You dip your toe back in, and suddenly you're waist deep

[Jodyone]

As my car ownership history has mostly been a pendulum swinging slowly between old/oldish Citroen’s and old/oldish Mercs, I now find that pendulum swinging away from the last Merc and towards some other Citroen. I just really miss the genius of hydro-pneumatic suspension.

Is it ridiculous to consider a late C5 Exclusive as an ordinary daily car, for high-ish annual mileage (20K, say), in 2026? And are there really no petrols? I can’t find any, but am prepared to wait. I had sworn off emissions-throttled diesels, but unfortunately all the cars I like (and could afford) from either house are emissions-throttled diesels, so I may not be able to do much about that.

I had a 2006 C6 2.7 about ten years ago for a few years and I loved it. Sold in the end because of niggling and growing unreliability- EGR valves, plastic coolant elements, electrical gremlins, etc. Is there a path into C5 hydractive ownership that skirts those issues? Or am I doomed to sprung cars from duller makes..? I'm mechanically inclined (duh, I've had Citroens..!) but can't spend every weekend fiddling with cars...

[MattBLancs]

If not the C5 with petrol, then a C6 with the ES9 3.0 V6 petrol could be an option.

Review of 2.7 V6 diesel Vs 3.0 ES9 V6 petrol C6 options:


C5 X7 has an Achilles heal in the steering rack, otherwise I'd say it's a viable daily.

[Jodyone]

Thank you for that Matt! Unfortunately now I just want another C6. Which isn't what I need.

Favourite bit: "Ooh a Saxo.. in topaz "

[mickthemaverick]

Options:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... roduct=PCP

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6flrfc%3D1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6flrfc%3D1

I'd go for the middle one!!

[Jodyone]

Thanks Mick! VTR+ is springs not hydractive though isn't it, or am I missing a trick?!

[Stickyfinger]

Thanks Mick! VTR+ is springs not hydractive though isn't it, or am I missing a trick?!

Correct.

[Rp0thejester]

Remortgage your house and get a Mercedes G Wagon, 2 birds, 1 stone.

[mickthemaverick]

Yes I believe you are right, you need to go to Exclusive to get the Hydractive suspension. Is the green Mk1 with the 'orrible black wheels too old? Low mileage but will need some work, wheels, radio, etc ? But it's cheap!!

[MattBLancs]

Yes I believe you are right, you need to go to Exclusive to get the Hydractive suspension.

X7 type C5, yep only Exclusive has hydro pneumatics.

Reports if excellent ride comfort on the steel sprung models, particularly with smaller wheels.

Is the green Mk1 with the 'orrible black wheels too old? Low mileage but will need some work, wheels, radio, etc ? But it's cheap!!

If looking older then that Xantia estate listed on here would come into view perhaps??
viewtopic.php?p=872499#p872499
(If avoiding (modern) diesels was just on the basis of complexity, the XUD9TE isn't complicated at all)

[Jodyone]

Yes I believe you are right, you need to go to Exclusive to get the Hydractive suspension. Is the green Mk1 with the 'orrible black wheels too old? Low mileage but will need some work, wheels, radio, etc ? But it's cheap!!

Yep I think that is a bit too wrinkly for me, at the current need. I'm only really thinking about the latest ones- ideally 2015/16 when some are Euro 6 (I'm not infrequently in London).

There's a low mileage one not too far from me which looks interesting, but it may be a bit too old (certainly not euro 6). Also maybe ambitious pricing for what must be the most unfashionable car in existence

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20301267

I have been reading up a bit too, the steering rack thing is alarming!

[Jodyone]

If looking older then that Xantia estate listed on here would come into view perhaps??
viewtopic.php?p=872499#p872499
(If avoiding (modern) diesels was just on the basis of complexity, the XUD9TE isn't complicated at all)

You make a good point, but though I liked the Xantia I once had, they're just too old now for me as a daily car. I have a 40 year old Merc for amusement/ knocking around duties, and had I a spare warehouse I'd determinedly fill it with crusty old Citroens of similar vintage. Sadly my one borrowed garage space cannot accommodate...

[Jodyone]

Remortgage your house and get a Mercedes G Wagon, 2 birds, 1 stone.

A cast iron logic there! Hell a few more glasses of wine and I could go full Unimog, which could also be a house

[Stickyfinger]

I have been reading up a bit too, the steering rack thing is alarming!

VERY EASY to solve/protect the offending pinion shaft, if not recently done budget for a refurbish if you cannot inspect before purchase.

(3 screws in the footwell to remove the inspection cover so easy to check)

[Jodyone]

I have been reading up a bit too, the steering rack thing is alarming!

VERY EASY to solve/protect the offending pinion shaft, if not recently done budget for a refurbish if you cannot inspect before purchase.

(3 screws in the footwell to remove the inspection cover so easy to check)

Thank you. This is the kind of golden information these forums are so brilliant for