What do you like about your Xantia?
Moderator: RichardW
Wow this has turned into a popular thread!
I too love the fact that my Ipod (ok its the girlfriends but it has my playlists on it) plugs straight in, good sized speakers and tweeters in the dash give a good out the box sound too.
I would of loved an Activa but the fuel consumption would of been a big issue for me as i've been used to a diesel everyday, the other thing is the look and im getting there with mine, just needs the wheels and front bumper now, and its the 'Activa' red which i always liked. Only problem is matching it, as there are various shades and one has a white groundcoat so needs experimenting!
It's the sort of car you just want to drive just for the hell of it, sad as it sounds, its not because of the speed, but the serenity of which it drives along thats addictive. The handling to most would feel floaty and wooly but underneath is a very good chassis, ive not pushed it that much but grip is more than adequate and it does exactly what you want.
The refinement too, for the age of car is pretty exceptional, especially in the back. The only thing that lets it down is a little too much wind noise.
Citroen really did have a winner with the Xantia thats for sure, i remember when i was young i used to clean a neighbours 1.9 TD VSX (1993) and always admired it for its good looks.
I too love the fact that my Ipod (ok its the girlfriends but it has my playlists on it) plugs straight in, good sized speakers and tweeters in the dash give a good out the box sound too.
I would of loved an Activa but the fuel consumption would of been a big issue for me as i've been used to a diesel everyday, the other thing is the look and im getting there with mine, just needs the wheels and front bumper now, and its the 'Activa' red which i always liked. Only problem is matching it, as there are various shades and one has a white groundcoat so needs experimenting!
It's the sort of car you just want to drive just for the hell of it, sad as it sounds, its not because of the speed, but the serenity of which it drives along thats addictive. The handling to most would feel floaty and wooly but underneath is a very good chassis, ive not pushed it that much but grip is more than adequate and it does exactly what you want.
The refinement too, for the age of car is pretty exceptional, especially in the back. The only thing that lets it down is a little too much wind noise.
Citroen really did have a winner with the Xantia thats for sure, i remember when i was young i used to clean a neighbours 1.9 TD VSX (1993) and always admired it for its good looks.
2003 Ford Mondeo ST220
2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
2001 Ford Puma 1.7 VCT
2008 Ford Transit Mk7
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2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
2001 Ford Puma 1.7 VCT
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Xaccers
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- Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
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- x 184
Blasphemer!!!mezuk04a wrote:I love the Fiesta its so much better than a Xantia.
Stone him! Stone him!
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
Laguna II 2.0dCi Privilege (Monty)
DIY sphere tool
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
Laguna II 2.0dCi Privilege (Monty)
DIY sphere tool
what's not to like?
er, OK...
Plippers?
Duff locks?
Strut tops?
Crazed paint?
Dikky blowers?
Heater matrixes?
Leaky waterpumps?
Squiffy ABS sensors?
Leaky Activa antiroll rams?
Height incorrector linkages!?
Clutch clips made of plasticene?
Just about inaccessible glow plugs?
Those door trim lock slider jobbies?
Some of them small, but many can be a BIG irritation...
especially if you're mad and have more than one Xantia!
The way I see it though - IF that's the worst list of things to dread,
at least you know where you stand!?
A TRULY great car that's very difficult to fault or dislike!
BETTER STILL, MINE SEEM TO SURVIVE MY DAILY ONSLAUGHT VERY WELL!
Andrew
er, OK...
Plippers?
Duff locks?
Strut tops?
Crazed paint?
Dikky blowers?
Heater matrixes?
Leaky waterpumps?
Squiffy ABS sensors?
Leaky Activa antiroll rams?
Height incorrector linkages!?
Clutch clips made of plasticene?
Just about inaccessible glow plugs?
Those door trim lock slider jobbies?
Some of them small, but many can be a BIG irritation...
especially if you're mad and have more than one Xantia!
The way I see it though - IF that's the worst list of things to dread,
at least you know where you stand!?
A TRULY great car that's very difficult to fault or dislike!
BETTER STILL, MINE SEEM TO SURVIVE MY DAILY ONSLAUGHT VERY WELL!
Andrew
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RichardW
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- My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl - x 995
"Blasphemer!!!
Stone him! Stone him!"
Nobody is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle. Even if they do say Fiesta
Whatever the learned press say, Xantias just seem to keep going - OK there's the bugbear of the Matrix, and the clutch clip, but my much neglected VSX was still working well at 117k - even after I piled on 65k in 30 months. It never failed to start or stop, or even have a moments real trouble. All for £1250. Check out the sort of heap of a VW or Ford that sort of money buys you! Read on another forum about a chap who paid 9 and half grand for a 140k mile BMW
then was a bit annoyed when the engine blew up a couple of kmiles later - costing the thick end of another 3 grand. That's a lot of expense for a silly little badge. Could have bought a nearly new 175 BHP 2.2 HDi C5 Exclusive for that money!
Stone him! Stone him!"
