Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 28 Sep 2010, 07:07

Thanks for the comments guys. I remember the 306 not being a bad cal at all....they can look pretty respectable too if you get one with a relatively good spec.

We shall try all angles on insurance with the Xantia first as its a good car and has had alot of work done to it so i know it will continue to be reliable etc.

If life had to change to a peugeot 306 TD then i might not sulk for so long

Unread post by **RichardW** » 28 Sep 2010, 07:51

vince wrote:If life had to change to a peugeot 306 TD then i might not sulk for so long

I's reckon about 10 minutes, till you'd given it some beans along a bendy road

I never understood the hype about the 306 / ZX till we bought a ZX TD and I drove it - it was even better when I'd replaced the rear subframe mounts - then someone had laid rails round the corners! Ganted they're a bit tinny and bouncy compared to a Xantia, but the surge forward when you boot it at 30 mph and the turbo comes on boost is guaranteed to put a smile on your face

My mate had an HDi estate as it was insurance friendly - he had a habit of writing off cars....

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 28 Sep 2010, 13:27

I found that a ZX Volcane was actually more expensive than an LX Xantia

KP · Unread post by KP » 28 Sep 2010, 13:59

nooo vince

Get a ZX instead

cheaper than a 306Dturbo and rarer. less likely to have been chavved and ragged, plus some Volcanes still around in good nick.

Disadvantages are,

Inter-warmer,
lucas pump,
Have heard rear arms are a PITA due to the way the rear axle is meant to help with steering maybe? also aren't they cast iron or something silly so if they take a bad knock they just crack apart like Saxo ones?

Stick with the Xantia as her insurance will drop down in a year or two anyway. also think about putting her through pass-plus as that helps as well

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 28 Sep 2010, 20:22

Funny thing is i had a ZX as my third car when i wasy ounger and they were fairly new still

It was a great car TBH and a Volcane would be fantastic as i always hankered after one of those when i had my ZX reflex

But the 306 seems to be alot easier to pick up as there are loads to choose from.

Some ZX parts are not so easy to get hold of anymore which is madness considering they are the same age as the 306...

Anyway, im off onto the auto trader website to look at what ZX's are on offer....youve got me thinking now

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 10 Oct 2010, 23:06

Well the test date came and went......she didnt even get to take her test as it was cancelled at less than 2 hours notice by the DSA....Needless to say she was furious as she had spent all morning with me keeping busy to not get nervous.

So to make her feel better i found a dis used narrow car park and let her loose in the Xantia

She didnt like it much at all

saying it was massive and the steering was too fast

. A corsa it is not i said but she does love the brakes and the way it looks etc. I told her of course that it takes a little getting used to compared to her instructors corsa and the usual conversation ensued about her wanting to get a small car and me telling her its not going to happen and she needs to get used to bigger cars. She saw my way so insurance pending the Xantia is back on the keeps list

.

I have a growing list of jobs that need doing on it now which basically surround tatty body problems and the rear spheres still......Im going to get a plan in action regarding the spheres (i.e. taking it to work and changing them myself in the garage next door) but the bodywork stuff is getting me down somewhat.

I need to get to warrington to a scrapyard to get hold of a spoiler fabled to be there in my colour after screwing up mine. Dependant on condition, id also like to get the door side strips and rear bumper if the chrome strip is good. That would help mine get that little bit closer to perfect....however, as usual the problem is money (again) and also time.

Neither come to me very easily but i have to get on with making it happen. I also need some plain coloured door cards as ive advertised so i can change over my VSX style ones to help match the leather seats now fitted. It really does make the car look scrappy when the seats dont match the rest of the trim. I will get there of course but when

Also my tyres are past their best. I have access to cheap tyres through work but alas money comes back into the fray

I have some old air cooled VW bits and bobs to sell on. I must get on with this as they are supposedly worth a few bob and so may help me realise some of the above.

