Xantia V6 Q's

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 14 Apr 2007, 16:52

Hi again,

How fast is it?

I read on carsurvey.org that u gotta take the engine out to change the spark plugs, surely this is just a silly exagrration?

It will be thirsty, but how much?
Whats the auto box like to use?

Thanks

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 14 Apr 2007, 17:05

Quite fast but not really fast, I've had mine up to 135mph and it was still pulling like a train, should be good for about 150 I reckon on a good day.

You have to remove the inlet manifold to replace the rear bank of plugs, but it's not as bad as it sounds, can be done in half a day easy.

Depends how you drive it but don't expect much more than 25mpg, push that to 30 on a long not too fast cruise.

The auto box is fine and adapts to your driving style, but can give the occasional jerk if it gets confused. Change the oil regularly and be sure the level is correct, don't believe the sealed for life nonsense.

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 14 Apr 2007, 17:08

so it's as fast as my old bmw 325i then

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Apr 2007, 19:11

And gives the same economy as a 2.0 CT Activa then

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 14 Apr 2007, 19:45

not good then? how much should i expect... i'm on 2.1td, i reckon i will miss out on the fuel economy

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 14 Apr 2007, 19:49

Stempy wrote:Quite fast but not really fast, I've had mine up to 135mph and it was still pulling like a train, should be good for about 150 I reckon on a good day.

You have to remove the inlet manifold to replace the rear bank of plugs, but it's not as bad as it sounds, can be done in half a day easy.

Depends how you drive it but don't expect much more than 25mpg, push that to 30 on a long not too fast cruise.

The auto box is fine and adapts to your driving style, but can give the occasional jerk if it gets confused. Change the oil regularly and be sure the level is correct, don't believe the sealed for life nonsense.

I think that answers your question

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 14 Apr 2007, 20:48

I get 28-30MPG from mine, but 80% of my running is motorway or A road. Much more relaxed than my previous 2.0 VSX auto. Changing the plugs is a half day job. Beware of the difficulty/expense of replacing the timing belt, which should be done before 80,000 miles.

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:01

Hi xantia_v6,

I was wondering when you'd turn up, i'm with you on the camelt, don't want that one snapping do we, i'd be doing 24 miles daily on the b roads doing medium speeds, and a mix of anything on the weekends, not a day goes by when i don't drive my car, and possibly more motorway miles soon,

My 2.1 is quite nice at overtaking, but an automatic v6 with 195bhp would kick ass on the old fogies on the b roads!

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:18

deian wrote:an automatic v6 with 195bhp would kick ass on the old fogies on the b roads!

I reckon a CT Activa with the boost upped so it was pushing around 180bhp would be better - especially on the twisty bits

(Also takes considerably less than half a day to change the plugs too!)

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:20

To add my thoughts, I do enjoy the V6 as it gives effortless performance and just keeps acccelerating up to the red line, alternatively if you just want to drive it gently, then again effortless, relaxed and very much a "Wolf in sheep clothing". It's also noticably quicker than an Activa in a straight line. Performance compares very well against the BMW 530D's and Saab 9-5 Aero's I drive at work, and best of all it has suspension AND drives in a straight line without masses of torque steer unlike the Saab's (what an absolute pile of junk they are!).

Fuel economy appears to be better than the Activa although I haven't fully tested it yet, for your journey budget on a gallon each day.

The auto box is generally very smooth but like all auto's it can be caught out at times.

The cam belt was changed on mine a few months ago at a dealer at a cost of £892.51

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:24

OUCH!!!

Is it an engine out job?

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:27

deian wrote:OUCH!!!

Is it an engine out job?

At that price, it sounds like it. If not all of it, most of it anyway!

I've never actually driven a Xantia V6, but would like the chance one day. They do sound very nice

CypherPunk · Unread post by **CypherPunk** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:34

Overall I’ve been very impressed with my Xantia V6 over the past (almost) 6 months.

I went from a 1.8 LX to the V6 Exclusive and the first thing I noticed was how much more relaxing the V6 was to drive, the automatic gearbox combined with the big lazy engine makes even town driving stress free, the V6 is much quieter on the motorway due to the high gear ratios.

The second thing I noticed was the fuel consumption, if I do a lot of driving in slow stop-start traffic I can easily average less than 20 mpg over an entire tank of petrol, on the motorway things are a little better, on a long journey I get over 30 mpg.

It’s not an amazingly fast 0-60 car, but then again it wasn’t designed to be, it does however have loads of grunt at speeds that other cars would be struggling just to reach. Overtaking is great too; however I tend to use the holds to get the car into the right gear before starting to overtake as occasionally the kick down is a little bit slow to react.

The automatic gearbox isn’t the best I’ve ever used, however it compares very well to other cars of the same age / price. It occasionally get confused if you start to accelerate after gently slowing down, it’s happened about once a month, normally at roundabouts.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:52

deian wrote:OUCH!!!

Is it an engine out job?

I don't think so, but it did involve changing various pulleys/tensioners plus of course the water pump.

Thankfully the previous owner paid the bill, best of all it came to more than I paid for the car

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 14 Apr 2007, 22:18

Oi no laughing at people who have to pay for cambelt changes