Is it part of the Citroen experience?

[JohnT]

Do forums only exist for unreliable problem causing cars which any sane person would not normally buy? Have you seen many forums on Honda or Toyata lately? Are we quirky because we want something going wrong, or like a challenge? I feel like changing my Xantia for one of those Almera things?
Perhaps the Citroen identity of looking at design with a different slant is history and it is now just another faceless badge.
As my parting shot, may I ask you to list the the problems you may experience with a Xantia and the same question of a Honda ( not Rover) or similar well produced vehicle? At least we kep Citroens after sales spares department profitable
Who spotted the spelling mistake?

[jeremy]

Now of course all cars for sale are infinitely better than your own and can be expected to run for years without any attention - in fact the cheaper they are the better they will go!

Wish I'd thought of e-bay.

[micitroen]

If you want to look at some toyatas? with probs, look for (I think) townace. or something similar. I bought one of these lite-ace things as a temp means to an end and had probs with it. Found the help site and realised that it was a real lemon and promptly got rid........even when they're working alright they have inherent probs with cooling and to even think about any work on the engine you've got to take the floor out! Add to that a 3,000 mile oil and filter change with the filter costing £12.....too rich for me. But as with all cars some people love 'em and spend fortunes on them. We're not the only ones!

[Peter.N.]

I have been running XMs for the past 10 years and I have had my fair share of problems, most I have been able to sort out myself, including a new head gasket this year, otherwise I could not afford to run them. I have a car that is comfortable, rides superbly, is spacious and very economical.

Having just inherited some money I thought I would pander myself in my declining years with something really nice. The only estate I could find with anything like as much room was the Merc E class, they have nice diesel engines and are much easier to work on than the XM being rear wheel drive, but they are nearly all auto, and I dont like auto's, but I thought I would give them a fair chance so I found and scrutinised a Mercedes forum. What I found horrified me, they are apparently prone to rusting! Replacement tailgates and wings not uncommon, I have a nearly 10 year old XM with a few stone chips but no rot whatsoever, so why would I pay all that money!


The only other cars in the same class as the XM are the Audi A6 and the BMW 5 series. The Audi has a nasty hard ride, and the BMW while better has nothing like as much room in the back and luggage compartment as the XM.

Where do I go from here?

[rory_perrett]

Goes back nearly 3 years but this topic http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... highlight= says most of what its about.

Rory

[Peter.N.]

Thanks Rory. Very enlightening!

[micitroen]

Peter, I don't know the reason you are looking for a Merc but certainly the feedback I get from a couple of indie Merc specialists is that the newer (frog eye) E class is so prone to probs that they don't like to touch them....one of the guys mentioned that they repalced the rear pads and it then had to go back to Mercs for the ABS light to be reset...... the square headlamp W124 shape is the one to go for.

[FrenchLeave]

I confess that recently, in my declining years, I fancied the idea of a Lexus LS400.
After searching the internet I dicovered that it suffers problems with the instrument panel (very expensive to fix), noisy cam followers etc., and you have to pay exttra for air suspension!
Finally I looked at the specification and wondered what I'd get extra for the money, memory seats and a steering wheel that moves out of your way when you get in? And it only has one air bag against four in my current car, no steering wheel stereo controls and no electric armrest!
One thing it beats the XM hands down on is cup rests - but I think I'll stay with my V6.

[citronut]

if you want citronality get a realy good CX,DS or even a dirsh,insted of a eurobox
regards malcolm

[James.UK]

In my case "Citroen" had nothing to do with my choice of car . I wanted a reliable, Diesel auto, Make, model,colour, etc, immaterial. At the time I thought I would end up with a Merc, (the model with the huge bugge8 off grill ) But purchace price, maintenance and the cost of parts were putting me off..

Luckily a bloke wanted to swop his ZX Diesel auto for a Xantia at my local garage so I ended up owning the ZX, and in my opinion, all factors taken into consideration, it's the best car I have ever had.

I know Citroen 'purists' poo hoo the ZX 1.9D as not 'quirky' enough, but the fact is, it's one of, if not the, best car Citroen ever made.

I live in hope that Citroen start to make another car that's as good in the near future. I don't think that they do at the moment though.

What Citroen definitely do have, is a group of very knowledgeable, helpfull, and sociable followers. Though most of you seem to be fans of yesteryears models rather than the modern products, hence your determination to keep the old favourites on the roads.
.

[Peter.N.]

Micitroen - I am not looking for a Merc any more, since I read about the rust!

Citronut - I have had four diesel CX safaris, and I agree they are superb cars.. The last one, a turbo I ran for seven years and about 160k. If I could get one with a good heater and that didn't blow head gaskets and a supply of spares that would enable me to do a high mileage, I would!

The XM was the next best thing, but a compromise, and I have had four of those, but they are coming to an end now - unless anyone knows of a late 2.1 td manual estate.