citroen xantia mark 2

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 25 Jul 2009, 13:48

Krede wrote:However.. compared to ...say.. vw they ARE quite "soft"..much like the "sports" seats in my old zx furio.
I agree.. If you don't like such soft seats it could ruin the experience of the car.

I like soft seats but I don't like to feel the frame through them. I haven't sat in any other S2 Xantias so maybe mine had belonged to a particularly heavy family. My car had Alcantara trim, which is why it wore through. I removed the section on Alcantara's Wikipedia page that said it was a suitable material for car interiors.

It's the first and last car I will ever own with Alcantara trim.

Not a bad car as such- the HDi engine was fantastic, but I just couldn't grow to love it. I ended up swapping it for my old one back. The current owner always said I was too critical of the car but now he feels exactly the same.

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 25 Jul 2009, 13:50

CitroJim wrote:Speaking very personally I much prefer the MK1 in every way, hence all my fleet are MK1s The only thing I miss from the MK2 is the rain sensitive wipers and an oddment tray not stuffed full of keypad

I've not noticed any build quality issues between the marks at all, not hatchbacks anyway. Estates of either mark are a different story though I'm not convinced Heiuliez did such a good job on them, especially with regard to corrosion protection at the rear...

Actually my S2 was an estate so maybe that accounts for the "not quite right" feel.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 25 Jul 2009, 17:20

On the subject of seats, I have three sorts of leathers, S1 non-heated Exclusive, S1 Activa heated and S2 heated Exclusive.

My personal preference is for the non-heated leathers in my V6, closely followed by the S1 Activa. The S2 seats are not quite so good. Maybe because they have side airbags maybe?

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 25 Jul 2009, 20:11

Krede wrote:

Ps: One issue that might haunt the X2 and not the X1 could be the rust problem in the panel at the bottom of the rear doors ?.. I have noticed that ALL X2's I ever see has had corrosion at that spot.. haven't noticed it on the X1's to the same extend.. but To be honest I haven't looked that much on X1's

I couldn't agree more on the Rust issue! All S1's Ive been involved with have NOT got a problem here, however, the T plate 98 that my mum has now had acutally rotted through to the solid chassis behind it, and left a hole just above it... also a W reg S2 is not perfect either, but my L reg, and a few others I know of are very clean in the same area..

As for the rest of the car, the S2 is BETTER built, feels more soild, and more refined and is a step up from the S1... and theres a nice tray under the ash tray - and not full of a stupid keypad thats useless..

AS for alarms THEY ARE "Muteable" - if you press the Sounder with the cross through it on the dash for 5 seconds with the door open, untill the LED in the door stays on solid, then shut the door and lock the car - hey presto! The sounder is SWITCHED OFF!!!

Paul

Krede · Unread post by **Krede** » 26 Jul 2009, 02:20

I find my '00 Xantia HDI to be "one small step" up from my '93 zx (one giant leap for citroen kind??

) with regards to build quality.
Most of the stuff is pretty much the same... though the Xantia has a slightly more "solid "feel to it. But I guess that is to be expected from a larger more expensive car.

I was pleased to find that there are no "rattles" or "squeeks" from the interior trim (big issue on the zx) , and the soundproofing of the engine is excellent.

However.... the quality of the exterior trim (especially the aluminium pieces) is mediocre.. at best!.. and considering that the car is from 2000.... its woefully outdated.
Put next to ANY VAG build car of the same vintage and its completely outclassed... its a face lifted early 90'ies car and that's the end of that.

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 26 Jul 2009, 11:32

CitroJim wrote: Estates of either mark are a different story though I'm not convinced Heiulitz did such a good job on them, especially with regard to corrosion protection at the rear...

Jim, could you explain please?

Guy

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 26 Jul 2009, 12:00

Comparatively, how do Mk1 cars go on bumps?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Jul 2009, 12:56

Old-Guy wrote:
Jim, could you explain please?

Guy

Yes, Estates are more prone to rusting on the tops of the sills in the rear door shuts than hatches and this affects MK1 estates too; mine is just beginning to show signs.

Estate doors are more prone to breaking their hinges at the A post welds and Estate tailgates are shocking for allowing leaks, soaking the rear cargo area and promoting rust in this area.

