Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[vince]

My money is on oil leaking onto the friction plate

[Citroenmad]

My money is on oil leaking onto the friction plate

Im thinking so too. Have you heard of this problem before?

I dropped the C5 off at the garage yesterday, they will be starting it tomorrow. Im interested to see what is causing it ...


I had a bit of a fiddle with the Xantia yesterday, it had a slightly binding front brake, I took both sides apart, cleaned them up and now its as free as a bird. It was also leaning down to the passenger side by about 3/4 of an inch. Though this had only happened since I did the P bushed, I had left a clamp loose. Though it did also want levelling side to side after that so now its spot on again. Really takes some doing to get it right though, lots of time and fuel Seems to drive better now, I was concious that it was leaning over before.

Still very much enjoying using the Activa daily and the fuel economy is surprisingly good if driven with a little bit of care. Ive got both commutes tomorrow so 120miles all in, its doing some miles lately!

The tyres on my Xantia are annoying me again It did have a pair of Fuldas on the front, actually a very capable tyre, but one had spent longer on the front than the other and so had uneven tread depths. I didn't realise how bad the worst one was getting but it was on the markers last week. It seemed a shame to replace the good one which still has around 4mm of tread left but I decided on Pielli P7s are a replacement. I found a pair of new ones in the correct 205/60 size on ebay, but listed individually. I put £40 on both ... one went for £41 and the other for £36, so I got one Pirelli P7. Great! I had to get that fitted as I needed the worn Fulda off so it now has a brand new Pirelli on the drivers side and a 4mm Fulda on the passenger side. Hmm! Ill need to get another P7 pretty soon, I HATE odd tyres!

[R9UKE]

I HATE odd tyres!

You'd have a field day with my cars!!

[XantiaMan]

I hate odd tyres too, my new van has an avon and a michelin on the rear although they are probably better than the new Hifly tyres fitted when i got the van.

[Citroenmad]

Well my C5 is eventually in bits at a local garage.

The clutch friction plate is about perfect, showing little signs of wear, only a bit of blue from it slipping.
The duall mass flywheel is knackered.

Bill is around £650. At the moment ....

Pretty good going really, 29K miles on a clutch, wouldn't you say?

I hate odd tyres too, my new van has an avon and a michelin on the rear although they are probably better than the new Hifly tyres fitted when i got the van.

The Xantia will get another new Pirelli P7 to match the new one I added last week. I'm ordering it tomorrow.

Not even heard of Hifly tyres

Its all spend spend spend at the moment!

[Deanxm]

should have just used the Xantia Chris, that £700 would have paid the difference in fueling costs for a good long while .

D

[Citroenmad]

should have just used the Xantia Chris, that £700 would have paid the difference in fueling costs for a good long while .

D

Nice plan but £700 is about 3500 miles in the Xantia, or about 5500 miles in the C5, wouldnt take long to even that out I wouldnt want to use the Activa as my only car anyway, 20K a year would soon have its mileage galactic.

But ... my C5 ownership is coming to an end. Time for a change.

[Deanxm]

so over 20k the derv @ £1.42/ltr doing 45mpg will set you back £2857 and the petrol @ £132/ltr doing 33mpg will cost £3620 so that's a price difference of £763, sell the C5, stick the money in your back pocket and sleep easy knowing your only having to maintain the activa...............oh god actualy forget that

D

[Citroenmad]

Interesting figures, though I would put the Activa closer to 28MPG rather than 33. I don't plan to use that as my only car, im looking for another daily driver car. Getting a bit bored of C5s lately, doesn't help having 3 here, and this one is a let down needing this work at so few miles.

Not sure what to get yet, ive got a list of possibles, very very few are French though

The bonus is with having the Xantia is that I don't have to look for a big hatchback style car with room for people, as ive got the Xantia for that. Makes choosing the next car easier, in theory.

[robert_e_smart]

Well, its a two sided argument Chris. Get rid of the C5 after disappointment, or keep on using it now that it is sorted out, and you have spent good money on it.

Personally I would use the XM estate and drive a good car daily!

[Deanxm]

Have fun picking your next car, not sure i would drop the C5 after paying out for the clutch but then again will you be doing it again in 30k/year and a half? i would hope not but i guess it sours the experience a little.
Will sir be going German? an Italian disiesel perhaps?

D

[Citroenmad]

Im thinking about selling the C5 and getting something a little cheaper, while im still running up and down to Uni each day. Then once im qualified and in a full time job I can upgrade the car then.

Rough budget being around £2000-£2500, on my list at the moment are (try not to laugh!):

BMW 320d saloon - 2002-2004
Saab 9-3 TiD saloon - 2004> Really a Vectra, have doubts about the Fiat sourced diesel, so probably not.
VW Passat 1.9TDi 130 saloon - 2001-2003 I've alays been impressed with my previous VAG group TDis
Volvo S60 D5 - 2002-2004 - What im leaning towards at the moment if truth be known. Id really like to try a Volvo! The S60 is a good looking car in my opinion, has the cracking 2.4 5 cylinder D5 diesel engine and most are brimming with kit. Not to mention Volvos usually have a good record for build and reliability.

This is not a complete list, there are other cars im thinking about too. Most of the cars im thinking about are larger cars rather than smaller ones though. Any suggestions welcome!

Not too bothered about mileage, so long as its a good example of the breed. Need to do some more research on the above cars.

Then there is the sensible alternatives, the eco superminis:
Vw Polo 1.4TDi
Seat Ibiza 1.4/1.9TDi

Both cars I like and would do the job well while saving me fuel money, ive had a Seat TDi before and it was excellent, really enjoyed it. No doubt less to go wrong and parts will be cheaper than the above saloons but I do like bigger cars.

So long as it does around 40mpg on either petrol or diesel I will be happy. Its for more of a change than anything and to experience other cars apart from Citroens.

However ive seen a nice looking Xantia HDi which has got me thinking


My immediate plan is to advertise the C5 and see if it will sell for something near what I want for it. I'll then use the Xantia until I find something, though I doubt that will take me long.

Your right though, it doesnt make financial sense to sell it now, not with the depreciation over the year and the money ive forked out now. Without doubt any car I buy will need things doing to it too and im not expecting its replacement to be perfect either. Though I think its a very good time to change it and I have made up my mind, id just like a change. It doesn't help that when im not driving my C5 to uni im driving the 52plate C5, need a bit of variation!

So ... if anyone wants a unmarked Facelift C5 in as new condition with a full set of almost new Michelins, 30K miles, full history - serviced annually, years MOT and long tax ... just let me know

One thing is for sure, the Activa is staying

[ragger]

Give you a grand for your Deush - just to boost your spending power

[CitroJim]

However ive seen a nice looking Xantia HDi which has got me thinking

A very wise thought You can't go wrong with an HDi

One thing is for sure, the Activa is staying

A very wise decision

[Citroenmad]

Give you a grand for your Deush - just to boost your spending power

Ive been meaning to drop by and show you the 2cv, I'll make a point of it.

A very wise thought You can't go wrong with an HDi

Quite right, especially as a Xantia HDi doesn't have a DMF

A very wise decision

Yup, its far too special to move on, it'll be here for a good while yet.