Who's got an Activa??

Quackers · Post by **Quackers** » 10 May 2008, 15:56

If you go for a Mk 2, you get rain sensative wind screen wipers which are good, if it has not got leather the drivers seat has part electric controls. You also get better stereo controls on the steering wheel, and a 5 disc CD Changer. The front doors have these little cupboard things in them too. o an Aircon as standard and Traffic Master. Cannot think of anything else the Mk2 has over the Mk1

deian · Post by **deian** » 10 May 2008, 19:57

If it has to be a choice of mk1 over mk2, for an activa i'd go for a mk1. Makes it more of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

So you too have a CX Gti handyman... i'd love one of them. They are fast (already are) becoming classics, but it's an acquired taste, one I like. It would have to be red with those rear window valances (or whatever they are called), oh and a mk2.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 11 May 2008, 00:08

Superloopy - check out:

http://tinyurl.com/5q6mb2

It struggled to get past 150 the last time it went through ebay with a fella
in Germany winning the bidding...

I've actually paid more than this whole car is currently sitting on for parts
off the guy breaking one in Cornwall!

For the money I'd say take the plunge and work on the basis that
everything that's 100% is a bonus and that to bring any Activa up to
scratch it'd need sympathetic and informed work carrying out or you
could go for:

http://tinyurl.com/6lk6g3

where the dealer's probably got it at auction for 150 and is going to pocket
the mark up without any real difference other than a 40quid MOT!!

I must be getting extra cynical these days!!

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 11 May 2008, 00:21

The silver one has a sunroof too!!

Believe it or not, I've found that's damned hard to find on an Activa!!

No fake wood either. Apart from the loose doortrim (which has all it's pegs
and doesn't look damaged) and a flat o/s tyre it looks VERY clean with the
only damage being the scuff on the rear bumper and sagged driver's seat
side bolster. I'd ask him about the water temperature level and any potential
stone chips on the windscreen, as there's something there, before the auction
finishes mind.

Dammit, I'm really having to fight the urges and that little voice in my head
that's a glutton for £ punishment.

Don't let another one die due to a needless transplant op!!

Andrew

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 11 May 2008, 08:06

andmcit wrote:sagged driver's seat
side bolster. I'd ask him about the water temperature level

Most MK1 Activa's with the standard seat trim suffer that to some degree.

I'm puzzed, what's wrong with the temperature then? All Xantia's with the CT turbo engine run hot, that one's showing just over 80 degrees when stationary which looks pretty normal to me, unless I'm missing something here Andrew

.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 11 May 2008, 09:16

DickieG wrote:All Xantia's with the CT turbo engine run hot, that one's showing just over 80 degrees when stationary which looks pretty normal to me, unless I'm missing something here Andrew .

Interesting you should say this as I've never had ANY Xantia pass the
horizontal 80 mark and my Activa hasn't until the past few weeks where
decent weather has warmed things up where it passes to 90 mark despite
the fans running which has been something I've been following with a
degree of concern. I have a second Activa with a goosed engine where
the rad leaked and it was too late for the previous keeper to save the
engine when the warning lights came on!!

This silver one has been stood a while and looks as though it hasn't had
the time spared to blow some air in the front tyre so the higher temp
would be something I'd've been concerned about and run past the seller
before a decision is made to bid.

Shame the bolster sags as otherwise the interiors do wear very well.

Andrew

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 11 May 2008, 11:34

andmcit wrote:Interesting you should say this as I've never had ANY Xantia pass the horizontal 80 mark and my Activa hasn't until the past few weeks where decent weather has warmed things up where it passes to 90 mark despite the fans running which has been something I've been following with a degree of concern.

You'll soon get used to that with an Activa (but never feel comfortable), my first experience of the CT turbo engine was with an estate that frightened the life out of me when I saw the temperature climb right up.

Interestingly my Activa is the only Xantia I've had that on a hot day runs hotter with the aircon turned on than when it's turned off. I can see why on the MK1 Xantia Citroën designed the deeper scoop below the radiator to bring in extra cooling air.

Post by **DHallworth** » 12 May 2008, 05:41

The activa is a cracking car!

Just before Christmas i managed to pick up a blue Series 2 with 37k miles on the clock.

The first owner had it 6 months, then the guy i bought it from had it for 9.5 years as a toy.

The only thing wrong with it is that there is a very very slight weep on the activa ram on the back.

Jim, Andmcit and the others.... is there anything i should be doing regularly to the car to ensure that it stays in working order?

MOT time today anyway.... I'm sure she'll be fine though.

Regards

David.

Post by **CitroJim** » 12 May 2008, 07:55

Activas do run hot and it's something you get used to. In winter, their quick warm-up is very welcome!

I keep a closer eye on oil temperature than water temperature these days. I've never had it over 100 degrees yet, except once when it got very warm (120 degrees) but the water temperature remained very low. This was all caused by an air lock in the oil cooler. This, I think may indicate that a lot of heat gets dumped into the cooling system from the oil cooler.

My water temperature gauge is not accurate nor consistent. It can be all over the place, usually reading very high. I've checked with both a temperature probe on the head and a diagnostics session to prove it's the gauge and not the sender or the actual temperature.