I'm of the opinion they are not as well painted as I had a big bubble appear on one of my sills where the coating had lifted and water had got behind. Never seen it on a hatch.

Adam, in my experience, MK1 cars go over bumps in the same way as a MK2. There is no fundamental difference in the suspension setup as far as I know..

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 26 Jul 2009, 12:58

CitroJim wrote:There is no fundamental difference in the suspension setup as far as I know..

The only one I can think of is that wheel track is wider on a MK2 .

THELABMAN · Unread post by **THELABMAN** » 26 Jul 2009, 23:45

My First Xantia was a series 1 1.9TD SX and was an "N" reg my current two are both series 2 models, one a 1.9TD Sensation "99-T" the other a "98-S" LX .I'd say of the two models the series 2 has the slight edge on interior build quality and comfort, although she who must be obeyed realy misses the grab bar in the front of the series 1 for holding onto as she gets in and out the car.....

The Sensation though has realy poor seats with both fronts being holed on the cushions at the outside edge where the frame has pushed through and rips up the seams of the back rest were the material meets the vinyl. The material in the Sensation for anyone who has never been in one is a very hard cloth similar to what I remeber being in early series 1 base models, the LX on the other hand has a soft velour almost identical to that in the series 1 SX I had, I did look at one point at a few Xantia with the Alcantara interiors and every single one has rips and tears in them so it's obviously just not up to the job..... I'd also say that the seat cushions in the Sensation arent as big as the LX as you feel as if you sit on them and not in the seat.

Exterior wise I think the series 2 looks nicer and the headlights are a big improvemenet over the series 1 models which were just about usless in the dark, that is though just my humble opinion, I do agree about the rust on the inner sill area inside the rear doors on series 2 cars as both mine suffer from it yet the series 1 had none at all.

leithant · Unread post by **leithant** » 01 Aug 2009, 01:52

reblack68 wrote:
I like soft seats but I don't like to feel the frame through them. I haven't sat in any other S2 Xantias so maybe mine had belonged to a particularly heavy family. My car had Alcantara trim, which is why it wore through. I removed the section on Alcantara's Wikipedia page that said it was a suitable material for car interiors. It's the first and last car I will ever own with Alcantara trim.

The S1 had Alcantara too on the VSX. And yes mine is wearing through on the bolsters.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 01 Aug 2009, 10:59

leithant wrote:
The S1 had Alcantara too on the VSX. And yes mine is wearing through on the bolsters.

My late '97 LX has an Alcantara interior as standard. I must be the only person that likes it

leithant · Unread post by **leithant** » 01 Aug 2009, 11:42

red_dwarfers wrote:
My late '97 LX has an Alcantara interior as standard. I must be the only person that likes it

I like it too - it just wears too quickly!!!

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 01 Aug 2009, 11:56

red_dwarfers wrote:
leithant wrote:
The S1 had Alcantara too on the VSX. And yes mine is wearing through on the bolsters.
My late '97 LX has an Alcantara interior as standard. I must be the only person that likes it

My TD of the same age had this aswell. But it was badly worn and holed on the drivers seat, so when an Activa interior came up for a good price, that went in, and they are a much better seat too.

falling-out-with-my-car · 02 Aug 2009, 14:48

my 1998 SX diesel estate has no rust on the bottom of the rear doors as mention in previous posts , the underside you could almost eat you dinner off of it, she is waxoiled every three years, no apparent rust anywhere.

even the tops of the front legs seem to be in pretty good nick on both sides of the wheel arches.
mind you Ive probably spent as much as the car cost orriginally since I bought her six years ago

the paintwork is a bit disapointing in dark blue, the metalic green of the X1 is a lovely colour and seems to keep its colour well.

the leaky boot syndrome was easy to fix which was thru poor design.

she goes like a train though very quick for an estate, you can still feel the seats pushing you along on acceleration.

my drivers seat did break but Ive welded it up again, I did reach 23 stone before thism happened but Ive lost five stone now so it shouldnt be breaking again.

thats the trouble with xantias the suspension means that fat people can drive them without the car leanning to one side or tipping over on roundabouts.

regards nigel