I want an Activa, but i'm scared

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ripsaw82
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Joined: 02 Jul 2004, 03:18
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I want an Activa, but i'm scared

Post by ripsaw82 »

I will have enough spare cash next month to afford buying a Xantia activa at around the $1500 mark, which is what they seem to be at on Autotrader.co.uk for R, P reg.
BUT, they all seem to be around 60,000 - 70,000 miles. Is this a bad mileage to get them? Is the major suspention service interval not 60,000 miles?
I have changed the spheres my self on my SX Xantia, but the Activa looks so complex and scary....
Also what extra things are there to check for when buying these, people speak of all these extra parts my SX does not have.
I really want an Activa, but i'm scared i will buy one and have to spend another $1500 within weeks replacing parts.....
FDV
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Post by FDV »

Nothing to be scared of. You can change spheres, they all come off the same way [:D]
Check for knocking on the back axle. It'll either be an active ram bush (cheap and easy) or a knackered active ram (not cheap, bit harder)
Check for smoke on giving it a bootful to make sure the turbos still ok, and check all electrics.
If the car bobs up and down when stationary don't worry; this is normal.
I have a mate with a 140,000 mile 1996 Activa. The pump seems to be weakening, thats all thats wrong. Went through an MOT first time recently.
Check out http://www.activanet.co.uk for help.
macaroni
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Post by macaroni »

You are right to be scared, they are pure hell!! Only joking...I bought one with just over 70K on the clock and I did have to replace the front Activa ram (~£350) but apart from that, it has been very reliable in the year I have had it. It has been meticulously serviced which is good. I would be wary of buying a badly maintained one, like any car. There are plenty of Citroen specialists around the country who can work on them, but DIY maintainance is no harder than a regular Xantia. Get one on a windy road in the dry and boot it - you will wonder how you put up with inferior suspension systems!
Rostami
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Post by Rostami »

I recentley bought an Hdi Activa. In Portugal they cost around £7k...
The car is really exciting. The Whole Activa suspension seems to me to be an add-on to the normal Xantia suspension.
As far as I understand, the Activa is frequentley misunderstood but I have been capable of localizing a pair of good and competent mechanics.
Do you have the option of taking a mechanic along with you?
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

Personally I would be looking for a car around the 100k mark as they seem to all be running fine, all the low mileage ones seem to have lots of problems because the bushes break down with out use.
N reg cars are faster than all the others (no starting a fight about this one there are enough of us who own them and newer ones to be able to give this as a genuin fact).
The colours to go for are, the light metallic red and silver, the most common colour seems to be amazon green (it’s the dark metallic green) and the rarest ones are silver.
I actually know of 2 for sale, one is a little tatty but the suspension on it is mint (brand new rear bush, with lots of work and time spent) N reg 108,000 miles with 6 months fresh tax and 6 months mot (£800) its had about £200 spent on it recently and been hydro flushed and well maintained from new (originally would have had a full service history but the old owner cant be bothered to find it (which is a point of tension for a couple of us on this forum) the owner before him really looked after the car and the present one does too).
The second is a metallic blue P reg that looks very tidy, A/C no sunroof, its had about £600 spent on it recently and had a new turbo it also comes with a full set of engine sensors as one of the map sensors is playing up (it wont be by the tile its sold). The car was an ex Citroen demo car but I have a few fears about the life of the engine as the owner before the last one ran it into the ground and finally sold it because the turbo had gone.
The red car is negotiable (and I can get pictures easily (its the wife’s - I may be giving her the silver one back)) but I know the guy with the blue one will want about £1000 as it has cost him about £200 more than that in the last 5 months!
www.activanet.co.uk is the place to go, you will get lots of advice and a good few of us now know what to look out for when buying one. I would suggest buying a known cheep one if you can and putting the rest of the money to one side for any problems it may develop over the next few years.
Andy
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

one other thing, ware abouts don you live? I would recomend a test drive and I know there are a few of us on the activanet who have put our cars up for test drives.
Andy
Thunderbird

