Three Xantias...

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49531
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Three Xantias...

Post by CitroJim »

Today has been one of those rare days when I've driven all three of mine back-to-back.

Normally, only Rattiva is used reglarly and the other two rest. The Activa has been resting for some weeks...

So, three Xantias, they all look very similar, especially Rattiva and New V6 both being Mauritius Blue Exclusives they look identical from a distance. All three look very unassuming...

But drive them and what a difference. It's like I have three entirely different cars! There really is no real similarity between them at all when at the wheel. In fact they might not even be all Citroens they feel so different.

Today I've really fallen in love again with the Activa. She's so much fun and an absolute joy to drive. Like a young spaniel...

The V6 is gorgeous in a very gentle, refined sort of a way. Easy going but with a bit of go when wanted. For a lazy journey she's the tops...

I can't think of a dog equivalent for a V6...

And then there's Rattiva, a comfy old trustworthy workhorse, a maid of all work. A bit like an old Collie or Labrador who's been your faithful companion for years...

Anyone else who runs multiple Xantias noticed the same thing?
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
Location: In the clouds in the Land of South Saxons
My Cars:
x 2

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by handyman »

Waxing lyrical again, Jim? :roll: #-o [-X
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49531
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by CitroJim »

handyman wrote:Waxing lyrical again, Jim? :roll: #-o [-X
Yep, 'fraid so. Sorry :roll: It just staggered me just how different the three cars are...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
Xaccers
Posts: 7654
Joined: 07 Feb 2007, 23:46
Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
My Cars:
x 184

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Xaccers »

Jenny is extremely soft, like a Citroen should be, while Cassy is much firmer which is one of the reasons Danielle likes her so much, I know exactly how she's going to handle and she gives me great feedback.
Juliet is just raw fun though, she handles great, but despite being an Activa, she doesn't feel as safe as Cassy.
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
Rhothgar
Donor 2023
Posts: 1758
Joined: 22 Nov 2004, 00:21
Location: Nottingham - UK
My Cars: 2013 Peugeot 3008 Allure 1.6HDi - FD63 FWA VF3**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
1995 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD S1 - M728 GDL VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
1996 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD SX S1 - N707 MGP (Currrently laid up)
2000 Citroen Xantia 2.0 HDi S2 - X435 JGJ VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] (Clutch died Dec 2017 - Resurrected Easter Sunday 2021)
1997 Citroen ZX SX TD - P788 AJL
1959 Landrover Defender S2 - Two owners from new
1968 Triumph Vitesse Convertible 2.0
1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Customer - 2nd Owner
1988 Saab 900 T16S - A 1980's exercise in understated Hooliganism...
Oh! and two Harley Davidsons - A 1990 Sportster and a 2003 Fatboy 100th Anniversary (the only vehicle I have owned from new)
x 78

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Rhothgar »

Xac wrote:Jenny is extremely soft, like a Citroën should be, while Cassy is much firmer which is one of the reasons Danielle likes her so much, I know exactly how she's going to handle and she gives me great feedback.
Juliet is just raw fun though, she handles great, but despite being an Activa, she doesn't feel as safe as Cassy.
Sounds like you're describing a polygamous relationship. Either that or a Menage a Cinque? :shock:
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Citroenmad »

A Xantia for every occasion, I guess that justifies having the three then Jim :roll: :lol: 8-)
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
User avatar
Xaccers
Posts: 7654
Joined: 07 Feb 2007, 23:46
Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
My Cars:
x 184

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Xaccers »

Rhothgar wrote:
Xac wrote:Jenny is extremely soft, like a Citroën should be, while Cassy is much firmer which is one of the reasons Danielle likes her so much, I know exactly how she's going to handle and she gives me great feedback.
Juliet is just raw fun though, she handles great, but despite being an Activa, she doesn't feel as safe as Cassy.
Sounds like you're describing a polygamous relationship. Either that or a Menage a Cinque? :shock:
Well, as long as Danielle doesn't mind... ;)
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
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Citroenmad »

CitroJim wrote:
The V6 is gorgeous in a very gentle, refined sort of a way. Easy going but with a bit of go when wanted. For a lazy journey she's the tops...

I can't think of a dog equivalent for a V6...
Perhaps a Greyhound Jim?

