Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

[CitroJim]

Sounds like it was worth it though, you'll soon be able to afford to run the car exclusively on V Power diesel

No, Vince'll soon be able to run a V6 on V Power

[vince]

I hope so one day Jim my regular work is just getting harder at the moment with more challenges being heaped on each day. Im glad im off on holiday tomorrow morning as its all getting a bit much for the money involved

No Mark i wont be around next weekend im afraid, im away for the week ahead starting tomorrow and after budgeting everything for the holiday we arent going to have much money left until the end of the month I really wanted to make the ICCCR but then Linda booked the holiday for the same time

Yes Will its the entrance to Paris Autos....its Paul's garage.

[Citroenmad]

That S2 XM looks superb, looks like you have done another fantasitc job Vince I do like that car too, is it manual or auto? I could get along well with an identical one

I wouldn't bother with the V-Power

Im not sure if I would either. Ive been running my Activa on it for a while and im not sure how much difference it makes at all. It is perhaps a little more lively but economy is certainly no better

Ive used diesel V-Power in my C5 a few times (can never find it often though) and that doesnt make a difference.

[addo]

I'm looking for more "flesh" on the Collinite experience.

There's a seller offering good prices to Oz for individual tins, or otherwise he offers a "trio" of the Insulator Wax, 915 and 476s for about $5 off the combined rate: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200659086156" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So - are you finding the 915 or 476s to be yielding better results? I have white cars, dark cars, even a silver metallic similar to the XM above...

[vince]

Hi Addo,

The collinite is good because its easy to apply and remove, and ontop of everything else its very durable and beads really nice. Finish wise against my normal favourite Meguiars Tec wax, the finish with the Meguiars i like as it seems to unleash the colour depth on the panel, the collinite seems to do what you want a wax to do, leave a good finish and protect the paintwork underneath, Its a great product for the money and id recommend it all day, (the 476 im talking about), but the Meguiars leaves a smoother to touch finish and id rate it slightly better on a dark coloured panel....not necessary black but moreso a dark blue or a red etc.

There isnt that much of a difference apart from the durability where the Collinite stands head and shoulders above, but they both finish down very well.

That aside..... The series 2 Chris is an auto with just over 50k on the clock. Its a 2.5td but felt like it was gutless....i dont know whether it was the autobox sapping the power or something else, but it felt empty.,,,,nice condition though

[Citroening]

Looks great Vince.

That aside..... The series 2 Chris is an auto with just over 50k on the clock. Its a 2.5td but felt like it was gutless....i dont know whether it was the autobox sapping the power or something else, but it felt empty.,,,,nice condition though

Those 2.5TDs are suppose to go well I thought... Didn't think they did a Auto with them? Not sure...

Edit - My Car Check says it's an "XM SX Turbo Diesel Auto", and 2088cc, so a 2.1TD as opposed to a 2.5TD!

[vince]

Ah Ok then it must be a 2.1 then ...still gutless compared to mine.


Well following on.....we are now down here in St Leonards on sea

A long trip down here today,...we stopped off at Legoland theme park for the kids for a few hours which broke the journey up a bit, but damn its a long way.

I passed by the Gaydon museum turnoff which i remember from the national rally last year or the year before, (memory escapes me), and no doubt wasnt too far from you Jim and Richard as we made our way down south.

The following info is the truth, i kid you not......

The fuel light came on last night so the first job this morning was to stick some in and then set off. I put in £40 of diesel in Oldham and half a bottle of carlube diesel treatment (small hand sized bottle), then we set off. The needle moved to half a tank and off we went. I stuck pretty much all the way to Legoland at 70mph apart from a 16 mile stretch when Jack suddenly needed the loo so i moved up to 85mph to get there quicker. We did Legoland and then back onto the M25 and then down the A21 to hastings and st leaonards...The car is parked outside with a single segment of fuel still in it....this equates to £10 of diesel, which means ive driven down from Oldham via Windsor and only used £30 of diesel ...even i am amazed at that

The xm performed the whole trip with ease and style, a great car, huge boot space and legroom and amazing on fuel to top it off. Seriously impressive machine on a long trip

It can have a rest tomorrow....as can I

[red_dwarfers]

That's not bad, just roughly worked it out on one of these mpg calculators, it's over 50mpg, nearer 55!

[Northern_Mike]

That's not bad, just roughly worked it out on one of these mpg calculators, it's over 50mpg, nearer 55!

Yes, I could get over 50mpg quite easily pottering down from Lancashire to Marlow and back every weekend in my old S1 2.1TD XM. Did that every weekend for a year. With work too, the car did around 1000 miles a week, every week.

[vince]

That's not bad, just roughly worked it out on one of these mpg calculators, it's over 50mpg, nearer 55!

Awesome, the Xantia used to average 40mpg at best. The xm does book in the owners handbook at 43mpg at 70mph and 57mpg at 56mph I guess the fuel cleaner addition helped

For such a big car fully laden with luggage and a family of four it still does amaze me, i guess it is very aerodynamic too, well done Citroen

[Citroenmad]

The 2.1TD is slightly hampered with an autobox, really needs to be a manual!

I thought your XM would impress on a long run Vince, that is what they are made for and they are sure at home on motorways. In my experience they get better the faster you go ...

Fuel economy is another strong point, they really are impressive for such a big car at decent cruising speeds. Oddly the XMs seem to manage better MPG than Xantias anyway, I know most TCTs do better in XMs. Perhaps there is something in its low drag factor, a brilliant bit of design is the XM

[CitroJim]

That's fantastic Vince Those old 2.1s are good lumps

If you came down the M1 you'd have practically passed my house...

[vince]

Jim it was the M40 i think that brought us down to windsor area, or was it the m42? i dont remember....

Its nice down here, a great road the A21, brings you right down from the M25/26 to Hastings. Its a long smooth single track winding road, seems downhill all the way and many a tree lined tunnel section to be driven through. England is a stunning place...depending where you live of course

Tomorrow sees an early start for the xm taking us back up to Watford and back...Harry Potter world ! For the wife and kids....im not a "Potter" guy myself really. Should be about 4 hours driving there and back...rush hour on the M25....Im telling myself thats one of life's experiences

The day after we are going into London, but we have opted to go on the train. I dont mind driving in London, but this is meant to be a holiday for me so driving big distances each day isnt going to provide me with much r&r.

Weeather has been very nice down here to date....long may it continue Cxm is getting closer
r.

[red_dwarfers]

A few of my mates want to go to London at some stage. I'm not all that keen on it but I imagine it will be an experience, though as the usual driver on our road trips I have refused to drive on that one. The plan is to do it via train. They want to do a Harry Potter location tour around there, I wouldn't mind doing that too. When we're in Scotland after the ICCCR we're going to the bridge which the 'Hogwarts Express' puffed along!

I once got stuck in slow moving traffic on the M25 around Watford at dusk in the rain. That wasn't fun.

The things we do for you vince, just so your holiday was a bit better we persuaded him upstairs to bias the rain over here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19134915

[Citroenmad]

I don't enjy the M25 rush hour trip, its not all that fun

Train definitely sounds the best idea for a London visit, much easier. You dont have to push through the traffic, fight for a parking space or pay congestion charge.