Xantia Activa failed MOT on rear brakes. IT PASSED!

[CitroJim]

Excellent news it's passed Chris

I agree a hard choice but just leave the Activa alone for a few weeks and then go back to it.. The decision will be easier then...

One thing I really appreciate is the lovely ride on rubbish roads coupled with taut handling...

[chrisjvm]

Thanks Jim....
I'll give it some thought.
I'm suprised you've got time for a Volvo though!
I'm renovating a house at present so it comes in really handy..
The handling was a bit scary in the wet when I first got it as it had cheap tyres on it.
I invested in a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3s which transformed the road holding even if they did cost nearly as much as the car! The fronts are nearly scrubbed already after 5k .... Oh well.... Fwd + torque costs ... TYRES!

Cheers Mike ... I think you're right Re the rear ballast !

[CitroJim]

I have plenty of time for a hot Volvo Chris.. The T5 is quite a beast..

I've owned two Volvos in the past. A 144 in the 80s when I was in Cyprus and a time-expired 340 in the 90s when I was broke.

Both served admirably but the 340 has the distinct honour of being the only car to truly strand me when it suffered terminal prop-shaft failure in Bicester...

Every time I or the girls pass the spot we all remember that fateful wet night just opposite RAF Bicester...

[chrisjvm]

My sister bought a new 340 DL in 1986 ...
She used to let me use it occasionally for long journeys,
It had the Daf transmission... After stepping out of my daily transport (Citroen Dyane 435cc) It was like driving a Roller!... Heated seats too! Happy days.

[CitroJim]

They certainly were comfy old bests Chris... And bruilliant heaters too!

The propshaft problem was a relic of the fact the car was designed for the Daf Variomatic transmission as manual ones had a transaxle driven by an engine-speed propshaft. The splines on the ends of the shaft used to wear and on mine they'd worn to nothing at all