Calm, laid back and gentile but also quick and excellent for long distances! :lol:
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
User avatar
Mandrake
Posts: 8615
Joined: 10 Apr 2005, 17:23
Location: North Lanarkshire, UK
My Cars:
x 664

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Mandrake »

I think its fair to say that Citroens do vary a lot from car to car even among the same model and spec, at least when they get to a certain age, I don't think I've ever driven two that feel the same - particularly ride and handling, no matter how much work is done to them they remain unique :D

The Xantia's I've driven are:

1993 1.9TD SX 5 speed manual, standard hydropnuematic (sinker model!)
1994 2.0i SX 8 valve petrol automatic, standard hydropnuematic (non-sinker)
1997 2.0i VSX 8 valve petrol automatic, hydractive 2
1998 V6 Exclusive petrol automatic, hydractive 2

Of course my impressions are coloured by the fact that each of them were in different states of repair and condition...

The 1.9TD I didn't like much, noisy engine and noisy interior (road noise etc), narrow power band, a bit gutless after being used to the 2 litre petrol, gear shift not the smoothest around, a bit notchy. Ride ok but nothing special (even after new spheres) handling ok to a point but if you push it hard around corners it did roll a lot and lost its composure. Being a non sinker it went down quickly but also lifted quickly! The screech from the PAS valve when lifting was quite annoying, and the variation in steering assistance as the pressure regulator switches in and out was quite noticeable. Basically a high MPG workhorse, but not a refined feeling car in any sense, compared to the other Xantia's I've driven it felt quite utilitarian and not refined at all.

The 1994 petrol was a step up, the 2 litre 8 valve petrol looks mediocre on paper but its not a bad performer really considering the weight of the car and the automatic transmission, and certainly gives the 1.9TD a hiding, it has decent zip from a standing start thanks to the torque convertor and a very wide power band for a 2 litre with useful output from 2000 right up to 5800. Equally happy lugging at 2000-2200rpm up a hill, or revving at 5000+ during overtaking, but seems to fall a little bit flat in the mid-band, perhaps due to gearing choices in the automatic. A much quieter engine and a bit more refined, but being SX spec the interior road noise is still quite high and its not a "luxury" car by any means, with the uncomfortable seats with manual adjusters being just one example.

The 1997 petrol had the same engine and gearbox as the 1994 one, but what a difference the VSX spec makes! Comfortable electric seats, hydractive 2 suspension and (seemingly) MUCH better sound proofing. A very quiet car indeed at high speeds, almost as quiet as you would expect from a brand new car despite being 8 years old at the time. Hydractive 2 might be more complex with more to go wrong, but when it goes right it certainly makes a difference. The soft mode ride is streets above the standard Xantia and genuinely has that magic carpet ride of citroens of old, at least over most surfaces. Yet throw it into a tight corner and it handles supremely with tight turn in, minimal body roll and finesse that the standard Xantia simply doesn't have, let alone many conventional cars. The ride/handling balance really is extraordinary for a passenger car even right at the limit. I got into mischief many a time in this car and came out alive. :lol: [-X The fit and finish of the VSX and the excellent sound proofing lead to a very refined feeling car that is quite soothing to drive on the motorway yet equally pleasant in slow stop start traffic. The one drawback was that while the handling was so much better than the standard Xantia the horsepower was not, so the overall performance of the car was limited by the engine rather than the chassis/handling, as I felt was the case on the standard Xantia.

