Citroenmads Citroen blog.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:04

I tidied up the pics i took earlier off the iPhone, shows it in a better light.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:05

Citroening wrote:...good to hear.
My Activa will be at the National so it will be good to have a sort of 'Activa gathering', and especially if Jim brings his too.
Not sure what we'll be taking to the DSM this year - might even be my XM!

I look forward to the pics - can't beat a nice Activa.

An Activa or even Xantia range gathering would be very nice to see. Ill try make the National in my Activa then.

I look forward to seeing your Activa and XM Franklin

R9UKE wrote:Excellent news, Chris, I look forward to seeing your pics!

I was a passenger in Robert's once, handling is pretty astonishing, but I'd never have the opportunity to make the most of it, I'm never really out of the city (hence why I want an auto)

When is the Midlands rally? I might be in Birmingham at the time, I'll drop by with the Vel Satis

Well this is the thing, I spend a lot of time in cities & towns and then the other portion of it on motorways - hence why my Activa will be a second car. I don't warrant one daily, but it will be nice to jump into and enjoy some good roads with it, ive needed a car that can do that for years! I do like to press on a bit from time to time, so it will suit me nicely. They are excellent on a motorway run though, so it might well get more use than I first intended.

Err, ill have to check the dates of the events, DSM and CXM are Milton Keynes area - mid June. National is ... Peterbrough area I believe? mid July.

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:13

...you'll probably see dad's Xantia V6 at the National too - pretty much all the fleet will be there as it's only 2 miles away!

The CXM and GS/A Rally is September 2/3/4 - Link- while the National is July 16/17 at Manea (not too far from Peterborough) - Link, and the DSM is 10/11/12 June.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:18

Glad you are enjoying it Chris.
Is it wrong ive only just got back in from driving mine?

ive used the half tank of fuel i put in it too but there is a few surprised Scooby owners on the island tonight thats for sure.
Handling wise, for a 4 door 1400kg citroen its unbelievable.

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:21

XantiaMan wrote:Well, thats the response i was hoping for! I am very pleased your happy with the car and that is behaved itself on its long journey back.

I was sad to see it go, it sure did clean up a treat, with a little work it could well be one of the nicest out there.

I did enjoy that last roundabout, i will have that in my memory as my last Activa experience

The added boost does make such a difference to the engine, be worthwhile getting a gauge to check it periodically as it could be between 11-12psi, i did tweak it down so the ECU wouldnt throw a code all the time in the cooler weather, it could well take a fraction more now that its warmer, and some super unleaded could help too, although this one did seem quite happy on 95 RON.

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of it!

It was faultless on the drive home, really impressive car. Thanks!

Yep, that is my plan, ill sort out the things it wants and it will be an even better car. Not that its not a good one already! It might well end up being a 'keeper'. Though my dad already has three keepers and ive got this now, need to stop buying now ...

I just put normal unleaded in it too, might give it a go on V-power next time it needs fuel. Tomorrow probably!

Thanks for the pictures Gareth, ill stick some of mine up tomorrow. Im hoping ill get out to somewhere scenic in the week and take a few more pictures.

Thanks for the info Franklin, I didn't have the most recent Citroenians to hand.
2 miles! Lucky you

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:22

Looking forward to seeing it! I was slightly tempted with it being in norwich, but Chloe would actually kill me if I got another one!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:25

Deanxm wrote: Handling wise, for a 4 door 1400kg Citroën its unbelievable.

D

Im enjoying it more than I even thought I would!

It is, very unbelievable for a large car, one which still offers a decent ride too

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:31

I think its going to be a case of getting up early sunday morning, taking the camera and grabbing some fuel then do the military road and some other nice twisty bits before the mothers day visit at lunch

im starting to get a feel for the Activa's limits, very twitchy when its on the edge, it seems to have grip or not, best to go into the corners with power on so you get a warning and can back off but it is amazing how fast they can corner.