Post by Thunderbird »

If you're considering going from a Xantia SX to a Xantia Activa, then I suppose that's because you really enjoy the "0.5 degree body-roll" suspension of the Activa and whatever complications may appear, the satisfaction you get from the car will compensate them.
Activa suspension is a little more expensive to maintain, nothing special. The main problem here in my country is that most official Citroen mechanics don't know how to properly fix it. But if you have the time and dedication to follow the problems and DIY, there is no reason to be scared. After all, spares are available, and, most important, there is always this forum with other Active experiences.
The SX is more adequate to the "drive with comfort and don't worry" personality.
The Activa is a special car, for someone that likes to own something special and establish a sentimental link with that object.
Personally I don't like Activas because I like to corner as fast as the car lets me, and an Activa without ESP on unexpected dirty road ie equal to suddent death. For a "normal" driver the Activa is a very safe car.
Always follow the recomendation on Citroen Xantia mk2 manual concerning the SC.CAR suspension: "Drive with extreme prudence and moderation".
Good luck and lots of fun with your new Activa!
Thunderbird

Post by Thunderbird »

One last thing!
The best Xantia Activa ever produced is the:
- Xantia V6 Activa manual mk2 (after 1998) -
Safer, more reliable, better style, and more extras than previous ones.
The V6 with manual transmission is the only combination that makes justice to the chassis/suspension. If the V6 had more torque it would be perfect.
ripsaw82
Posts: 46
Joined: 02 Jul 2004, 03:18
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by ripsaw82 »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ActivaV6uk</i>

one other thing, ware abouts don you live? I would recomend a test drive and I know there are a few of us on the activanet who have put our cars up for test drives.
Andy
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I live on the staffordshire/cheshire boarder, near Crewe.
Since these are rare cars anyway, i looks like i will have to travel hundreds of miles just to see one. Only 12 on Autotrader at the moment and i have never seen an Activa on the road, even though every Xantia i see with the spoiler i look too see what model it is.
So i'm best for going around the 100,000 mile mark, and giving the car a boost to check the turbo works? As well as checking for leaks, knocking at the rear?
I think my gearbox is knackered on my current Xantia, and the suspention has gone very hard now, spheres do not seem flat, maybe the height correctors?
So i'm in too minds. I have REALLY REALLY wanted an Activa for so long now, but i only bought this Xantia in Dec 03. But its cost so much,
First the engine blew up 4000 miles after having the car.
£400 tow home
£350 new engine
£350 fit new engine
Then 2 days later clutch thrust bearing went. So new clutch
£240
Then i Hydraflushed and changed spheres, lhm and brake discs and pads, spent around £150-£200 on bits for that.
Then pipe to heater matrix started leaking, so i tried to change this with dad, but ended up knackering the heater matrix, so £350 to have a new matrix installed since whole dash had to come out! [}:)]
Then clutch cable went, tried to do it ourselfs, could not do it all, so took it to gaurage to be done, was heavy, they blamed it being on not a proper Citroen cable so changed it, went light and great. £100 roughly.
Then it failed its MOT, CAT had gone, and needer new tracking rod. So £30 for tracking rod. £150 for new cat fitted. But exhaust was blowing, so needed new exhaust, new exhaust would not fit because somebody had put a new middlebox on that was too short. So that was £150 for new exhaust and middlebox.
Then replaced drivers side electric mirror had never worked from new, £70.
Then the drive shafts went on the car, £250 for new and fitted.
Then the accumulator sphere started leaking, got charged £53 from gaurage for all new bits. Then rear plastic clippy thing for the height broke, got charged another £10 to change that.
So that was
£570 for the car
£2353 for new parts etc
All in the space of 1 and a half years [:(] Excluding 9 new tyres!!!
Now i feel stupid for wanting to get rid of this car, since there is not much left to actually break and it has so much new stuff in it. Looking at how much 1994 2.0i SX Xantia's go for its not much. Thats if anyone would by it! I'm quite attached, but it seems every 2 months somthing big breaks :(
What would others on here do? Keep it, Sell it, Dump it? How many parts are compatable with the Activa with it being a 2.0i 8v engine too? Would it be better to keep it for parts? but i have no where to keep it.
It had 116,000 miles when i bought it. It now has 141,000. So if take the advice and get an Activa around 100,000 miles am i for this ride of new parts again like my current car? [:D][8)][:(]
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

