Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

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Zelandeth
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Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by Zelandeth »

...Could provide the same blend of performance, handling, practicality *and* comfort as a Xantia Activa.

I realise off the bat that getting quite the same levels of ride comfort and handling are pretty much a non starter, but let's aim for a reasonable compromise.

I can get any three lined up without much trouble...but I'm really struggling to come up with anything which can tick all the boxes and also provide a cabin that's just a nice place to be.

Off the top of my head the only makers which seem even worth looking at are Volvo and Tesla.

VAG are out as anything which ticks the performance box will have the S-Line rubbish fitted which means 35" wheels and springs made from girders couples with seats as hard as park benches.

BMW...just no. Same reasons as VAG but with the added bonus of such a downright toxic reputation (not undeserved in my experience).

Mercedes might have been in with a shout 15 years ago, but just don't seem to have anything to recommend them these days...the last few I've been in have just felt like less well screwed together Audis.

I have to admit to not having been in any of the top of the line Citroen/DS models for a few years now, but they very much seemed to be aiming at emulation of the German brands as of a couple of years ago. Do they even have a decently beefy engine option these days or is it all 70mpg 1.6 diesels and massively boosted 1 litre three pot petrols all the way?

Vauxhall and Ford don't even seem worth considering as I've been utterly underwhelmed by anything of theirs - and I've sworn never to touch a modern Vauxhall again after the stop/start system in a 2016 Astra came about a foot away from causing me to have an accident anyhow.

Hyundai I confess to having no recent experience with and I've heard plenty of praise from a lot of places...they really do seem to lack design flair though...while I'm sure their motors are decent, they're just utterly forgettable. Shame they never turned up on the demo fleet as a lack of baseline data there irks me.

Which brings me to Kia. The Optima would definitely be a contender if it had a better engine...however the diesel one in the demonstrator we had for a weekend a year or so back felt somewhat underpowered for a car of that size and wasn't exactly the most refined power unit...which is a real shame as the rest of the car was absolutely spot on. Fit and finish was better than we tend to see on the VW/Audi company cars on the driveway.

That then brings us to the Stinger. We're losing points on practicality by this point as we are well into grand tourer territory than "typical family saloon/hatchback" and the road tax is eye watering...but it would be far more likely to make me put my hand in my wallet than anything else I can think of. Audi take note of the ride...just like in the Tesla Model S, the ride in the Stinger is firm...yet *unlike* in most modern VAG cars I've been in it never seemed to feel jarring. There are lessons to be learned there I think...The Stinger and Optima (despite the less than stellar engine) were cars which joined only the Volvo V50 and Tesla Model S on a list of cars which have turned up on our drive as demonstrators which everyone in the house agreed we all really liked.

Obviously I've not driven a Model 3 (though I did have a sit in one earlier this week), but it feels like they've done a really good job of scaling down the Model S, rather than making it feel like you're choosing the 3 because you can't afford the S. I also appreciate their showroom staff not dismissing me out of hand just because I wasn't dressed in a £1500 suit.

So at this point...I open the question to the floor. If you were looking to buy an Activa but it had to be a new car today...where would you look first?

Yes this is purely a hypothetical question (couldn't sleep last night!) just now...but give it a few years and it might not be!
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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

None. The Activa was a one off, classical Citroen, and should have been developed further. If I had the financial wherewithal I would get an Activa in decent condition, a low mileage ES9J V6 engine, get the engine completely rebuilt (to a zero mileage standard), as with the gearbox and running gear, get the bodywork stripped, dipped, galvanised and beautifully painted (I am in two minds as to whether I should go the CGAT route) and rebuilt (completely new pipework, and so on). I would look to improve a few things, but I would keep most of the design original.

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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Well the "2019 World Car of The Year" must have something going for it. After all the Duchess of Cambridge has just got one :-D

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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by mickthemaverick »

closest thing for me would be the XF but not really comparable in terms of target market! :?
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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Driver power reckon, as rated by UK New Car Buyers, its the Mazda MX-5, by a street

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars ... d-handling

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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by Michel »

Skoda Octavia diesel. The 2.0 150bhp, torquey one with DSG. The L&K model.

Practical. Quicker than a UK Activa, very comfy.
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Re: Thought Experiment...What Modern Day Car...

Post by GiveMeABreak »

It would have to be the hydractive 3+ C5 X7 for me. Although no longer made, the super firm road hugging sport mode is quite amazing going at speed round the Welsh country roads - holds like glue and little body roll. But then I’m unashamedly biased :rock:
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