French Car Forum

Hi folks - new to this forum. Keen on oleo-pneumatic Cits because of their comfort. Previously had a BX, then a series1 XM (don't ask...), now have two '96 Xantia automatics, one a saloon and the other estate (for long continental journeys). Hope to keep them running for ever...
CFO

Welcome CFO

I like you hope to keep my Xantias running for ever! What do you relace them with these days?

I hope at least one of your automatics is a V6 But I guess being '96 models they're not...

Let us know full details of your two cars...

Hi Jim - thx for the welcome. Our Cits tend to be workhorses, and my wife has a back problem, so the comfortable ride is appreciated. I personally don't see the point of being able to pull 0.5g on the roundabout if that's achieved by a suspension so hard it's like going over cobbles on a tea-trolley.
Our XM was a superb machine, auto and air-con (daughter lives in S Germany) but hopelessly unreliable and capricious ('twas known as the French Mistress - delightful, but expensive). Our first Xant was an N-reg '96 estate (auto and a/c - both essential for continental summer traffic jams) but unfortunately comes only as a 2.0 litre petrol version. I would really like the torque and economy of a diesel, but that's not available with the auto box. The second Xant is a saloon, '96 P plate, both bought with less than 40k for under £2k. Our local Cit specialist keeps them in good order at £49/hr, which I think is unbeatable value.
As you say, What would we replace them with?
The one niggling problem is that the estate burned out its a/c contacts on the ignition switch, and during the repair, I have lost the steering-wheel radio controls. Not really sure where to start on this one - the archives, probably.

Welcome to the FCF CFO