Are Activas worth the hassle?

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 20 Jan 2010, 08:50

KP wrote:
On the activa side i do nearly 400 miles a week with mine. thats one tankful of Vpower a week.... not cheap but i love it as there are some lovely twisty bits on the way to work, and on the way home picking the nippers the back roads are amazing so when it dries out a little more its superb. Managed to outdo a civic type r yesterday on a small stretch. not sure if he was too unsure about the road or whether he just couldn't keep up but he was trailing behind, and i've managed to keep pace with an M5 tourer round the twisty bits but im sure his tracs was helping as the back end was very twitchy to say the least and then on the bits that were a bit straight he was just gone which is no suprise with nearly 3.5 times the power my activa puts out...

Power isnt everything, knowing how to drive a car to its limit can be more effective than having 300bhp. The problem with these high power cars is that their advantage is not really felt on the roads, on the track it would be different.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 30 Jan 2010, 21:50

"Are Activas worth the hassle?"

After today, my answer is maybe

I replaced the rear ram with a spare I had...

Full story in my blog...

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 30 Jan 2010, 21:59

I just know I'm not going to like this....

Saying that, it hardly seems to have lost any LHM in the last week...

James

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 06 Feb 2010, 10:57

This is a good question.

Hello DickieG.. I notice from the list of cars in your signature that you don't have an Activa right now and I think that is the issue.

I haven't driven my Activa for a month or so because I'm working away from home, and doubts start to creep in. You start to think why do I bother with all this hassle to keep an old car which has some special features which nobody understands.

And then, you get it out to nip to the supermarket, but, it brings back lots of feelings and you can't resist driving it around town on the way and then maybe just up a country lane to the first roundabout then back and eventually to the supermarket. You need to drive it to really realize why you still have it. Once you're back home and it's parked, you look at it and say to yourself "I'm not getting rid of that !!".

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 06 Feb 2010, 11:14

KevMayer wrote:Hello DickieG.. I notice from the list of cars in your signature that you don't have an Activa right now and I think that is the issue.

When I had an Activa I only drove it occasionally so there was always that feeling of it "being different", the trouble for me was that it wasn't "different enough" to warrant the additional spending that came with the car. I'm fortunate to have opportunity to thrash around in cars at work so when I drive my own cars I prefer to enjoy the comfort of a Xantia and even if I wish to get a wiggle on I can't say that a little bit of body roll spoils the drive sufficient to make me want an Activa again.

When Activas were launched I very nearly bought a fully spec'd demonstrator from the Chiswick dealer but bought my VSX instead, ever since then I hankered after an Activa until I eventually bought one and ran it for a year or so but eventually came to the conclusion that if I want to go quick in a Xantia a V6 is does the job better for me.

Just a personal thing really, each to their own and all that, I wouldn't wish to spoil others enjoyment of a special car I just posed the question wondering whether I'm the only one to think of Activa's the way I do.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 06 Feb 2010, 11:47

As some may know, ive just got a new car, a Mondeo ST220 which if you believe the press at the time, was one seriously well sorted car in handling and performance, and i wont disagree, it is great to drive, the bodyroll is minimal yet rides well enough for a steel sprung car. The engine is a gem too, if lacking in that turbocharged punch.

So this morning i take the Activa out for a potential buyer to look at. And yet again i am reminded at just how talented this car is. Its ride is far superior to the Mondeo, yet handles as wello with minimal fuss, its very easy to drive swiftly point to point. And the engine is great too (although i wouldnt of said that if the turbo was not uprated), its pushes you back in your seat and when your finished, throw it back inth 5th and poodle along and enjoy the torque.

Its how an Activa should be, and i WILL miss this car when it goes, its a great car, full stop.