need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

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fotobright
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need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by fotobright »

Xantia has gone to the scrappy's after years of service.

Someones offering my a 2004 hdi xsara estate with full year MOT for cheaper than other 2003/04 cars . I can only afford a £500-ish car and this might come in around that.

I dont know the xsara, it doesnt get a good write up but I said i'd view tomorrow morning. I thought it was worth a look as the running costs are pretty low but only if its not knackered. Electrics seem a bit suspect on these cars!

What should I be looking out for with an xsara HDI?

bests
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
C5 2.2L HDi 16v estate (01)
Xsara Hdi 90 estate
Xantia 1.9TD estate, (veg oil)
Zx 1.9TD hatchback
Zx 1.9D hatchback
citroenxm
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by citroenxm »

HDi engine is common Xantia etc engine, and rather good....

Rear axle is a common issue.. The rear arms lean in like the old BX used to, and the top of the tyre inner rubs the inner arch..

Rear axles have a waiting list its that common, for replacments... repair can be a PITA to impossible..

Blowers are like the Xantia ones... simmilar setup.. it will work or stay on high speed.. Dash vents destroy them selfs.. outer door handles can break.. check front springs for fracture etc... other then that, not much else I DONT THINK...
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
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A very sad...
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JohnD
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by JohnD »

The Xsara Estate isn't common in the UK but over in Spain, there are loads of them about. My daughter has the hatchback version of 2002 vintage and she loves it. For a short period some Xsaras had a sub-standard heater matrix fitted, but those were already leaking within 18 months from new. Also she's had the heater motor trouble where the fans blow at full speed. I changed the transistor pack but that didn't cure the problem so I took the easy way and fitted a replacement. At 100K the rear wheels were leaning inwards so much that with driver and a passenger, the tyres scraped the bodywork. I drove the car to Mountjoy Engineering at Honiton where they fitted a fully recon axle in about three hours. The car's done around 112000 miles and it's been very reliable. Belt and tensioners were done at 85K and the clutch is original.
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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
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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: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by citroenxm »

Much what I said there.. Phew a bit of back up there.. I'm usually wronged or come tell off the subject.. :-)
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
fotobright
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by fotobright »

very useful advice,

Would a car fail an MOT with the rear wheels were leaning inwards?

The car i was talking about was sold before i got to see it this morning. I just bought a fleabay xsara with 10 month MOT with no advisory's on the basis that things like the rear axle problem might be picked up at MOT stage. thus the question.

It sounds as if its a problem that might not be detectable until the car is under load, like when I hitch a trailer to it, which is exactly what I want to do. When I go to see the car/ collecting is there any way for me to measure the deformation or wheel height to indicate there might be a real problem, short of filling the car with a rugby team?
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
C5 2.2L HDi 16v estate (01)
Xsara Hdi 90 estate
Xantia 1.9TD estate, (veg oil)
Zx 1.9TD hatchback
Zx 1.9D hatchback
JohnD
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by JohnD »

fotobright wrote:Would a car fail an MOT with the rear wheels were leaning inwards?


Our Xsara's axle trouble first showed itself when the youngest girl told me about a sqeak. She said it wasn't always there, but usually heard it when she drove over a speed bump or had passengers in the car. After a lot of months, I had the rear wheels off changing the rear discs. Only when I got to the o/s wheel did I notice the mud and paint rubbed off the wheel arch. A look at the tyre confirmed the contact. Presumably, the bearing wear had been going on for a long time, however it wasn't picked up at the previous MOT's.

Even with new bearings in the axle, there is very little space between the top edge of the tyre and the wheel arch. Tyres can be from 175 to 195, so space is at its minimum with the broader tyres. Short of removing a wheel to examine the wheel arch, there isn't really a way of knowing.
2010 C5 X7 VTR+Nav 160
1998 1.5 Saxo
1998 Pug 306 1.9D
2018 C4 B7 VTR+
2011 Citroen C1
fotobright
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by fotobright »

Just picked up the xsara estate and drove 150mls back. Its economic at 56mpg at a constant 70, so thats better than the old pre HDi Xantia.
Pretty punchy engine infact and all the electrics worked, horray! So the xsara seems like an ok buy at the mo.

The ride doesn't compare to the Xantia though does it. I know it cant compare but I found all the extra roll even a straight line slightly queazy. Used to own a Zx TD which I guess a slightly similar feel. I will check the tyre pressure. I didnt hear any obvious scraping from the back wheel arches and it didn't appear to be sitting low at the back either but at 145,000.

Is there any way I can improve its ride? It felt like it needed to adjust itself faster to the road, too lolliping....

Early days, only just got it this afternoon.
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
C5 2.2L HDi 16v estate (01)
Xsara Hdi 90 estate
Xantia 1.9TD estate, (veg oil)
Zx 1.9TD hatchback
Zx 1.9D hatchback
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: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by citroenxm »

Yes.. Change it for a xantia estate.. :-D :) :) :)
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
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waynedance
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Re: need new car, opinions about hdi xsara estate?

Post by waynedance »

Change it for a proper Citroen................
Volvo S80 D5.........
C5 2.2HDi Exclusive 2003 manual (now gone).
2009 Renault Megane, the misses drive.
Had a 1988 BX 19TRS Auto many moons ago.
Forgive any spelling mistakes, it's the phone not me.
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Post by addo »

The rear axle repair bits are about £45 per side (pin and bearing kit); you would be mad not to do both at once. It does require some workshop tooling as the rear beam must be removed and new pins fitted with a press.
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