99 1.9TD SX or 98 2.1TD Desire 2

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 06 Mar 2007, 20:22

Given the death of my Xantia recently, parents have offered to loan me £1500 to buy a new car (via credit card).

So far, checking autotrader I've spotted a 1.9TD SX and a 2.1TD Desire 2.
The 2.1 is tempting, especially as the brief says it's just had it's cambelt replaced.

I've only had 1.9's before, so what could I expect from the 2.1?
How much more power?
Better or worse economy?
Can it run on SVO?

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Mar 2007, 21:02

Xac,

Before you dive into another Xantia, really assess the condition of your dead one. Apart from the engine being sick, what is the overall condition of it? Would it be better to invest in a replacement, known good engine to sort yours rather than dive into another?

In my experience, Xantias never come on the market in perfect condition. You can bet that at the very least they'll need new spheres all round, cambelt, brakes and a host of other things. If you buy a Hydractive model it is a racing cert that one or both HA electrovalves will be inoperatve.

Mind you, £1500 will buy a nice, late Xantia, even an HDi maybe and you'll still have enough to do all of the above work to bring it to a good standard.

As for the 2.1 TD. I've not experienced one directly but word has it that it is the best TD PSA have ever made. A Pal had a 406 with the 2.1 and he sold it three years ago. He still misses it, particularly when towing. The only downside is that engine bay space is a bit tight.

You'll love a late high-spec Xantia though. The Auto A/C is brilliant, rain sensitive wipers really quite useful and if you have a pre-facelift now, the headlamps will come as a revelation.

But as I say, think carefully and look carefully. With Xantias you can easily jump out of the frying pan into the fire. My Activa looked, on first inspection, really good but it soon revealed the full extent of the horrors lurking within.

howiedean · Post by **howiedean** » 06 Mar 2007, 22:08

citrojim wrote:Xac,

Before you dive into another Xantia, really assess the condition of your dead one. Apart from the engine being sick, what is the overall condition of it? Would it be better to invest in a replacement, known good engine to sort yours rather than dive into another?

In my experience, Xantias never come on the market in perfect condition. You can bet that at the very least they'll need new spheres all round, cambelt, brakes and a host of other things. If you buy a Hydractive model it is a racing cert that one or both HA electrovalves will be inoperatve.

Mind you, £1500 will buy a nice, late Xantia, even an HDi maybe and you'll still have enough to do all of the above work to bring it to a good standard.

As for the 2.1 TD. I've not experienced one directly but word has it that it is the best TD PSA have ever made. A Pal had a 406 with the 2.1 and he sold it three years ago. He still misses it, particularly when towing. The only downside is that engine bay space is a bit tight.

You'll love a late high-spec Xantia though. The Auto A/C is brilliant, rain sensitive wipers really quite useful and if you have a pre-facelift now, the headlamps will come as a revelation.

But as I say, think carefully and look carefully. With Xantias you can easily jump out of the frying pan into the fire. My Activa looked, on first inspection, really good but it soon revealed the full extent of the horrors lurking within.

Can vouch for that the Xantia I have just got rid of was a nightmare to get sorted.
The SX trim is fantastic, there are some 2.1 around although I've noticed that good Xantias are getting hard to see now. Perhaps an Exclusive?
The HDI niggles scared me too much and I've now got a 1.9!!!
Take your time and don't rush into buying some rubbish.

Can it run on SVO?

Would not try it to be honest as it's a lucas pump I think. Peter N do you know?

Good luck...

Post by **Peter.N.** » 06 Mar 2007, 22:12

I have run 2.1td's in XMs for over 10 years and I to would say that they are the best ever version of the XUD. They have quite a bit more power and are quieter and more economical than the 1.9. The only downside is that they are more difficult to work on, took me about 20 hours and a lot of grazed knuckles to change the head gasket on mine a couple of years ago, but since then it has covered over 30k with no problems. The gaskets usually go at about 150k or with poor maintenance 100k, but once replaced they should go on for another 150k. My previous had done 292k when I sold it and was still going. 50 mpg on a run, is easily achievable in the XM (manual) but of course it depends how you drive.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 06 Mar 2007, 23:10

Much as I'd love to spend a couple of hundred quid and the time replacing the head on my Xantia, I don't have the money spare to do that until the end of the month.
Folks are offering £1500 for a replacement car, not a repair of my old one.

KP · Post by KP » 07 Mar 2007, 16:58

The 2.1td can ONLY run on SVO/WVO once the pump is warm and with warmed veg oil so youd need a twin tank setup so youd still use some diesel.

Id personally go for another 1.9td that can run on svo and then you dont have to worry.

Though im a stickler id possibly get your current one fixed as its a more sensible financial option then and more logical.

There is one way to make a 2.td run SVo without all the gubbins but it needs the pump to come off and be re-worked. someone called HCII offered me the service on teh veggie forum but i never took it up as its about £400 plus doing the cambelt work and then retiming it...

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 07 Mar 2007, 17:32

Going to view the 2.1 tonight.
My milage has dropped since moving closer to work, so SVO isn't much of an issue.

Depending on if I have any spare cash at the end of the month, I might see about repairing the 1.9 as well and see what I can get for it.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 08 Mar 2007, 09:40

I'm now the proud owner of a 2.1TD
It drives lovely, very smooth.

Needs accumulator and anti-sink replacing.
Looks like someone used a scouring pad to clean the windscreen on the inside of the driver's side, but its not too distracting, anyone know of any polish etc that can tackle minor scratches on a windscreen?
One of the front fog light bulbs has blown, and I'll swap the radio over from my 1.9 as the display on this one is missing a few charactors.

Need to check the fuel filter and airfilter as it doesn't seem to pull as well as my 1.9 over 2500rpm (would it have an ECU that's gotten used to being driven by a little old man?)

Got a lucas pump

PS Anyone know where the removable front towing eye is kept in the engine bay?

KP · Post by KP » 08 Mar 2007, 11:35

Not a clue about the towing eye as ours is built in at the front

With regard to the window its usually easier to get a new one fitted as autoglym window polish doesnt remove scratches from my own trials

Post by **Peter.N.** » 08 Mar 2007, 12:24

Well done on buying a 2.1 td. Just out of interest, see how the fuel consumption compares.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 08 Mar 2007, 13:19

Peter.N. wrote:Well done on buying a 2.1 td. Just out of interest, see how the fuel consumption compares.

Well on my 1.9 I used to get just over 80 miles by the first line on the guage, at the moment I'm at the same spot after 120 miles and that was tearing it up the dual carriageways getting home last night.
Very impressed.

BonceChops · Post by **BonceChops** » 08 Mar 2007, 17:18

Xac wrote:Got a lucas pump

All 2.1 Xantia's have the terrible Lucas EPIC. You try to buy a second hand one and you will know how unreliable they are.

davethewheel · Post by **davethewheel** » 08 Mar 2007, 20:13

if it's not pulling as well as your 1.9td check the EGR valve these are known to stick open, the one i bought had this problem if it's stuck they normaly blow a lot of black smoke out on acceleration

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 08 Mar 2007, 20:40

Xac wrote:PS Anyone know where the removable front towing eye is kept in the engine bay?

Its normally on the underside of the bonnet.

KP · Post by KP » 09 Mar 2007, 00:44

I have a pump, turbo, injectors, clutch, and a set of pistons all in super nick, bar the clutch and pistons which are brand new and still packaged, and the injectors have been cleaned and air sealed in a bag with the pump in some diesel as well, and the turbo oiled a little too