserves another come back, GM can put in a second surpentine belt like a back up in case one snaps and put in a satelite back up device in case of a sensor faliure , at least you can still make it home safe with your family!

I'm sure with that poeple would buy it!! Cause that's there main concern .

We can talk and talk forever. This is my opinion and If you surch more on the web you 'll. See that people are having more interest in this car again!
so GM why not? !

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

What is wrong with serpentine belt? I mean I have a car with a serpentine belt and I have never changed it, and the belt has like 200 000 km minimum that I put on it and maybe 330 000 km (original to the car?) it is still fine.

only belt I ever broke was on a Mazda but this belt was relatively recent and it was a 2-belt system (not vee-belt but multi-V and two belts not serpentine)

And you can change the serpentine belt with no tools just pull back the tensioner and slip it over, pretty easy.

I think lots of modern cars will be around from 20 years... I mean even today you still see some 20 year old cars, Camrys, occasional Grand Prix etc. 10 years ago it was much harder to see a car from 1979.

I have even in my Guide de l'Auto 1984 they are talking about the bad reputation in the page for the Citation, but they did say "fiabilite en progres"

[citation-z]

Hi there, I would like to make people feel what I feel when I drive my X-11 notch!

Averything is new on my car from the factory!
The Z-19 option package has great handling! And not to forget the boooaaaw sound that come out the cowl !

my X-11 is an 84" and
I don't have any.premature braking problems, or steering , this thing is a great little car , economical
On fuel and repairs , that's
What GM should come back
Out with ! Anyhow, I just wanted to let people know that unless you've had an X-11, you can't know what I'm talking about!

This is really a special car that GM had made.
And I will keep for a long time!

[slytheman]

Originally Posted by Oldeye03

Link isn't working for me. Dang, and I wanted to check it out.

I owned a new 80 kback, 4 spd...2.8 V6. Lots of troubles, but it sure would haul.

Hi there

sorry I moved my server to a different website

www.chevycitationforever.net

Enjoy

[supercharged024]

Here's my X body, an 81 Sport Omega. I rescued it from a junkyard while looking for stuff for my Shelby Charger. You won't see one of these very often. If you've seen one in a salvage yard, please let me know. I can probably repair the front fender and rear wheel flare, but I hope I can find some extra parts. This is the only color combo it came in and was a 1 year only option on the Omega.

[supercharged024]

Let's see if I can upload a photo from a dealer brochure to give you an idea of what it will look like.

[MCGARRETT]

Wow, a Sport Omega, I have actually seen one except for the brochure, does it have the same suspension upgrades as an X11? Have you ever been able to get a production breakdown as to how many were made? Does it have a tach? Post more pics!

[bouda]

I used to work with a guy who told me he tried to drive his citation home on three wheels once. He said he would have made it too if he didnt have to take that left...

[Aura XR]

I must really thank you for the thread necromancer that pulled this one up....j/k

I remember my junior HS sweetheart's parents bought a new Citation back in like 1979.

I even remember the jingle from the commercial, which is now stuck in my head.

"it's the first Chevy of the 80's....it's the first...Chevy of its kind"