Alternative ways of driving a Xantia.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 12 Jul 2008, 09:55

lolingram wrote:The Ferrari is nevertheless being driven like a hearse....!

They're probably in a state of shock that a loon in a 5 door family
hatchback just went round them as if they were standing still,
and worse, it was a Citroen!

And there's probably the minor
matter of a Ferrari door mirror being the same value as the Xantia!

By the looks of things, of the two drivers, we can see who was having
the most entertainment from their car and look like they're totally
buzzing!! Just hope they managed to get home in one piece!

Andrew

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 12 Jul 2008, 15:30

You'd really want to check your strut tops before doing that though, wouldn't you!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 12 Jul 2008, 15:59

Someone rear ended me while I was sat stationary in a queue.
I was i an (ancient) Volvo 265. Never even knocked the muck off my car, wrote the Astra off - tow bar went straight through the radiator.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 12 Jul 2008, 16:37

dnsey wrote:You'd really want to check your strut tops before doing that though, wouldn't you!

Is that before the hitting the wall bit, or the tonking around a circuit scaring
Ferrari's and bystanders alike...?

No real laughing matter, but I know what you mean!

I like towbars for the very same reason myglaren being in a similar scenario
in my VSX TD Xant - the Escrote had a big hole in his rad and wasn't going
anywhere and I didn't pick up a scratch - the dirt may have fallen off the
underside I guess!

Andrew

Unread post by **lolingram** » 12 Jul 2008, 17:23

Someone rear ended me while I was sat stationary in a queue.
I was i an (ancient) Volvo 265. Never even knocked the muck off my car, wrote the Astra off - tow bar went straight through the radiator.

Steve

Over the years in Frogland, there has been more than one case of the car with the towbar having been sactioned for having an 'extension beyond the vehicle causing damage' would you believe!

This is France of course...

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 13 Jul 2008, 12:54

I notice your new signature Gareth!

Have you seen the silver one in Caterbury on ebay with bobbly wheeltrims
on steels. Good miles too (unless it needs a clutch!). I realise Caterbury isn't
right on your doorstep in Norfolk mind and I guess you'd want a red one...?

Andrew

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 13 Jul 2008, 18:45

Yep have seen it, would prefer red, then green, then blue, then silver in that order, and really want a Mk1 as i think it has more character. But most important it has to be mechanically sound.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 13 Jul 2008, 19:01

godammit, what's wrong with me - why can't I type Canterbury!!
Eyes peeled for a wed wun then...

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 13 Jul 2008, 19:16

They did a black one which I've seen just one other to mine on a forum; it's
OK if a little anonymous and restrained! I really love the orangey/red!

My pal has watched me drool over his red Activa I actually won the bidding
for on ebay at the start of the year and he's too busy to sort out the minor
issues it has so has offered me it!

Problem is, I'll need to create space having only just got some normality
back scrapping a very rusty Xm a week ago!

Andrew

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Jul 2008, 19:58

XantiaMan583 wrote:Activa wanted!

I can now reveal that Gareth has now driven an Activa

Not quickly or with any great exploration of it's capabilities though as I was in the passenger seat...

I will leave Gareth to comment further...

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 13 Jul 2008, 22:04

Good job I`m not in France then as I have just fitted a detachable tow ball on the front of Xantia

It`s brill for pushing boats about through openings and up the driveway. Looking at car on high position it has more ground clearance than the diffs on previous Landy and Patrol.......some cars!!

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 13 Jul 2008, 22:16

lexi, great idea! Handy too.

BUT...

Where on earth would you fasten a towbar on the front of a Xantia!?

Andrew

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 14 Jul 2008, 16:04

There is a vertical panel with a lip next to the towing eye at front. I bridged a plate from there to the eye itself. Welded that on catching as much metal as I could. You have to cut a template to make sure you aint preventing bumper and stuff from being removed. Then took the tubular female part cut from an axle stand. Weld that on to plate. Now take the male part of stand. Weld a plate which you have drilled for 50mm towball onto the u section which you normally rest car on. The male section is kept under a seat and it is only a matter of slipping it into tube and putting axle stand pin through.

The towbar can be slid in without going under the car. It is ok for moving about 10cwt.