Because an Activa rus warm it's a good idea to test the fans regularly and make sure they are working.

DHallworth wrote:Jim, Andmcit and the others.... is there anything i should be doing regularly to the car to ensure that it stays in working order?

David, I think the secret to keeping an Activa in good fettle is a little maintenance at very regular intervals and leaping on problems as they occur. I check mine weekly, checking all levels, checking the fans work, looking for leaks and doing a good session of Citarobics. Any little thing I find wrong, I get it sorted ASAP. The engine enjoys regular oil changes at 3,000 miles and the coolant needs to be changed regularly. LHM and filters likewise.

Check the Hydractive electrovalves are working properly by doing the soft to hard bounce test once a week.

My rear ram is very slightly damp at the bottom and has been ever since I've had the car; never got better or worse.

I drove my Activa to work this morning. It fair put a smile on my face, hustling it around corners on my rather rural commute to work along the twisty country lanes

Real Activa country

Post by **DHallworth** » 15 May 2008, 19:31

One thing that i have noticed about my activa is that the back end tends to bounce.

It's not a hard spheres flat bounce, more of a incredibly soft floating style bounce. The other day the back end was almost refusing to come up, but that seems to have cured itself after using the car as it was sitting for a while.

Regards

David.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 15 May 2008, 22:50

Yep, between 95 and the end of the Xantia run in 99 these were sold,
so are available in both s1 and s2 guise. It's a budget/preference thing
at the end of the day as to whether you go for a s1 or a s2.

The prices on these can vary wildly from £100 to £1000 with an almost
hit or miss availability/price/mileage/spec and if you're choosy, the colours
offered new are also very limited to green, silver, red, blue and black.
Most seem to be AC with no sunroof, some both and then leather or tartan
velour interior.

The one's on ebay seem to vary from 60k miles to 150k and from
watching the one's that have currently gone through ebay, they average
£300 for both s1 and 2.

I still say unless you go for a mint and mollycuddled FSH low mileage
example which will set you back £1k or higher you're better off getting
a running healthy car that doesn't cost more than this and sort things out
slowly either through DIY or a competent fairly priced Indy as you're
bound to find things that only an enthusiast or specialist will care about
sorting out/rectifying with the understanding/knowledge gained through
specialist forums etc.

The leaking rams are really the key Activa trait that may cost you chunks
of money and then possibly a clutch so mileage/SH will help make a
decision here. I'd rather go for a higher mile'd car that's had it first clutch
than one that's sitting on 70-80 miles for this reason!

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 15 May 2008, 23:00

This is a nice looking one but I'd be suspect about the mileage for the very
point about the clutch I mentioned in the last post!!

CITROEN XANTIA, 1996 (N), Manual Petrol, 78,000 miles 2.0 Turbo Activa.

Fantastic car with service history, mot, all electrics, new tyres and cambelt
recently done. Owned by a doctor for 10 years and lady owner for the
remaining 2.. Fast responsive with all the extras. Must be seen, no silly
offers this is a genuine low mileage car.

£750 o.n.o. Location: Aveley 07013 106565

http://static5.freeads.net/adimages/1663995.jpg
http://static5.freeads.net/adimages/1663996.jpg
http://static1.freeads.net/adimages/1663997.jpg
http://static1.freeads.net/adimages/1663998.jpg
http://static1.freeads.net/adimages/1663999.jpg

Sunroof car in the best Activa colour and it looks nice and straight. Price?
Not silly, but a lot if there are big bills ahead...

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 15 May 2008, 23:24

Or how about:

CITROEN XANTIA Activa, 2000/1 model, top of range, black leather,
all electrics, alloys, MoT, vgc, £1,375, 07802 266689 Weston-S-Mare.

or currently on ebay under offer, this:

http://tinyurl.com/5ppfgz

Andrew

Post by **DHallworth** » 16 May 2008, 00:19

It definitely is worth shopping around!

I managed to pick up my Mk 2 with 37k on the clock for £1295. This came with 6 months tax and 5 months MOT.

I sent it in for mot the other day and it flew it with no advisories!!

Mine is in what i think is the best colour too.....

Dark Blue....

Regards

David

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 16 May 2008, 01:20

On the subject of colour, nobody is right or wrong and the final call
is purely down to subjective personal opinion! For me, I've found out
by the process of elimination the hard (expensive) way that the blue,
green and black are too sober and sophisticated ie NORMAL, and the
car simply blends into anonymity which may be great for a real Q car
but an Activa is anything but normal being such a special beast that
it really deserves to stand out!

The silver looks sharp and really suits the Xantia's lines but the colour
that now shines for me as being best is the unique one made specifically
for this model. I made the mistake of parking my black one next to my
pal's newly purchased red one and the crimson and almost orange flip
red paint is stunning and made mine look old hat!!

I don't dislike any of the colours and do own a blue Activa, sadly poorly
and in need of some TLC, as well as a mint smart green one that is a
long term work in progress. And there's a silver one that I won the
modest bidding on ebay for although i didn't need it, but it was a good
idea at the time and I wanted to stop it being a Pug engine donor!!

Dammit, I wish I'd seen a red one properly first though!!

Andrew