Xantia worth keeping ?

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airhead_eire
Posts: 13
Joined: 12 Mar 2012, 15:18
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by airhead_eire »

Hi all,

I've been a long time lurker on here since I bought my Xantia about 2 years ago.
(Just created a login recently though !).
My Xantia is a '97 model 1.9TD (it's called a Xantia Range on the equivalent V5)
with 209k miles on the clock. I've kept it maintained but it requires more
work now and I'm wondering if I should let it go. To date I have done the filters
and oil, along with replacing the drop links, rear discs & pads and front pads
too. I've also replaced the rear spheres. Now however it needs front tyres, possibly
2 front struts as they seem to be weeping and the bodywork is a tad poorly due to
a dent in the passenger rear door and the boot and roof seem to be faded/peeling
laquer. The wash/wipe function doesn't work either so the stalk/switch probably
needs to be replaced.
It drives okay though to be fair. At what point do you cut your losses and move on
to something else ? Any thoughts ?
I've been offered a nice older W124 Mercedes 230CE coupé so there a bit of
tempatation coming from that angle ! Economy would be substantially lower
than the Xantia but still a nice, comfy car.
Citroens get under the skin though !
jgra1
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by jgra1 »

I am in same boat with same car airhead.. (and mostly the same work done)

blimey, never thought I would get 'boat car and air' in the same sentance ;)

would miss her really.. but the main reason now for me is the cheap fuel.. and its a big reason..
John
Peter.N.
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by Peter.N. »

Its down largely to economics, bearing in mind that you are likely to have to spend money on whatever you buy, and on whether you like the car or fancy a change.

I have been running Citroen hydropnumatics for the last 25 years or so and have got used to the ride, nothing else has the same ride quality except perhaps the big Jags. My last two XMs are coming to the end of their economic life and the only thing I can replace them with to get a similar ride is a C5 which I don't like very much but you can get them for less than it would cost to repair the XMs, I have seen a couple of high mileage but tidy examples sell on ebay for around £600.00 this last week. So that is the direction I think I will be going in.

Peter
airhead_eire
Posts: 13
Joined: 12 Mar 2012, 15:18
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by airhead_eire »

I'm glad I'm not the only person with this dilemma !
There's a certain amount of emotional attachment to the car as if I get rid of it then it
will most likely end up scrapped. I'd hate for the car to end up with that fate !
But then I wonder how much will it cost me to keep it ?
So John, are you saying that you are keeping yours for the cheap fuel ?
Peter, personally I like C5's (early and late models). However, the XM is a really
different car and stands out I think. Especially here in Ireland where you don't see
so many of them on the roads. So will you sell the XM's in favour of the C5 ?
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by jgra1 »

yep.. WVO.. if that runs out mine could well run to the wreckers :) much as i like it..
airhead_eire
Posts: 13
Joined: 12 Mar 2012, 15:18
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by airhead_eire »

I believe the front struts are expensive to buy ? How often do they require replacing ?
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by jgra1 »

got to be second hand on this car now eire? new ones would be hellish in £ i reckon.. my view is there comes a point when only second hand will do, usually just after I sign the ownership document ;)
airhead_eire
Posts: 13
Joined: 12 Mar 2012, 15:18
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by airhead_eire »

Yes, I haven't priced them new yet but I suspected they are crazy money John.
There's Citroen specialist near me though that may have some from cars they
have broken.
With the age & value of the car, maybe it is time to be resigned to used parts.
red_dwarfers
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Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by red_dwarfers »

Struts don't usually 'go' on the Xantias so a second hand set might not be a bad idea. I'm sure you could get hold of replacement ones for a very good price. Same with the stalk, I've certainly got one knocking about which your welcome to have for a few quid if its the right one as there are a few variations. No doubt there are more on ebay.

There have been a few people on here that have sold their Xantias for different (sometimes newer cars) and a few months down the line you find that they've bought a Xantia again! I think it comes down to them being a good all rounder which can easily be taken for granted.
Kev

'19 C4 Cactus 130 Flair
Peter.N.
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Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

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 1199

Re: Xantia worth keeping ?

Post by Peter.N. »

I don't really have anything against the C5s except that they are like most modern cars, complicated and expensive to repair, the only one I would consider is the early model with the 8 valve engine, reliable and no DPF, but the build quality is nothing like the XM, my son says the instrument panel looks as though it was styled by Pallitoy.

The XM or probably both of them eventually will be going for scrap, they are coming up 17 years old and apart from the mechanical problems which I have bee putting off repairing as they are still going, the bodys are seriously deteriorating. A firm in Bristol has offered £202.00 each collected! I have another scrap one in the field so that's nearly enough to buy a C5. The tax runs out on the red one at the end of the month so that will definitly be going, the white one might do another MOT that comes up in June.

I will be sad to see them go as we have done something like 300,000 miles in them (not the same ones) but apart from the work required, and I don't bend as easilly as I used to, repairing them will be throwing money at something which still won't be worth anything so I'm afraid it will be the end of an era, another one.

Peter
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