Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

KP · Unread post by KP » 11 May 2011, 09:41

Whats wrong with a small frog unit vince like an AX or Saxo as they are cheap to insure, the diesels hold value well enough and are pretty stron mostly, and they take scrapes and bumps easy enough

its a pity you didn't let me know a few months back as i chopped in an 02 Pug 106 zest2 1.5d for only £220, fair enough it needed work but nothing beyond sir Vince

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 May 2011, 10:49

Ive no idea about Merc numbers, but an E36 is an E-class from around 1998 onwards? Erm, thats quite big you know

Would that not be a high insurance premium for a new driver? Also quite large to park too.

I know of a few people who run those, they all like them and they seem reliable if rust prone. Will it be a petrol version?

Something like this? AMG

Its good that your going for an auto, as their manuals are pretty ropey. You also get the XM style parking brake - no bad thing.

Dommo · Unread post by **Dommo** » 11 May 2011, 14:27

I think he's on about BMW 3 series'

E36's are cheap and cheerful, and with nice engines, the 325 TDS engines are nice IIRC.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 May 2011, 14:31

Dommo wrote:I think he's on about BMW 3 series'

E36's are cheap and cheerful, and with nice engines, the 325 TDS engines are nice IIRC.

So he is!
That does make much more sense

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 11 May 2011, 16:06

Oh Vince, you're really looking into the dark side now.. Do you enjoy rust?

Those old Beemers rot like pears...

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 11 May 2011, 16:16

Someone I know has a Clio auto in GWO that his missus doesn't drive
anymore and AFAIK it wouldn't need much to get on the road again
although it's on SORN. Absolutely no idea whether it's a petrol or a
diesel but these smaller cars aren't going to use shedloads of fuel are
they and I don't believe it'd be a King's Ransom? Sounds like the right
kinda car and you could keep the Xant? Would be the kind of car on my
list in your circumstances.

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 11 May 2011, 19:40

If your not going to sell the wife, why not buy her a moped?

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 11 May 2011, 20:20

Thanks guys but i could not afford to run two cars keeping the Xantia

I have looked into small french cars like the clio and also saxos, that was my first port of call. The thing with my wife is she wants it both ways, ive shown her pug 306's, meganes, clios etc and she says they are too small because what if we go away on holiday with the kids then we wont have the space, but then she also wants creature comforts like air con, electric everything etc which come in bigger cars. So it narrows the field somewhat as i could not live with a simple A to B car that has no character and is just functional...it has to be good at something.

The 325TD is a good car however they suffer from high pressure pump failure which bills at £700 of a repair (we deal with a few BMW speciailists so ive done some homework) and being a 6 cylinder diesel they average 40mpg like the Xantia. The 318 although petrol averages 35mpg so isnt too far off, plus doesnt suffer from any engine related problems other than viscous fan couplings which arent dear which causes the expansion bottles to crack which again are cheap.The way i see it diesel is now always going to rise faster than unleaded due to the tax revenue gained from consumption, so unless you do mega mileage (which i dont) although diesel is more efficient, the gap is getting very close on value per mile.

I realise the idea of anything not french will be controversial on a french car forum but ive vacationed away from french before and ended up back in a french car again at some point as years have gone by, and Ill still be driving a Citroen Nemo every day.

Looking on the bright side.....a Xantia has been rescued, alot of time poured into it to make it nice again and when sold someone will buy themselves a nice example

Thats got to be a good thing yes?

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 11 May 2011, 20:25

Back when top gear was still good, they did mentino the BMW diesels weren't worth the extra cost as their economy was barely higher than the petrol models.

How about a Xantia V6?
Not too big, not too small, automatic, economical...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 May 2011, 21:28

Xac wrote:Back when top gear was still good, they did mentino the BMW diesels weren't worth the extra cost as their economy was barely higher than the petrol models.

How about a Xantia V6?
Not too big, not too small, automatic, economical...

... Full of toys, cheap to buy, you know them well, its something different, there is a very nice S1 V6 on ebay at the moment.

Do you need more plus points?

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 11 May 2011, 21:37

Defianlty a good thing vince! I just hope it gets spoilt with its new owner in the same manner you have spoilt it!

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 11 May 2011, 22:51

Citroenmad wrote:
Xac wrote:Back when top gear was still good, they did mentino the BMW diesels weren't worth the extra cost as their economy was barely higher than the petrol models.

How about a Xantia V6?
Not too big, not too small, automatic, economical...
... Full of toys, cheap to buy, you know them well, its something different, there is a very nice S1 V6 on ebay at the moment.

Do you need more plus points?

Sure a V6 Xantia in my book is the ultimate package....smooth serene, stylish and a whack of torque to waft it along...perfect in many ways....

Potential stumbling blocks for a new driver
1, Insurance
2, Non DIY running costs (i wouldnt be able to fix much on it)
3, Autobox niggles

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 17 May 2011, 22:54

Well folks not much to report.....

The Xantia is nice and clean now after a good wash just before and a run to the tyre machine to check and re set the tyre pressures....

Ive decided to keep the Xantia for a little while as i love the damn thing

and its drives amazing and looks super clean

Why give away all your hard work just yet ?

I pulled the hydractive fuse out the other day and drove it for a day like that......it did increase the tick rate quite a bit so its clear that the rear electrovalve is lazy to get going...its fine once up to full pressure on the rear. I was still thinking rear height corrector but that seems fine TBH so at least that settles my doubts

Tomorrow night ive got some special passengers.....My wife Linda's family have come over from Florida today for the week. Tomorrow night ive got to drop her, her sister and her neice and friend off into Manchester as they are going for a night out and then pick them up again later on.No doubt it will be theit first ride in a Citroen so ive cleaned up the car to look nice and hopefully they will comment on how amazing the ride is in these cars squashed into their beige leather seats.....

Ah those virgin steps into the world of hydraulic suspension systems..

To top it off her neice's friend is french

Mon dieu !

Keep Citroening people

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 17 May 2011, 23:08

Forgot to add.....im in the process of setting up detailing cars....

For the first few customers im doing a thorough overhaul clean for £50. It takes a few hours but the results are amazing

I did a BMW compact the other day which came out gleaming and have a pink (will soon be red again) vectra to do on thursday. Ive got an X6 BMW lined up, my mates Bentley continental to do a little bit further down the line alongside an Aston and another BMW......

The plan is to gather some money together from some 1 day turnaround jobs and do a one day pro course (one to one tuition) to learn some new skills such as stone chip complete removal, wet sanding etc.....its not cheap but i want to get very good at this and in the future who knows....perhaps ill do that full time instead of what i do now ?

If you want your car doing and are reasonably local to me then give me a pm and i can show you what you can expect to get back for your money.

If at someone elses house id need a water supply (external tap) and a plug socket for my extension

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 25 May 2011, 23:52

Well its time the engine bay was brought back from the depths of dirtyness

I started tonight by removing the airbox and other simple to remove covers, cleaning and degreasing them ready for a surface protection polish. I got a bit carried away and started on the inner wing box section by the topmount on the drivers side cleaning out the grime and uncovering nice clean surfaces underneath. The plan is now to tape off the engine bay into square smaller sections and cleaning up one section at a time working across the bay as i go. Might take most of the week but hopefully by the end i will have a nice clean engine bay again

Whilst cleaning around the LHM reservoir i uncovered a metal shiny surface underneath the leading edge of it....basically a component that sits beneath it....what is this?

P.s. I know i could be classed as a "not right" going into such detail cleaning up my engine bay but it relaxes me and gets me some fresh air after being at work all day. Plus the car ends up nice and clean