C is for Citroen

It's French, it's quirky, it rides well.

In brand terms it's a bit 'out there'. Not the obvious sporting choice, more your quirky, practical, comfy and yet surprising option when you don't want to bore the world by putting yet another Bimmer on the road.

Citroen has produced beautiful, desirable cars and downright forgettable ones too. Often innovative, especially in styling, suspension and general engineering, Citroen has also been led astray by the corporate bottom line, losing the fight for excellence and accepting lower cost parts sharing. Shame, if entirely understandable. Still, does the market really know? Probably not.

You buy a Citroen 'cause you want a French car over an Italian one, and you choose Cit 'cause it's the innovative choice out of mainstream Renault (read: dullsville) and similarly quirky yet somehow more practical Peugeot. A German option just doesn't register, certainly not BMW or Benz. If you wanted that sort of overpriced, styleless practicality you'd probably look at Audi, but it's not the same, is it?

Citroen: the French Alfa?