The Xm went well, Ive totted up the distances ive done since getting it and it comes to 1500 miles within the two weeks I've had it. That is pretty good going really and its roughly the same as the cars annual mileage for the past 8 years.
In the last 1200 miles since Saturday, its averaged 26.1mpg according to the trip computer. That seems about right to me, I don't hang about that much and I would expect about 30 from a Turbo auto. As most of that mileage was on LPG, which returns slightly less, its to be expected. Thats not as bad as it sounds, as autogas is about 70p a litre, so it gives running costs similar to a diesel. It did develop a quirk or two, in the pretty torrential rain the sunroof was leaking into the front interior light and on each corner it would drip in. However Kev fixed this by putting some tissues behind the light fitting Ill have to look at that and see why its leaking. The trip to Anglesey to see Paul was very good, we had a look around his fleet and his stash of bits and pieces. Thanks again for the bits Paul, it'll help my XM onto the way to being a better car. I fitted the sidelight yesterday (well in truth, davetherave did) which looks much better than the old white one. I also fitted the replacement keypad code, due to it original having very worn buttons. However the fuel pump relay was clicking constantly after this, I didn't think the keypad would have caused this, so a bit of head scratching went on. However, I changed back to the old keypad and it stopped, so I swapped the good buttons to the old pad, job done! Ill get the other bits fitted in good time.
The weather was pretty wet all week, Friday going to and from Anglesey was good fun, any more water and we would have needed a boat! No joke either, looking at yesterdays news of the flooding in that area, with the amount of water we saw running off the hills it was bound to happen. Still, I enjoyed the short blast around the 'Evo triangle' and the Xm comped well with the wet corners
A video might even appear at some point! I have never bought 'budget' tyres before, however the Matadors I got for the XM have proved their worth. Wet cornering grip is very good, I didn't have any problems even when pushing on a little. In the torrential rain on the way home this evening there could not have been any more water on the surface, but it was straight and true without any issues. Impressive. I have found that the cheap boomy back box on the exhaust is almost unheard above 80mph, at 70 its quite a drone. No doubt that the lack of any real baffles in the exhaust is not helping with economy, so that will need replacing pretty soon. I also need to source a good pair of strut tops for it, a few people commented on the NS one looking a bit iffy, I have seen worse ones! It is strating to go so it will be swapped out when i find some replacements.
Im very pleased with the XM, which is a bit annoying as now I need to rethink my 3 cars. I don't want three cars, its too much upkeep and I like things to be just so with them all. Its too much expense as I like them road going (taxed, MOT'd, insured, serviced etc) at all times as I dont want cars just sat about, I might as well not have them. Space is also beyond tight now, so something needs to go. This does create a problem though, which one or ones do I sell?
If I sold the Xantia the XM would not fit where that parks, so it doesn't solve the space issue. However it would be one less car to keep, afford and maintain, though I don't think im ready to give up the Activa just yet. Its in better condition than the XM, at the moment, its great fun to drive and its a very appealing car to me. Sure XMs dont handle too badly for such a big thing, however an Activa they are not, they are very different cars for very different purposes. I enjoy a good bit of quick driving and so the Activa suits me down to the ground, as it can be really pressed along but also be a quiet cruiser with a bit of space. I am considering that the Xantia needs to find a new home, though I would rather not as I know I will regret it, its at the back of my mind for now.
Or do I sel the C5 and get something smaller to use everyday. I don't need a big car every day, running around town, going to work or even my uni commute, its usually only me or me and a passenger in the car. I would have the XM for big car duties and long motorway trips. This would also relieve the parking problems as the XM would fit where my C5 parks .... I also fancy a change from C5s and something smaller would be ideal. Something small, stupidly good on fuel and costs barely anything to tax would be great, as it would make having three cars slightly more possible, financially. Or I would also like a sporty little car, something really fun to drive at lower speeds and something a bit different to what I have had in the past.
Or sell the XM, which would be a real shame and im really starting to like it, its a nice car and is only going to get better. I also prefer XMs to Xantias. Despite its reasonable fueling costs I wouldn't like to have it as my daily driver, for a few very good reasons. I want to get it in good condition and keep it that way, whcih means using it more sparingly than a daily driver, keeping it out of the way of the winter salt and keeping its mileage and wear down. Safety is another thing, its got no airbags and so on. I also think that having it as a daily would wear the enjoyment off the car, having it to go to every week or few weeks would be much better and remind me why I like it. Parts are another thing, getting some XM bits are getting harder and doing 20K a year in the XM is only going to make that more of a problem. So it must stay as a hobby car to enjoy, though I don't mind using it for long trips etc.
Ah well, does anyone want to buy an Activa, XM or C5?
It has been a very good week, good location, good company, plenty of things to do and see, the Xm went excellently and the DSM rally finished the week off nicely.
