First impressions of my Xantia

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 May 2005, 02:35

On Saturady I picked up my new Daily Driver in the shape of a 1993 Xantia SX TD. This is my first Hydropneumatic Citroen after a few Pug 405 TDs and a Pug 205 GTi
It sports 15" Pug 205 1.9 GTi Speedline Wheels with 195/65 tyres. These are going on my 205 in due course. Are these wheels and tyres the right size for this car or are they too big?

Considering it came cheaply by way of e-bay it is remarkably free of niggles really. It's got new spheres and pump amongst a load of other new bits. The clutch cable needed adjusting and the screenwashers needed sorting. The latter was a bit of a fiddle as Mr. Cit keeps the screenwash bottle in the front bumper and runs the water up under the front wing behind the mud shield. Therein lurked a duff one-way valve. Finally a weepy LHM tank that had a loose pipe.
Driving the Xantia, after using the 205 as a daily driver for a good time was interesting. The lack of noise (of any description, except the radio - which I could hear clearly) was the first shock. This was closely followed by the big round thing in front of me that in most cars is a steering wheel but in the Xant seems to be merely an input device to tell it to go round corners. It is power assisted to the point that zero feel or feedback comes through it
The brake pedal is the same. It seems merely a spring-loaded switch that you use to tell the thing you wish to slow down or stop. It seems to know how much and when - freaky...
I still get a little surprise at the 6 inches or so of levitation that occurs when I start it up. Others just find it funny.. And it looks so cool when it has sunk right down after an hour or so of being stopped. (It is an early Phase 1 so no anti-sink valves)
The suspension is something else though. Magic carpet ride it is, truely. Speed Humps cease to exist and all road surfaces seem like billiard tables.
The handling and cornering though, on first acquaintance inspires no confidence whatsoever and seems almost frightening after a 205 but...
Tonight I went out to explore this aspect a bit. I took it on a rough and bendy bit of road I know really upsets the 205. The Xant ate it for breakfast and I found myself going at silly speeds and flying around bends; that's what it feels like, going round bends, it seems to be a mixture of flying and floating around them. Unnerving at first but once you get used to the sensation it is amazing how hard and fast you can pile into a bend and it just serenely floats around. A bit of roll and that's it.
1.9 XUD Turbo. Nothing to say really. It's an XUD. 'Nuff said.
I'm liking it. I think as a Daily Driver it will fit the bill just nicely.

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 05 May 2005, 02:43

Is it the blue one?
Thought the wheels really suited it

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 May 2005, 02:45

Yes, it's the blue one.... I was really worried buying it as it was the first time I've bought a whole car on e-bay and I wondered what I'd find but in the end it was almost precisely to description.
I'm liking the wheels a lot too but I'm worried over the size though after reading the drivers handbook as no model seems to have 15" wheels with that tyre section.

alexp-j · Unread post by **alexp-j** » 05 May 2005, 02:54

Great car I must admit.
I think the wheels would look loads better on a 205 though with lower profile tyres on. [:D]
Be careful through those speed cameras with your super dia wheels.
What wheels are std on a Xantia SX?

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 05 May 2005, 03:01

Low profile tyres on hydropnumatic? rather defeats the object of a relaxing ride.

andycarter · Unread post by **andycarter** » 05 May 2005, 03:40

Mine has 195/55 on 15" alloys. Looks nice but ride is a bit hard.

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 05 May 2005, 03:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by citrojim

The brake pedal is the same. It seems merely a spring-loaded switch
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes.[:D]
Though you can remove the spring and replace it with a cut down bolt for the proper hydro Cit experience.

madmanbob · Unread post by **madmanbob** » 05 May 2005, 03:50

Mine has 205/60 15 on as a standard fit.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 05 May 2005, 07:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Homer

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by citrojim

The brake pedal is the same. It seems merely a spring-loaded switch
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes.[:D]
Though you can remove the spring and replace it with a cut down bolt for the proper hydro Cit experience.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Highly recommended! We did this mod to my Dad's Xantia, as we were unhappy with the feel of the brakes after being used to older Citroen's.
See here:
http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... C_ID=11689
After this mod the brakes will feel just like earlier model Citroen's, or if anything, even more sensitive.
Best thing is that the mod is very easy to do, and easy to revert it back to the spring if you don't like the results.
Regards,
Simon

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 05 May 2005, 15:12

Jim,
Best description of settling into a Xantia I've read in ages. I've had my 1993 SX TD for 5yrs now and see no reason to change it for ages.
The steering/handling is interesting. I've often likened the steering to a computer game wheel... very little feedback in the true old fashioned sense. You have to be confident that the car will do what you've asked in various circumstances and gain more feedback from the "seat of the pants" than the steering alone.
Also it is possible to safely explore the effect of the passive rear wheel steer on deserted roads. A certain way of tightening up on the steering line mid corner will bring about a very obvious rear wheel steer as opposed to the gross understeer you'd get with something like a Vectra.
Your wheels/tyres are bigger than you would have found at that year, they should be 185/65x14. Often the very best ride of any Xantia is to be found on an earlier car like ours with good spheres and standard size tyres. I find Michelins a bit harsh and still run my current favourites, the Goodyear Ventura, in the original size.
You realise just how good the Xantia ride is when you drive other more expensive luxury cars. Been using a 2001 Mercedes C200 Kompressor over the past two days... on our local bumpy Fen roads it actually feels quite poor compared with my 12yr old Xantia.
David
Daily Drive: TDi Discovery
Fun Drive: Xantia SX TD

ActivaV6uk · Unread post by **ActivaV6uk** » 05 May 2005, 20:29

15" alloys were standard on the vsx/exclusive and activa. the later cars also have 15" steel wheels as standard. for the VSX/Exclusive the tires should be 195/55/15 and for the activa and v6 this is 205/60/15. the alloys wont fit over the breaks of soem of the cars so if you ever deside you want more stopping power you will need to swap them off for something else any way.
Andy

ghostrider · Unread post by **ghostrider** » 05 May 2005, 21:18

Activa, Should the VSX ones be 195/55 or 195/65 my handbook lists 205/55 or 195/65 all on 15" rims. I am about to replace my tyres and I seem unable to get a definitive answer [:D] [:D] [:D] . The only reason I'm concerned is that the changes in rolling radius will effect the speedo accuracy, not sure by how much as I've not found any info about rolling radii to judge the difference but wiht some speed cameras round our way now being set at +10% only I could do without a ticket [:D] [:D] [:D]
Pete
________
T series

oilyspanner · Unread post by **oilyspanner** » 05 May 2005, 22:58

Welcome to the oleo club, as the saying goes" nothing moves you like a Citroen" sounds like you got a decent Xantia there.
stewart

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 06 May 2005, 01:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ghostrider

Activa, Should the VSX ones be 195/55 or 195/65 my handbook lists 205/55 or 195/65 all on 15" rims.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Using this handy calculator.
195/55 are closer to 205/55

ItDontGo · Unread post by **ItDontGo** » 06 May 2005, 01:46

Cars aren't toys.