Nobody is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle. Even if they do say Fiesta
Whatever the learned press say, Xantias just seem to keep going - OK there's the bugbear of the Matrix, and the clutch clip, but my much neglected VSX was still working well at 117k - even after I piled on 65k in 30 months. It never failed to start or stop, or even have a moments real trouble. All for £1250. Check out the sort of heap of a VW or Ford that sort of money buys you! Read on another forum about a chap who paid 9 and half grand for a 140k mile BMW
then was a bit annoyed when the engine blew up a couple of kmiles later - costing the thick end of another 3 grand. That's a lot of expense for a silly little badge. Could have bought a nearly new 175 BHP 2.2 HDi C5 Exclusive for that money!Richard W
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Peter.N.
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C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red
In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars. - x 1204
Hydropnumatic Citroens certainly have durability if not reliability. What other car will do 150k on the original ball joints, wheel bearings and most of the other running gear. If you can keep them going they seem to last almost indefinitly, my last XM had done nearly 300k and was still quite drivable with at least the original engine and gearbox. The only significant thing that broke while I had it was the dual mass crankshaft pulley, which althought not serious was quite spectacular, but at that mileage....
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dymchurch405
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I used to hate French cars, with an absolute passion, however the Xantia is rapidly changing my opinions...
I love the fact that:
It cost £80- done 12k miles on it.
Nothings gone wrong apart from the clutch clip (twice)- sailed through MOT
Veg Oil fantastic- my celica does 20 to the gallon. This does 55.
Speed Bumps are irrelevant.
Bloody Comfortable.
Oil filter/oil change is so easy compared to my Celica! takes 10 minutes!
I can leave it anywhere even unlocked and find it safe on my return.
Massive boot for what it is.
Can fit five people comfortably.
Fantastic. I might just have to buy another one even!
I love the fact that:
It cost £80- done 12k miles on it.
Nothings gone wrong apart from the clutch clip (twice)- sailed through MOT
Veg Oil fantastic- my celica does 20 to the gallon. This does 55.
Speed Bumps are irrelevant.
Bloody Comfortable.
Oil filter/oil change is so easy compared to my Celica! takes 10 minutes!
I can leave it anywhere even unlocked and find it safe on my return.
Massive boot for what it is.
Can fit five people comfortably.
Fantastic. I might just have to buy another one even!
'91 405- catastrophic failure. Gone.
'95 Xantia TD- Gone.
'95 Xantia TD- Gone.
'00 Xantia TD Auto- Gone
'95 Xantia TD- Gone
'88 Celica GT4 (expensive)
'95 Xantia TD- Gone.
'95 Xantia TD- Gone.
'00 Xantia TD Auto- Gone
'95 Xantia TD- Gone
'88 Celica GT4 (expensive)
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admiral51
- Donor 2023
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C4 2010 2.0 HDi Exclusive VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] - x 378
id never had a diesel let alone a french make before i aquired my xantia back in march for the princely sum of £450
after spending £150 on a donor car(not what it was intended for
) i have now got mine up together and looking good (my opinion and thats the one that counts dont tell SWMBO) sold the donor car and got my money back and thats not including the parts i swopped 8)
and to cap it all the car only went and passed its mot with no advisory
not bad for a 11yr 1.9d with 186000 on the clock
whats not to like about them
and yes i suppose i am a jammy b*&^%$d
none of which would have been possible without this forum long may it continue
colin
after spending £150 on a donor car(not what it was intended for
) i have now got mine up together and looking good (my opinion and thats the one that counts dont tell SWMBO) sold the donor car and got my money back and thats not including the parts i swopped 8) and to cap it all the car only went and passed its mot with no advisory
not bad for a 11yr 1.9d with 186000 on the clockwhats not to like about them
and yes i suppose i am a jammy b*&^%$d
none of which would have been possible without this forum long may it continue
colin
Last edited by admiral51 on 14 Sep 2007, 21:31, edited 1 time in total.
I should also add, it kept up very well and shocked the driver of a Golf 2.3 V5 170bhp tonight, up to 80mph that is, still did far better than i expected, i mean its only got 92bhp after all ! (ok i tweaked the fuelling a little bit )
)2003 Ford Mondeo ST220
2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
2001 Ford Puma 1.7 VCT
2008 Ford Transit Mk7
http://www.facebook.com/kidmans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
2001 Ford Puma 1.7 VCT
2008 Ford Transit Mk7
http://www.facebook.com/kidmans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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philhoward
After a couple of VSX Xantias, not sure if i could cope with ever trying a "normal" one...had a BX GTi for a short while and that was one of the few other cars which could match its speeds round a favourite bendy country road of mine.
Back to the original question..
Ride and handling
Comfort (although I agree BX seats are better still)
Cheapness of parts (with GSF and ECP on my favourites list, anyway!)
Advanced spec compared with contemporaries
Variable height suspension (might be handy only once a year, but you're glad you have it)
Granted they do have their faults - haven't suffered a clutch clip - but in all honesty no more than most others, just different.
Back to the original question..
Ride and handling
Comfort (although I agree BX seats are better still)
Cheapness of parts (with GSF and ECP on my favourites list, anyway!)
Advanced spec compared with contemporaries
Variable height suspension (might be handy only once a year, but you're glad you have it)
Granted they do have their faults - haven't suffered a clutch clip - but in all honesty no more than most others, just different.