Test driving an SX Xantia

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:34

I do a similar mileage which is why i prefer to drive diesels daily. Running a turbo petrol would almost double my fuel bills. Xantia tyres are cheaper than my C5s tyres anyway, insurance is the same and oil would be similar. Fuel costs have a big part to play in choosing a daily car. I drive around 15-16K a year, that would be a vast amount in fuel with an activa at 25mpg at best the way i drive and use my car.

Though an Activa shouldnt be judged just on economy alone, but as a daily driver it has to come into it. If not we would all be driving around in V8s! Doing 10-15mpg without a care.

addo · Post by **addo** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:37

At your projected cost of £1,25 it's about a third cheaperer here at present, but has been up around 25% below than UK prices at times.

OTOH, I pay £190/pr for tyres.

deian · Post by **deian** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:38

like the american used to do, and probably still do, v8's for them are normal, they would laugh at us, but out 2.0i would whoop their v8's, i think they are waking up to climate change now, finally

Post by **DHallworth** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:52

I used my Activa daily for around 6 months.

Never managed to get more then 25mpg when I was driving it gently.

Funnily enough it didn't seem much worse then 25mpg when I was driving it like I'd stolen it.

Mine has sat in the shed covered up for most of the last 18 months.

It's a mauritius blue one with 50k miles on the clock. 2 keepers from new. It's an immaculate one that I'm going to keep good along with the Series 2 V6 XM I'm getting with 40k miles on it and one owner from new too.

Running costs of the Activa as far as fuel goes were about on par with my Golf R32.

They're not a cheap car to run but they are great fun. I wouldn't butcher one to put a Diesel into either. They're rare enough as it is without butchering one.

I keep looking at bringing a V6 Activa into the UK from France but they tend to fetch silly money.

David.

addo · Post by **addo** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:53

I'm not convinced they (les Americaines) are really "waking up" yet - many people still have the security blanket of a large-motored big vehicle - but there are also a heck of a lot with smaller engined cars in their fleet. Honda, Mazdas, Subarus, Volvos all immediately spring to mind as common cars.

Also, when you look at cars like Xantias for sale - most are not sold as a specific result of unaffordable economy - they are sold as a result of upkeep needed, that a present owner will not entertain for whatever reason. Whether it's something blasé like "It was time for a newer car" or more specific, eg: "Citroën want £320 for this part, but it's easy to fit" as I commented, this reinforces my opinion they are primarily divested because of non-economy issues...

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 30 Dec 2009, 23:22

Do we know if the XM hydractive electrovalve blocks fit in places of the Activa hydractive blocks?

And out of interest what size tyres do the Activa's run? Cheers.

deian · Post by **deian** » 30 Dec 2009, 23:29

not sure about the tyres, but they should have 'proper activa' wheels, which are reinforced to handle the extra forces of the suspension

which block on the activa are you on about, if it's a normal centre hydractive block, then yes it should still fit, if it's an activa ram block then probably not

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 30 Dec 2009, 23:44

I've not asked him yet, will do tomorrow, but if it is the hydractive block and not the activa block, the XM one should fit?

They look like the normal activa wheel so that's good.

Cheers.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:16

deian wrote:A lot of these Xantia's come with *KV number plates, my two previous xantias had R706 PKV, and the other was R606 PKV, and this blue activa is a EKV.

That's interesting. This is mine:

Hadn't noticed that before!

James

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:23

As regards your 300 miles, it is motorway, urban, dual carriageway? I reckon you could get well over 30mpg out of an Activa on a 60mph run. Shocking around town though...not too bad on a motorway run if you can resist caning it.

James

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:24

It's A-roads but averaging probably 40-50mph, my 306 gets about 45 to the gallon but I rag the arse off it if I'm honest.

Do you happen to know what size tyres you run James?

Cheers.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:32

Completely standard (205/something/15) I think. But mine are M+S tyres (as on the pic - from the previous owner). Can't believe they'd increase the fuel efficiency. Certainly don't suit the car, although they've been handy for the last couple of weeks...

In only over the hill from Burnley if you'd like a Lexia check on it (S2 only!)

James

Post by **DHallworth** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:38

Activa tyres are 205/60/15V.

I wouldn't run anything other then good tyres on one either.

On the 306 you get feedback from it so you know when you are approaching the limit on grip. Because the Activa corners so flat you don't get the same feedback. It's got grip and the next minute it doesn't.

If you drive an Activa like it should be driven don't expect anything more then a few thousand miles from the front tyres. My last set of Michelins on the front lasted 5k miles from memory.

David.

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:45

Cheers David, I remember you giving me those tips before about getting good quality tyres, I only run eagle f1's on my 306 so the Activa will be getting a similar grade of tyre (if I get one..)

Sl4yer wrote:Completely standard (205/something/15) I think. But mine are M+S tyres (as on the pic - from the previous owner). Can't believe they'd increase the fuel efficiency. Certainly don't suit the car, although they've been handy for the last couple of weeks...

In only over the hill from Burnley if you'd like a Lexia check on it (S2 only!)

James

What does the Lexia check for? Is it the engine control unit or the suspension side of things? If you're happy to do that that'd be great, and it'd be nice to have an experienced set of eyes looking at the car with me. Thanks for the offer that's great.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 31 Dec 2009, 00:46

Mine has good tyres David. Goodyear Eagle Vector EV-2 all round. Very safe, but not really suitable for a car with the performance of an Activa. Such tyres are popular on the continent, in places where they experience the weather that we've had for the last couple of weeks a little more often. If pushed hard, they squeal and run out of grip a little early, although a slight lift brings everything back on line nicely!

I'd never run cheap tyres again after a minor accident in a ZX, which I'm convinced would have been avoided had I even gone for the regular brand. Older and wiser!

I wish mine would wear out that quickly, because then I've had an excuse to replace them with something sportier!

James