Know ware Nantwich is?
With regards to the engine compatibility and the rest of the car its not worth keeping it, as the parts are all different in some way (annoying I know). My wife’s last car was a 2L 8v auto and she liked it until she drove an Activa and then she wouldn’t give me the keys back now between the 2 of us we own 3 Activa’s and one v6!
you have spent a hell of a lot of money on that car, and i know if it were me i wouldnt be keen on selling it. i would put it in the auto traider as a test at £2500 and say comes with over £2000 of recepts that should show you wether it will sell. if it dosnet i would sugest breaking the car and make the money back on parts or sell it to some one you know and fill them in on its story some one out there will aprsiate a car that has been really well looked after. the good news is that the activa is better built than the 2l sx in that the clutch driveshafts and alto of the other parts are much more heavy duty.
The problems with low mileage Activa’s is a little bizarre I have a silver one with less than 60,000 on the clock and it has all sorts of problems from sticking front rams to everything rattling and the engine mounts degrading the engine is sweet but this is the car the V6 engine is going in!
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

Ok well I can arrange to meet you some time in crew, Alsager or Nantwich. My cousin who the Blue car is owned buy is in Coventry uni at the moment but goes back to Nantwich to his parents frequently, I visit my auntie there pretty frequently too. The best car to have a test drive in is the light red one (when i say the car is taty, i was expecting a show car and it has a few light dents, ive also replaced a door so the very large dent is gone) as the suspension is perfect (there are varying versions of good but this one works with no problems) this makes a big difference to what you can get away with on the road, once they developed a lean they done seem to hold the road so well and most lean...
No pressure to buy either of them, but it is worth going out in one to see if it suits you, if I’m there I can also take you over a car and show you want to look for and what the problems tend to be.
Andy
ripsaw82
Posts: 46
Joined: 02 Jul 2004, 03:18
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by ripsaw82 »

Thanks for the offer ActivaV6. I will more than likely take you up on it. Need to wait a few weeks first until money becomes available. i need to make sure i am 100% sure i want to dump my current Xantia. Since my grandparients paid for most of the new parts in the car they might get a little pissed off if i get rid of it. [:)]
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

thats cool, i am being made redundant then the weekend of the bank holiday im at the FCS. so idealy i'm free any time after that, as your in the area any way your more than welcome to come out in one when we are up there it dose tend to give you a new insite into what citroen can do.
as i said selling the car is a bit of a drag after spending that much on it, the only diference is that you can justifie it when its an activa because it is that bit more special (thats waht works for me and i'm sticking to it [:P]).
Andy
ripsaw82
Posts: 46
Joined: 02 Jul 2004, 03:18
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by ripsaw82 »

Whats the FCS? French Car Show at a guess?
ActivaV6uk
Posts: 650
Joined: 20 Nov 2003, 16:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: C5 X7 2.7 hdi

Past cars
Activa, silver MK1 (221bhp stock) stripped out with twin sparcos Evo seats. 95
Activa, light met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met red MK1 98
Activa, dark met blue MK1 (202bhp stock) 96
Xantia exclusive V6 auto 3l 98
Xantia 2l 8v auto
BX 4x4 GTi dark met silver
BX 4x4 GTi white
BX GTi 16v white fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v black fibre bumpers
BX GTi 16v hurricane (doa)
BX DTR estate

Post by ActivaV6uk »

yeah its the french car show, vanny is the man to ask about it as he is one of the people looking after some of it! at the moment the activanet has something like 4 confirmed cars, FDV's mate's, The wifes, the cousins and one of our other members! we would like to see move activas turn up but as this is our first year showing the activas its not a bad number :)
Andy
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