French Car Forum

Thought I would say a quick Hello to everyone. Just joined lastnight. I thought I would join because some people I know have French cars, including my partner who has a Peugeot 206, which has had problems before, and no doubt will continue to do so so now I know where to come for help/advice.

Myself, I will put my hands up and admit I am not a fan of all French cars, however there are a select few that I am 'enthusiastic' about. I am always changing cars, buying as spares and repairing etc. but one of the next ones on my list I would like to try is a Citroen Xantia with the hydractive suspension - Exclusive/VSX model, or even better an Activa model. I am only 20 and I think the tricksy suspension could be fun

Welcome to the FCF

If you stick around im sure you will find it hard to resist an Activa or any big Citroen for that matter. There are a few young drivers of Big Cits on here, im 23, though im yet to have a Xantia ive had a few C5s.

What are you driving at the moment?

Hmm... I would not put a novice into an Activa.

Seriously, the best "trainer" Citroën is a late Xantia in SX trim, possibly estate. It has a hydraulic system that's easier to get one's head around, costs less to upkeep and still eats the miles.

Last Christmas Day I did 770 miles as sole driver (one passenger) on "B" and "C" roads in the rain in the Xantia. To be blunt, there aren't many late nineties cars where you can still do that without fear of failure - or finishing with a sore bum!

To me, the Xantia's greatest shortcoming is lack of a rear wheel handbrake.

addo wrote:
To me, the Xantia's greatest shortcoming is lack of a rear wheel handbrake.

Why would you want that?

Unless your planning on doing some handbrake turns and the likes it doesnt pose a problem. Having the handbrake working on the rear of a hydraulic Citroen does provide issues.

That's exactly why I'd like it!

addo wrote:That's exactly why I'd like it!

Hooligan!

Im sure it could do a nice reverse J turn though!

Citroenmad wrote:Welcome to the FCF

If you stick around im sure you will find it hard to resist an Activa or any big Citroën for that matter. There are a few young drivers of Big Cits on here, im 23, though im yet to have a Xantia ive had a few C5s.

What are you driving at the moment?

Hopefully I will be sticking around - depends if you guys accept me here for not having a French car and yeah, I have a fairly long list (mental list, not an actual paper one lol) of cars I would like to own at some stage (realistic ones) and a hydraullic Citroen is one of them. The Xantia Activa looks very very tempting, or perhaps the Exclusive or VSX instead.

I am driving a Rover 400 at the moment - really its actually my Dads, leant to me when my old Astra broke - My Grandad happened to buy a new car at the same time that my Astra broke, so he gave my Dad his old Mondeo, and my Dad lent me the 400. I then scrapped my Astra and bought a Rover 45 1.8 lastyear, which is actually now being driven by my Dad.........because his Mondeo has failed the MOT.....Probably sounds confusing

ashy90 wrote:...Probably sounds confusing

Sort of; anyhow I'm sorry to hear your Dad failed the MOT. Will you fix him or is it weigh-in time?

addo wrote:I'm sorry to hear your Dad failed the MOT.

He had a hot curry the night before and failed on emissions....

Ashy, no worries about not being a French car owner - you have an interest in them and that's all that matters Especially the Activa interest...

Speaking of Astras, there is a tidy 51 plate estate just down the road from me that's put a rod through the block.

It's going on the 'Bay soon and will be going very cheap I reckon...

To quote the owner's daughter "Daddy's engine went bang..."

Worse I guess than him failing an MOT...

addo wrote:

ashy90 wrote:...Probably sounds confusing

Sort of; anyhow I'm sorry to hear your Dad failed the MOT. Will you fix him or is it weigh-in time?

The Mondeo will be fixed and re - mot'ed. Has just had a new mid and rear exhaust sections fitted costing £235! (Quite complicated exhausts on the Mondeos hence the price). Then I will get my car back

CitroJim wrote:

addo wrote:I'm sorry to hear your Dad failed the MOT.

Ashy, no worries about not being a French car owner - you have an interest in them and that's all that matters Especially the Activa interest...

Speaking of Astras, there is a tidy 51 plate estate just down the road from me that's put a rod through the block.

Yup I deffinatly will get an Xantia, hopefully an Activa.....one day!

Thats not the first time ive heard, or indeed known of an Astra to spit its engines internals out.