Enter the 1998 V6 - more power than you can shake a stick at, with the Exclusive spec being similar to the older VSX. Electric seats, hydractive 2, etc. Should be just like the 1997 VSX to drive but with loads more power, right ? Well, kinda. Yes it has a ton more power, so much so that you actually need to feather the throttle on takeoff to avoid spinning the wheels (especially in the wet) rather than just "planting" the pedal for a fast take off like in the 2 litre auto. (which would never spin the wheels in the dry and hardly ever in the wet) Took me a little while to get used to NOT planting the pedal when trying to dart across a gap in the traffic at a roundabout, otherwise leading to useless spinning of the wheels and some embarrassment. :lol: Being heavier at the front you'd expect it to ride better than the 2 litre ? Well, not quite. As discussed elsewhere the V6 has larger diameter front struts but doesn't have correspondingly adjusted sphere pressures/damper valves, so the ride at the front is a little bit stiffer, although not by much. It still rides significantly better than the standard Xantia. Despite being nearly 200Kg heavier I feel that the handling is just as good as the 2 litre. Being an Exclusive spec it should be nice and quiet inside the cabin at speed like the 2 litre VSX ? Not quite. It's significantly noisier than the 2 litre at all speeds, its hard to be sure but most of that is the engine, not so much road noise. There is no doubt that the V6 is a much noisier engine than the 2 litre 8 valve, both in exhaust note (good) and at revs, (not so good) its a louder raspier engine. Maybe its just this one, maybe they're all like that, I don't know. There's certainly no doubt in anyones mind that a V6 just drove past them, my girlfriend can recognise the sound of the car (from all the dozens of other cars parking nearby) as I drive in, from a 2nd floor apartment with the windows closed. :lol: Overall the 1997/1998 are more similar feeling than they are different.

So which is my pick ? I think if you want a smoother, quieter more refined and more fuel efficient and practical ride, the 1997 2 litre VSX is hard to beat. If I had both this would probably be my daily driver. If you want a lot more grunt and don't mind a bit more noise, quite a bit more fuel consumption, and a slightly less refined and soothing overall experience, the V6 is hard to beat. By comparison the 1994 2 litre SX is pedestrian and the 1993 1.9TD quite mediocre in my opinion.
Last edited by Mandrake on 16 Apr 2012, 22:52, edited 1 time in total.
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49531
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by CitroJim »

Citroenmad wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
I can't think of a dog equivalent for a V6...
Perhaps a Greyhound Jim?

Calm, laid back and gentile but also quick and excellent for long distances! :lol:
That'll do nicely Chris :-D

Simon, that's very insightful, especially on the V6. It is indeed stiffer than a smaller engined Hydractive but not quite so as an Activa...

I know what you mean about feathering the V6 throttle too, especially in the wet. On the night of Xac's wedding Rhothgar and I were having drag races between traffic lights in Milton Keynes (yes, we have those too!!). It was very late and the roads were both wet and deserted.

Rhothgar in his 1.9TD consistently out-dragged me every time off the lights because my V6 just spun its wheels and could find no initial traction at all...

:lol: :lol:

You must try an HDi-powered Exclusive :wink: I think you would like it very much.
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by citroenxm »

CitroJim wrote: You must try an HDi-powered Exclusive :wink: I think you would like it very much.
Even more so, try one with a tuning BOX! The in gear pull is phenonminal!!! Prehaps why my clutch has started slipping.. :lol:

But really... I wouldnt be without now, I get into a standard 110 now, like mums, and it feels like a 90bhp in comparison to a 110... :P
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49531
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by CitroJim »

citroenxm wrote: But really... I wouldnt be without now, I get into a standard 110 now, like mums, and it feels like a 90bhp in comparison to a 110... :P
Paul, you've just become power-crazed :lol: :lol: :lol:

I still find mine very nippy indeed. It still amazes me how well she goes and how many other cars it leaves in the dust without really trying...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
davetherave
Posts: 880
Joined: 01 Apr 2009, 21:06
Location: Norwich
My Cars:
x 4

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by davetherave »

Try a Cx and youll want to trade all the xantias for one...
(95) XM Silver 2.1td Exclusive.
(87) Cx 2.5 DTR T1 undergoing major cosmetic surgery.
GPZ500s
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by citroenxm »

i ALREADY want to.. bu the street is too small for a cx... and im too busy to chase body work and potential rust.. a shame I LOVE cx dtr and t2s... :’( :-(
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: Three Xantias...

Post by Citroenmad »

CitroJim wrote: I know what you mean about feathering the V6 throttle too, especially in the wet. On the night of Xac's wedding Rhothgar and I were having drag races between traffic lights in Milton Keynes (yes, we have those too!!). It was very late and the roads were both wet and deserted.

Rhothgar in his 1.9TD consistently out-dragged me every time off the lights because my V6 just spun its wheels and could find no initial traction at all...

:lol: :lol:
Scrap those Fate tyres and shod it with some more Michelins Jim and it'll improve things greatly :lol:
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
Post Reply