Readers Rides - Activa gallery

[XantiaMan]

Another one for the album.

[andmcit]

Nice; but how can you bear driving it on those gritted salty roads.
It's shouting out for a thorough jetwash (if the water wasn't frozen solid).

Andrew

[XantiaMan]

Nice; but how can you bear driving it on those gritted salty roads.
It's shouting out for a thorough jetwash (if the water wasn't frozen solid).

Andrew

Hmm well with my car history (AR products dissolve in contact with air and water) i am pretty fastidious about cleaning my vehicles and have been since i can remember. I jet wash them regularly, put the suspension on high and give it a blast underneath too.

Xantias are regardless very rust resistant unless they have had accident damage. I've never heard of someone welding the underneath of one, have you?

My vehicles are for driving and if i shat myself everytime i drove it in case i got a stone chip or a bit of mud got stuck on my wheelarch liner i would have to question my sanity.

[CitroJim]

I've been out in mine tonight First time in about 10 days and she started on the button despite being wrapped in a snowy blanket.

As you say Gareth, the bodies are rust resistant but the suspension bits are not Especially at the rear.

I shall buy a few cans of Bilt Hambler Dynax S50 body wax and soak the rears of both mine in that before next winter. I used it back along on my 205GTi and it did the job well.

As soon as the weather warms a little, I'll do the same, hose out and a good long soaking underneath to get rid of the salty stuff.

[andmcit]

Oh, they'll rust given time; all we can do is delay the process. I've had to
weld several Xm's and even scrap one because it was rotten underneath
on it's sills and floorpan. As Jim rightly says, the weakest part will be the
Activa specific rear subframe - the Xm I mentioned above was truly
frightening and that was a 1995 vintage.

I agree that if you have it and enjoy owning it, why not use it. It could
have some muppet slide into it or falling snow ice writing it off as easily
parked on your drive the way the weather is at the moment.

Andrew

[Citroenmad]

Thats a very nice picture Gareth 8) Thats my favourite colour for a S2 Xantia, you dont see many.

I believe cars are there to be used, however our Xms, C15 and traction rarely if never see winter roads, only if needs must if they need something doing.

Ive not washed my C5 for 3 weeks and im feeling guilty now, as its looking shocking, its turned white. So im going to have to give it and the other c5 hatch a good through wash tomorrow, usually I wash my car once a week but its just been too cold it would freeze.

I must say i dont think Xantia rust as badly as Xms, which usually prove to be solid rust free cars, but sills and wheel arches can suffer at their ages.