Oh well....after feeling a bit forlorn about the car.....i gave it a good wash yesterday afternoon and was again smitten when it came back up like a new pin (save the spoiler damage) A nice trip to Liverpool and back today in the sun with Linda and the kids to see the Beatles exhibition gave it a good run which as usual it handled with ease

Next month......NEC classic car show $\:D/$ I cant wait as i missed last years show. Wish i had a nice GS or Ami 6 to go down in

I need to be wealthy thats the problem......then i can start my collection of old cars and live the dream using them as daily drivers

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 11 Oct 2010, 06:49

vince wrote:Well the test date came and went......she didnt even get to take her test as it was cancelled at less than 2 hours notice by the DSA....

What a downer, have they given a new date yet?

vince wrote: I need to get to warrington to a scrapyard to get hold of a spoiler fabled to be there in my colour after screwing up mine. Dependant on condition, id also like to get the door side strips and rear bumper if the chrome strip is good. That would help mine get that little bit closer to perfect....

Let me know if you want me to have a shufftie before you come over, I'll be driving next week could call and have a look

vince wrote: I need to be wealthy thats the problem......then i can start my collection of old cars and live the dream using them as daily drivers

Join the club..........

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Oct 2010, 20:38

Shame about the test, i wouldnt have thought anyone would be best pleased with that. I hope they have a new test date not too far away?

Good news about keeping the Xantia, once your used to the size of a car driving it will become second nature. Xantias must be shrinking now, with the huge mid-sized hatchbacks, probably not much differencew to a new shape focus now, thats probably wider actually!

Ill be at the NEW this year again, i might see you there. Im there Saturday and Sunday. Should be good.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 12 Oct 2010, 23:26

NEC..yes cant wait

Steve if you could have a look thats would be above and beyond helpful

Im so tied up between work and stuff to do at home that i honestly dont know how i havent had a heart attack yet....it certainly isnt worth the money involved

Test date...Yes, its next monday at 4pm

I really hope all goes well for her as she really deserves it after all the effort she has put in. Even if she fails im still made up with what she has achieved so far...It may be only learning to drive but she suffered from very little self belief that she could learn in a manual and i kind of bullied her into it rather than going down the automaric tuition route. Fingers crossed now

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 13 Oct 2010, 06:38

vince wrote: Steve if you could have a look thats would be above and beyond helpful

will be next week, wednesday onwards, I'll take my camera and get some pics for you

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 14 Oct 2010, 10:35

great stuff thanks.....I'll owe you one

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 16 Oct 2010, 07:43

Well a job finally done....

My front fogs are now back in operation again

the problem turned out to be a green 2 pin block connector which is behind the front bumper....it has two pins, but mine only had one as the other had snapped off through corrosion.

this was cut out and a new connector wired in and we are back in business

The bumper didnt need to come off as Rob one of the mechanics in the garage next door to the shop had it on the ramp to let me know where the break was. By the time i went back to see how he was getting on he'd found it and fixed it

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 28 Oct 2010, 21:08

Trainman wrote:
vince wrote: Steve if you could have a look thats would be above and beyond helpful
will be next week, wednesday onwards, I'll take my camera and get some pics for you

Vince, didn't get chance last week, got shunted between Wigan, Warrington and Runcorn, I will do it asap and let you know.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 30 Oct 2010, 14:23

What a glorious day for Citroening around

Just nipped over to our Swinton branch for some new bulbs and on the way back on the M60 passed a very clean 2CV in red with a nice chrome boot rack attached. I gave the woman a beep but got no response.....

It does strike you how few 2CV's you see on the road nowadays. Would i like one? Yes please

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 31 Oct 2010, 11:07

vince wrote: It does strike you how few 2CV's you see on the road nowadays. Would i like one? Yes please

Have you ridden in one Vince ?

I have and can honestly say I have no desire to do so ever again

Tooling around in my daughter's 206 last week was purgatory for me. I could not wait to get back in a Xantia...

I'm irretrievably spoilt now