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:41

Im working tomorrow

and Monday, Tuesday then Uni the rest of the week. I might have a bit of time on Saturday to enjoy the Activa and some good roads.

Might well take it for the trip to work tomorrow actually

Ill be able to set off later

Most of my drive home was on long and straight B roads with a good few roundabouts and the rest dual carriageways and motorways. So ive not had too much chance to try it yet, though when I did get the chance to push it a little I was impressed. Cornering is superb and actually a lot more predictable in feel and grip than I thought it might be.

My dad was shocked at Gareth putting the Activa around a roundabout quite quickly, using the throttle to steer it around.
Lifting off the accelerator a touch while cornering hard to induce slight oversteer to steer the car on the throttle is something ive not done in a while. My old 2.0 206 was excellent at that, taught me quite a few driving techniques. The C5 isnt into that type of driving

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 08:44

Im just dashing off to go to work, but here are a few pictures from yesterday:
(Pics might be a bit big, ill resize later if so)

Ironically, the bin does say it all ...

The Xm was lower than normal as my dad had the suspension lever slightly too far back ...

No drips seen on the tarmac are from the Activa!

Shall I take it to work or not ...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 03 Apr 2011, 09:42

i take it your on your way to work now chris, in a silver car

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:09

Of course I took it to work

I just couldn't not drive it

Had a good drive of it this evening on some good roads, Im totally amazed by it. Ive never driven anything quite as grippy. Its grippy way beyond the levels of most cars ive driven, but when grip goes your going quite a bit faster than normal too. I do like how predictable it is, wasn't expecting that going by tests it have read. It is quite tail happy too, but easy enough to control. I now love roundabouts too, I look forward to them on my journeys

Ive not driven the C5 since Firday, I moved it tonight, it felt HUGE! Its so much wider and longer than the Xantia. Im not really looking forward to driving it for my commuting this week, driving will not the the same again now ... no doubt ill be back in the Activa by Tuesday

This car could easily become very very addictive and very damaging for my bank!

Here are a few (well ok, a good few) pictures I took while I was out in it this evening. Ive scaled them down this time:

Right, so this weeks plan for the Activa:
- Cambelt kit and pump to be replaced - hopefully during the week sometime
- Tyres to get swapped around so it has a pair on at least on axle. It has Fulda tyres on one side, they dont seem too bad but as they are directional ill need to get one swappd on the rim then swap it to the back. then ill match the good Kumho with a new one the same I think.
- Oil and filter change and a good check over
- Take out the side repeaters and see why they have stopped working

Thats about it for this weeks jobs, my time is limited enough this week so I might struggle to get all that done in one week. Next on my list will be the height correctors, though ill need to allow quite a bit of time for that. Ill also need to check the rattling from the back, might be a ram bush?

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:25

Hi Chris

Seems we have both been burning large amounts of fuel today

Looking through your posts i agree with all your thoughts on the activa, not as tail happy as the xm but much better handling.
I too have to sort out the rattling at the back but i know thats the rear ram bush now, i just have not got round to fitting the bush i got as i thought it was the rear droplink when in fact it was both of them, no matter.
Cant believe you lowered it fully, are you still out there waiting for it to resume normal ride height

, does seem like a long time after being used to a sinker thats in good nick.
I forgot my camera this morning but no matter, im using it for work tomorrow

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:31

Delighted you're happy Chris... The love will get stronger. A well-sorted Activa really is an absolute pleasure.

The cambelt is easier than it looks but be careful of tension.. The setting is critical....

Deanxm wrote: Seems we have both been burning large amounts of fuel today

That makes three of us

I ran my Activa to Somerset and back today via Zig-Zag hill (awesome, full report soon

) and London..

She ran like a clock the whole way and I'm in love all over again

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:38

Franklin has been out in his too i would think, its all go on the Activa front recently Jim, still have not finnished reading your article though, not got the stones for it just now

Look forward to the update.

D