to buy or not to buy...

[Andy F]

Hi all

After much toing and froing I might have come to a decision over what I should replace my Xantia with. I fancied a c8 but have been put off by various stories around the internet as well as the opinions on this forum when I asked, also there are hardly any for sale with the non fap option. C5 estate is another option and I have seen a couple on the internet that I like.

But then this Xantia came up for sale around the corner from me.

http://www.town-cars.com/mobile/cars/ci ... ate/3639/0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I thought great, I know and like the Xantia after 100,000 trouble free miles in them. Problem is it seems rather expensive it's not an exclusive like the one currently in for sale and wanted here on f2f and is much more pricey than the one on here. Any advice on how to get the dealer to see sense and bring it down to around £1000 ish which I feel is more appropriate?

Thanks, Andy

[Gibbo2286]

I think the problem you have is that you yourself need to 'see sense' when buying, as a car dealer Town Cars will have legal obligations that a private seller doesn't have, if you blow the engine (or have some other mechanical disaster) on that car you'll expect them to fix it for free so the difference between the private seller and the forecourt price reflects that.

I've known Town Cars for years, they've been in business on that site for a long long time and have a pretty good reputation in the area.

I'm not a customer of, or in any way associated with them, just my unbiased opinion.

[Chlorate]

The advert says it was made in 1997 but the photos show a Y registration?

It does seem a bit expensive, I picked up my HDi exclusive for £500 in a private sale - full service history and mechanically sound. Granted the condition of the car wasn't quite as good as the one in that ad, but it was all minor cosmetic stuff.
And I was probably very, very lucky to get it when I did...

[Old-Guy]

The advert says it was made in 1997 but the photos show a Y registration?

The advert says it's a 2001 reg. but with an engine capacity or 1997cc.

However the sales staff clearly don't know anything about Citroens (described as a Xsara Xantia!), and the sticker price may reflect a nervousness about the potential for expensive (Citroen dealer) hydraulic repairs. Since your happy to buy privately, why not ask them what they'll take for a trade sale (on a spares or repair invoice)?

I suspect it's on the forecourt because they've taken it as a p/x, it's nice and tidy with low miles but would still only fetch perhaps £900 tops at auction unless there just happen to be two private buyers both wanting it. Here in Gloucestershire, Xantia estates still seem to be popular and prices reflect that.

[Gibbo2286]

Are you mixing up two ads Chlorate? The one I see in the op says it's 2001

Pipped at the post with the reply.

[Gibbo2286]

The advert says it was made in 1997 but the photos show a Y registration?

The advert says it's a 2001 reg. but with an engine capacity or 1997cc.

However the sales staff clearly don't know anything about Citroëns (described as a Xsara Xantia!), and the sticker price may reflect a nervousness about the potential for expensive (Citroen dealer) hydraulic repairs. Since your happy to buy privately, why not ask them what they'll take for a trade sale (on a spares or repair invoice)?
I suspect it's on the forecourt because they've taken it as a p/x, it's nice and tidy with low miles but would still only fetch perhaps £900 tops at auction unless there just happen to be two private buyers both wanting it. Here in Gloucestershire, Xantia estates still seem to be popular and prices reflect that.

Any trader who does that is asking for trouble, the courts take it as a clear attempt to deny the purchaser/consumer his statutory rights regardless of the agreement arrived at and whatever is written on the invoice.

Trade sales must be just that, a sale to a bona fide trader or trading standards will be all over the dealer.

My local garage did a deal on a Transit truck, the buyer begged them to knock a grand off in exchange for taking 'as is' with no warranty and no come backs, three weeks later he came back saying the engine was knackered, they told him to bugger off, it ended in court where the judge ordered them to pay him five grand as it was "a clear attempt to deny him his statutory rights."

[Chlorate]

Whoops!

[Andy F]

Hi

Thanks for your input. I have just got back from viewing it. I agree with what has been said by all. I was just surprised by the price as I bought my current HDi hatch two years ago from a dealer for £875 with 100,000 miles in great mechanical condition but a couple of small dents which don't detract from the appearance. I would think this would be reasonable?

Its beside the point now as this estate is not in particularly good condition. Body wise is not as straight as the photos suggest, lots of small dents. Engine was more rattly than mine, lhm level too low and brown. Front spheres rock hard,but rears nice and soft and it passed the sitting in the boot engine off accumulator test. Interior; classic alcantara untidyness and some electric windows didn't work. The rear head rests and door lock caps were missing, small thing I know but niggly. Definitely not worth the asking price!

So the hunt for something bigger continues!

Andy

[Peter.N.]

There are lots of C5 estates on ebay for very reasonable prices if you know anything about them or know someone who does that you can take with yo., I have bought two from there one for £300 and the other for £550, the cheaper one had less wrong with it than the other one. You should be able to get a good one for under £1000. Get the 2.0.Hdi for preference the fuel consumption is much better than the 2.2 and the tax is cheaper.

Peter

[Andy F]

Hi Peter

I have looked at a couple of C5s recently too. In fact about 4 years ago I bought a 2001 2.0 HDi c5 hatch which I had for 18 months. They are still tempting and if a good one comes up I will. But probably the 2004-2008 variety for something different. The 2.0 HDi 138 I imagine. There was a 2.2 173 which would've been a hoot! But I was too slow and it was sold. The c5 was a good car and I would have another if it was an estate.

I went back to a Xantia as a stop gap but I think i prefer the way Xantias drive and I think they are a better looking car than the c5.

Short list for now is either a Xantia or c5 but it must be estate and diesel

Andy

[Peter.N.]

The 2.0. Hdi Xantia has some advantages over the C5, primarily it doesn't have a DMF which I think makes it smoother at low revs, both my C5 and 406 vibrate at about 1500 rpm if you push them hard, the XM didn't and I don't think the Xantia does. I opted for the C5 estate because I need the space - I still prefer the XM

Peter

[Andy F]

I would love an XM but unfortunately I do too many miles per year and don't want to have to put an XM through that, they are rare enough as it is. I still have a hankering for an XM but unfortunately i dont have the space to run one as a weekend car, which is what the mini is for. The mini also takes up about a third of the space!

[Peter.N.]

Hi Andy

I ran XMs for over 15 years and probably covered 300,000 miles or more in them, that's what I liked about them - you could. The 2.1 engine is almost bombproof and will do in excess of 50 mpg driven gently - nearly as good as the Hdi. I still have one but my son drives it.

Peter

[Andy F]

Hi Peter,

That's quite a testament to the car! Problem being they are getting few and far between there are only 2 on the whole of eBay. If one crops up nearby I could be easily tempted. One of these would definitely be big enough

I am being careful not to spark another Xantia/XM/C5 'which is best' discussion lol. I just need an estate, and I like them all!

[Chlorate]

There's an HDi exclusive estate up for grabs for £1200 in the for sale and wanted section of this very forum.
Looks like a goodun.