Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[Zelandeth]

Attempted to go out for an actual drive again today - and just like yesterday evening it turned into 30 seconds driving followed by jumping from queue to queue. Why is everywhere so busy?

Despite that, the car seems to be going well. The low oil level light was flashing at me earlier though, checked it and it's right in the middle, so just assuming it's somewhat over sensitive as it was on the TD.

What's the normal range for the temperature gauge Jim? Was getting up to a little over halfway when in traffic before I assume the fans cut in and started bringing it back down. Having never had a properly working fan on Gabriel I'm a bit in the dark there! Seems to sit rock steady at a shade over 1/3 when moving.

Just something I like to have a good picture of what to expect on a car.

I do like the oil temp gauge, really surprising how far behind the water temp it pays during warmup.

[Michel]

What's the normal range for the temperature gauge Jim? Was getting up to a little over halfway when in traffic before I assume the fans cut in and started bringing it back down. Having never had a properly working fan on Gabriel I'm a bit in the dark there! Seems to sit rock steady at a shade over 1/3 when moving.

That's about right comparing it to the two Activas I've had

[CitroJim]

Current question is mainly going to be whether the head is sorted first and a fresh test on it or whether we just look at getting it transported up as is. I just don't want this to turn into another "when we have time..." project as I know what happens to those.

Yes, absolutely

Always good to see a well-loved car go to a good and trusted new home...

If you do need to do the head before the Saab goes to its new home then I'll be very happy to give you a hand with it; I'll enjoy taht and it'll be something a bit different again - something I'm currently really thriving on...

Had a good S-session (Skoda and Saxo) this afternoon... More in my blog a bit later

[CitroJim]

What's the normal range for the temperature gauge Jim? Was getting up to a little over halfway when in traffic before I assume the fans cut in and started bringing it back down. Having never had a properly working fan on Gabriel I'm a bit in the dark there! Seems to sit rock steady at a shade over 1/3 when moving.

That's about right comparing it to the two Activas I've had

Sorry, missed this first-time around...

Yes, that's spot-on. I know the fans are good as I had them running when I last ran it...

On both Activa and Gabriel I used to test them regularly... I get a bit OCD about cooling...

Ignore the low oil warning Zel, it cries wolf a lot...

Yes, MK was unusually busy today.. Black Friday... I was chasing around in Saxo collecting my MK Winter Half Marathon race pack, a Santa Suit to wear during a 5K run for charity around Willen Lake and visiting eldest daughter for lunch...

[Zelandeth]

Cheers Jim. That's exactly what I hoped to hear. I'm just too used to the Saab I think where the gauge moving more than a millimetre from its usual spot was unusual.

May well take you up on the offer of help with the Saab head. It's a heavy unwieldy old lump. Access is decent at least though.

Have at least had a chance to discover two things today - firstly, yes...the totally level, planted behaviour of the Activa when you chuck it into a roundabout is almost otherworldly. Also, having removed the floormat from under the throttle pedal (happens in the Saab too!)...yeah... that's definitely up there with, and I reckon beyond the Cappuccino for straight line acceleration.

Even though traffic stopped play, that car still put a big smile on my face today.

[CitroJim]

Even though traffic stopped play, that car still put a big smile on my face today.

Brilliant Zel So delighted to hear that!!! You saying that has done the same to my face

It is quite a bit more lively than a standard TCT Activa as I fitted a manual boost controller and the boost is up a bit

Be careful not to really floor it in lower gears at high revs or you risk a boost spike that will pop the ECU briefly into limp mode and light the EML. It will recover but the switch to limp is a bit sudden - as is the rev limiter... Both feel like running into a wall...

It'll be a good idea to pop round and see me on regular occasions to have the ECUs read and any faults cleared...

[Zelandeth]

To be honest given the rate at which it shifts I doubt I'll ever be needing to go too near full throttle, certainly not near the top of the rev band! Well noted though, and similar to what the Cappuccino did sometimes. It liked to hit boost cut on really cold days if you ventured north of 6k, which scared the hell out of me the first time it did it. 6K sounds like a lot - but bear in mind that thing revved to 10k.

Will certainly keep an eye out for that issue though, and at least am forewarned that it can happen.

You'll certainly still be seeing her regularly, and can help me keep track of the various unique aspects of Activa care and feeding.

[daviemck2006]

My one had the same mod and did the same chuck the EML on. Usually giving if full throttle about 2500 rpm in 4th or 5th. Hitting the rev limiter was like hitting a train going the other way!

[Zelandeth]

Given the sea of torque in the mid range there doesn't seem to be a massive need to go near the red line, not unless on a private test track anyhow.

Just picked a housemate from a work dinner out and had a mercifully quiet bit of road for the first time since I picked the car up. My initial reaction to full beans in third away from a roundabout was unprintable. On paper the power to weight ratio isn't massively different to the Cappuccino (the only other thing I've owned with any vague performance heritage!), but she feels a lot quicker.

Granted I'm more likely to spend more time wafting around in complete comfort than pushing anywhere vaguely close to the limits, but it ain't half fun to have that happen when you decide to put the foot down.

That description I threw around for my ideal car a couple of months back: a high velocity squidgy leather sofa. ...seems I found something that ticks both of those boxes.

[CitroJim]

So I can make a very safe assumption you're happy with the Activa then Zel?

[Zelandeth]

That would be an understatement I think. Fitting my requirements perfectly so far.

[CitroJim]

Zel, at some point you must pop round and we'll sort you out a load of bits and pieces you should rightly have.... It'll take a bit of time to sort it all out but I have things like brake pads, LHM and myriad other things that are no longer of any use to me but invaluable to you...

I also have a lot of TCT and Activa-specific bits we need to sort out in the fullness of time as well as no end of generic Xantia bits...

There's no rush on those as they're not eating anything here and are in long-term attic storage anyway... Think of me as your first source of spares!!!

Just don't go off buying anything until you've spoken with me

[CitroJim]

Zel, have you see this video (an old TG I believe) about Ladas being shipped back to Russia in thier hundreds?



After riding in yours, I can't agree with a word the presenter says about them, whoever he is.

He's talking rubbish

[Zelandeth]

Will have to have a look at that video tomorrow. They took a lot of stick back at the time as they were painfully obsolescent, especially towards the late 90s when even the budget brands like Hyundai, Proton and Kia were starting to churn out some properly modern looking cars that worked properly. Kia in fact I reckon if I was to go and pick a "normal" modern car tomorrow would be getting my business. The Optima in top GT-Line spec is a very nice place to be, very VW like in the good ways, but far less soulless and a heck of a lot comfier. Passat maybe is *slightly* better trimmed, but the Kia feels like someone has put actual effort into the design rather than simply turning the results of a mathematical equations into a car.

Had my first "haven't seen one of them in years" comment from someone about the Activa today in the Tesco car park. They apparently had a late HDi Executive in dark metallic blue as a company car in 98. He said it was the one and only company car he was sad to have to hand back. Then went on to buy two more in later years, and now has an X7 C5.

I advised him of the existence of this website and the collective level of knowledge on offer here.

Also may have found a new signature:

The Xantia Activa: A very rapid way to transform petrol into excessive levels of lateral G-force.

[CitroJim]

Also may have found a new signature:

The Xantia Activa: A very rapid way to transform petrol into excessive levels of lateral G-force.

I like it!!!